Synth Stuff Ep. 29 - Ensoniq ESQ-1 

The analog filters with the digital wavetable combo makes this a cyborg of synthesizers. This cybernetic hero is a strange personification of the hybrid-80s in which you still had the analog world encapsulated in popular machines like the Juno/Jupiter/Oberheims/older Korgs, etc., but the 80s were ushering in a new digital age (since the DX-7 in 83). Therefore, the ESQ-1 sort of attempts to be the best of both worlds in one sleak box and it ended up being a unique voice that stood out between the 70s-analog age and the 90s digital invasion. It's a lo-fi dream machine that is quite flexible and musical! I only have the 32-bit SQL-8 VST but I love hearing the original beastie.

God I love the sound of crunchy digital waves through a scuzzy analog filter.

the thing i like about this synth is that it can sound abit like a ppg wave or a dx7 sometimes.. or even a d50 with its noisy spectrum type waves!! but the filter is really buttery and analog. i love it

This was a real game changer and never received the recognition it deserved :(

My first full size synth. (CZ-1 was my first) Loved the 8 track midi-sequencer-was able to produce some really convincing drum sounds and put together some decent tracks back in the late 80s with this board.

Dat refresh rate on the display...haha

2:12 Mmmmm. Loveliness.

I have this synth and an EPS, this synth is fantastic. I've had over 50 classic synths over the last 40 years and this one is a kind of a forgotten gem.

Much more warm then any DX7 that i ever heard, pretty interesting lo fi and grungy character.

00:47 Suddenly feel allot safer...

It can be clearly heard that evolved form SID chip for Commodore 64, especially if compared with multi sid chip tunes (seek for the tuneful eight utilizing 8x SID chip).

I had one of those. When I figured there would be more just like it for years to come.

3:20 is unbelievable. such awesome sounds and riff choices

One of my favorite synthesizer 👍👍👍

Classic. Almost bought one when they first came out.

Ah this is such a pleasant sounding synth: fantasiq demo. These patches and melodies played here are really nice! Esp 0:46 3:11 5:08

The ESQ 1 and SQ 80 are very nice sounding digi/analog sounding hybrids. Yet another well pulled off demo from yourself Triton R. I hope more folks bump into your channel and catch these wikid demos. 👍

The best synth ever

I have an SQ-80, but I want more ESQ-1 like patches on it these sound amazing

my first keyboard--bought in 86 0r 87. I was 14, thought I had died and gone to heaven. now its "vintage".

Great Demo! Very unique sounding synthesizer.

I love this demo! Thanks for uploading it. Sweet sounds! :)

ESQ-1 the poor mans PPG Wave. Great synth.

3:53 - beautiful mix between analog and digital

So sad Ensoniq isn’t around anymore. Wish someone would bring brands like Ensoniq and Emu.

I love the Goonies tribute around 4:20 :)

Your video inspired me to buy a main board for my broken ESQ1 to get it working again. THANKS! 2:11 and 3:03. I love the pure raw simplicity in an age of neverending (and hence ultimately suffocating) complexity. 5:00. Nice. Would you care to share your sounds on the ESQ1 Facebook group? I will join that group once I get mine working and share patches also since thats what I do. Not for a living through cause there's no $ in it. Oh, Synthlib has a ton of patches shared by lots of people. Really impressed.

2:13 & 3:02 holy crap! I don’t remember mine sounding this warm and fat back in 1987👍🏾

4:27 never ending story, when Bastian start to read the book!

ZOMG with this i can play my fav Black Metal albums from Eldamar Lustre and Elderwind.

Neverending Story!

0:45 I am not a sandwich yet.

04:12 = The goonies ... nice one

Top! 👌 Thank you. I've got one. 👌

Some of the longer pads would benefit from more voices. Short sounds and you don't notice the voice stealing. 🤔

the last patch sounds so Boards of Canada

is there a certain bank you have with all of these presets? i only have one for mine and it doesn't have any of these sounds!

Man... I picked one up at a thrift store a few weeks ago for $20... I feel too fortunate.

0:45 Resident Evil 1?

0;44 Resident Evil?

Also, 2:44.. How did you make this patch? It sounds amazing!

Why not share these dope patches ;-)

Yay Resident Evil :D

They're going for $1,400.

thank you for sharing., the first patch sounded like you were under water. can you tell me, has the cartridge got to be in place to play?. Well done.

AT 4:20 was that Cat's Eye what film was that from???

The part at 2:59 is very moving..

4'14 THE NEVER END STORY ATRIYOU!!

00:45 too scared to leave my room now, afraid of plants.

Noice

Nice filter. There’s on near me selling for $400, should I go for it?

analog Filter .. not oscillators ) /// oscillators is digi

What's the name of the patch at 3:48? Thanks.

Is that part around 4 min from the never ending story? Lol

Are these factory presets?!

What effects are on this?