The ESQ-1 is such a beast. I've only recently got one after using the (excellent) SQ8L for a while. I'm not sure if it's the looks and lack of knobby-retro-chic, but it amazes me how affordable they are (although maybe not for long) considering the power, features and the equivalent poly synths from around that time that currently go for 3x - 10x the price. It has features that to this day - when they're included by modern manufacturers - people consider forward-thinking. Ensoniq were way ahead of the game. Most of the early digital/analogue hybrids and early samplers had features and sounds that are completely unique. I do like the older analogue keyboards too, but the first digital/hybrids and the analogues that were competing with the DX7 around the mid 80s (Roland JX8P/JX10, Kawai K3, Korg DW series, the mighty Prophet VS etc.) have a sound that nothing else comes close to. The early samplers had it as well - huge and perfectly well-defined in the low end, punchy mids, but with a nastiness in the high end that was still harmonically pleasing and never harsh or headache inducing. Mark my words: digital is the new analogue. Well, anything less than 16-bit digital anyway.
Nice, thanks! Love my ESQ-M, which I've now got a couple of aftermarket 3D printed multi-bank carts for now, so have all of those lovely classic patches! 🎹😎👍
I am pretty sure that reinitializing will restore the factory patches... Make sure to save your sequences because I believe it wipes it all out. How to perform a hard reset on an Ensoniq ESQ-1 Note: When re-initializing the Ensoniq with O.S. version 2.2 and lower, all internal programs will reset to BRASS 1. Higher versions will load the forty factory sounds. Press and hold the RECORD button. Press the Soft button (1) on the upper left-hand corner of the screen and then release both buttons on the Ensoniq. The display on your Ensoniq will read ERASE ALL MEMORY AND RE-INITIALIZE Select YES. The Ensoniq display will return to the sign-on message. All RAM is erased, and all internal programs are reset Press and hold the RECORD button. Press the FILTER button, then release both buttons on the Ensoniq. Below are other commands I found relating to the ESQ-1 Record + Upper Left Soft Key (#1) -- reinitialize keyboard Record + Lower Left Soft Key (#6) -- reboot keyboard Record + Master -- display OS software version (3.5 is latest ESQ-1 OS) Record + Compare -- analog test page (press lower-right Soft Key #10 to refresh readings) Record + Filter -- tune filter ICs (ESQ-1 should read between 140-160, see p4 of service manual) Record + Split Layer -- recalibrate keyboard Record + Mode -- display credits screen
Great video. The ESQ-1 is capable of so many different colors, I'm surprised there aren't more videos of people showcasing sounds. Fun to see KLUNKS on there as the Terminator sound! Very nice work on the sound customization and the skillful use of split points for live performance.
Thanks for another great video Dan. In regards to getting your internal sounds back, in the ESQ-1 service manual, there exists an procedure to re-initialize the keyboard internal software, and sounds. Of course, you will have to dump your current memory content using sysex to another midi keyboard and saving there (the manual states using the Mirage). You could probably use any MIDI device with sysex transfer functions and storage.
Very Clever on the Bon Jovi Living on a Pray yalk Box.I don't have an Ensoniq ESQ-1 just the newer UVI software plug in for the PC so I am somparing sound from the Plug In to the real Keyboard thanks for this video
Update your firmware chips. "Version 2.3 fixes/adds the following:1. 40 internal patches are loaded from the OS rom's after initialization..." ... and there were 4 more operating system updates since this one. 3.5 is the final version and is easily obtained on eBay.
Dan, I can probably get you your original factory INT bank back. The question is what's the easiest way to install them. I sent a message to your RU-vid account. If you want, send me a message and I'll get the sounds to you. Also, for completeness sake, there were two minor variations of the original factory banks. After OS revision 2.1 (going from memory), a couple patches were swapped, that 3TRUMS and HORN split was eliminated, and at least one was renamed (the jazzy LYLE sound was renamed 2COOL. Someone was possibly concerned that naming a Lyle Mays -sounding patch "LYLE" was a little too on the nose.). I think the difference amounts to less than five patches between the two versions.
maxmace111 Thank you. My email is dancaravetta@gmail.com. I did find a video on how to replace the battery, so when I work up the courage, I’ll give that a shot. Thanks for your help!
