Ensoniq SQ80 Synthesizer

Not strictly a true analog, this is quite a rare beast with built in 3,5" diskdrive ,true polyphonic aftertouch and 3 oscillators per voice for very fat sounds. The SQ80 is a luxury varaint of the ESQ-1 and they share the same voice architecture, the SQ80 having more internal waveforms and some other goodies like the polyphonic AT and more. The SQ80 is really a ravers workstation IMO, (and also in recording artist Adamskis I belive), with a brutal ravy electronic sound. The sound can be quite similar to the PPG but not as bright, and the 4-pole analog filter is very rough in the resonance, not self osc though. The voice layout feature 3 digital wavegenerators (DWG's) that can produce singlecycle waveforms of very digital character along with some percussion. Some of the sounds derive from computer synthesize algorithms and other odd stuff. The sound is not really warm, massive is a better word. The DWG's can be set to free running mode and other analog emulation modes is also present.

These DWG's can be hard synced and ringmodulated and they can have a separate DCA EG each, in addition to the final DCA that has panning modulation .It's way cool to sync ex. a logdrum with a sawtooth and a metallic loop! The DWG's have extremely high and low pitch capabilities making it possible to obtain really unique raw and "trashy" sounds before sending it to the wonderfull analog Curtis filter. There is 4 true analog rate/level EG's and 3 LFO's with lot's of waveforms that can modulate almost anything. The modulation system is very advanced with every destination having multiple positive/negative inputs and a lot of sources including external midi controller and a real analog CV input on the backpanel!

The built-in 8 track sequencer were advanced for it's age and is similar to the Ensoniq EPS sequencer. Today you always use a Computer of course ( I use Cubase) but the SQ80 sequencer can send sync and is a good sketch pad. I always wanted to do CV-gate sequencing only, but I havent got ny hands on a MC4 or a MC8 yet.. The SQ80 is 8 way multitimbral and have double/split capabilities and a for its age very advanced dynamic voice allocation not cutting of the sound when changing to a new one! The diskdrive can save individual voices and banks plus sys.ex from external midi devices. It is very easy to program, each LFO,EG etc having a separate button (not like the Matrix 6..) but you really miss those knobs...

All in all, a very capable synth for those trashy harsh electronic rave sounds with LOTS of pitchbending and portamento!!! Also an excellent midi controller.

SAMPLES SOON TO BE ADDED!!!