Still the One. More than Ever.

Ensoniq ESQ-1 by Cherry Audio is a landmark virtual synthesizer that captures the essence and iconic sounds of the classic ESQ-1 polyphonic hybrid digital/analog synthesizer, perfectly timed for celebration of its 40th anniversary. This plug-in features the original 32 waveforms, allowing it to faithfully recreate the complex, evolving, and richly textured sounds of the 1986 ESQ-1 in software form. Additionally, it comes with advanced features designed for today's musicians and producers. Its elegant design incorporates extensive modulation options, rhythmic pattern generation, and enhanced performance capabilities through polyphonic aftertouch and MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). Ensoniq ESQ-1 also features a library of over 400 exceptional presets, including the original factory presets from the hardware, highlighting the best of both classic and all-new sounds.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Cherry Audio partnered with Creative Technology, the current owner of the Ensoniq intellectual property, to obtain official licensing for the original 32 ESQ-1 waveforms for this release. Equally important, we meticulously emulated the sonic signature and behavior of the original hardware's legendary analog filters provided by the renowned CEM3379 IC. We also precisely recreated its four DCAs, four independent multistage envelopes, three LFOs, amplitude modulation, oscillator sync, and expanded its modulation system. Its accuracy is such that the ESQ-1 software supports drag-and-drop import of individual patches and patch banks from ESQ-1 SysEx files, or directly via MIDI from the hardware. Additionally, the software can export SysEx patch files that are compatible with the original hardware.

Ensoniq's ESQ-1 was a powerful synthesizer, but it required users to program much of its functionality via a letterbox vacuum-fluorescent display, soft buttons, and a data slider. In contrast, Cherry Audio's ESQ-1 brings the controls and visualization directly to the surface, enabling users to easily edit settings across multiple pages and gain a more comprehensive understanding of its powerful signal path.

Cherry Audio's ESQ-1 features a highly optimized stereo dual-layer architecture that supports an astounding 32 polyphonic voices per layer, enabling multitimbral split keyboard and dual-stacked modes. A comprehensive modulation matrix includes four slots with user-friendly click-to-assign functionality and offers dozens of source and destination options.

The built-in arpeggiator and 16x4 programmable polyphonic step sequencer are both syncable and transposable, featuring flexible humanize settings and macro motions for patterns that go far beyond the original hardware. ESQ-1 also features three independent effect chains and provides 20 studio-quality effects for chains that can be customized, saved, recalled, and shared with other Cherry Audio synthesizers. 

Ensoniq ESQ-1 by Cherry Audio is more than a nostalgic tribute to what was the first synthesizer for many musicians, including us! It masterfully reimagines this iconic workstation as a fresh, inspiring tool to help today's producers explore both the musical past and new, uncharted horizons.

A 40 Year Legacy

Ensoniq's story began in 1982 when a group of engineers left Commodore after disagreements about the company's direction. Among them was Robert "Bob" Yannes, the designer of the legendary SID chip, which provided the Commodore 64 with its unique sound. Shortly after their departure, the team shifted its focus to digital audio. This change proved successful in 1985 with the introduction of the Mirage sampling keyboard. Its success gave Ensoniq the momentum to create something even more ambitious: an affordable digital synthesizer, known as the ESQ-1.

Released in 1986, this hybrid digital-analog instrument combined affordable digital oscillators with warm analog filters, included a capable MIDI sequencer, and offered all of this at a price that musicians could actually afford. Ensoniq marketed the ESQ-1 as a "digital wave synthesizer," and the label set it apart from the crowd. The mid-1980s belonged to analog keyboards and FM machines like the Yamaha DX7, but the ESQ-1 carved out its own space by blending old and new technology.

At its core sat the custom Ensoniq 5503 Digital Oscillator Chip. This chip gave the instrument its gritty, lo-fi, and often glassy character. Each voice used three independent digital oscillators, capable of playing back 32 single-cycle sampled waveforms. The digital signals were processed using analog Curtis Electromusic 3379 low-pass filters, which helped to smooth and warm the sound. The ESQ-1 featured 8-voice polyphony with seamless dynamic voice allocation. One of its most notable features was the built-in sequencer. This onboard multitrack MIDI sequencer could store up to 24,000 notes across 10 songs. This all-in-one approach laid the groundwork for the "music workstation" concept that would become dominant in the 1990s.

Launched at an affordable price of $1,395, the ESQ-1 quickly became a commercial success and a “first professional synthesizer” for many, selling over 50,000 units. Its budget-friendly cost and distinctive, rough-edged sound made it a popular choice in the electronic music scene, particularly among industrial pioneers like Skinny Puppy, as well as various other artists over the years, such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Steve Roach, John Carpenter, Prince, Anything Box, Roxette, Jexus, Avey Tare, Richard Barbieri, Speedy J, Benge, and Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft.

Ensoniq continued to develop its synthesizer and sampler technology, achieving notable advancements with the SQ-80, the VFX and SQ "Transwave" workstations, and the TS series of workstations. They also created the ASR and EPS sampling workstations, culminating in their final and most unique synthesizer, the Fizmo. Additionally, Ensoniq's technology was deeply integrated into the PC hardware ecosystem of the time, which eventually led to its acquisition by Creative Technology in 1998, enhancing Creative Labs' groundbreaking Sound Blaster product line.

Cherry Audio has again collaborated with Tim Shoebridge to create a comprehensive introductory video for Ensoniq ESQ-1 synthesizer. This in-depth exploration highlights its key features, including the digital oscillators and the original waveforms, the new extensive modulation capabilities, the multistage envelopes, SysEx import, and more.