Ensoniq ESQ1

Software version 2.0. The presets are scaringly bad! Editing patches
is as easy as pressing a button(and moving a slider...). I dont have
the manual, I wish I did.

( voice polyphony. No effects. Mine has a sequencer memory expansion.
There is also a cartridge slot. You can very easilly build your own
cartridges, youll find the blueprints on the net, very nice! Otherwise
it saves and loads patches very nicely from a computer via sysex.
The keyboard is nice and velocity sensitive.

It actually sounds great! I was surprised, I really dont like ensoniq,
but I got a nice deal.

Well, the power supply rattles from time to time, one of the sides
is a bit loose, but otherwise it works fine. The battery might need
to be replaced, just draw your soldering iron out of the holster!

Never dealt with them.

At the same price, I would by it again! Probably at twice the price
too. Remember that I really dont like ensoniq, so this is really
remarkable! I thought I bought a toy, but got a great synthesizer,
surprice!

Software version: 3.5. The presets on this instrument are terrible, but the folks at Ensoniq were probably trying to make this thing sound like a DX-7 when it came out (1985). This isn't a problem, though, because the editing on this synth is about as easy as editing can get without a knob for each parameter. You only need to press 2 buttons to get to the parameter you wish to edit, and the display is neatly laid out and friendly. Not to mention that the LED screen is easily readable in any lighting condition. The manual is one of the most comprehensive and straight-forward manuals I've ever seen.

The ESQ-1 has 8 voice polyphony, with 3 oscillators assigned to each voice. Each oscillator has 32 waveforms, which are 8-bit, single-cycle, multi-samples of the standard analog waveforms and some real instruments (don't expect great realism out of this synth, though). Each voice also contains 1 VCF, 3 LFOs, 4 Envelope Generators, and 4 DCAs (3 for independent control of each OSC output, and 1 for the final mix/panning). Each page has two modulation options, which can be chosen from several possible sources (LFO 1-3, ENV 1-4, MIDI controllers, etc.). The internal program memory supports 40 programs, and is expandable with a cartridge to 120. The keyboard action is slightly weighted and feels better than most modern keyboards, but is only velocity sensitive (the ESQ-1 will receive both poly and channel aftertouch, but the keyboard doesn't send aftertouch). Its MIDI implementation is quite extensive, considering when it was made, supporting program changes/System Exclusive, and Multitimbral/Poly/Mono modes. The on board sequencer is quite powerful and was one of the first instruments to have a functional sequencer built in. The sequencer memory supports 2,400 notes and is upgradable to 20,000. No built-in effects are included.

The analog waveform samples are excellent, especially in the lower registers. Couple that with a 24dB resonant analog filter (Curtis filter, the same as those used in the Sequential Prophet VS), and you can get very convincing and versatile analog sounds out of this instrument (great basses, leads, pads, effects). It also includes sync and ring-modulation for some extra sound shaping capabilities. The portamento is quite good (both polyphonic and monophonic), but you can definitely tell that the waveforms are sampled if you do big sweeps with it. You can really get weird with the modulation possibilities as well, and come up with some wild effects. The sound in general is a bit grungy, using old sampling technology, which adds a little bit of extra life/uniqueness to this instrument. It's great for just about any kind of electronic music.

Ensoniq synths have not had a great reputation for road worthiness, but I've personally never had my ESQ-1 break down in all my years of using it.

Never had to call.

The versatility and overall sound quality of this synth makes it a winner in my opinion. This instrument was my first synthesizer back in the late 80s, and I just picked one up again last year (I'll never part with it again). I've owned a Korg DW-8000 and Wavestation, Kurzweil K2000 and a Roland Juno 60 (still in the setup), and the ESQ-1 has been the most flexible and programmable synth aside from the Kurzweil. It's been a useful tool in every genre of music I've been playing at gigs over the years (techno, funk, rock).

I have no idea what the software version is, 3.5, I think! The presets on this sound fantastic-very "digital" and thick! Editing is somewhat cumbersome because of the menu-driven process (give me knobs and sliders!) but fast. I've edited maybe 1/4 of the presets, the rest were good enough to leave alone. Usually the editing consisted of shortening the decay. The manual is concise and very easy to follow.

I've never tested the polyphony, I usually don't play more than 5 notes at a time. It has unweighted keys, but the action feels great anyway. There is a cartridge slot to add new sounds. It has MIDI in/out (wish it had thru) and accepts velocity, modulation, and pitch bend information. There is an onboard sequencer (8 track) that is very flexible and easy to use!

None of the "real" instrument sounds (piano, strings, brass) sound real, but that's not what you use this for! Its synth sounds are unsurpassed. Its pads and leads are great. The organs on it are good too, come to think of it.

I would never gig without a backup, it's no fun to play just one keyboard. However, in this case, another keyboard which can play more realistic sounds is a must. I would depend on this for anything.

I've never dealt with them.

This synth is well over 10 years old, and is light years ahead of most of the crap out there today. I would buy it again in a second.

3.5, good sound, black metal body, good manual, + sound cartridge from syntaur classic analog /rap patches, 40 patches of each type, 80 preset patches good sounding board lots of controll over parameters however, you cant change a sound as you play it, you have to restrike a key to hear the new par. *this board has a bug in it, some problem,it works for 10 minutes then freezes, turn it off for an hour and it works for 10more min. (Battery?) I dont know .... Pick it up from the SFbay area for $110

9 key polyphony, pretty sturdy keyboard, accepts cartridges , MIDI, velocity controll keys, on board 8track sequencer with expansion capability It uses a scroll type system to set parameters, very large display face, shows 10 patches at once

specializes in electronic anolog type sounds, very satisfying sound you can layer 2 patches together, very meaty, digital but realy sounds thick,

Currently it doesnt work for more than 10 min at a time

I did have it repaired and it is servicable, SYNTAUR productions carries stuff for it

Its perfect for an easy to use, electronic popmusic oriented artist, its no good for experamental/noise electronics but if you can actually play a keyboard its fun Great thick sounds and tons of controll over them