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Secret Gear

-Synthesizers that newbies don't know about,
but everyone talks about.

Ensoniq ESQ-1

Digital / Analog hybrid workstation with analog filters, and modulation routing abilities.

Ensoniq ESQ1 - Thumbnail

Produced in 1983, the ESQ-1 featured three oscillators (sound sources), three LFO's to
modulate them with, and three seperate filters. The filters are analog, which means they add a very
deep, bellowing, and warm effect to the sounds. Because of the nearly endless modulation routing abilities, some very deep pads can be achieved with a little effort tweaking the eight-stage ADSR Envelope Generator. Perfect for Ambient music. Sound
shaping doesn't get better for less than $200. Oh, and it has a sequencer.....

Ensoniq ESQ-1 Digital Readout Screen — Ensoniq ESQ-1 model label, data cartridge and display panel. Photo courtesy of Xenomorph studios LLC.

Yamaha TG-33

FM Vector synth with sound-morphing capabilities, and multi-timbral functionality.

Ensoniq ESQ1 - Thumbnail

The Yamaha TG-33 Tone Module, released circa 1990, features a unique yet very powerful sound generation method. It is a hybrid between Vector and FM (Frequency Modulation) Synthesis types. Vector Synthesis allows the smooth morphing between two to four sounds via a joystick controller. 4 operators (sound sources) can be combined per program. The value has gone up on these secret bits of kit. Their market value today is around $170-250.

Yamaha TG-33 Desktop Tone Module: Digital Readout — Yamaha TG-33 Digital LCD Display, Patch 57 SL:COSMO. Photo courtesy of Xenomorph studios LLC.

Famous users: Jeff Mills and Paul Birken
Cost: In between $170 and $250
Links:http://homepage.mac.com/synth_seal/

Yamaha CS1-x

Control Synthesizer released in 1996. The first virtual analog synthesizer.

Yamaha CS1-x thumbnail

Released in 1996, by corporate giant Yamaha, it was one of the first keyboards to feature real-time knob control with which sound parameters could be edited since the real-analog period where synthesizers like the Minimoog utilized analog components that were not DSP-controlled. It spawned a new category in sound production, and consequently, many more models which improved upon the build.

Famous users: Boards of Canada and Underworld
Cost: In between $150 and $300
Links:http://www.sonicstate.com/synth/yamaha_cs1x/