Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I finally took the opportunity to make a video with the Ensoniq ESQ-1. I did a 'first impression video' and stumbled through it. Now I'm a little more well-versed. I actually had an overhead view of what I was doing, but the video wasn't syncing up properly, so I had to trash that one.
Wow - I think the ESQ sounds amazing. I'm really surprised honestly. It's not a 3rd Wave or anything, but - you can actually get some interesting 'wave shaping' on here by utilizing sync, which is what I was doing. Sounded fantastic and frankly, I liked it just as much as the 3rd wave.
And here's the thing - people complain that the ESQ doesn't update it's parameters in real time. Yeah - this kind of sucks with cutoff (maybe it would update in realtime with the mod wheel? If so, that is perfect, just haven't tried it yet). Well - I actually *prefer* it this way and I'll tell you why: because on things like the 3rd wave when you change a parameter, it immediately changes your sound and its jarring. On the ESQ, I can make changes and they only are apparent at the next key strike and that is absolutely great when I'm doing these live soundscapes. Yeah, sure, it would be nice to hear some things in real-time... but I thought it was perfect the way it was.
Very easy to get around on this thing for a mostly-button interface.
Final thoughts:
1) I'm surprised I hadn't bought an ESQ-1 earlier.
2) I think it sounds better than the Prophet 12, on par with or equal to the Ambika, different or maybe equal to the 3rd Wave although it can't exactly do the same thing...
3) Filters sound gorgeous. Surprised that they sort of step when the envelopes go slow, but actually it's kind of more like good character IMO.
4) How are these things so cheap given how good they are? How? Just because the interface looks bad? Not a knobby synth? Overly mass produced?
Fantastic synth. Wow.
I finally took the opportunity to make a video with the Ensoniq ESQ-1. I did a 'first impression video' and stumbled through it. Now I'm a little more well-versed. I actually had an overhead view of what I was doing, but the video wasn't syncing up properly, so I had to trash that one.
Wow - I think the ESQ sounds amazing. I'm really surprised honestly. It's not a 3rd Wave or anything, but - you can actually get some interesting 'wave shaping' on here by utilizing sync, which is what I was doing. Sounded fantastic and frankly, I liked it just as much as the 3rd wave.
And here's the thing - people complain that the ESQ doesn't update it's parameters in real time. Yeah - this kind of sucks with cutoff (maybe it would update in realtime with the mod wheel? If so, that is perfect, just haven't tried it yet). Well - I actually *prefer* it this way and I'll tell you why: because on things like the 3rd wave when you change a parameter, it immediately changes your sound and its jarring. On the ESQ, I can make changes and they only are apparent at the next key strike and that is absolutely great when I'm doing these live soundscapes. Yeah, sure, it would be nice to hear some things in real-time... but I thought it was perfect the way it was.
Very easy to get around on this thing for a mostly-button interface.
Final thoughts:
1) I'm surprised I hadn't bought an ESQ-1 earlier.
2) I think it sounds better than the Prophet 12, on par with or equal to the Ambika, different or maybe equal to the 3rd Wave although it can't exactly do the same thing...
3) Filters sound gorgeous. Surprised that they sort of step when the envelopes go slow, but actually it's kind of more like good character IMO.
4) How are these things so cheap given how good they are? How? Just because the interface looks bad? Not a knobby synth? Overly mass produced?
Fantastic synth. Wow.
