"So the knob would emit: B8 63 00 B8 62 val"
Did you see if the ESQ-1 would accept a single B8 63 00 message on a button and then B8 62 xx B8 06 val with a different value of xx for each encoder?
Can you change encoders with out having to send another B8 63 00?
When you output B8 63 00 B8 62 val with an encoder I would think the ESQ might prepare by changing the screen and wait for the value message to follow. So with your method it is frantically changing pages for parameters you are not interested in changing as you scroll through???
If this does work it would give you the more old school feel to the synth that you are after.
Try it and let me know if it accepts it.
It certainly works on my Roland FantomS.
You can also use Midi running status
B8 63 00 B8 62 02 B8 06 14
is the same as
B8 63 00 62 02 06 14
so the button would still have MSB
B8 63 00
but the encoder would have LSB and Value
B8 62 02 06 val
Yea !! one less byte per message to save the ESQ input buffer.
Or back to the original
B8 63 00 62 xx 06 val
(Strictly speaking you should end each RPN/NRPN change with B8 64 7F 65 7F to cancel the NRPN, but I like to live dangerously.)
Royce