| Model |
Released |
MSRP |
Synopsis |
Ebay Description |
 |
1986 |
$1295US |
The ESQ family was Ensoniq's first synthesizer workstation (80's lingo for "includes a sequencer"). Unlike most subtractive synths, each oscillator has a dedicated amplifier (along with the usual post-filter amp) Most modulation destinations (e.g. OSCs, DCAs, Filter, pan, LFO depth) can have up to two modulation sources, although Pan and DCA4 only have one. Waveforms (single cycle) are mostly "synthetic" waves (i.e. subtractive, additive, and formant based waves) and a few samples. |
The Ensoniq ESQ-1 is an pressure and velocity sensitive 61 key (8 voice, 9 channel multitimbral) synthesizer, featuring three oscillators (32 waveforms), a 24dB low pass analog filter, four (4 rate, 3 level) envelopes, three LFOs, 8 track sequencer, versatile modulation, and MIDI. 40 presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx, cartridge, or tape. |
 |
1987 |
$995US |
Rack version (no sequencer). |
The Ensoniq ESQ-M is an pressure and velocity sensitive 2U rack (8 voice, 9 channel multitimbral) synthesizer, featuring three oscillators (32 waveforms), a 24dB low pass analog filter, four (4 rate, 3 level) envelopes, three LFOs, versatile modulation, and MIDI. 40 presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx, cartridge, or tape. |
 |
1988 |
$1895US |
ESQ-1 with disk drive, more sequencer memory and waveforms. Disk drive can also save SysEx dumps (64kB max). Additional waveforms are 5 "inharmonic loops", 11 transient attack, 5 drums, 5 drum sets, 17 sustain loops, allowing the user to assign an attack transient to some oscillators and sustain waves to others. |
The Ensoniq SQ-80 is an pressure and velocity sensitive 61 key (8 voice, 9 channel multitimbral) synthesizer, featuring three oscillators (75 waveforms), a 24dB low pass analog filter, four (4 rate, 3 level) envelopes, three LFOs, 8 track sequencer, versatile modulation, and MIDI. 40 presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx, cartridge, tape, or 3.5" DSDD disk drive. |
