Ensoniq ESQ-1 VPC-1 CART A Resampled and Rebooted

It would seem this is my 40th track on Soundcloud. Go Me!
Update: I deleted the previous version of this track as James pointed out it was very tinny - plus I noticed that I had left a compressor on with a very low threshold setting (which messed up the sound big time by squashing it too much). I had also added a ton of processing to compensate. Once I realised, I removed all the processing and started again. There's a few more tweaks on the drums (ride cymbals) and I added the brass melody to the guitar part in the middle.

This originally started out as my entry for a thirty minute speed midi contest I did with James and Ben Paddock on 28th February - My first ever, in fact - and it eventually spawned this track - after a couple of days of further tweaking, a disc reading problem, and some extra tenacity.

In a speed midi event, you get 30 minutes to create a track from scratch. This isn't the 30 minute 
original. Far from it.

This is what came out after extensive manipulation of the ideas I came up with in the original 30 minute piece (which was a bit "rough around the edges", (crap) to be honest) and I ended up playing around with it for an additional 15-20 hours.

It is heavily based on the re-sampled sounds of my Ensoniq ESQ-1, (Specifically Bank 2 of Volume 3 CART A - originally available as VPC-3 to be precise) and uses a free SC-55 drum kit (Roland Sound Canvass) by Pink Noise Studios amongst other things.

I also added some Roland G-303 guitar, Squier Precision bass and a nice old eighties style drum loop I created years ago to spice it up a little.

I would say that it is all original - although it is inspired by some old video game soundtracks, including Doom by Bobby Prince, and Jeff Wayne's "War Of The Worlds" musical soundtrack - All those things embedded in my subconscious that are trying to claw their way out.

Recorded in Reason 7.1

And the name? It just came to me at the end of the contest.
I suppose it sounds a bit like "Plate of Ketchup". Something to dip your chips in. Philosophy = a way to spice up your thinking. Just add sauce.

FREE ESQ-1 SOUNDS - RESAMPLED FOR YOUR SAMPLER!
If you would like some free Ensoniq Sounds for your Kontakt or SFZ sampler in PCM Wave (wav) format then check out the rest of my post at howtoprogramdrums.com at the link below:
www.howtoprogramdrums.com/?p=3479
The latest 11 patches re-sampled from the original factory cassette will be available from Wednesday 4th March 2015.

Update:
Extra Ketchup (MixFix)

Features:
Bass
ESQ-1 LOWSAW
ESQ-1 NUMNUT

+Squier Precision Bass

Combinator:
ESQ-1 ISLAND
ESQ-1 MTLPIANO

Melody:
ESQ-1 PNOBRS
ESQ-1 SYNBAD
ESQ-1 TYMBA
ESQ-1 BRASS2

Combinator:
ESQ-1 ISLAND
ESQ-1 MTLPIANO

Drums:
1) Dr Octo Rex
Reason Electro House Elec Drums Halftime bounce loops 
80's Drum loops (old Magix loops?)

2) Redrum
af_jazzum (Redrum)

3) Combinator (Mainly Cymbals)
Free Roland SC55 by Pink Noise Studios

P.S. Plato did not write this song, but if he had...

Plato's Ketchup (featuring Ensoniq ESQ-1)

Variatio 1 a 1 Clav  - From The Goldberg Variations (BWV 988)
By Johann Sebastian Bach 
Sequenced by David J. Grossman · ©1997
Adapted for ESQ-1 By Neil Paddock
Used with the midi author's kind permission
Thanks Dave. Your midis are awesome! Hope I haven't messed it up too much. ; ) 

The Midi file used was 988-V01.mid from 
http://www.jsbach.net/midi/midi_goldbergvariations.html

Be sure to check out Dave's excellent midi resource for J.S. Bach at the link above and his Soundcloud page too!
https://soundcloud.com/electricbach

Track Notes:
This is all a bit of fun really. I am following in the footsteps of distinguished company. J.S. Bach, Wendy Carlos...
I wanted something to showcase the Ensoniq ESQ-1's latest soundpack, and I love the Goldberg Variations, so here it is.

STARTING TEMPO 100
ESQ-1 PATCHES IN ORDER
TPIANO
BEGONE
ICEPOP
PNOSTR (+ REVERB)
STRBAS
PNOSTR & SING 6
TPIANO & STRBAS
BEGONE & SING 6
HRNSEC & SING 6
HRNSEC & SING 6 & STRBAS
BEGONE TPIANO ICEPOP & KICK2 & SEGULS
KIEV KICK & SEGULS

Recorded in Reason 7.1 with an imported midi file and the VPC-1A Sound Pack 01-10

For more details check out
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com

The Challenge:
I have tried to utilise all of the first ten sounds I re-sampled from the ESQ-1 Cartridge VPC-1A 01-10
which are, in order, with Patch Number:

41 TPIANO 
42 BEGONE 
43 HRNSEC 
44 STRBAS 
45 KICK 2 
46 PNOSTR 
47 SING6 
48 KIEV 0
49 ICEPOP 
50 SEGULS 

Introducing them in order wasn't really an option, as some work better than others. I transposed a few sections and experimented a bit with the bassline and the melody so that it sounded okay to me.

I really like the organ sound BEGONE in the second passage.

And the STRBAS rocks!!!

I threw KIEV & SEGULS in last as they really, really don't work well with this piece. The KICK 2 sounds nice though.

Bach is great, amazing etc. etc. If you haven't discovered him yet - Do it right now! ; ) Put his midis in a DAW and mess with them. The hours will disappear! It's great fun. Try it. It's what synthesizers were made for.

Variatio 1 A 1 Clav (BWV 988) By J S Bach [ESQ-1 Demo]

A sample of the first ten presets from VPC-1 CART A

41 TPIANO 
42 BEGONE 
43 HRNSEC 
44 STRBAS 
45 KICK 2 
46 PNOSTR 
47 SING6 
48 KIEV
49 ICEPOP 
50 SEGULS 

(The same sounds used as those in The Goldberg Variations piece)

Available for Kontakt & sfz
Check out the sample packs at https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1A Sound Demo 1

A sample of the next ten presets from VPC-1 CART A

51 MCROAD 
52 PORGN2 
53 5OFSWE 
54 VOXBAS 
55 HI HAT 
56 STRNG2 
57 SAPRNO 
58 FRIDAY 
59 PECKBD 
60 LANDNG 

Available for Kontakt & sfz
at https:\\neilpaddock.gumroad.com

ESQ-1 VPC-1A Sound Demo 2

A sample of the next ten presets from VPC-1 CART A

61 MTLPNO
62 "MACH"
63 NOISE2
64 METBAS
65 MUSCBX
66 STRSEC
67 AHHHHS
68 GLDBEL
69 ROOM 1
70 DRIP 1

Available for Kontakt, sfz and Reason at 
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1A Sound Demo 3

A sample of the last ten presets from VPC-1 CART A

71 JBELL5
72 NOSPLT
73 PNOBRS
74 BELBAS
75 MEIMBO
76 SQRSTR
77 UMMA
78 STARS2
79 TMPBEL
80 COPTER

Available for Kontakt, sfz and Reason at
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1A Sound Demo 4

Variatio 2 a 1 Clav - From The Goldberg Variations (BWV 988)
By Johann Sebastian Bach
Sequenced by David J. Grossman · ©1997
Adapted for ESQ-1 By Neil Paddock
Used with the midi author's kind permission

Another Bach Goldberg Variations Midi Demo to showcase the sounds from the re-sampled ESQ-1 VPC-1A Cartridge (Patches 11-20) and to showcase the sequencing skills of Dave Grossman and the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Here are the voices used:
11) MCROAD (Rhodes Piano)
12) PORGN2 (Organ)
13) 5OFSWE (Strings)
14) VOXBAS (Voice Bass)
15) HI HAT (Percussion)
16) STRNG2 (Strings)
17) SAPRNO (Voice)
18) FRIDAY (Keyboard/Piano)
19) PECKBD (Percussive Keyboard)
20) LANDNG (Special FX - Alien Spaceship landing)

Actually, the alien landing didn't make it into the demo.
You can hear that here:
https://soundcloud.com/neilpaddock/esq-1-vpc-1a-sound-demo-2

There's nearly 4 minutes worth in this piece, as I cycle through the patches, alternating voices to play each of the 3 parts. I repeated it a few times for good measure (no pun intended).

For me it gets good towards the end when the strings and bass come in. There's 7 voices playing at that point.

So why not grab yourself some FREE classic 80's Retro synthesized/programmed pianos, organs and sound effects with this Reboot - Reformatted for use with Kontakt and SFZ compatible samplers - such as Dimension Pro, Rapture and the Free Alchemy Player. A Reason Version of all 40 patches is now available here:
https://neilpaddock.selz.com/item/5554c28db79872006c586fe8

Here's the link to the free patches:
https://neilpaddock.selz.com/item/55238029b79872135cfae92d

Variatio 2 A 1 Clav (BWV 988) By J S Bach [ESQ - 1 Demo]

Ten re-sampled voices from VPC-1B

81 HRPSI3 (Harpsichord)
82 PIPEOR (Pipe Organ)
83 SW BRS (Sweeping Brass)
84 BASS.T  (Bass Guitar)
85 TOYPNO (Toy Piano)
86 AUHARP (Harp)
87 FLUTE (Flute)
88 ALLOY2 (Metallic Synth)
89 AMCALL (Alarm)
90 F-111 (Fighter Jet - Sound FX)

To get the sfz and Kontakt versions:
Check out https:\\neilpaddock.gumroad,com

ESQ-1 VPC-1B Sound Demo 1

This is what the Second Bank of VPC-1 CART B sounds like:

A simple sound demo of each of the next ten patches, namely:

91 ELZPNO (Electric Piano)
92 FLTORG  (Flutey Organ)
93 REGAL1  (Brassy Synth)
94 DRAG (Short synth bass - for arppegios)
95 MRIMVX (Sounds like a Jew's Harp)
96 DULCI2 (Dulcimer)
97 NYMPH (Bell like synth)
98 BELRES (Bell bass)
99 SQRBEN (Like a chime)
100 GONG1 (Great Gong sound!)

Now available in sfz and Kontakt Editions at:
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1B Sound Demo 2

A quick sound demo for sounds 101-110 from VPC-1B

101 #LAYER (Layered PolySynth)
102 ACRDON (Accordion)
103 MINIM2  (Mini Moog)
104 RUFBAS  (Rough Bass)
105 VELDRM (Percussion)
106 BANJO (Banjo style synth)
107 BASOON (Reedy synth)
108 WASH (Glassy Synth)
109 AFTGLO (Atmospheric synth)
110 PUTERS (Sound FX)

Available in sfz and Kontakt formats at:
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1B Sound Demo 3

A quick sound demo of Patches 111-120 on VPC-1B

111 BELKBD (Bell Keyboard)
112 BASIC (Sine wave)
113 SYNLED (Lead Polysynth) 
114 GROWL (Deep Bassy Synth)
115 KRUMBA (Bell type sound)
116 WHLPLK (Percussion)
117 SHOU 2 (Brassy Synth)
118 BEDTME (Chimes)
119 METBAR (like a Vibraphone)
120 LAUGHS (Sound FX)

Available in sfz and Kontakt editions here:
https://neilpaddock.gumroad.com/

ESQ-1 VPC-1B Sound Demo 4

A Sound Demo for the ESQ-1 Internal Banks [Int Banks V2.0] re-sampled by Neil Paddock of http://www.howtoprogramdrums.com/

The first ten patches of the complete 40 patch set (in the same order as the original ESQ-1 Bank 1) are: 

BANK 1 (Patches 01-10)

01 PIANO 1 - Bright Piano
02 MRIMBA - Marimba
03 HORN3T - bright synthy horn section
04 BO STR - Excellent orchestral string sound
05 DIGPNO - Thicker sounding electric / digital piano
06 WAVBEL - Bell - makes a surprisingly good lead
07 ORGAN - Sounds like a Hammond B3 organ
08 ANABRS - Essential synth brass - a classic patch
09 VELBAS - Classic digital slap bass - totally awesome!
10 'AIR' - Classic 80's synth choir sound

Catch up with all the latest ESQ-1 patch sets for Kontakt, sfz compatible samplers and Reason here:

https://neilpaddock.selz.com/categories/synth---ensoniq-esq-1

The Kontakt/sfz pack containing eleven patches from Int V2.0 can be downloaded for FREE from Bedroom Producers Blog.

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2015/02/11/free-ensoniq-esq-1-cassette-sample-pack-neil-paddock-part-1/

ESQ-1 Patches Demo Int V2.0 (01 - 10)

A Sound Demo for the ESQ-1 Internal Banks [Int Banks V2.0] re-sampled by Neil Paddock of howtoprogramdrums.com

BANK 2 (Patches 11-20)

11 BOTTLS - bright bell type sound
12 ORCBEL- realistic orchestral bell
13 REED - synthesized saxophone - interesting!
14 2 COOL- Cool, flutey sound
15 BNDBEL - Like it suggests, a 'bendy' bell sound
16 BASS 1.0 - A nice fruity bass guitar sound
17 BASIC - A very basic synth sound
18 GONG 1 - an expressive and explosive gong
19 ANSYN1 - Synth string sound, nice with arpeggiator
20 "EOWW" - An aggressive lead sound

Catch up with all the latest ESQ-1 patch sets for Kontakt, sfz compatible samplers and Reason here:

https://neilpaddock.selz.com/categories/synth---ensoniq-esq-1

ESQ-1 Patches Demo Int V2.0 (11 - 20)

A Sound Demo for the ESQ-1 Internal Banks [Int Banks V2.0] re-sampled by Neil Paddock of howtoprogramdrums.com

This is BANK 3 - as per our Reason Refill's Demo Song 3.

BANK 3 (Patches 21-30)

21 PIANO 2 - Thicker Piano
22 ELEPNO - A warm and bright electric piano
23 SYNLED - Essential monophonic lead, arpeggiator sound - a total classic!
24 PLKBRS - Nice synth brass for bass and arpeggiator
25 ISLAND - Carribean drums
26 ICYORG - Fairground organ
27 3TRUMS - Standard Synth Brass Section
28 FUZGTR - a reedy sound -
29 CELLOS - More strings - a little deeper - nice with arpeggiator
30 TEETH - A punchy piano

Catch up with all the latest ESQ-1 patch sets for Kontakt, sfz compatible samplers and Reason here:

https://neilpaddock.selz.com/categories/synth---ensoniq-esq-1

ESQ-1 Patches Demo Int V2.0 (21 - 30)

A Sound Demo for the ESQ-1 Internal Banks [Int Banks V2.0] re-sampled by Neil Paddock of howtoprogramdrums.com

NB. The order of these patches corresponds to the Reason REFILL only, and not the Kontakt/sfz patch sets.

This is BANK 4

BANK 4 (Patches 31-40)

31 TRIAGL - Light flutey solo sound (makes a good monophonic lead)
32 MIAMIW - Another great arpeggiator synth sound (like Jan Hammer's Miami Vice)
33 AFTGLO - A dreamy bell sound
34 PNOSTR - Blended piano and strings - great with reverb
35 KALMBA - Kalimba
36 BL PNO - Superb bright DX7 style electric piano
37 GOBELL - a bright metallic bell sound
38 4XFADE - Dreamy bells
39 KICK - Simmons Electronic Drums
40 K+SIMS - Simmons Electronic Drums

Catch up with all the latest ESQ-1 patch sets for Kontakt, sfz compatible samplers and Reason here:

https://neilpaddock.selz.com/categories/synth---ensoniq-esq-1

Note: these patches are available in a different order for Kontakt and sfz compatible samplers in 3 different Parts. Please refer to the individual descriptions at the link above to see exactly what you are downloading. Thank you.

ESQ-1 Patches Demo Int V2.0 (31 - 40)

Neil Paddock is a multi instrumentalist and songwriter. 

Selz stuff is on (neilpaddock.gumroad.com) now.