A little love for Ensoniq (SQ80 series)

[jojoB3]

I've recently uploaded an Ensoniq SQ80 Series playlist to my channel showing editing basics, modulators, sequence and song mode, etc. These are killer boards that still hold up to this day. Programming is a pleasure with their speedy UI (everything 1 or 2 button presses or data slider away). They're not without their own issues but the (now vintage but not over-priced) SQ80 and ESQ1 can get ya there.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsvn ... ifTzQu0HDq

[jojoB3]

And the ESQ1 coming soon.
Halloween III in July

[Etienne1973]

@jojoB3 (OP)

I really enjoy watching your videos and listening to your live, realtime music performances. I think and feel (taste) your musicality is very high. Please upload more!

[jojoB3]

@jojoB3 (OP)

I really enjoy watching your videos and listening to your live, realtime music performances. I think and feel (taste) your musicality is very high. Please upload more!

Right on, thanks and will do

[stoopicus]

One of my favorite synths of all time. Not coincidentally my first synth, I bought an ESQ-1 when they were new, primarily because my favorite bands used them a lot. Very popular in electroindustrial back in the day; Skinny Puppy heavily used them, as did others.

[jojoB3]

One of my favorite synths of all time. Not coincidentally my first synth, I bought an ESQ-1 when they were new, primarily because my favorite bands used them a lot. Very popular in electroindustrial back in the day; Skinny Puppy heavily used them, as did others.

Yes,and John Carpenter and Alan Howarth had the SQ80 on-hand around the time of Escape From New York, Prince of Darkness and I believe Big Trouble in Little China.
Though something tells me it was also used for Halloween III.

These Ensoniq synths have made for my favorite stay-put studio controllers/synths.
Still applicable today.

[stoopicus]

These Ensoniq synths have made for my favorite stay-put studio controllers/synths.
Still applicable today.

Yeah! Both the ESQ-1 and the Mirage were pretty well loved when they landed even if they never cracked the same kind of market as the Roland or the Yamaha digitals. Big cult following in heavier genres. The Mirage saw use as a sampler for many years after much better ones emerged simply for how it sounded and the low fidelity grit it added, in electroindustrial anyway. Meanwhile several of the Nettwerk bands went deep with the ESQ-1 and it was used well into the mid-'90s and later, and others picked up on it and used it too.

I just saw a recent cEvin Key interview on the making of Too Dark Park and they used it on that album even more than I had realized; it was the only album they didn't use their Pro-One on because the ESQ-1 was filling its role in several songs.

I love the ESQ-1/SQ-80 line and was so so happy when SQ-80 V landed.

[jojoB3]

These Ensoniq synths have made for my favorite stay-put studio controllers/synths.
Still applicable today.

Yeah! Both the ESQ-1 and the Mirage were pretty well loved when they landed even if they never cracked the same kind of market as the Roland or the Yamaha digitals. Big cult following in heavier genres. The Mirage saw use as a sampler for many years after much better ones emerged simply for how it sounded and the low fidelity grit it added, in electroindustrial anyway. Meanwhile several of the Nettwerk bands went deep with the ESQ-1 and it was used well into the mid-'90s and later, and others picked up on it and used it too.

I just saw a recent cEvin Key interview on the making of Too Dark Park and they used it on that album even more than I had realized; it was the only album they didn't use their Pro-One on because the ESQ-1 was filling its role in several songs.

I love the ESQ-1/SQ-80 line and was so so happy when SQ-80 V landed.

Yessir! Ensoniq was the Marlon Brando or David Lynch of the synth realm (will check out Too Dark Park too)