KVR Audio

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:02 pm

I like UVI's non-synth-related libraries a lot better. These things just remind you how limited the programmability is. Not just compared to the original hardware, but also to other software or hardware.
I'm sure that's perfect for people who just want a bunch of good sounding presets, to minimally tweak - or not.

Still, I should revisit them once in a while. I like twisting the sounds in my K1 - and that thing is really limited.

fluffy_little_something · Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:53 pm

Sampling synths is an odd idea. You would have to sample almost endless combinations of all controls in order to really capture an instrument. But that would create giant sample libraries most computers couldn't handle. A filter sweep would probably mean switching between a huge number of otherwise identical presets

Cinebient · Post by **Cinebient** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 8:07 pm

I also must say that i love their acoustic sampled tools but the synths are not so interesting.
I wish they would model a synth rather than use samples plus a few Falcon filters and FX.
I saw the overview and where he said here comes a fat sound/pad i was ready to be blown away....then i turned the video off.

Saukar30 · Post by **Saukar30** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:03 pm

Ingonator wrote:
Saukar30 wrote: I see that there are 268 waves/layers to choose from for the oscillator choices. Towards the end are the original waveforms used in the synth (according to the manual).
I could confirm that the last 32 samples in the drop-down menu are the 32 original Osc waveforms.

UPDATE:
I just tried to browse through the "raw" samples in the "wave selection" using a single layer without effects, additional modulation etc. by the USQ-1 engine. That raw sound then more or less corresponds to how the patches sounded at the real ESQ-1 while they were created there.

I have to say that i am quite impressed by those raw sounds, even more when some bass boosting with an external plugin (here it is Waves OneKnob Phatter) is added.

Independent of a direct 1:1 comparison the raw samples for sure sound like a real ESQ-1 to me.
In the past I had listened to multiple modeled plugins where IMO the raw output sounded worse than this.

The samples also include some where Osc Sync was used in a more or less "typical" way (like in fully analog synths).

Interesting, thanks. I'm still kind of on the fence about it. I love SQ8L and though I know this is nothing like that, the idea of having the same sound in UVI Workstation is the appealing factor. Like most ppl here have said, I just don't dig their presets. UVI makes everything sound like "UVI" and not the original thing it sampled. Each synth has character and when the same preset designers make everything sound the same, I think it misses the mark of what could be done with those samples. Lose all that reverb, delay, etc, etc and let the samples speak for themselves. However, I also understand business, and people love those same sounding presets.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:08 pm

SLiC wrote: Its definately not a copy, clone or even attempt to be much like thne oprigonal (evenm according to UVI's own marketing) but iut does sound good and is good value (especially if you own Falcon) IMHO.

From the UVI website:

"The Ensoniq ESQ-1 is a special keyboard at UVI. Used by many on our team, including being a personal favorite of one of our founders, our USQ-1 had to be great. We’ve leveraged years of experience with this synth and put our hearts into creating a collection of sounds that we're proud of and that we’re sure you’ll enjoy".

Sounds like they're trying to nail the spirit of the ESQ-1 to me. The question is did they program patches to sample that capture the true character of the ESQ-1 ? Patches such as Klunks, Ahhhhs, Floon, Bottls etc are what define the ESQ-1 for me. UVI failed at capturing the character of the VFX (in my opinion) with their DS-1 package so it's possible they have also done so with the USQ-1 library.

I already have a ton of "nice sounding" synths so the only reason I would buy this is to regain those sounds of the ESQ-1 that define its sound to me. Just like the Tubular Bells and Tine Piano sounds define the DX7 for me. The demos so far have not convinced me they have nailed the spirit of the ESQ but perhaps future demos will change my opinion......

I have tried Rainer Buchty's SQ8L many times over the years and it came really close to nailing the ESQ-1 / SQ80 sound but sadly the last time I checked it's been abandoned and is 32 bit only. Not really too interested in digging it out of the grave.

Saukar30 · Post by **Saukar30** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:12 pm

Teksonik wrote:
I already have a ton of "nice sounding" synths so the only reason I would buy this is to regain those sounds of the ESQ-1 that define its sound to me.

+1

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:25 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:Sampling synths is an odd idea. You would have to sample almost endless combinations of all controls in order to really capture an instrument. But that would create giant sample libraries most computers couldn't handle. A filter sweep would probably mean switching between a huge number of otherwise identical presets

Sampling any instrument will lead to that problem. Trade offs are made. To mitigate those trade offs, filters and other features are added. In a way, the sampled instruments become something new and have their own interesting character.

In this case, I’d rather have a pure emulation because we have that tech and it’s pretty good. Now we just need someone to do it.

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:51 pm

zerocrossing wrote:
fluffy_little_something wrote:Sampling synths is an odd idea. You would have to sample almost endless combinations of all controls in order to really capture an instrument. But that would create giant sample libraries most computers couldn't handle. A filter sweep would probably mean switching between a huge number of otherwise identical presets
Sampling any instrument will lead to that problem. Trade offs are made. To mitigate those trade offs, filters and other features are added. In a way, the sampled instruments become something new and have their own interesting character.

In this case, I’d rather have a pure emulation because we have that tech and it’s pretty good. Now we just need someone to do it.

I like both.

Sampling the real thing can be great, and gives you the real sound of the synth. Sometimes just the oscillators are sampled, but some sampled-based vsts use the whole sound, and that doesn't work very well. I think if UVI works on their filters and envelope emulations of various synths (to go with the UVI Workstation and Falcon) and give the user more choices, it would work very well for them.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sat Apr 07, 2018 10:28 pm

Noobs. They're just throwing around words and phrases they heard off YouTube Videos. Pretending to be experts.

It's a great sounding library. End of story.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 6:31 am

If you want to browse through the "raw" samples in the "wave selecction" you could use one of the Init presets like e.g. "00-Init Mono".
This should show the raw sounds like they were sampled from the ESQ-1.

Those seem to be samples of full patches including the filter, also as some of them use Resonance and/or sweeps. With some of the raw samples it does also not seem to be possible to do a sustained sound even if the Sustain level in USQ-1 is set to maximum. Some of those samples also include modulations by a LFO etc. so modulations are not just done in the USQ-1 engine.

FWIW the raw samples include some Synth Brass sounds and such sounds do not work without filter envelope modulation which is an essential part of those.

The filter in USQ-1 which is the Xpander filter from Falcon (and this is included since Falcon was released !!) seems to be there to tweak those raw samples. With the BPF and HPF you could get results not possible with the real ESQ-1.

The overall amount of 22768 single samples in USQ-1 sounds much (and the compressed size of 6.2 GB too) but with the 268 included multisamples that's "only" around 85 single samples for each multisample or "layers" how they are called by UVI.

Besides all that both the raw multisamples and the final presets in USQ-1 sound really good for me.

FWIW this is just the second sample library i got from UVi besides "Mello" that i got together with Falcon when it was released (with the included coupon). I also got VI Labs Ravenscroft 275 that works in UVI Workstation and Falocn but this is not created by UVI themselves.
As mentioned earlier i got Falcon mostly for the synthesis features, not "just" as a sample player.

sylvie · Post by **sylvie** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 7:12 am

Hi, i have bought the USQ-1 on Friday, 2 days ago. But since then i tried a lot of times to unpack the "rar" (downloaded from the uvi-webside). Its not possible and my nerves are flying away! I have tried all of uvi's "mirrors", but: NOTHING!!! I have got a MacPro with OS 10.12.6.
Anyone for help, please?! Thanks, Sylvie (germany)

sylvie · Post by **sylvie** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 7:15 am

Hi, i have bought the USQ-1 on Friday, 2 days ago. But since then i tried a lot of times to unpack the "rar" (downloaded from the uvi-webside). Its not possible and my nerves are flying away! I have tried all of uvi's "mirrors", but: NOTHING!!! I have got a MacPro with OS 10.12.6.
Anyone for help, please?! Thanks, Sylvie (germany)

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 8:09 am

I'm on Windows and sometimes using another unpacker helps. WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc.,

Turning off virus protection during download is sometimes necessary.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:10 am

I did just set up my real ESQ-1 (was updated with the OS 3.53 chips) that i have not used at least for two months now.

At the moment i have fun with playing different patches in both UVI USQ-1 and the ESQ-1 at the same time.
So far they seem to play nicely together.

Stefken · Post by **Stefken** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:46 am

It does have a nice 80's vibe to it, so i'm taking the deal.

Some alternatives here
https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/bl ... q-1-617821