Ensoniq Mirage

What version am I using?

I'm using the latest software version which I ordered from Syntaur.

How do the presents sound?

The Mirage allows you to program 4 variations of your samples In this way you can program your own presets which can sound any way you want.

How hard is editing your samples?

Many people find editing on the Mirage very hard. I'd like to present a different perspective. In comparison to other samplers both past and present, the Mirage doesn't have that many paramerters. This is more so the case when you consider that your everyday functions can be easily memorized. You don't actually have to fully understand Hex inorder to use the Mirage. If you use your ears and the parameter card (which you can find on the internet if you don't have it) You'll find editing a breeze. Trust me use your ears not your eyes! Your making music not painting a picture. Staring at a visual editor will just slow you down.

How is the manual?

I've got the manual from Syntaur. It's pretty good in my opinion. If you're accustomed to Ensoniq manuals this one is no different.

By using both oscillators you can create a chorusing effect which is actually quite good. Also with the resontat filter you can create effects aswell.

You can buy an input filter for the sampling input. This cleans up the sampling capabilities. You can also get the MASOS software which allows the Mirage to be interfaced with software editors. It also gives you more sample editing features and sysex capabilites.

There is a 1 track onboard sequencer which does not quantize or anything. It simply records what you play and allows you to change the tempo that it. You can sync it up to and external sequencer if you want.

Your samples will sound amazing! That's it that's all. They might not sound like what you want them to but they'll sound great.

The Mirage has a very sandy, gritty sound on it's own. When you apply the filter you samples will get very smoth and muted. Both are very pleasant to the ear. The key is to sample without overloading (which can be easy to do when you're dealing with an 8 bit sampler)

The reaction to velocity is quite good also.

There's just somthing different about the sound of this sampler. After using for a while you will understand what the Mirage can do for you and what it can't. When that day happens the Mirage will be the best kept secret in your aresenal.

Mine is actually one of the most reliable piece of Ensoniq equipment that I own. The disk drive will go bad but that's expected and can be easily replaced.

Well we all know what happened to Ensoniq. Sometimes I wish they'd come back and make a new hardware sampler. With that said there's actually a lot of resorces and support for the Mirage online. Which make support for this sampler quite easy to come by.

I'm considering getting another one.

In comparison to other products? There is no comparison period!

When used as an additon to you rig the Mirage will do nothing but contribute in a positive way.

For the price of these today you can't lose. Give it a try. If you don't like it. I'll buy it from you.

If you try to program it from the panel it is very hard, you program it using hex codes and you have to remember all the codes.

Better is to get a computer based editor and forget about trying to program it from the panel.

Much has been said about this 20+ year old machine. Here are some things people have missed:

It uses curtis chips for the VCF. That's right, it has real analog filters. If it didn't have these, it would be worthless. The filters are the only reason to buy it. I'll explain why.

What it is basically is a programmable 8-bit wavetable. You get 2 oscillators per voice. The memory is split in 2 banks of 64k, I suspect that is because it uses an 8-bit processor so it pages the banks. Anyways, you can synthesize any waveform in it and you get a sound quite like old DCO based analog synthesizers. Or you can apply analog filter and resonance to samples and get a sound like a casio on acid. Very wack machine, if you like funky machines it is inspiring because it sounds so good and so bad at the same time.

Feature wise, this thing is a dinosaur if you think of it as a sampler. However if you think of it as a infinitely programmable synthesizer, this thing rules.

Some samples are so horrid, and yet some samples are quite nice. Better to forget about trying to emulate real instruments and emulate synthetic instruments. It is very good at sounding like an analog synth.

It has velocity, and an LFO. The LFO can only modulate the 2 oscillators. There are two envelopes one for the filter and one for the mixer, and they respond to velocity as well. Would be cool if there was an LFO to sweep the filter.

It's hard to rate this because as a sampler it sounds aweful but as a programmable synthesizer it sounds awesome.

Got no idea

HAHAHAH Ensoniq is gone

Depends, if you want a good sampler forget it. If you want a wacky *** sound box, this is it. It could benefit from more modulation sources though.

I've never had any gear that would be so strange to use. Basically all you do is punch in numbers and that's all. I got the no buttons version, it's the blister type and that makes it feel like using cheap calculator. At least a slider for the parameters would be nice but it's what it is - pain in the arse.

The features. Well, it has the ability to completely change the samples to something else and unrecognizable. But it messe up the sound completely even when you just straight sample. You sample something and it comes out like something else at the other end. The fun part is that is what I like about this sampler. It really shouldn't be called sampler but a mangler coz I know that even back in those days they had samplers that could pretty much clone the input signal.

Like I said it does wierd things to the original sound. If you're in to circuit bending like I am, this is for you. You won't even have to bend this sampler it sounds bend all ready and goes straight with all acid, electro and other similar stuff of toda's style. No matter what you do you won't get the Mirage sound out of anything else, not even some wierd software. It's a super LoFi thing.

I've found this under a ton of trash on the street about 7 years ego. It use to stop working once a week for no reason and needed few good kicks to get going again. Than I got the ****s with it and resoldered all the joints, been ok since.

Yeah right

Great "almost" sampler. Get sounds like you've never heard before, get ready for some programming frustruations but it's worth the time.
LoFi all the way, when you sample it ads bass out of nowhere but it's a great bass. When you sample it looses all the top end so you EQ some back in only to find it becomes gritty but still remains smooth.
All in all it's sounds pretty close to those cheap recording teddy bear 4 bit toys. Pretty cool it is.

you will get nowhere without the format disk,o.s. disk, and the manual
dinding one without those items and you not already having them renders this thing completely useless. literally you can even use it as a midi keyboard without the o.s. disk. keep this in mind if your wanting one of these or see one really cheap. its most likely cheap for that reason. this gives it a 1 because you cant get much more user unfriendly then that. it night as well have come with the manual mounted on and the o.s. should have been store in a battery back-up scenario. but had it been then it would be alot alot more trouble to deal with so, eh what can you do.

very straightforward yet every feature is useful. and all feature sound great. no effects, the 16plus eps has some i believe. i give it a eight because what it does it does incredibly well.

ok so heres why you get one. at this point you might be wondering why its any good at all. well, its filters first off sound amazing! its the closest ive heard to getting analog pads in a digital device ive heard. you can easily get old roland pad sounds with it. i keep mine reularly hooked up to my pc and come up with soft synth sounds and go ffrom there. try to avoid sampling anything but a straight wave, you can tweak the attack and decay etc from within so dont even mess with it prior. plus it makes your samples come out pretty dirty. great for analog sounds. not so great for cetain mellotron stuff, flutes clarinet etc. dont even bother trying to get a piano. but like i said what it does it does incredibly.

well i wouldnt lug it around on stage without owning three others. but i imagine it can handle it. skinny puppy used to take them on tour for years. and they kept using them so there somewhat reliable especially for there age. i havent crashed yet. so id say thats good for a 20 yr old sampler.

none, ensonq is gone and i believe emu bought them and there gone too. so dont even think your gonna get any real help. sytaur is there, but for a pretty steep price almost not even worth it. plus if your looking for parts from them you can forget it. remember this is a 20 yr old piece. if you want parts you should either A. consider what your doing and the damage and just sell it for scrap on ebay. or B. be prepared to trash other vintage gear such as other ensoniq synths just to help your mirage. if it comes down to that id sugest getting a eps 16 plus. or if you got the cash a asr.

ok so heres the story, i walked out of my apartment one sat moring about a month ago. there was a yard sale all the residents were having. so i go up and look and this guy has a mirage with a 20 bucks sticker on it. i owned a eps back in the day and a esq-1 so i knew exactly what it was. i asked him about it and he said it just gathered dust in his place and his wife wanted it gone. so i looked in my wallet and i had 15 bucks, pulled it out and said all i got is fifteen, he kinda shrugged and said well nobody else is gonna even know what this is so yeah ill take it. so i went up stairs turned it on reliezed it was exactly like the eps it needed the o.s. disc. and thought eh it was 15 bucks whatev. so i went downstairs to go meet up with my girl and he stopped me and said hey, do you want the manual, i said yeah but if you have the disks that would be even better, so he left came back with the manual and the disks. i was thrilled and blew that whole day folling around with it. for what it cost me which was less then dinner. i thought i got a hell of a deal, especially since it looked new looking. and still does. doesnt look like its ever seen a stage or daylight for that matter. everything works almost like new. ive already got into heavlily sampling my own stuff. but i have experience if you do with a manual youll catch on real quick. as for the prehistoric double density disk type. well i want to a local dusty old computer store walked in asked the guy do you guys have any old double density disks? he giggled and pointed to a wall in the back corner that must have had half a million of them. with 99% being double density. i thought for a second about getting them all and realized these wernt going anywhere. bought 12 for a buck twenty five and told him id be back in a month or so to get more. so in my situation it makes sense. however if you dont have the format disk, manual, or o.s. this is a really expensive paper weight. LEARN HOW TO SAMPLE YOURSELF. its not worth the eye gouging the disks go for online. not to mention those sounds were usable in the 80's so there not so great sounding now. unless your looking to write the sequal to the sienfield theme id suggest looking at your local shops picking up some old dds and learning how to do it yourself. ive had it a month and all i cant do now is drum samples but im sure ill get it pretty soon here. well thats my story. oh if i broke it and nobodies gonna steal it. id get another one without heistation, hey, might get one anyways for backup. ive owned a akai x7000(now thats prehistoric!) and a eps 16plus. i favor this over the eps because for some reason it sounds waaay warmer. im convinced its using the same vcf chip as like the poly800's or juno 106. if you see one with what you need. pick it up at the very least its fun as hell to have around.

Using OS 3.2 and more recently MASOS 2.0(since I got the ISF-1 input sampling filter). I actually like working with the Mirage and have been making Hip-Hop with it since '91. The fact that it has only a two digit display yet does magical things to your music is something that really draws out your creative potential. I like to think of it like that big machine in the movie 'War Games' that's really big and industrial and does stuff scientists can't even figure out; I think it was call the 'Whopper' or something! The sounds this thing makes are in a class of their own but I myself also would like to point out the totally brilliant SEQUENCER(will explain later)! Oh yeah you need the manual or at least the parameter card to get started.

For what I use it for which is making sample based beats the keyboard action(on the later DSK-8 with the improved keyboard but still has expansion port and mono out) is second to none. The expression it gives when you trigger drums is awesome and the keyboard action is excuisite for laying down un-quantized beats. Which brings me to the SEQUENCER! OK I now alot of cats like to sequence beats without quantize but the Mirage goes one step further. There is no quantize feature in the Mirage(and no bpm meter just a random value that you can adjust to speed up or slow down the playback) and since you arm the sequencer to record as soon as you start to play and the sequence completes when you press the sequence start button, you are in essence making a tape recording of yourself and looping it right when you press that button(I just found out you can use a footswitch to loop it). So basically YOU are the master of the rhythm and YOU tell it to loop at the end. I can play old records over my beats and they fall RIGHT IN THE POCKET because my beats are as naturally flowing as a live drummer! This may seem like no big deal to those who haven't tried sequencing on a Mirage but there is no other machine set up to capture a beat so 'humanly(?)'. When my disk drive started to go in '97 it didn't matter too much because I had a couple sequences saved that were so perfect that all I had to do was put new samples in and press play! Now in '06 I took those same sequences from '97 and put new samples in and voila! Totally original dope beats! This thing rocks! Also I have to add the sequencer plays with random velocity, glitches, and random phasing which adds even more personality!

The effect it gives to sounds taken off vinyl especially is BOMBASTIC! It makes weak basslines rattle your rib cage and makes funky drums the star of the show(kicks shake the floor and snares claw into you). This machine DOES NOT have a clean digital sound it has a smooth velvety sound(when used properly) so hi hats and cymbals are a bit more tricky to get right but since the overall sound is like a warm fire on a snowy night it shouldn't matter if that's what your looking for. The filters are narly and the phasing is butter(velvety) as has been said. Since I just got the ISF-1 I won't comment on it except that it makes the Mirage sound cleaner and more like an MPC-60/Mirage cross.

The only thing unreliable on this is the disk drive and I mean 1995 and later since disk drives don't live forever! Route 66 studios has them thank goodness.

I can't believe I was actually using them waaaaay back in 1991(I was born in '76!). RIP Ensoniq however the online support for most Ensoniq gear is beautiful(feeling veclempt right now!). Hence the 10 rating.

I just wish it was able to retain the sequencer when MASOS 2.0 is loaded and ofcourse a lil' bit more memory but not too much(don't want to spoil myself and lose the funk!). Nobody would steal this so no worries about that and yes I plan to buy more Mirages until they're all in audio gear heaven. Truly my favourite piece and has a sound I'll never get enough of.

Software Versions used: Mirage OS 3.2 and MASOS 2.0

Well you wouldn't want to use it live particularly - when you switch it on you have to load up an OS which takes 15-25 secs, then booting up a patch takes longer on average (you can make disks with both OS and patches on which would be quicker).

Editing is hard: yuo only have a 2 digit display for a start. Having said that, it's pretty easy to sample something and use it as a scratch pad for ideas. Multisampling is hard, purely because its difficult to find out which sample you're editing. A 3rd party editor is probably the best option but i've yet to find one capable. MIDIQuest seems to only take wavesample dumps from the Mirage, it can't edit the waveforms themselves; there are a few freeware ones around for Win95 or DOS, but these aren't quite up to the task as the old Apple/C64 ones were. The basic "Musician's" manual is written for children, but that's not a bad thing particularly, it gets you loading/saving patches, doing basic editing, and disk managing pretty quick. Overall it gets a 3 because an Akai is a HELL of a lot easier to use, and an S1000 is probably similar in price 2nd hand.

There are two Mirages: the DSK-8 was the first which just says "Mirage" on the front, has a metal case, weighted keyboard and an expansion slot for a cartridge which extends the sampling frequency range. Mine is the DSK-1, which says "Mirage DSK" on the front, is slightly smaller, has a Fatar keyboard (unweighted but more reliable), no cartridge slot and has stereo out, albeit fake stereo.

The Mirage samples at 8-bit floating point, can sample (without the expansion cart) up to 32kHz and as low as 10kHz. At its lowest sample rate, it sample time is around 10 seconds. The Mirage has 8-note polyphony, you can have 16 wavesamples, it has very nice analogue filters and envelopes (8 to match the polyphony). The keyboard is velocity sensitive. It has an onboard sequencer which is all but a joke (333 events) and with MASOS (see below) the relevant buttons on the keyboard are changed.

It has MIDI In and Out but to use it with a SysEx editor or control parameters remotely you will need the MASOS operating system, which at the moment is only available from Syntaur, who Ensoniq sold all the Mirage rights to (I believe). This disk costs about $20 and includes the Advanced Samplers Guide manual, shipping to the UK is about $10 so works out around #15. Once you've got that disk, or have acquired it from some kind soul online, you'll need a pair of DOS programs you can find on the net, MRead and MWrite, both freeware tools which make and write images from Mirage formatted disks using your PC's HD Floppy Drive. If you spend #15 on a floppy, you're really going to want a backup... The Mirage only reads old 3 1/2" DD/DS disks which you can pick up for around double the price of the newer HD floppies. You CAN'T use HD disks in the Mirage. I'm sure you'll try anyway.
It gets an 8 as its features were only really bettered by the Emulator II at the time, and they're still catching up ;?)

The Mirage does a good Mellotron impression. It has a lot of features which make it more like a synthesizer than its peers, namely the Akai samplers which don't feature the kind of filters or bad aliasing that really make the Mirage stand out.

A sampler that can only sample for 10 secs at 10kHz and 8-bit is laughable against a new PC with something like Kontakt, but that's not really the point of using a Mirage. You just can't get the sound of a Mirage by sampling at high frequency and then bit crushing. People are starting to wake up to the reality that digital is just as esoteric as analogue, and different digital devices sound DIFFERENT.

I can't vouch for the DSK-8's, which I've read that there keyboards aren't as stable as the DSK-1's, but for a 20 year old keyboard its still doing well. All the keys are intact and functioning, all the microswitches are working well, and the wheels are in decent nick too. The volume fader ISN'T scratchy (shock horror) the floppy is still grinding away (it's very noisy btw) and i'm touching wood while i type all this (my own of course ;?))

Ensoniq long ago merged into E-Mu which was bought out by Creative (boo). Syntaur are your only hope for getting copies of the operating systems, formatting disks (both essential) and original preset disks.

I've given them a 4 not because i don't think Syntaur are doing a good job, but part of me (the thrifty part) resents having to pay so much for software for a 20 year old keyboard. There you go, my two pence.

Something about it will make you fall in love with it. I have owned many keyboards, old and new, but the Mirage has something about it that is unique - basically it has bags of personality, interesting features that you don't find now (low sample rates, analogue filters and ADSRs), and tbh it looks pretty interesting too. For these reasons I give it a 9. If it died I would try to get a new one, they vary a lot in price on ebay, from around #30 to #150, but if you can get one for under #75, i think you have a bargain.

Having to load the OS from diskette at every power-up is a nuisance, but since I didn't have to pay THOUSANDS for this thing, I'm quite satisfied.

For anyone willing to spend the time reading available literature (and not just the sales & marketing flyer) it has a lot to offer. Use of external (computer-based) editor(s) is a major benefit, although not necessary.

I originally bought the Mirage rack-mount "expander" and much later the actual full keyboard. In addition to the factory-supplied sound sample disk set, I was able to acquire the second full factory-made set as well as a copy of the sound sample diskettes being toted around by the field sales rep from Ensoniq at the time. (These included samples of James Brown, Marilyn Chambers (NOT singing) and human bodily functions (you figure it out) as well as a multitude of some really usable instruent sounds.)

I also recently acquired a huge sound sample diskette library of the Syntaur sounds for the Mirage. I seriously doubt I will ever need to do any more sampling myself. :)

I've never had need to service the rack-mount unit, and the full keyboard I purchased through Ebay was a snap to repair. The circuit board is cleanly laid out and disassembly of either unit is not a task at all.

The downside is the difficulty in obtaining certain parts (namely the sound ICs) but I had found a small bucket load through a firm I do business with that specializes in locating discontinued semis.

Other than the ICavailability, I'd rate reliability high enough to warrant hanging on to mine for a long time to come.

I do my own. :)

I like the Mirage, and once it's in the mix it's hard to tell that it has a lower bit resolution than nearly everything else out there. And considering the cost (especially of the used piece) and the readily available sound sample diskette sets, I'd call the Mirage a "Keeper".

# What software version are you using? (Please try to find out before completing)

3.2 (last manufacturer's Operating System) and MASOS

# How do the presets sound?

The Mirage has that awesome 8 bit sound. Unique

# How hard is editing patches? Does a patch editor make a big difference?

Real hard to use - impossible if you don't have the parameter chart.

# How is the manual (if there is one)?

You need one! I also have an third party Instructional DVD. Found it on Ebay.

# What is the polyphony?

8 notes

# How is the keyboard action?

has that synth action - no piano action

# Does it have any built in effects? Are they easy to use?

I found a way to flange samples on board through a tip on the DVD I have. Very cool.

# Does it have expansion capabilities? (i.e. can accepts cards, new boards, more memory, etc.)

Has a port for memory expansion for the Sequencer (which is a joke)

# What MIDI capabilities are there? (pressure senstive keys, )

everything but aftertouch

# Does it have an on-board sequencer? How flexible is it? Easy to use?

garbage - use it as a scrath pad for musical ideas with sounds. Can be saved on disks.

* Are some instruments very realistic? Bad? Easy to use?

The Mirage has an awesome 8 bit raw sound that is unque to the instrument.

* What types of music does it work well for? Rock? Classical? Dance?

Wherever your imagination takes you - not limited

* Are the onboard effects good? Very bad?

Are none - but I figured out to make a cool flange.

* Does it react to your playing, or is it static?

It's a sampler

* How does it react to velocity and aftertouch?

Has velocity - no aftertouch

* Can you depend on it?

Built like a tank - but they get worn out with use - disk drives, lcd's, etc...

* Would you use it on a gig without a backup?

NOT NOW!

* If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?

No more support from Ensoniq. I found sound disks and video dvd on Ebay.

* Ever get an upgrade, or try and get it repaired?

It's more like a do-it-yourself repair if it breaks - it pays to be handy with a screwdriver and a soldering gun.

* If it were lost or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else? Is it worth what you paid?

I'd find another one on Ebay

* How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?

Been playing for 30 years

* what do you love about it? What do you hate?

Love the sound - hate the Display

* Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?

Akai Samplers, Roland Samplers, etc...

I bought it because I found a large library of sampled disks for it.

* Anything you wish it had?

A bigger display - which the Ensoniq EPS did.

* Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way?

Helps - great sounds.

* Anything else you'd like to share?

Ebay has been vital to me for this instrument!

For this day and age the Mirage must be considered very hard to use. Of course, if all you want to do is shove preset disks into it, then it could sneak up to a "2". But if you want to have any use from it - or just keep it alive - you must be somewhat nerdy.

The OS is the most fiendish thing ever invented, even for its day and age. You'll get used to it. And then you can assist the guy who built a replica of the computer for the Apollo spacecraft. Wild stuff. Insane. Imagine controlling a sampler using a parameter/value-scheme with only a 2-digit display.

On the other hand: It's worth it!

You buy and use this thing for its sounds. That's the main feature today.

The Mirage is an 8-voice digital sampler with analog filters (same as the prophet 5, I think). Actually, this beast is a relative of both the Commodore 64 (and thus the SID-station et al) and the Amiga. Technically, it is akin to the PPG 2.3.

Nice keyboard with attack- and release-velocity (yay). As far as I remember, no aftertouch though.

With the latest OS (3.2) local off is possible. MIDI thru with special cable (bummer). Definitely passable as mother keyboard for home studio use.

Expansion capabilities:
a) There is an expansion port which is intended for expanding the sequencer to 333 notes (be nice - we're talking 1982 here!) or for a sampling input filter
b) When used with the original software and an Apple II there was some sense in doubling the MIDI data rate. The flip side of this is NO standard MIDI sample dumping. Wasn't invented yet - Doh.

But you can do most of what you should be able to do with a sample sampler.

The sound of this machine is its selling point today: Bad, distorted, gritty samples with instant street-cred built in. Weirdness galore. Try it for bass. Ugly munchkinization by transposing samples.

It's raucuous, grainy, coughing and spitting. Will be great for spice in most modern genres. And actually the factory disks piano isn't all that bad in a mix if you don't need to have the folks believe it's a real piano.

The thing is built like a tank but as it it coming of age (it was manufactured in the early 80's), stuff dies.

The disks are a bit hard to come by, and the drives may die on you. Oh, and the disks may get moldy.

This is mainly a studio item. Take care and be good to it. It's worth it.

Err... let's see: Ensoniq who made the Mirage was bought by EMU somewhere in the 90's. EMU was bought by Creative. And so on... you'll have no support from them.

But you can get help from a firm called Syntaur and there is a users group on the net. So if you want it, you can probably keep the beast alive (if you fancy using a soldering iron and stuff).

This backing - though not from the manufacturer - is worth a couple of points.

It's irreplaceable (it's also broken and I'll try and get it repaired when I have the time).

Purchased new in 1985, with all the bells and whistles. I have two 1985 models, one 1986 model, and two rack mount 1986 models. All but one rack mount are finally down and out. I spent many moons learning to operate these babies optimally, and repair techniques to keep them going. I eventually settled on using one 1985 model, split for bass and brass (or novelty samples) only, and one rack mount for voice samples. I also use the Mirage disc drive with "Leapin' Lizards" software to store drum machine and sequencer files for fairly quick access in performances. I've never used the on-board sequencer for anything but an aid to learning particular riffs.

I have used the rack mounted sampler extensively to record short harmony background vocals that can be keyed manually, or with a sequencer. The action on the '85 model is fairly stiff, but consequently tough! The '86 model action is great, but I have had to do many repairs to those tender keys.

With external tweaking, the few eight-bit samples that I have used for years are excellent! I only wish I had a working '85 model as I am still using those samples, controlled and layered with another keyboard. By using layering with other 16 and 32 bit voices, you can get the best of the Mirage itself, and several modules combined. This works especially well with my layered basses, programmed to repond to velocity with differing sounds: ie: "slap and pop" samples.

1985 models were very dependable for many years, but I have finally reached the point where I can no longer use or repair them anymore, until I can find some parts, or substitute components, or even acquire more used Mirage keyboards for performances, or backup/parts. Needless to say, as a professional musician, I long ago learned to carry the backup, which I rarely had to use. Now, I have had to scalp parts from the backup, and my main Mirage is finally down and out as well. I miss it!

All my Mirages were upgraded as the parts and software came out. For years, my technicians could get needed parts fairly quickly. In eighteen years, I have learned to do lots of the needed repairs and maintenance myself when parts were available. Currently, my gear is down for want of a few scarce parts, but I have found a way to work around that with my one remaining rack-mounted Mirage. I'm at the no-backup point, though, and my midi-maps and sequences are not universal, so I'd have to start all over if my rack mount board goes down. Being basically lazy, this prospect really bothers me!

I want one or more 1985 models in working order soon. I've been using the Mirage for bass and brass, and as a controller, continuously since 1985. My system normally depends on two Mirages, one keyboard, one rack mounted; since my midi map and sequences were all built up, over years, in my own rather odd configuration (It works for me!)
I've been playing professionally for 40 years. I love my Mirages, especially when they're working!

I own one of the very first Mirages. The salesman pushed me towards the Mirage, saying that it was better than the DX-7, since it could sample the DX-7--and other synths, too! (Yeah, I was young and naive then...) Some of the mfr. disks sound good, most just sound weird--as others have noted. I bought (and still have) the original MASOS 3-ring notebook, with the 'Plain Vanilla' and 'Master' sampling disks, and this has come in very handy over the years, and helped me create some pretty cool sounds...

8-note polyphony seems pretty thin these days. (These days, I use the Mirage as a MIDI controller for several Oberheim, Alesis, E-mu, and Roland modules. Now, I have several hundred availalble voices.) The mirage still has a unique sound, though, and I still record with it occasionally, albeit carefully. The on-board sequencer is a joke...and always was. I actually bought the sequencer 'expansion' disk, but I have no idea if it ever worked. (I threw it out years ago.) Since I'm using it as a MIDI controller, I really wish it had separate jacks for MIDI 'Out' and 'Thru', rather than just the single jack for both 'Out' and 'Thru'...

Very few of these sounds would be what one would call 'realistic'. I actually used to gig with my Mirage, and the inability to use the keyboard while sounds were loading was a problem, but we worked our song-set out so that if there was no time to load the sounds for the next song, we'd arrange the set so that two songs that used the same sounds were back to back. (I also had three other keyboards on stage, and would often use another synth while the Mirage loaded.) I'd love to have more Ensoniq factory sound-disks--or usable copies--especially since I've worn out a couple disks, and the thing won't boot up without a disk. (If anyone has some to sell, even copies, I'm interested...) I don't want to get rid of the Mirage, though, because the sounds are quite unique...strange...

Someone mentioned that the metal case Mirage could probably be used as an auto ramp. Well, a few months after I bought it, I drove over mine early one morning, as I was leaving a rather tiring recording session--on a gravel service raod, no less! (If I HAD bought a DX-7 instead of the Mirage, the DX-7 would have been toast!) Other than a slight dent in the metal, it was--and remains--fine. I've never had it serviced...

Yeah, right!

If it were lost or stolen, I probably wouldn't replace it. I've played keyboards off and on for more than 30 years. I'm currently upgrading my studio, and I would love to have an 88-key, weighted hammer action MIDI controller. I plan to get one next year. Once I do, I may continue to use use the Mirage for some weird sounds to bury deep in the occasional mix, but that's about it. It still sounds interesting, and I did learn a lot about sampling and digital editing from using it. But, it is far too primitive and limited in what it does, to use it continually, or continue to rely on it as a controller...

No presets sound. Editing patches is difficult compare to other synth in 1980 age. This synt is made for home or studio use not for performance. Manual is Good i remember the red colour.

Keyb Action is very good compare to other 1980 synth but the Keys have a bad plastic "basement" they broke and lift every time you push hard - like performers do. Memory expander slot present. Have a floppy unit (try to internet if you want to change) limited of course becouse have a special system.
This Synth-Sampler depend directly to Masos Sound Disks.
Midi are OK. Have a SQ on board Dubbing Type and you must try to split the keyb and retreive the sounds first and be patience to note the sounds loaded and nr. for each melody.

No sound on board only Masos Disks.
You can change sound into oscilators but first you must learn the algoritms. As Sampler is Ok.
Velocity is pretty good for 1980 and you can set.

I don't depend on it!
Use only in home or studio work. Don't try to play on a gig.
Is need backup becouse keys are broken very easy.

You can repair easy the broken keys at home with super glue.
E-mu Customer Support ? What ?

If you want to buy this for you're home or studio is ok. Remeber you need time for work with this "?". Don't try in performance !

Masos 3.0. The presets are lame BUT, I say BUT what you can do with the sounds is incredible. I've been able to come up with original, unique sounding patches. That no one can place, yet like a lot. One thing that came withe original Mirage was a disc with 6 preset alterations without any sound. You'd load it into the Mirage, To make the super hot sounds that can be created with a Mirage one has to have this disc. It has some unusual "post-programming?" that would be hard to creat yourself. If you just sampled a sound raw and decided you wanted to make a sample sound the way any of the "preset sample settings" can make a raw sound sound like after sampling it.
Editing patches is actually easy. The only problem is the instructions. What will happen based on the instructions. Sounds like you'll move a mountain every time you edit. In actuality a lot of the edits are really just tweaks. When smartly used together you can do some real editing and create some awesome patches.
The manual is better than average. At least it wasn't translated along with the logic from some foreign language.

8 note polyhany is fine. Keyboard action is fine. No built in effects, save for the many tweaks/edits that are available. No expansion capablities NOW. At one time there expansion cards. That even when they were around were pretty useless. It has all the basic Midi things, pressure, velocity, bend Etc., No one should call the short pattern saver a sequencer. It isn't and has no sequencer features save for record.

The MIRAGE has a VERY UNIQUE sound. This has always been overlooked, because it is a billed as a "sequencer." As a sequencer it is a dinosaur. It lacks many of the ease of use and enhancements that came out shortly after the Mirage did.
It works best for club/dance/electronica BECAUSE of the unique things it does when it samples a sound. Again it's unique sound, heard only from the mirage, makes it weak sampler but makes it a great source for unique, 1 of a kind, can't do it with any other sampler sounds. It reacts just like any other 1st line, moderately priced electronic keyboard. When it comes to playing, velocity and aftertouch.

Yes, IF you got one that was made well in the factory. I have two Mirages, plus the software that turns the MIrage into a multi-timbral synth. Everything still works great. Only a few floppes have died to age. It has never let me down in any way. (Of course I will suffer for writing this, and not even be able to get it to turn on for writing this ;-)
If you are looking for a great sampler, walk away fast, BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT CREATES UNIQUE SOUNDS EASILY. You have found one tool that does this well.
It's major flaw, being a cutrate sampler is it's major strength. It's unique mutilation of samples OFTEN creates the best sounds I've ever heard. You would feel this way too, if you didn't see it as a sampler but simply as a sound module that happens to use samples as a way to create the original sounds.

Ensoniq Sucked even when the machine was in production. The online sites like this are great.

If it were lost I'd be very depressed. I lose access to a sound library of about 200 discs. It was definitely worth what I paid for it. I hate the one thing that most people hate, the stupid 2 digit LCD. I LOVE it's ability to create unique, awesome, big/little soft hard sounds that sound like nothing else. I don't see the Mirage as a sampler. It's too primative for that. What it is is a sound module that uses it's wacked sampling ability to create the most original sounds from sampled sounds. I wish it had stereo ouputs. Something I understand the keyboard versions had. I have rackmounts. It DEFINITELY helps me make music.

I bought mine new in 1985 just so I would not have to haul around and tune my CP-70B grand piano. I still have the Mirage and have never had to have it professionally serviced. I have the visual editing software for Commodore 64 (I hear laughing) and it really makes sampling and programming easier and more productive. Without it sampling is a crap shoot and programming is very slow.

It is 8 note polophony with good action. I have the MASOS expander that allows for higher sampling rate and I also have the sequencer expander. Either way the sequencer can only deal with one midi channel. It is basically for playing short passages and is good for intros. The keyboard splits are nice and allows you to split samples at any keyboard point.

The piano sound is very good. As soon as I heard it I knew I could leave my CP-70 at home. The factory strings patch is also really good. Touch sensitivity on the attack: slow blow to the key and the strings fade in, really cool. It can recognize aftertouch through midi bit does not have this feature on its own keyboard. The distorted guitar is great with aftertouch fading the sound to a harmonic like feedback and using vibrato with the wheel.

I have taken this thing with me to hundreds of gigs in all conditions. It survived 7 years on Guam and is back here stateside with me still. I have never had it professionally serviced but have had to put some band aids on it. All of the post that the screws go into from the top have broken off and the top hinges open freely. I had to jump the volume control becouse it was intermitent. Sometimes the contact springs pop out and I have to remove the keyboard to slip them back in place. Complaints? Not really, its a workhorse. I am down to one working disc that I can boot from. I bought 35 on ebay today I hope to get some good sound from these as well.

My only dealings with the company is copying the paramater chart from their website when I misplaced mine. It was great finding it so easily.

At the time I bought it it was a bargin to get a sampler for this price. If it were lost or stolen I could live without it. I don't gig anymore and have other gear to fill in the spot in my studio. But with used units in the $100 to $200 range I would replace it in a heartbeat.

To really utilize the editing and sampling functions is like flying the space shuttle through a periscope.
But I've just recently found a new source for support and tutoring.
I picked up on Ebay the International MIDI Users Group Ensoniq Mirage Instructional DVD (originally available on VHS tape).
It helped me tremendously especially when I am without a manual.
They also have a new web site: www.InternationalMIDIUsersGroup.com

In it's day the Mirage had the biggest third-party support. Lots of extra Operating Systems out there.

The Mirage was the Mellotron of it's day. Very unique with that 8-bit gritty sound. I also recently found on Ebay Sound Libraries. Very useful.

Extremely reliable. I've had several Mirages and only one disk drive go bad on me. You can back up the operating system onto a disk.

No support from Ensoniq. Try Syntaur or MUG.

You can still do some awesome tricks with this old cadillac.

My Mirage (one of the original metal-case ones) is running MASOS (latest rev from Syntaur). Editing/sampling is not overly difficult, and .jpg images of the mirage parameter cards can be found online. The interface takes some getting used to, and definitely get the advanced samplers guide to help out. The only problem I have is the disk format...ds/dd...getting harder to find. Also, I don't have a 'formatting disk' so I can't make new disks to store samples on. Also unknown is how to make backup copies of the OS disk....mine is getting REALLY worn out, don't want to keep having to shell out money for another copy. It's really easy to use for just basic sampling, only looping/multiple sounds per bank gets hairy.

8-voice, unison mode capable. Keyboard action is very good on my model (original release), I use it as a midi controller for all my modules/midi-capable synths. No built-in effects, but the analog filters sound pretty good (CEM chips). There is an expansion port that can accept an Input Sampling module, which I have. Basically I believe it allows you to have slightly cleaner samples (and dont' quote me on this, but up to 33khz with the card, 22khz without.) This may only apply to the early rev DSKs. The onboard sequencer stores 333 notes, and can be synced to a signal that comes in on the 1/4" sync port.

I don't have any factory sounds for this unit, so can't comment on those. Anything you sample into this will be imparted with a sound that I've only heard from this sampler (kindof lo-fi, can be punchy, easy to overdrive, pixelated at times, but almost always unique, probably given to the filter chips.) I use it for grungy drum kits and sampled moog bass. Velocity is just dandy, but i've never tried aftertouch.

Indestructable. Very heavy metal case. Could probably be used safely for car ramps in a pinch.

Forget ensoniq, waste of time. Try syntaur.

I would probably buy one again (the early revision) just for a solid midi controller that feels really nice and has the side benifit of beign a sampler. An akai s2000/3000 would make a better sampler for most people though, at not much more cost.

I've been playing for a couple years, also own a Moog Prodigy, Korg DW-8000, Korg Poly/61, Kurzweil piano module, Roland MSQ 700 sequencer, Roland TR-626, PC + Atari ST for sequencing, random effects units, etc.

I wish the unit had more than 128k of sample memory, a larger display, SILKSCREENED parameters on the vast empy area on the case, a HD floppy drive, some kind of built in delay/chorus, and a utility for making os disk backups.

I think this unit was worth the $150 I paid for it. I use it almost every time I work in the studio.

I could swear that whoever designed the user interface on this keyboard was demon possesed and took great joy in human suffering... The Mirage gets a 2 in this category because you are basicly limited to a small 2 digit LED for a screen and using a numeric key pad to access the Mirage's many funcitions (sound editing, MIDI setup, etc.). There are no sliders, knobs, etc. except for the volume slider, pitch bend and mod wheel. Also, many of the sampling parameters use hexidecimal code, which takes some getting used to. In my opinion, hex code is not really that difficult to understand, but, it is nowhere near as user friendly as, say, a large screen that actually maps out the waveform for you. Getting a good sample out of this monster IS possible, but it is a very slow and tedious process. I use MASOS 2.0 as the operating system(I believe), so I am not sure if the same applies with the regular operating system). My advice to anyone considering getting a Mirage would be to GET THE ADVANCED OWNER'S MANUAL as well as the standard one. Without a manual, you're screwed.

Polyphony is 8 notes. Pitful by today's standards, but typical back in the 80's. The only "effect" this keyboard has is detuning-- no shimmering choruses, delays, reverbs or any of that good stuff. The keyboard action may be "spongy" to some, but I happen to like it...it is a little heavier than today's typical 61-key synth-- almost semi-weighted, but not quite. As for MIDI, from what I understand it's a bit more basic than today's synths. It suits me fine, though, as I don't delve into the more advanced aspects of MIDI. I hook up my Mirage, Roland XP-30, Roland JX-305 and Boss DR-670 all into my Roland MC-50 sequencer. I play the Mirage on one MIDI channel-- it's only monotimberal. Given that, I suppose 8 note polyphony isn't to shabby if you plan to use it for SFX, synth leads and grungy pads and not for wild piano solos, glissandos and such. One feature I like is its monophonic mode. It sounds very, very smooth, unlike many of today's synths in which the solo mode has a very "stair steppy" quality to it-- you still hear part of the attack portion of the notes as your fingers glide over the keys. Not so in the Mirage's mono mode. Another feature I like is the analog filters. Digital filters have that awful "stepped" sound to them which are quite audible at high resonance settings. Analog filters do not do that. Although the Mirage is no TB-303, very convincing anolog basses are possible. The Mirage's rather spartan outward appearance belies the fact that it is fairly decent in the way of sampling and sound editing features. To name a few:, ASDR envelope (TVA and TVF), LFO editing, sample layering, multisampling, threshold level, loop editing, and so forth. The "sequencer" is crap, though. I never use it because you are limited to, I believe, 500 notes. Another thing is the memory...you can only have 3 sounds per keyboard half at any given moment and the sampling time is also pretty lame. I would try to multisample a decent drum kit using 8 samples per half, at the maximum rate of 32kHZ, only to have many of the sounds clipped as it ran out of time. I give the Mirage a 5 because, while the filters and the mono mode are good, most of the other features are a bit dated.

I play many different types of music-- Heavy metal, Hip-hop, Industrial, Techno, Jazz, Latin and Blues. I feel the Mirage does well in all forms of electronic music and may work well with Metal and Rock if used creatively. The Mirage has a very lo-fi, gritty sound, which I like. In the lower registers, there is very heavy pixellation. To some, that's bad. For me, it's good. There are times when I WANT that particular sound. I once created a sound on my Roland XP-30, then sampled it into my Mirage, doing everything possible to make the sound pixellate as much as possible. I ended up with a very menacing, frightening, contrabass pad which I named "Pixellation Hell." Some of the original factory Mirage Sound Diskettes actually sound quite good. The clavinet sound on one of my factory disks sounds very realistic and has a lot of character-- not the typical Roland clavinet sample many of us are so familiar with. I will say this, though: The Mirage does not do well with sampling drums. Decent cymbal samples need at least 44.1 kHZ, otherwise it will alias like all bloody hell. The Mirage's maximum rate is 32kHZ, hmmm...guess good cymbals are out of the question unless you want some good sound effects (then lower it a few octaves...sounds evil) Also, for some odd reason, kick (Bass drum) samples do not turn out like they should. The timbere turns out almost perfectly, but the attack portion gets screwed up somehow. Instead of "Boom", you may get "Foom". Maybe there is a trick to getting around it...still tinkering with this thing and I've had it for a year. Warts and all, though, the Mirage is still quite usable in a musical setting.

This sucker is built like a tank. Solid metal casing, well built keys, and never failed me. Wish they'd build keyboards like they used to.....

Never dealt with them...I hear they can be real pricks though if you try to get help with anything made before 1990 or so.

If it were lost or stolen I'd be pissed because I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of this keyboard. It is an exellent deal for the price. Hey, it makes a good conversation piece also-- sample a fart, play it back then see the person's reaction (lol).

Well, it's easy once you've found your way around it for
a while. I got a shitload of disks with it (used, free-
part-exchanged with other gear - a long story!)and the
previous owner had sampled some great stuff. Editing is
ok, especially if you've ever used analogue synths.

The manual could have been better written - some of the
stuff on multisampling is a joke.

I never use the sequencer as it's hooked to my Atari (running
Passport's brilliant Master Tracks Pro 3.6) but I can get into
the sounds no problem and the filters etc are easy to get used
to. It's flexible as it's got a great library. All I need to
do now is find new DSDD disks before they disappear!

Useful sounds. I use it for 80s synth music and soundscapes
and it does the business. A bit gritty though, especially
the sampling side.

It works ok! It's been well-looked after but gigged.
I don't plan to gig with it. It will be taken care of
in my studio rack.

A few third-parties on the net which is great but as you may
expect, nowt these days from Ensoniq/E-mu themselves. They
should have some respect for their own creations! Useful
sites out there on the web and more power to them too.

If it were nicked? A crime! I'd look for another.
Been playing it about a year. I own six synths etc.
Yes, an Akai S700 which had a dodgy diskdrive (quick disks!)
but better sounds.
A two-digit LCD is not all that. It's great for certain things.
If anyone in the UK has some sound or OS disks for it that they
no longer want, please mail me at sonik@wearelondon.fsnet.co.uk
as I'd like to expand my library.

Cheers :)
Al Ferrier
London, UK

Ensoniq made a great sounding sampler.And compared to the E-mu that it was designed to compete with in the market it was good.It's loaded with features,but using it for sampling is very difficlt without an editing package.You must contend with a 2 digit display for communication with the keyboard.When I bought my mirage new in 1987 I bought the Mirage visual editing package for the commodore 64(don't laugh).It actually works very well.I have a state of the art IBM aptiva with cakewalk pro, but I still held onto and use my lowly commodore 64 to edit waves on my mirage.I tried to sample without this package in the begining, but it's really a shot in the dark.

Ensoniq had a grand idea.Make a sampler with a disk loaded operating system.Besides the ensoniq factory os there was an alternate os system offered for the mirage called "soundprocess" which in effect turned the mirage into a synth with 48 internal sounds per bank.If there had been better displays on the keyboard, I feel that perhaps more 3rd party developers would have opted to make more os sytems for the mirage.

When it comes to a sampler, you can't beat mutisampled sounds for clarity and realism.The piano is good.It's not a T-1 but it is good.It is my staple sound.You would find a truer fender rhodes sound anywhere.Strings are great.Horns and brass are good.Forget the percussive sounds,the morage is only an 8 bit machine and the percussive sounds are weak and thin compared to a 16 bit machine such as the VFX.

After 13 years on the road the only thing I had to replace was the disk drive one time.When I first got it it would sometines shut down,the display would go blank and little bleeps would come from it. I found that I had to remove the ground prong from the end of it to keep it from ground looping when ran with my other keyboards.

See my comments on the ESQ-one for the answers to this one.

Its been subject to 13 years of classic rock band hell.Thats 13 years of smoky bars,damp basements,played in the rain,stored in the garage,set in the sun for hours,jarred around in the back of a truck, and all of this time I still don't have a case for it.The mirage only needed a new disk drive after about 4 years,and this was probably due to overuse.Be sure to keep a backup of all your disks with you when you play.Its very frustrating to load a disk in the middle of a song only to get a DE(disk error).A true workhorse in its own right.

Well... if I wasn't using Sound Designer on an Atari ST for managing most of the aspects of the sampling process it would be a real pain in the ass to work with. But as it stands now it's not that bad. If you're a geekboy like me who still writes machine code in hex then the Mirage isn't all that wild a beastie to tame.

The only feature that really jumps out at you and says "howdy" is the wonderful warm curtis analogue filters on this machine. If I had the time I would look into hacking the machine to give me some real-time control over these filters (certainly plenty of room on the front pannel to install some pots). It's one of those things on my list of "Projects to do if I ever get free time". As for any other features... what features? The dinky sequencer on it is a waste of resources that could have otherwise gone to samples.The expansion port showed unfulfilled promise (another thing I'll play with if I ever get the time). Everythi