Arturia SQ 80 V

[Justin Havu]

Just announced.

 

[video:youtube]

[johnchop]

If you're already an Arturia fanperson, the intro offer isn't bad: $49.

[David Emm]

I appreciate the floppy disk on the left. Ensoniq made the diskette era a lot more fun. Added props for providing three oscillators and not skimping. Its a nice historic addition, but maybe a bit late in a field covered up with wavetable synths. See: Waldorf M thread.

[Mark Schmieder]

Let's see, $50 for a Virtual Instrument vs. $2250 for a hardware tabletop synth module, and we're making comparisons and/or calling the VI redundant in today's market?

 

I was never much of an Ensoniq SQ80 fan, but this VI might change my mind, based on the audio demos so far. I plan to buy it right after a late dinner.

[Mark Schmieder]

The Analog Lab V download is broken, apparently, and doesn't show up in my user account so can't be directly downloaded either. Arturia Software Center keeps failing on the update. At least SQ80 installed fine though. But I'm not seeing the extra banks yet; I'll re-find the original page as a reminder of their names as there might be direct downloads available until the Arturia Software Center update works.

[Mark Schmieder]

https://www.arturia.com/support/downloads&manuals

 

That's the download site for Analog Lab V (it doesn't show up under your products at your account page).

 

I was able to download and install it fine from there, after which SQ80 V finally showed the two free banks.

 

I'm pretty sure this is fairly new behaviour, that an Analog Lab V update is required for the individual VI's to show their extra sound banks.

[BRW]

The SQ-80 was basically an "improved" version of the ESQ-1/M. The ESQ was basically a digital waveform synth with an analog filter. Lots of programming options with four envelopes per voice, three digital oscillators. Has the basic waveforms plus a bunch of sample-based ones (basses, organs etc.).

 

I actually bought an Ensoniq ESQ-M rack module last year, in almost near mint condition (without a RAM cartridge though, which tend to be expensive...and essential - the ESQ only stored 40 sounds). Mostly because I always like(d) the company (and E-MU, also demised) and because people hyped up the unit so much. The rack version is also really scarce so I jumped at the chance.

 

I have to say, though...been feeling pretty underwhelmed by it. Sound-wise, it isn't nearly as fat and warm as the JX-8P which has a similar idea behind it. And you need to be able to program it yourself, all the sounds I found for it are FM-sounding trash. I'm not a great synth programmer at all, so I might let it go - I see them going for a pretty penny these days. The analog filter does sound nice. You can create good sounding funky poly patches, pads and also housey organs with it.

 

I did manage to cobble up a couple of hundred SysEx sounds together, though - I wonder if the SQ-80-V reads them?

[midinut]

I checked my offer page on Arturia's website and I can buy SQ-80 V and I can upgrade my Rhodes and Jupiter-8 or upgrade to V-Collection 8 for $150. I think I remember reading somewhere that someone was going to wait until October 1st as they are expecting V-Collection 9 to be dropped. Wondering if I should wait as well if that's the case. Anyone have any insight on a new V-Collection? I'm currently running V-Collection 7.

[Throbert]

One of my best and favorite I had the ESQ-1 prior to it.

[JoJoB3]

Never selling my SQ80 but this VST does it justice (espec when compared to SQ8L). If you can take advantage of the upgrade price it's a steal for those working in the box.

Ensoniq is one of my favorite companies next to ARP & Moog.

[mate stubb]

I found my ESQ-1 a dream to program. I don't remember if the rack unit had the same huge display though.

[ProfD]

I hope Arturia didn't program the bugs/issues Ensoniq KBs were known to have back in the day.

 

To be fair, I enjoyed playing Ensoniq KBs. I just didn't like having to keep a couple screwdrivers in my gig bag.

 

I hope the software version is a reliable trip down memory lane.

[vonnor]

I have several Arturia VSTs, the Jupiter 8V I use for many live songs. This one sounds pretty cool for $50.

[Justin Havu]

I found my ESQ-1 a dream to program. I don't remember if the rack unit had the same huge display though.

 

I own an ESQ-1. You're right, it's a very intuitive synth to program.

 

The ESQ-M has a small one-lined display.

[BRW]

 

The ESQ-M has a small one-lined display.

 

I used a Mac editor (Coffeeshopped Patchbase).

[felis]

I checked my offer page on Arturia's website and I can buy SQ-80 V and I can upgrade my Rhodes and Jupiter-8 or upgrade to V-Collection 8 for $150. I think I remember reading somewhere that someone was going to wait until October 1st as they are expecting V-Collection 9 to be dropped. Wondering if I should wait as well if that's the case. Anyone have any insight on a new V-Collection? I'm currently running V-Collection 7.

 

I just updated to the 8V collection, and all that stuff was included with it - the SQ80V and two soundbanks, and the synths that they were charging extra for as updates, like the Jup V4.

The current sale runs until Oct, 5 and I think they'll probably give it some time to settle in before they announce V9.

If you wait for V9, it'll be at the intro price, not like the current V8 sale price. Just something to consider.