Help: Ensoniq SQ-R sustain not working

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StuartAberdein

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I have an Ensoniq SQ-R (rackmount version of the SQ-1). I haven't used it for a while and the sustain now doesn't work. I have tried the MIDI keyboard (Ensoniq SQ-80) and sustain pedal with a Roland Soundcanvas and the sustain works fine. However on the SQ-R the sustain pedal (plugged into the SQ-80) has no effect.

The SQ-R is obviously not seeing the MIDI sustain message coming from keyboard. It must be a setting but I have hunted through the manual and can't figure out what to do.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,

Stuart
 
Global setting

I don't know your gear, but they all follow the same general formula.

Because there are 3 or 4 different types of pedals. On/Off switches, otherwise known as Sustain pedals made by various manufacturers, you have to set the global setting for the Sustain pedal to one of the settings that fits your pedal.

I think the various options are: Pedal-R, Pedal-T, Switch & Switch-I.

Some pedals are normally open, some closed, some are continuous "expression" pedals. You change the setting so your Ensoniq knows how to deal with the pedal type you have plugged into it.
 
I have an ESQ-1. Thought I could help, but the ESQ-1 and the SQ-R are not in the same family, so I could be way off. The Ensoniq ESQ's require a "normally open" foot switch, and they do not have a setting to change the board to match the FS. As I said, the SQ's could be different. If you use the wrong one, the 'board sustains when the switch is NOT pushed, and sustain ends when you push it. If sustain is "backwards, you have the wrong pedal. Address the simplest thing first- the pedal. Test it with a ohm meter, or if you lack that essential piece of gear, plug the pedal into a Peavey 2-button guitar amp foot switch jack, or a single-button guitar amp foot switch jack, and the effects should come on/channel switch when the FS is pushed, but off when released- or vice versa. If this does, indeed, happen this will tell you if your FS is okay. If no change, FS is bad.

When buying a new FS, better to get one that is switchable for it's function (down-on switchable to down-off) so you can use it for other gear. Some FS's have a latch-on/latch-0ff switch, too.

Next, I'd do a system reset.

If you determine it is NOT the FS or system reset, I would have the battery in the SQ tested, and possibly replaced. (When I needed that done about a year or so ago, I found that Batteries Plus wanted LESS for the battery AND installing it than Rat Shack wanted for just the battery.) All kinds of weird things can happen with a failing battery. Save your patches and songs in the sequencer (wait, the rack version does not have sequencer, does it?), first.

Beyond that, you will probably need to have the unit serviced. Won't be cheap, I am afraid.
 
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Thanks very much arcaxis. That sounds like the answer. The same pedal/keyboard combo worked fine a few years back but the battery in the SQ-R did die. I also did a bit of randomish button pressing as I was trying to remember how to drive it again after many years, so the Base Channel/MIDI mode setup sounds most likely.

Much appreciated..
 
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