ESQ-1 goes super pitchy on its own...

[OLDS]

Hi,

I joined this forum to ask this question about an ESQ-1 that I've had for about a month. It's my first synth, and I got it for only $100, so it was definitely a deal, but it's demonstrating some bad behavior from time to time -- on occasion it will start bending the pitch like crazy without any warning. I'm not using the pitch wheel or anything like that, just playing normally, and it can't hold a note for anything. Sometimes if I turn it off and then on again it will fix it for a bit, sometimes not.

Any ideas? It basically becomes unplayable when it does this, and I bought it in the hopes of putting a band together and performing with it, so this isn't really an ideal situation.

Thanks!

[Casshern]

Have you checked the pitch potentiometer for stability?

[rhino]

Welcome to the board!

The ESQ-1 and its big brother - the SQ80 are fantastic, under-rated vintage synths!

Try:
1) soft reset: With power ON, press and hold the RECORD button and the top left button over the screen.
2) check the connector from the wheels to the mainboard and CLEAN WELL !!! Ensoniq used some shoddy plating on the connectors and it develops a grey "mold" that causes poor connections.
3) check the power supply +/- 12 volt rails. Sags and glitches can affect the pitch bend.
4) replace U40, a TL081 op-amp - main board
5) replace U44, a 4051 1-0f-8 switch.

Keep us up on progress.

[OLDS]

Well, I solved the problem, sort of, only to unearth a larger problem...

Having gotten lost at "potentiometer," I decided to push the "Master" button and check out the bend range. As I adjusted it, I noticed that it began to bounce around. I wasn't crazy about this, so I did a soft restart, as was suggested.

That seemed to work, but only until I started messing with envelopes and whatnot, tinkering with the sounds (many of which were not on the keyboard when I got it). I then saw on the display that things were bouncing all over the place, particularly in the middle of the display. The flickering on its own might have been okay, but it was affecting the sounds coming out of the keyboard (ok, my headphones).

I have to confess, I'm a total novice, and not in the least bit mechanically inclined, so when we're talking about checking connectors and cleaning or, gulp, replacing things, I'm afraid I require a really patient person to walk me through all of that, or to at least send me the appropriate links.

Thanks for the help. I really love this thing and hope I can get it into shape as I continue to learn all that it can do.

[rhino]

Well then...
Select a voice, press a function button (OSC, AMP, FILTER, etc) and select a parameter. Watch that number and lighty tap,wiggle the DATA slider. If the number goes nuts, chances are the DATA slider is worn out.

If you mean the actual characters in the display flicker off and on - not just changing numbers - that still points to a loose, dirty connector.

The Ensoniq line was developed by computer hardware designers. They use some realy advanced digital curcuits for that era. I'd suggest - tactfuly - that you take it to a good tech.

EDIT: I still question U40. This is a little amplifier that passes the signals from both wheels and the DATA slider.

BTW: Where are you located?

[natere2ster]

I would also change out the memory battery and replace the power supply caps and yes, give her a scrub down with 90% iso alcohol and maybe some contact cleaner a la caliube or deoxit.