The Mirage preceded the revolutionary EPS and EPS-16+ sampler workstations in the Ensoniq line-up. Historically, the Mirage was one of the earliest affordable sampler synths, originally listing under $1,700. There have been multiple versions of the Mirage too, the DSK8 and the most common and popular known as the Mirage DSK1. Its sampling specs are pretty old-school, a maximum sampling-rate of 32kHz and 8-bit resolution means your sounds will be somewhat lo-fi. The limited 8 notes of polyphony and incredibly tiny amount of storage (128 kb) almost make you want to hide the Mirage in your closet. Even the sample editing is done via hex-code which is not a simple to concept to master. Most users will just load-in sounds from the Mirage's extensive sample library. Get samples for your Mirage here!

However the Mirage has one leftover from older synthesizers that has kept it popular through the years. It has analog filters! Five-stage envelopes for the VCA and VCF, a nice LFO and a low-pass VCF filter with keyboard tracking. There's also a sequencer (333 notes max) that is limited to say the least but is better than nothing.

Most people searching for a classic sampler/synth would look towards the EPS and EPS-16+ from Ensoniq. After all, their specs, design and quality are superior. However, there is a certain amount of nostalgia concerned with the Mirage. It has been used by Skinny Puppy, Vangelis, Jimmy Edgar, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Those of you who collect will love having a Mirage around, but for practical music production you would be better off getting an old Akai sampler.

41 VISITOR COMMENTS

lightman

January 21, 2012 @ 2:38 pm

By the way, here's an interesting comparison of the A/D converters of the Mirage, EPS 16+, MPC and a sound card: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BinVL3Li2O4 .

The ol' 8-bit Mirage still got it IMO. :)

lightman

January 21, 2012 @ 11:14 am

Just yesterday I worked with my Mirage for several hours to create detuned drum samples from my 606 and 626 and a couple of effects for a new project. I just love this delightfully strange and gritty piece of American hardware, there was nothing like it before or after. Yeah, the EPS may be easier to use but once you boot up your Mirage with MASOS 2.2 and create a few string samples, say from a VA, spice it up with a velocity-driven VCF and route it over a proper EQ, you will quickly find out why some people still hold in in high regard. It's huge, fat, dirty and of inimitable character.

Tommy Toycen

January 20, 2012 @ 9:29 pm

To Zodi. I believe that If you go to youtube.com and type in Ensoniq Mirage video demos, it will show you exactly what to do, to get it going,and If you go to Ensoniq.com I believe you can still get an online version of the user's manual for free to print out. I have 2 Mirages, and an ESQ -1, and I love them both.

VCO 8

December 2, 2011 @ 9:37 pm

Do the Syntaur disks sound good?
I heard they sound like crap compared to the factory ones.

Tommy

November 28, 2011 @ 6:08 pm

I owe a lot to the mirage. Yes it is "dirty" think of when they were made. The string sounds are still one of my favorites. They have that edge on them due to the sampling rate and those wonderful analog filters,etc. I still use it in the home studio. Getting to fragile to tour with. "When Thunder Comes" frantic records.

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