Cherry Audio's ESQ-1 Recreation: The Wait is Over, but at What Cost?

After years of anticipation, Cherry Audio has finally dropped the long-awaited software recreation of the legendary Ensoniq ESQ-1. But what makes this release so special? For starters, the ESQ-1 was notorious for its notoriously difficult-to-obtain original hardware. With Cherry's recreation, producers and artists can now tap into the iconic synth's distinctive sound, which is characterized by its sharp, percussive drums and rich, analog-style leads.

The ESQ-1's unique sound is largely due to its advanced technology at the time of its release, including a novel use of 24-bit PCM samples and high-quality analog filters. Cherry Audio has managed to accurately model these components, allowing users to recreate the original patches with surprising fidelity. This means that producers can now experiment with the same sounds used by legendary artists like Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Vangelis, who all relied on the ESQ-1 for many of their most iconic tracks.