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SQ-80

Ensoniq SQ-80

SQ-80

Released: 1988

MSRP: $1895US

Synopsis:

ESQ-1 with disk drive, more sequencer memory and waveforms. Disk drive can also save SysEx dumps (64kB max). Additional waveforms are 5 "inharmonic loops", 11 transient attack, 5 drums, 5 drum sets, 17 sustain loops, allowing the user to assign an attack transient to some oscillators and sustain waves to others. Architecture Class: Conventional (subtractive).

Ebay Description:

The Ensoniq SQ-80 is an pressure and velocity sensitive 61 key (8 voice, 9 channel multitimbral) synthesizer, featuring three oscillators (75 waveforms), a 24dB low pass analog filter, four (4 rate, 3 level) envelopes, three LFOs, 8 track sequencer, versatile modulation, and MIDI. 40 presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx, cartridge, tape, or 3.5" DSDD disk drive.

Physical

Form Factor Dimensions Weight Audio Input Audio Output Communication Port Control Input Control Output Switch Input Power
61 keys W:40.25in (102cm) H:3.75in (9cm) D:13.5in (34cm) 29.2lbs (13.2kg) no stereo MIDI IN OUT THRU pedal no pedal:sustain pedal:sequencer AC

Interface

Compatibility Multitimbral Memory Program Memory External Storage External Programming UI Input UI Output
ESQ-1 ESQ-M SQ-80 no user:40 cartridge:80 (STC-8 or Voice-80) Tape In/Out (TS) Program cartridge (RAM:STC-8, ROM:STC-8A, STC-8B) 3.5" DSDD disk drive MIDI SysEx menu based florescent display

Architecture

Multitimbral Polyphony Unison Architecture
9 8 no DCO/DCA1+DCO/DCA2+DCO/DCA3->VCF->DCA4->Pan

Output

Effects Pan Modulator Volume Modulator Headphone
Portamento pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity ENV4 yes

Control

Arpeggiator Arpeggiator External Sequencer Sequencer Memory Sequencer External Continuous Program Change
no N/A 8 track 60 sequences, 20 songs, 20k note capacity. Sequences can be saved to tape, MIDI, or disk MIDI pedal Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel MIDI-Bend MIDI-CC1 MIDI-CC2 MIDI-CC4 MIDI-CC6 MIDI-CC7 no

Keyboard

Key Pressure Chord Memory External Control External Sustain Key Scaling Velocity Curves
channel polyphonic no MIDI (guitar mono mode) MIDI pedal 2 2

Source

Name Signal Class Waveform Octave Range Amplitude Modulator Harmonics Modulator Pitch Modulator Wave Assign Modulator
OSC1 digital 75 +-3 pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity no pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity portamento no
OSC2 digital 75 +-3 pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity OSC1 sync:OSC1 pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity portamento no
OSC3 digital 75 +-3 pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity no pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity portamento no

Filter

Name Signal Class IC Resonant Shape Frequency Modulator Resonance Modulator Shape Modulator
VCF analog CEM3379 yes 24dB low pass pressure ENV1-4 key LFO1-3 MIDI-CC Mod-Wheel pedal velocity no no

Envelope

Name Level Rate Loop Polarity Trigger Level Modulator Rate Modulator
ENV1 3 4 no yes key velocity key:decay velocity:attack
ENV2 3 4 no yes key velocity key:decay velocity:attack
ENV3 3 4 no yes key velocity key:decay velocity:attack
ENV4 3 4 no yes key velocity key:decay velocity:attack
LFO1-EG initial final 1 no no no no no
LFO2-EG initial final 1 no no no no no
LFO3-EG initial final 1 no no no no no

LFO

Name Waveform Delay Polarity Sync Delay Modulator Level Modulator Rate Modulator
LFO1 noise saw:up square triangleup yes no key no no no
LFO2 noise saw:up square triangleup yes no key no no no
LFO3 noise saw:up square triangleup yes no key no no no
Conventional Models
ESQ-1 ESQ-M SQ-80