Ensoniq ESQ1 One-Way Editor

Ensoniq ESQ1 One-Way Editor
Beta Version 1.1
[c] JaseFOS 2015

 

This release is intended as a ‘One-Way’ editor for the Ensoniq ESQ1.

Although this Panel can’t grab patches from the synth memories, what it does let you do is very useful – you may create custom sounds for the synth and enjoy full recall from DAW project files to store the patch, rather, than maintaining separate memories on the synth (which only has 40 locations available for storing your own sounds) which are awkward to manage and back up. All parameters may be automated from your DAW.

This is an early work in progress so please read the limitations below and keep those in mind during use.

Enjoy!

 

p.s. explore the Snapshots for a new sound library I’m developing with successive updates!

 

CONFIGURING YOUR ESQ1

On the front panel of the ESQ1:
1) Press [MIDI] to access the MIDI settings;
2) Set the PRESS parameter to CHAN (not essential but recommended when playing the built in Snapshots);
3) Set MODE = POLY;
4) Important setting – ENABLE = KEYS+CT+PC+SS+SX (this enables external NRPN control);
5) Nominate an unused MIDI Channel on your MIDI port and set the CHAN setting to match.

* IMPORTANT TIP *

The setting at step 4 is not preserved after ESQ1 is switched off so you’ll need to make this setting each time you turn it on your ESQ1.

 

READ THIS STUFF – IMPORTANT NOTES ; )

a) Don’t turn the knobs too fast – ESQ1 will crash and reboot!

USE YOUR MOUSE WHEEL to tweak the parameters since most mice wheels are stepped so it’s easy to control the ‘flow rate’ of change to the control so to speak. I need to come up with a scheme to remove redundant NRPN MIDI CC messages which select the parameter to be tweaked on the synth. I have some thoughts about how to do this with Lua script which will be implemented soon.

If you accidentally crash the ESQ1, patch settings are preserved in the CTRLR Panel (although you will need to re-do the setting made described in Step 4 earlier). Just send a Snapshot of the CTRLR Panel settings back to the synth and you’re back where you left off. This behaviour is top of my list to solve!

b) Commence sessions by sending Snapshots

Before you commence, send a Snapshot to the ESQ1 using CTRLR’s menu bar so that all settings in the synth match the Panel. Don’t forget to make Snapshots of your own as well of course!

c) Snapshots take a while to send.

It takes about 29 seconds actually. I had to decrease the rate at which Snapshots are sent to avoid overloading the poor little CPU in the ESQ1. Once I’m Lua script skilled, I’ll implement a quick SysEx dump function instead.

d) Many features to come including:

* Patch name LCD that writes to the synth display;
* SysEx patch dumping to the synth;
* SysEx patch dumping from the synth;
* Patch Randomiser;
* Graphic representation of Envelope slopes superimposed on each other (great for staging Envelope times);
* Graphic LFO representation similar to the Envelopes.

 

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Roland MKS-80 Editor (MPG-80 Emulation) mk1

After many years of having this famed module kicking around in my studio rack without a good editor for it on MacOSX which has plug-in integration and support for 32bit and 64bit VST/AU hosts, I stumbled across CTRLR which has revolutionized the way in which I can integrate my hardware synth collection within Ableton Live! I decided right away to get my hands dirty, contribute something of value to the community and bring this module to life since there was no panel for it created already.

Here is mk1 version 1.0 (latest versionuploaded 19-02-2015) of my Roland MKS-80 CTRLR Panel (essentially an emulation of Roland’s MPG-80 programmer).

Current Limitations:

– This mk1 version edits the Upper Tone only of a Patch (for mk2 I will extend functionality to have simultaneous editing of the Lower Tone).

– SysEx dumps of single patches and Bulk dumps have not been implemented yet.

 

NOTE: With the current implementation of the Programmer Channel selector, behaviour is as follows. The range is from 0-15 and which translates to 1-16 of “real” MIDI channels. So this means if your MKS80 is set to MIDI Channel 9, you *must* select 8 on this Panel’s Programmer Channel knob (you can’t miss it – it is coloured orange). If you do not set the channel correctly on the Panel,  your tweaks on this Panel will not reach your MKS80. I will investigate a means of correcting this behaviour so the displayed MIDI channel matches the real MIDI channel.

I’m looking forward to developing this further as I get my head around LUA scripting (this will take some time). For now, enjoy tweaking this awesome sounding synth if you’re lucky enough to have one and be sure to make use of Snapshots to store your sounds to give yourself full patch recall with your self created sounds being faithfully stored within your DAW project files. Liberating yourself from the tedium of managing patches within the synth own memories is the key to achieving robust recall of your precious sounds).

Special mention must go out to my good friend, John Grant, for the extended loan of this module he was no longer making use of! Much respect! Additional thanks going out to forum member, Layzer, for adding nicely rendered animated slider/knob caps and making the Programmer Channel selector work! MANY THANKS!

 

Best Wishes,

 

JaseFOS

DOWNLOAD: Roland MKS80 mk1 v1.00

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