Ensoniq SQ-1
Released: 1990
MSRP: ?
Synopsis:
Cost reduction of VFX line (no shaper modulator, no pan or LFO rate modulation, smaller sequencer, MIDI only pressure), retaining drum samples/maps. Architecture Class: Rompler.
Ebay Description:
The Ensoniq SQ-1 is a velocity (and MIDI pressure) sensitive 61 key (21 voice, 24 channel multitimbral) synthesizer, featuring dual multimode digital filters, three 4-stage envelopes, an LFO, versatile modulation, stereo effects, 8 track (+ 8 track song) real or step time sequencer, auxiliary outputs, and MIDI. The 80 user editable presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx, 3.5" DSDD disk drive, or cartridge (another 100 presets are in ROM).
Physical
| Form Factor | Dimensions | Weight | Audio Input | Audio Output | Communication Port | Control Input | Control Output | Switch Input | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 keys | W:40.375in (102.6cm) H:5.125in (13cm) D:13.375in (34cm) | 25lbs (11.3kg) | no | main:stereo aux:stereo | MIDI IN OUT THRU | pedal | no | dual (TRS) | AC |
Interface
| Compatibility | Multitimbral Memory | Program Memory | External Storage | External Programming | UI Input | UI Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQ-1 SQ-1+ SQ-R SQ-R+ SQ-2 KS-32 | shares program memory | preset:100 user:80 cartridge:160 | cartridge (ROM:SC/ISC RAM:MC-32) 3.5" DSDD disk drive | MIDI SysEx | menu driven | LCD display |
Architecture
| Multitimbral | Polyphony | Unison | Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | max:21 (osc:1) min:7 (osc:3) | no | DCO->DCF->DCA->Pan |
Output
| Effects | Pan Modulator | Volume Modulator | Headphone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24bit stereo multieffects processor (ESP chip), featuring reverb, chorus, flange, phasing, delay, distortion, rotating speaker, compression, wah. Effects can be modulated by performance controls (pressure, velocity, key, mod wheel, CV/switch pedals, MIDI CC, 6 ramps) | no | pressure Env1-3 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity | yes |
Control
| Arpeggiator | Arpeggiator External | Sequencer | Sequencer Memory | Sequencer External | Continuous | Program Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | N/A | 8 track + 8 track song real or step time (supports Sysex dump/load) | notes:9k (SQX-70-S:58k note) sequences:70 songs:30 | MIDI pedal | Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel MIDI-Bend MIDI-CC1 MIDI-CC2 MIDI-CC4 MIDI-CC6 MIDI-CC7 MIDI-CC10 MIDI-CC70 MIDI-CC92 MIDI-CC93 MIDI-CC94 MIDI-CC95 | pedal |
Keyboard
| Key Pressure | Chord Memory | External Control | External Sustain | Key Scaling | Velocity Curves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| channel polyphonic (MIDI only) | no | MIDI (guitar mono mode) | MIDI pedal | pitch:microtonal | 4 |
Sample
| Stereo | Sample Depth | Sample Rate | Sample RAM | Sample ROM | Sample Points | Sample Trigger | Sample Loop | Sample Edit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | 16 bit | ? | no | ? | N/A | N/A | N/A | no |
Source
| Name | Signal Class | Waveform | Octave Range | Amplitude Modulator | Harmonics Modulator | Pitch Modulator | Wave Assign Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | digital | ? | +-4 | mix: key velocity | start:velocity | pressure Env1-3 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity portamento | no |
Filter
| Name | Signal Class | IC | Resonant | Shape | Frequency Modulator | Resonance Modulator | Shape Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | digital | DSP | no | 2-3 pole low pass (shares 4 poles with multimode) | pressure Env1-3 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity | no | no |
| F2 | digital | DSP | no | 1-2 pole low or high pass (shares 4 poles with low pass) | pressure Env1-3 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity | no | no |
Envelope
| Name | Level | Rate | Loop | Polarity | Trigger | Level Modulator | Rate Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Env1 | 4 | 4 | yes | no | no | velocity | key velocity:attack |
| Env2 | 4 | 4 | yes | no | no | velocity | key velocity:attack |
| Env3 | 4 | 4 | yes | no | no | velocity | key velocity:attack |
LFO
| Name | Waveform | Delay | Polarity | Sync | Delay Modulator | Level Modulator | Rate Modulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFO | triangle, sine, sine/triangle, positive triangle, positive sine, up saw, or square | yes | no | no | no | pressure Env1-3 key LFO MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel noise pedal velocity | no |