Strange problem with my Ensoniq ESQ1

lostinpurdy · Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Gig Harbor

My Ensoniq ESQ-1 synth has kind of a strange problem: When in mono mode, if I press and hold a key in the lower octaves and I press and let go a key in the high octaves, the filter cutoff changes and I have noticed that the cutoff is a little lesser per octave. Other than that it works just fine. Now I don't play keys much and mailnly control it from a sequencer but if I want to play a mono part, it does get quite annoying. What could cause this problem? Is this common and did anyone else have to put up with this? Is there any solution to fix this issue? Greetings, Patrick.

lostinpurdy · Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Gig Harbor

So... any ideas what could be wrong with my synth?

MusicMan11712 · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:05 pm Post subject:

lostinpurdy · Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Gig Harbor

Well the issue occours even with tracking turned off, only when in mono mode, and only when I keep one lower-octave key pressed and simultaneously press and release any keys in the higher octaves. Also the change in the cutoff level appears to happen octave to octace, not key to key like with tracking turned on. I tried tuning the filters to no effect. I wonder if it could be a glitch in the system. I haven't dared a hard reset yet (short-circuiting the battery). I don't want to end up frying something important.

lostinpurdy · Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Gig Harbor

Tried to contact Rainer Butchy for advice. Never got a reply, so.. any more suggestions before I give up on this?

memetix · Joined: Jan 01, 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Denver, CO, USA

if the release version of the O/S is <3 (sorry, had to.) you might consider upgrading it.
otherwise, back up your patches and try a soft-reset:

(from http://www.scoreforsale.com/html/reset_re-initialize.html .. there's also a filter retune procedure )

Press and hold the (RECORD) button
Press Soft button (1) (upper left hand corner of screen), then release both buttons.
Display = ERASE ALL MEMORY AND RE-INITIALIZE
Select YES. The display returns to the sign-on message. All RAM is erased and all internal programs are reset

after that, i have a plastic esq which is open due to a sudden velocity-less keyboard (still responds to midi). i can only offer suggestions and images of where to look if you have a plastic esq, a soldering iron and meter?