Digital Wave Synthesizer. This gem of a synth offers three digital oscillators, each with its own digitally controlled amplifier (DCA), which are mixed together to pass through its analog low pass filter. Modulation of pitch, volume, filter cutoff, etc. can be achieved using its three LFOs and/or its four envelopes. These ESQ-1 patches should also work nicely with any ESQ1 software emulation or with the Ensoniq SQ-80.
Slowly sweeping volume and filter makes for nice filler without being too dramatic. Add chorus for some blending and fattening.
Piercing and a little distorted with a perfect 5th. Nice for bass lines to punch through the mix.
Nice and round in the bass, or light and spacious in the treble. Sustain notes for widening effect.
Ring modulated distortion make this lead tone grab your attention. Mix with a heavy arrangement for stark contrast.
Just for Halloween, here’s a spooky organ that quickly descends into mayhem. Kid tested.
Ring modulation adds some sizzle to these synth strings. Play harder for brighter tone.
A slightly fuzzy lo-fi-ish lead with a quick delay. Don’t know why I called it Download$.
My take on an upright string bass played softly.
A slow “wow” sound. The demo sound shows off chords, but this would work nice as a single note used to accent the beginning of a musical phrase in an arrangement.
Growly bass with auto-alternating octaves. Adjust the speed of LFO1 to change the speed of the octaves.
A rapid stuttered tone accompanied with a slow wash, great for sustained chords.
A light, slightly fuzzy staccato sound perfect for rapid chords.
Found on an old cartridge, then tweaked by me. Maybe not the most convincing pianos…or strings, but it works for a vintage feel or mixed with other instruments.
A monophonic bass with resonance—also works for lead. Use the wheel for vibrato.
Monophonic lead tone. Use the mod wheel to open the filter as needed.
Some sort of massive pad with a gradual attack and long decay. Sounds like a mix of choir and strings.
Built on the fly during the synthlib.com podcast—in case you’re dying to have this sound for yourself :)
To load a patch sysex file, set up the ESQ-1 to receive sysex data: press the “Master” button and set ENABLE=KEYS+CT+PC+SS+SX. Then access any of the program select pages (where you choose a sound to play). Send the sysex data from your computer using any sysex utility. Upon completion, the ESQ-1 should prompt you to save the new patch. Play keys to audition the patch before saving.
If nothing happens when sending the file from the computer, try setting up the ESQ-1 to receive on different MIDI channels on the “Master” page.
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