Description
The ESQ-1 is a digital synthesizer, released by Ensoniq in 1986. Although the waveforms are digital in nature, the filters are all analog. In fact, for a digital synth the ESQ-1 has many good old analog-synth features such as a ring modulator, sequencer, and oscillator-sync. The envelopes and LFOs are can be freely routed to each DCO, VCA and or VCF.
What really sets the ESQ-1 apart from other similar synths is the voice architecture. Choose from analog, digital, or samples or any combo since there are three independent oscillators per voice. Once you start editing on the ESQ-1 you will come up with interesting and unique results. Using dynamic voice allocation it can seemlessly switch from 8-voices of analog to 8-voices of digital or sampled voices.
It also has a built-in sequencer. It can store up to 24,000 notes in 30 sequences and 10 songs via battery back-up.
Anyone in search of an alternative synthesizer should consider the ESQ-1. More analog than a Yamaha DX-7 or Roland D50, the ESQ-1 is a tasty option that is worth a try.