SKU: 92721217123

Cherry Audio Ensoniq ESQ-1

Sale price$62.10 Regular price$69.00
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Description

Cherry Audio Ensoniq ESQ-1Ensoniq 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

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 nearly 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.

Highlights and Features

  • An exacting emulation of the sounds and functionality of the original Ensoniq ESQ-1 hybrid digital-analog synthesizer released in 1986
  • Engineered by Cherry Audio with comprehensive circuit and behavior modeling techniques to provide unparalleled accuracy and exclusive compatibility with the original hardware
  • Expertly designed and rendered user interface organized into five context-sensitive sections: Play, Edit, Modulation, Envelopes, and Sequencer
  • Three digital oscillators per voice, individually animated in the interface
  • Utilizes the original 32 ESQ-1 waveforms, licensed from Creative Technology, in four categories: Basic and Noise, Samples, Additive/Formant, and Band Limited
  • Oscillator sync and amplitude modulation (AM) options for additional rich harmonics and aggressive, metallic, and bell-like timbres
  • Voice Modes: Mono Legato and Mono Retrig (with note priority), Unison, Polyphonic, and MPE, with detune and portamento and glissando modes
  • Highly optimized, massive stereo dual-layer voicing architecture with up to 32 polyphonic voices per layer. Keyboard split and stacked layer modes allow two simultaneously playable layers, with separate per-layer controls for all parameters, including synthesis, modulation, patterns, and effects
  • Precision modeling of the Curtis CEM3379 analog resonant low-pass filter (4-pole 24dB/oct), expanded with 2-pole 12dB/oct low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass options
  • Three LFOs for each layer, each with tempo sync, reset, and human timing variation options, delay, and 18 possible modulation assignments
  • Four independent multistage (four levels, four rates) envelopes with velocity stages, visualized with click-and-drag handles
  • Exceptionally comprehensive four-slot modulation matrix with macros and simple click-to-assign functionality: 41 sources (with MPE options) and 85 destinations, including ESQ-1's integrated arpeggiator, sequencer, and effects
  • Enhanced expressive performance options with compatible MIDI controllers through channel aftertouch, polyphonic aftertouch, and a new, more flexible MPE system
  • Independent per layer arpeggiators with four pattern modes – Arp, Leap, Order, Random – with swing, chance, and feel to add degrees of randomness to patterns
  • Syncable and transposable per layer 16x4 polyphonic step sequencers for notes and modulations, with four independently assignable macro motions and 33 presets, humanize options, with precision clock and step synchronization
  • 350 professionally designed presets in 15 categories
  • Also includes the 40 original ESQ-1 hardware preset patches
  • SysEx compatibility with the original hardware: drag-and-drop import of individual patches and patch banks from ESQ-1 SysEx files, or directly via MIDI from the hardware
  • Export SysEx patch files from the software compatible with the original hardware
  • Cherry Audio’s acclaimed Effects system, with three independent customizable effects chains, one for each layer plus the global layer, and an individual effects modulator for each layer
  • 20 studio-quality effects that can be arranged, saved, and recalled within their effects chains, which are interchangeable with other Cherry Audio synthesizers:
  • BBD Flanger, Compressor, Digital Delay, Digital Reverb, Distortion & EQ, Dual Delay, Dual Ensemble, Dual Phaser, Envelope Filter, Flanger & Chorus, Galactic Reverb, Lo-Fi, Lushverb, Ring Modulator, Seven Band EQ, Spring Reverb, and Tape Echo. New in Mercury-8 are DCO Chorus, Panner, and Pulser
  • Mini UI effects control tray for on/off, solo, bipolar modulator amount slider, and dry/wet mix for each effect. Global FX on/off, level, and stereo expand
  • Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions included
  • User-adjustable oversampling control
  • Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI learn and mapping (Preset and Global)
  • Cherry Audio's popular Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
  • Complete documentation available directly online from the instrument or in downloadable PDF format
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 92721217123

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Elisabeth Baird Bennett
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 3
Not a great experience but a fine product
Color: Black, Size: 4 Panel Basic
not enough screws were included to make the wall. I was able to locate more screws to finish building-so I didn’t have to return the product- but it was a pain and I got lucky finding the pieces I needed but it could’ve been a fail and a returned product
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026
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April Lehman
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Useful, simple room divider
Color: White, Size: 4 Panel Basic
All the pieces were accounted for, and some even had extra pieces, maybe just in case they need changing. It was a bit like putting together a piece of IKEA furniture, though I went slower than usual so as not to make any mistakes. It wasn’t too hard to put together myself, and helps give my studio apt a feeling of space and privacy for my bed. I only wish it had a lovely Japanese design on it, but it does amazingly seem to match the wall color.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026
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Kswain149
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Multi purpose divider
Color: White, Size: 4 Panel Basic
I am excited this divider is being used to block off a portion of the dining room where I stored extra supplies. It looks nice!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2025
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No cumplio con lo que yo esperaba es muy pequeño , no satisface a un niño de 1 año , no es divertido , se rompe muy facil, es muy caro
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Divisor practico
Color: Black, Size: 4 Panel Basic
Lo uso para dividir la sala de la cocina en mi prqueño departamento excelente 👌
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Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2026
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Monica Oliveros
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Buenas
Color: White, Size: 4 Panel Basic
Utilizamos estas divisiones por largo tiempo y las tiramos enteras y en perfecto estado . Muy buenas
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026

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