just wondering, the free vst version sounds awesome - very very retro - was wondering what records if any this was used on (hardware version) in the 80's
The bells are very DX like though. If you layer the ESQ1 preset "bottls" with a dull choir and add some reverb you'll get the sound from the beat it intro.
As far as film soundtracks go...
The Ensoniq SQ-80 (and EPS) are listed among the synths used on the soundtracks to They Live (John Carpenter/Alan Howarth) and Halloween IV (Alan Howarth), both from 1988. I don't know in which tracks it was used though.
I'm building myself a freeware empire - some of them (such as the sq80l) are outstanding
along with Tal vst - and Bootsies plugins (epicverb and density are awesome), I got most stuff covered.
The bells are very DX like though. If you layer the ESQ1 preset "bottls" with a dull choir and add some reverb you'll get the sound from the beat it intro.
Despite its name, I don't think the SQ-80 got a lot of love in the 80s. Your post highlights why that was. Sure...the board can do a good Beat It intro. However, the 80 came out four years after Thriller was released.
The ESQ-1/ESQ-m/SQ-80 machines were meant to be lower-cost, feature-laden alternatives to contemporary studio gear. So early Ensoniq synths covered much of the same sonic territory solely occupied by more expensive hardware only a few years before. While the SQ-80 sceamed "Hey, I can do New Wave too!" that party was winding down. The Roland D-50 (and later the Korg M1) were defining the new sound. 8-bit architecture, synth bass, and fat Moogs were out. 12 and 16-bits, lush pads, and choral samples were in.
The largely gawd-awful presets didn't help matters any. Even a superb sequencer (for the time) and dead-easy patch editing couldn't overcome the dated, lo-fi sounds.
These machines offered a lot for the money, and sound pretty good for what they are. A local garage band or home musician would value these qualities. A recording studio - not so much.
__________________ No fair ! It's my turn to be Skrillex !
Not that these freebies are not any good of course. The later you get in the 80's to 90's timeline, the more synths start to take on a bit to much of the 'do everything' via sampled waves sound - and I think the SQ80 is the beginning of the move to this direction. Better having 'separates' i.e DX for bells, PPG esq sounds, analog for poly pads etc...
Despite its name, I don't think the SQ-80 got a lot of love in the 80s. Your post highlights why that was. Sure...the board can do a good Beat It intro. However, the 80 came out four years after Thriller was released.
The ESQ-1/ESQ-m/SQ-80 machines were meant to be lower-cost, feature-laden alternatives to contemporary studio gear. So early Ensoniq synths covered much of the same sonic territory solely occupied by more expensive hardware only a few years before. While the SQ-80 sceamed "Hey, I can do New Wave too!" that party was winding down. The Roland D-50 (and later the Korg M1) were defining the new sound. 8-bit architecture, synth bass, and fat Moogs were out. 12 and 16-bits, lush pads, and choral samples were in.
The largely gawd-awful presets didn't help matters any. Even a superb sequencer (for the time) and dead-easy patch editing couldn't overcome the dated, lo-fi sounds.
These machines offered a lot for the money, and sound pretty good for what they are. A local garage band or home musician would value these qualities. A recording studio - not so much.
Sounds about right but since the 8 bit sound is back in fashion these machines seemed to have found their place much better these days. $100 ESQ1's are long gone
Despite its name, I don't think the SQ-80 got a lot of love in the 80s. Your post highlights why that was. Sure...the board can do a good Beat It intro. However, the 80 came out four years after Thriller was released.
Actually the 80 came out in 1988, some 5-6 years after Thriller was released.
Sounds about right but since the 8 bit sound is back in fashion these machines seemed to have found their place much better these days. $100 ESQ1's are long gone
Meh I got mine not long ago for $200 with an awesome hard case I think just as a MIDI controller its worth that, I have to replace the battery which is a little work but still its a great deal if you can find one for that price, takes a little while to get used to programming it but it has depth and a unique tone. The freeware plug is great too its one of the better emulations free or otherwise Ive ever used, but I like owning classic hardware.
Meh I got mine not long ago for $200 with an awesome hard case I think just as a MIDI controller its worth that, I have to replace the battery which is a little work but still its a great deal if you can find one for that price, takes a little while to get used to programming it but it has depth and a unique tone. The freeware plug is great too its one of the better emulations free or otherwise Ive ever used, but I like owning classic hardware.
yeh the vst sounds very authentic - with a bit of uno 60 chorus - editing can be tricky though
As an aside, and cross reff another post, I think these days if you have the chops you can get a good authentic vintage I.T.B mix these days ...... for free !
I can think of plenty of free limiters and eq's etc that would go well with some of the plug ins mentioned here.
Claude of Anything Box had this to say about the Ensoniq ESQ-1 which is used in early AB albums....
9. Is there a synthesizer or keyboard that you've kept all through the years? Something you liked so much that you've never gotten rid of it?
Claude: Ensoniq ESQ1, which is in terrible shape, but it is a board that brought me freedom, came with me from NJ, and sits and laughs at me from its corner of retirement while I continue to work. Everything else is pretty much gone. I wish I still had an MPC. I like it. But in truth it would be to keep the ESQ company.
I'm not crazy about this demo. It's not clear which sounds are from the SQ-80. If the aim is to showcase a particular synth, one should not include other synths or external effects. These make it more difficult to judge the instrument on its own merits.
Another pet peeve...why are some synths pigeonholed into certain types of sounds. OK...we all know the SQ-80 does a pretty good job aping classic analogues. Yup...the board will also do 80s arcade sounds. Too bad there are few examples of it doing much else.
I use my SQ-80 for chillout and electronica. I will never play Luckyman on the thing.
I'm not crazy about this demo. It's not clear which sounds are from the SQ-80. If the aim is to showcase a particular synth, one should not include other synths or external effects. These make it more difficult to judge the instrument on its own merits.
Another pet peeve...why are some synths pigeonholed into certain types of sounds. OK...we all know the SQ-80 does a pretty good job aping classic analogues. Yup...the board will also do 80s arcade sounds. Too bad there are few examples of it doing much else.
I use my SQ-80 for chillout and electronica. I will never play Luckyman on the thing.
I didn't hear anything in that track that couldn't be made on an SQ-80. Obviously sampled and layered, but still...
You got a sampler yet GED? Just imagine, you could have an army of whatever synths you own. Different than multitracking audio, because you can change sounds on the fly.
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