1

This might be a strange question, but here goes…

I love the lo-fi, gritty, and haunting sound of my ESQ-1. What I don’t love is the giant amount of space it takes up or the fact that it is ancient and looks like it could die at any time. If only I could squeeze some of that ESQ-1 magic into a smaller newer box like the A4.

Have any of you ever made any attempts to reproduce an ESQ-1-like set of sounds on the A4? Have any recipes, tips, or sound design thoughts you’d like to share towards this goal?

Also, do you think the A4 will ever get an update with some strange sample-based waveforms to use as OSCs? I have no idea if that’s even possible on the A4, just throwing it out there for those more knowledgeable than me.

Thanks!

2

hey there

I just picked up an esq1 and can say its one of the better analogs I have owned, up there with the Juno 6

just a stunning synth

you can get somewhat close with a monomachine but I doubt the a4 can sound like the esq1

try plocking the a4 waves with a bit of feedback and use am

I doubt anything will come close due to the filters, 8 bit waves, Asdr of esq1

for all the hype around the esq1 being gritty I think it’s a wide and warm synth that shapes up well against any vintage analog poly

any other Esq user wan to chime in

also are there are existing and unique ensoniq glitch tips for the esq1

there are the hidden waves which I haven’t explored yet

3

MNM running ESQ single-cycle waves is probably the closest. Of course, if the A4 were to get DigiPRO type functionality on the noise page…

4

Orwell, you are right. I should have said - alternately gritty and hauntingly smooth, or something like that. I’m amazed at the range of sounds and tonal character you can get out of the ESQ-1. It’s not just lo-fi, quite true!

Thanks for the tips. I’ll try some out. Unfortunately, I am trying to thin out machines and a MM would be out of my range at this point. Although, I would love to hear if someone has some examples of a MM emulating an ESQ-1!

5

My ESQ is one of my favorite all time synths. Have you thought about just getting an ESQm? There’s no way your Elektron kit will cover it sonically - it’s too high class, and isn’t it great for counterbalancing analog tones?

6

I think it’s highly improbable that the Analog Four could get an update that gave it the digital oscillator sound of the Ensoniq synths, although the above are all potential workarounds.
The closest modern-day equivalent of the wavetable synth + analogue filter formula in a small format might be the Mutable Instruments Shruthi-1 (monophonic) or Ambika (polyphonic) synths or the equivalent Mutable Instruments Eurorack modules.

7

Ah the ESQ1 One of my first and still one of the best. In fact every Ensoniq machine Ive owned has been excellent and distinctive. The Transwave VFX was out of this world.
It’s a tragedy that the company folded after the Fizmo. (someone sell me a Fizmo please)
I really miss EMU as well.

8

Another lover ESQ1 !!! … I use it continuously Pads and all kinds of crazy modulations … To live I have the closest thing I’ve heard to a ESQ1 the Mutable Instruments Shruthi, I have the version LP2 + Delay and SMR4- mkII, both sound great

1 Like
9

It’d be tough to do. The Elektron is just to clean and controlled. (maybe that’d be a cool OS updo, more “dirt”. The Mirage has the same filter. tons of fun. I’d look for an esq r or mirage r. If you’re after that digital grit and air i’d suggest the mirage. makes some buttery pads.

10

If you like these hybrid digital/analog synths like the ESQ-1, then you should get a Mutable Instruments Shruthi (if you mostly use a single voice) or Ambika (if you want a poly). The Shruthi kits will continue to be available, but the Ambika will be phased out in 2015. There will be a run of Ambika kits this months if I’m not mistaken.

If you’re not comfortable with DIY, you can get a “trusted builder” to solder one of these for you. See http://mutable-instruments.net/forum/discussion/2142/mutable-instruments-trusted-builders-list

Alternatively, there’s the ESQ-M rackmount version of the ESQ-1. Another vintage cheap hybrid rack option is the Kawai K4r.

1 Like
11

Very unlikely. The A4 has DCOs that are implemented more or less as described in http://www.electricdruid.net/?page=info.junodcos and/or Sequence 15: Analyzing the Juno-106 DCO circuit
The fact that they’re digitally controlled doesn’t mean they’re D/A convertors; the implementation is actually much more “analog” than the name might suggest.
Maybe the noise source could be used as a D/A convertor even though it’s not very likely.

12

Had a few days’ use of an ESQ about 20 years ago. I got sounds out of it I’ve never heard since!

I owned an SQR for a few years and I’ve likewise failed to equal the pads and drones with newer and more high-end synths. Although the samples were really noisy, and I never really liked it as much as the ESQ. For some things it was really rubbish!

These machines had proper character.

13

Whoa, wasn’t expecting all these replies! Goes to show the amount of love the Ensoniq line has inspired over the years.

Thanks for all the suggestions and tips. Maybe I will just keep that big old loveable bastard of a synth. I would trade for a ESQ-M, but I’d lose the ESQ-1’s editing panel. Seems much more tedious to edit that ESQ-M. I know some people edit via an iPad program, but… feels like it might be a bit unreliable or hard to find one that is supported for a long time? Plus… I’d need to buy an iPad. More $$$. :frowning:

Anybody have any experiences using an ESQ-M with ipad editor?

I have been curious about those little Shruthis. I’ll dig into some demos. I would be blown away if something that small and innocent looking could match the whuummp of some synthbass arp action of the ESQ-1. That would be mighty cool to have in a tiny box on my desktop though!

While cool, the ambikas might be a bit pricey for me. I’m trying to narrow things down, reduce cost, not go up, heh. Looks mighty cool though. I love the different case and filter options too. Great concept.

Thanks again everyone!