The SQ-80 is basically a reved-up ESQ-1 with a total of 75 waveforms, a 61-note keyboard with velocity & aftertouch, floppy disk drive for storing patches and sequences, and an enhanced sequencer. Great for organs, analog-type sounds, pads and sound effects. Like the classic ESQ-1, the SQ-80 functions in providing analog-type 4-pole lowpass filtering and editing of digital waveforms. Each voice can combine up to 3 of the 75 waveforms. These waveforms include multi-sampled transient attack waves such as violin bow, plectrum picks, mallet, hammer, breath attacks and percussive sounds. There are also 5 sampled drum sets. Three LFOs are onboard for some pretty wild modulation of the sounds you create or edit. Complete MIDI implementation makes the SQ-80 great for any studio or live use too.

As for playing the SQ-80, it is a dream! Its 61-note keyboard is full, responsive and has polyphonic aftertouch. Polyphonic aftertouch simply means that each key pressed will respond to aftertouch independently of the other keys. The aftertouch can be used to control a variety of modulation parameters such as the LFO. Pitch and mod wheels and plenty of front-panel buttons and a few sliders make accessing and editing fairly easy and hands-on. The keyboard can be split or layered. The pattern-based 8-track multitimbral sequencer is great for creating short to complex sequences live, or in step time with quantization, bounce-able tracks, 60 sequence patterns and 20 songs. And they can be saved to disk along with any patches you've created and any SysEx Midi data. Unfortunately, the SQ-80 has no built-in effects. The SQ-80 is certainly a classic analog/digital hybrid of the late eighties which still holds up well today. It has been used by filmaker/composer John Carpenter.

Steven Sauve

May 13, 2013 @ 10:48 am

Please stop posting For Sale junk here. There's a separate forum for that.

Paul Kerslake

April 14, 2013 @ 12:28 pm

Hey there, I have an Ensoniq SQ80 with manual and data cartridge (loaded with extra sounds). Have owned it since 1997, never left the house, excellent condition for it's age. Am thinking about eBaying it, but if someone else is interested, make me an offer! Message me on prkerslake@gmail.com

Jimmy

January 19, 2013 @ 2:38 pm

Hi - I'm on the look out for a in the UK message me on if you wish to part with yours J_J_Breeze@yahoo.co.uk - thanks :)

Jens

January 15, 2013 @ 12:21 am

Hi all
I would like some sysx files for the sq80, if someone would be kind to send some,I'll be very happy
My mail jens_e_a@yahoo.com

jaosn

December 10, 2012 @ 10:10 pm

I have an SQ-80 w/ 2 cartridges (80 each on ebay) for sale in San Diego, Tijuana.
if interested, works perfectly, shoot me an email!

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