Ensoniq: ESQ-1 or SD-1?

[Tiger Jackson]

Ive been thinking that i might replace my esq-1 with an sd-1 if i ever came across a great deal. From what i know

-Sd-1 has a great piano, even great up to date, while the esq's is seen as aged, thin and cheesey (?)
-sd-1 has no resonant filter, while the esq does
-sd-1 has no analog filter while the esq-1 does

Does the sd-1 support esq-1 patches? I have a cart with my esq-1 patches.
Do you guys think it's worth it?

[Silverfish]

I think they are different enough to warrant having one of each.

The ESQ-1 is one h**l of an analog/digital hybrid, and maybe the closest synth relative to a SID synth (without actually being a SID synth). Three oscillators. Analog filters. Three very flexible LFOs (if I'm not mistaken). 80s digital synth sounds with a warm curtis filter. Yummy.

I've never used an SD-1, but on paper, it looks to do a different type of digital sound. To my ear, the SD-1 sounds like a very 90s rompler. Nothing wrong with that sound, but not my flavor. If you want to dig into synth-programming territory, I imagine you'd find some very grainy, cold, glassy sounds, which would also be awesome.

So there you have it. My somewhat biased opinion towards the ESQ-1 and the SD-1. Happy synthing.

[meatballfulton]

Does the sd-1 support esq-1 patches? I have a cart with my esq-1 patches.

No

Do you guys think it's worth it?

No, keep the ESQ-1.

SD-1 does have better samples for things like pianos, but if you just want a better piano you can get that in a lot of ways.

[rhino]

SD-1: Full-featured sequencer, nice effects.

ESQ-1: That vintage 8-bit sound.

You need both.

[Sir Ruff]

The best feature of the SD-1 is its "transwave" ability (Ensoniq speak for Waldorf-like wavetable modulation), and ability to modulate effects. But I wouldn't give up the ESQ-1 for it. You can sort of emulate those sounds using clever VCA modulation on the ESQ, and it's just SO much easier to use.

[Walter Ego]

-sd-1 has no resonant filter, while the esq does

I'm being stupidly nit-picky, but the ESQ doesn't technically have a resonant filter. But it does still have a VCF and VCA with very flexible routing and FOUR envelopes that can be routed anywhere. Pretty cool.

[rhino]

The ESQ-1's filters are analog and DO have resonance - just (as set at the factory) can't quite be pushed into self-oscillation.

Also - although the SD's piano waves can be useful, they are blown out of the water by even a cheap piano module (Kurzweil MicroPiano for one)

[Tiger Jackson]

Ok i will keep the esq-1. i already have 2 full sized boards and just didn't really want to have another (space issue), the second board is a fizmo i recently got, so i don't really need the sd-1 for its transwaves.