USQ-1 by UVI Review
USQ-1 is a collection of vintage sounds of the from the Ensoniq ESQ-1 an affordable and memorable synthesizer, released in 1986. This instrument is a fundamentally a sample-based ROMpler of an Ensoniq ESQ-1 … and more.
UVI did release recently many fabulous sounding expansion for the Workstation and Falcon player, see also Subculture, Augmented Piano, Digital Motion, Cinematic Shades and many more. UVI did send a review copy with no strings attached.
Installation
You download the new instrument from your user are from UVI’s web site. USQ-1 requires the free UVI Workstation version 2.6.15+, or Falcon version 1.4.1+. See our review of Falcon here: Falcon By UVI – Review
Sound
USQ-1, in a nutshell, is a sampled Ensoniq ESQ-1. Ok, it is more, but you get the idea of the vibe you can expect from this release of sound content for UVI player (Workstation and Falcon).
USQ-1 is a collection of 400 new patches, a dual-layer architecture with 268 waves inspired by the Ensoniq ESQ-1. You receive the usual assortment of arpeggios, bells, brass, bass, chords, keys, leads, pads, plucks strings and sweeps. All with the vintage vibe of an Ensoniq ESQ-1 which was used and loved by many producers.
USQ-1 enables you to join two layers of sound based on any combination of the 268 oscillators available. The new music is then individually moved through envelopes, modulators, and arpeggios. As with any instrument I recommend to spiced up the vibe with included effects from UVI or in your DAW by third-party effect plugins. Falcon has a vast number of possible effects you can apply to change the sound further.
If you produce to picture and need to provide scores with the current popularity of 80’s retro sounds UVI’s USQ-1 is a must buy for you.
User interface & Usability
UVI has elegantly simplified the UI to make the instruments highly accessible and quick to use.
Rating: Four out of five stars
USQ-1 gives you sounds and patches that are close to results and get sounds related to what made the ESQ-1 so exceptional. This library is about that 80’s vibe, and retro flavor sounds you known either if you are old enough or watch recent themed shows for example on streaming platforms.
