▽ Coming Soon from Cherry Audio: Still the ① ▽

[Nug Wrangler]

Can you hide the keyboad?

Yes. "Hide/Show Extras".

Thank you

[stoopicus]

Want list: Fizmo, VFX, Kawai K1

[beely]

There is already a Kawai K1…

[TechHaus]

Want list: Fizmo, VFX, Kawai K1

Nils K1 isn't good enough or you just have Cherry brand loyalty?

[Watchful]

VFX or SD-1? The latter can easily do everything the former could do, and more. I view the VFX, VFX-SD, and SD-1 as essentially the same synth, but with additional features.

Fizmo would be great, too, but not sure it's as effective as its mystique. I'd still want one.

[stoopicus]

Want list: Fizmo, VFX, Kawai K1

Nils K1 isn't good enough or you just have Cherry brand loyalty?

Ooh - wasn't even aware of it, thanks!

[stoopicus]

VFX or SD-1?

SD-1 of course would be fine. I always think in terms of the VFX and ESQ-1 as we had those, but obviously the SD-1 and SQ-80 are better overall choices

[Gosh]

I would also love to have a Fizmo. The closest thing to a Fizmo we have right now is this:

https://echograin.io/

[zerocrossing]

...the Ensoniq Fizmo

I also really like to support plugin versions of 1980s and 1990s Synths that are unapologetically and unashamedly digital in nature

the Ensoniq Fizmo

Man I'm 100% with you on this! Those weird quirky digial synths from the 90's have alot of cool hidden and forgotten gems.

The thing about the Fizmo is that a huge part of the sound is the built in effects processor, so to do it right, you'll have to nail that, and I don't think that's trivial at all. UVI does a sample based Fizmo instrument and without those effects, it's pretty uninteresting.

[IvyBirds]

...the Ensoniq Fizmo

I also really like to support plugin versions of 1980s and 1990s Synths that are unapologetically and unashamedly digital in nature

the Ensoniq Fizmo

Man I'm 100% with you on this! Those weird quirky digial synths from the 90's have alot of cool hidden and forgotten gems.

The thing about the Fizmo is that a huge part of the sound is the built in effects processor, so to do it right, you'll have to nail that, and I don't think that's trivial at all. UVI does a sample based Fizmo instrument and without those effects, it's pretty uninteresting.

Sure but those were based on the Ensoniq DP/4 which has already been made into a plugin, Ensoniq even included their custom 24-bit VLSI the ESP-2 in the Fizmo to run it. The ESP-2 was a 24-bit fixed-point DSP chip, so creating an emulator for that or translating it's code to run in C++ is very doable, especially if you could license it from Creative.

[Teksonik]

There's a focus mode on the synth or your DAW? If the synth, where is it?

Damn bro your eyes are worse than mine and that's saying a lot.

The focus option works but it's pretty fiddly. Having to jump back and forth to different sections or scrolling up/down/right/left can be pretty tedious.

VFX or SD-1? The latter can easily do everything the former could do, and more.

I only lust after a VFX because I used to own one and never really got to use it to its full potential.

While the keyboard action and poly aftertouch where great, playing it made so much noise due to the key clack that it wasn't worth the effort.

By the time I got my VFX I was already fully addicted to working in the box and spending time hunched over a hardware synth to program patches held so little appeal that I hardly spent any time doing so.

So yeah I want a VFX emulation but of course an SD-1 would be welcome as well. Hopefully if the ESQ-1 emu sells well Cherry Audio will be incentivized to create more Ensoniq emulations.

I still haven't heard back from CA on a solution to the pops and clicks issue with some patches like "Cor Anglais Mono" but I noticed the other day when I was making my own patches I wasn't getting the pops so maybe it has to do with certain modulation routings or effects settings. Hopefully CA can sort it out.

EDIT: What version number are you guys running? Here it's 1.0.12 Build 86. I think CA might have rolled out an update because I just tried that patch again and no more pops or clicks even though they were 100% reproducible before and baked into the audio file. Nothing else has changed here since then, no OS update etc.

I just got an email from CA:

"FREE!! Voice-80 is a collection of 880 presets for Cherry Audio's ESQ-1, featuring the sounds from Ensoniq's official series of cartridges. Each cartridge contained 80 patches, and was typically sold for $70-$80. A total of 11 cartridges were released, for an astounding total of 880 patches. Now, you can add the entire set to your ESQ-1 virtual instrument at no cost!"

I just realized that I spent less for CA's ESQ-1 than I did for a single cartridge back in the 80's and that's before adjusting for inflation.

Anyway these free cartridge patches are a whole lot of fun and shoot me right back to the 80's (I feel like wearing Zubaz again). Just like the hardware ESQ (which didn't have FX), adding FX really brings them to life. I've edited ten patches from the first cartridge already. On that note I wonder what the legality would be in sharing edited patches from these cartridges, for free of course?

[rsaintjohn]

I still haven't heard back from CA on a solution to the pops and clicks issue with some patches like "Cor Anglais Mono" but I noticed the other day when I was making my own patches I wasn't getting the pops so maybe it has to do with certain modulation routings or effects settings. Hopefully CA can sort it out.

EDIT: What version number are you guys running? Here it's 1.0.12 Build 86. I think CA might have rolled out an update because I just tried that patch again and no more pops or clicks even though they were 100% reproducible before and baked into the audio file. Nothing else has changed here since then, no OS update etc.

I think I know the answer to this one, as I watched the conversation a few days ago. Danny in Support had James (sound design) take a look at the presets you’d cited. James determined that it was likely caused by a combination of the ENV RESTART button being on and an LFO set to reset in a few of his presets. I think he edited them and put them into the update queue. So when you opened ESQ-1 the next time, improved versions of some presets were loaded. No version or build number would have changed as there were no changes to the app, just the preset collection.

I can’t confirm that’s what happened as both are on break now, but based on your timeline and what you saw and heard, that seems likely. Apologies that it didn’t get communicated back to you yet, but thanks for raising the issue.

On that note I wonder what the legality would be in sharing edited patches from these cartridges, for free of course?

Knock yourself out! Have fun with the gift, make them yours and better, and share the results.

[Uncle E]

Knock yourself out! Have fun with the gift, make them yours and better, and share the results.

Fizmo when?

[Teksonik]

I think I know the answer to this one, as I watched the conversation a few days ago. Danny in Support had James (sound design) take a look at the presets you’d cited. James determined that it was likely caused by a combination of the ENV RESTART button being on and an LFO set to reset in a few of his presets. I think he edited them and put them into the update queue. So when you opened ESQ-1 the next time, improved versions of some presets were loaded. No version or build number would have changed as there were no changes to the app, just the preset collection.

I can’t confirm that’s what happened as both are on break now, but based on your timeline and what you saw and heard, that seems likely. Apologies that it didn’t get communicated back to you yet, but thanks for raising the issue.

Ah ha! That would explain it perfectly. Thanks for your response. I'm glad the cause was found and a fix issued. Happy to have helped.

On that note I wonder what the legality would be in sharing edited patches from these cartridges, for free of course?

Knock yourself out! Have fun with the gift, make them yours and better, and share the results.

Awesome! I'm going back at it first thing in the morning and will share the edited patches here. The wonderful selection of high quality FX really bring those legacy patches to life.

I'm really enjoying the ESQ-1 and very much look forward to any future Ensoniq emulations should they be released.