Found an Ensoniq ESQ-1, have questions...
Mitchell Spector
(original, with metal case) in excellent condition for $30. It did have some
issues with intermittently freezing up and a garbled display, but fortunately
all it apparently needed was its EPROMs and other socketed IC's reseated,
now it's working flawlessly! (apart from a dead battery)
At the moment it's rather going to waste. I've been using it as a slave
MIDI keyboard for my Roland SC-55mkII (a nice step up from my Casio
that had no key velocity) but I would love to explore and play with the
native synthesizer built into the ESQ-1 and so have some questions...
- There are 40 instrument patches built-in. Can I download and use
more without having to track down a ROM sound cartridge?
- If I can download new sound patches, can they be added through
MIDI sysex messages? And how exactly would that work, just plug
a cable from MIDI OUT (PC side) to MIDI IN (keyboard) and play
a MIDI file containing the commands?
- I assume using the tape-in or manual programming is another way
to get new instruments in, but that's likely to be slow and tedious.
- Is the sustain pedal input compatible with foot pedals sold today?
For example I recently saw a Yahama and Casio foot pedal with a
1/4" phono input (one ring at the tip). I'm guessing they haven't
changed in years but wanted to check before just plugging on in.
- Is there a novice level guide on how to use the built-in sequencer
or creating new sounds playing with the filters and oscillators? This
unit has the sequencer expansion cartidge installed by the way.
- I get the battery low warning when powered on. Do you normally
get this message when the battery is completely dead? (incidentally
it also reports the firmware as version 3.50, think that's the latest).
- What's a good MIDI software sequencer that would work well
with the ESQ-1? I wouldn't mind using my old copy of Cakewalk
5.0 but it doesn't run under Windows XP (heh, going really far
back, I could try MasterTracks Pro on my Apple IIGS, which is
actually the same vintage). ;) Seriously though, it's been several
years since I've used Cakewalk so would like to find a newer
version or equivalent that might help unlock some of the features
of the keyboard.
Mitchell Spector
Pete
Mitchell Spector <mitc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> About two months ago I stumbled across an Ensoniq ESQ-1 keyboard
>(original, with metal case) in excellent condition for $30. It did have some
>issues with intermittently freezing up and a garbled display, but fortunately
>all it apparently needed was its EPROMs and other socketed IC's reseated,
>now it's working flawlessly! (apart from a dead battery)
>
> At the moment it's rather going to waste. I've been using it as a slave
>MIDI keyboard for my Roland SC-55mkII (a nice step up from my Casio
>that had no key velocity) but I would love to explore and play with the
>native synthesizer built into the ESQ-1 and so have some questions...
>
I have no expertise at all in this area (:-/), but your query sparked
my curiosity, and I came across this ESQ-1 "Hacker's Guide":
http://www.pic101.com/ensoniq/
Looks like you might find some answers there.
-- Pete --
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greg
> - There are 40 instrument patches built-in. Can I download and use
> more without having to track down a ROM sound cartridge?
hi mitchell,
are you aware that internal sounds are rewritable (programable)?
there were attempts to produce 3rd party cartridges - please google.
only other way is to use tape in/out.
> - If I can download new sound patches, can they be added through
> MIDI sysex messages? And how exactly would that work, just plug
> a cable from MIDI OUT (PC side) to MIDI IN (keyboard) and play
> a MIDI file containing the commands?
no idea on that
> - I assume using the tape-in or manual programming is another way
> to get new instruments in, but that's likely to be slow and tedious.
on contrary, programming can be fun, with some basic knowledge of
synthesis. or it can be somewhat complex - it is a very flexible
instrument with very clever interface.
(in fact - i'm jealous at you for paying only $30!)
> - Is the sustain pedal input compatible with foot pedals sold today?
> For example I recently saw a Yahama and Casio foot pedal with a
> 1/4" phono input (one ring at the tip). I'm guessing they haven't
> changed in years but wanted to check before just plugging on in.
no idea, try it!
> - Is there a novice level guide on how to use the built-in sequencer
> or creating new sounds playing with the filters and oscillators? This
> unit has the sequencer expansion cartidge installed by the way.
manual is available somewhere on the net, i assume
> - I get the battery low warning when powered on. Do you normally
> get this message when the battery is completely dead? (incidentally
> it also reports the firmware as version 3.50, think that's the latest).
no, there's no such a warning (iirc!)
> - What's a good MIDI software sequencer that would work well
> with the ESQ-1? I wouldn't mind using my old copy of Cakewalk
> 5.0 but it doesn't run under Windows XP (heh, going really far
> back, I could try MasterTracks Pro on my Apple IIGS, which is
> actually the same vintage). ;) Seriously though, it's been several
> years since I've used Cakewalk so would like to find a newer
> version or equivalent that might help unlock some of the features
> of the keyboard.
i guess any software would do, but i think internal sequencer is worth
of trying too - not incredibly complicated, but manual is needed.
hope it helps,
greg
Pete
greg <zel...@yahoo.com.obrisi> wrote:
>Mitchell Spector wrote:
> [....]
>
>> - Is the sustain pedal input compatible with foot pedals sold today?
>> For example I recently saw a Yahama and Casio foot pedal with a
>> 1/4" phono input (one ring at the tip). I'm guessing they haven't
>> changed in years but wanted to check before just plugging on in.
>
>no idea, try it!
Forgot to note in my other post is that there are essentially two
varieties of sustain pedal (both with the same 1/4" jack plug).
One is 'normally-open' (depressing it makes contact), and the other
'normally-closed' (break on press). Casio uses normally-open, Yamama
normally-closed. I believe there are pedals with a switch to select
the mode; if what you saw is a single "Yamaha/Casio" one, I guess it
must have such a switch. (I have a Roland pedal, that originally was
the same as the Yamama, but when I got a Privia keyboard with the
opposite sense, I opened up the pedal and found the little circuit board
was actually wired for both modes. I wired in a toggle switch and it
now works fine either way.)
You can probably check which way the ESQ-1 works by finding an unwired
1/4" plug and inserting it. If you then get sustain, the mode must be
normally-closed, if not, it's normally-open. Some keyboards can use
either kind of pedal by detecting its state at switch on (assuming it's
not pressed at that point) but I expect the Ensoniq is too early for
that. No reason you can't check for that too the same way though.
Michael R. Kesti
I don't know for a fact whether the ESQ-1 detects the type of sustain
switch as Pete describes above but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it
did. The ESQ-1 was a remarkable instrument and included many features
that were later omitted by both Ensoniq and other manufactures. The
ESQ-1's MIDI implementation is especially feature rich.
It you band is into practical jokes, the detect sustain switch type
feature is a good one. You wait until the keyboardist has exited the
stage after sound check and then turn his controller off, press the
sustain pedal, and power the controller back up. Until again power
cycled the sustain pedal will work backwards. 8-)
--
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Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
| two, one and one make one."
mrkesti at hotmail dot com | - The Who, Bargain