The Ensoniq Mirage Sampler, launched in 1984, was one of the first affordable digital samplers available to musicians and producers, making it a milestone in the development of electronic music equipment. Known for its characteristic gritty sound and straightforward design, the Mirage offered a practical and relatively accessible entry point into digital sampling technology at a fraction of the cost of competitors like the Fairlight CMI or the E-mu Emulator.
Sampling and Sound Design
The Ensoniq Mirage features 8-bit digital sampling with a sampling rate of up to 32 kHz and up to 6.5 seconds of sample time at the lowest sample rate. The maximum sample time at the highest 32 kHz rate is around 2 seconds in mono. The Mirage’s raw, low-resolution sampling gives it a unique, punchy sound that became iconic in various genres of music. It uses 32 kHz, 29.5 kHz, 24 kHz, 21.7 kHz, and 10 kHz sample rates, which result in different sample times and sound qualities. With its limited sampling memory of 128 KB, the Mirage could only hold short samples, but this limitation became part of its character and appeal.
Synthesis and Editing
The Ensoniq Mirage is equipped with a dynamic analogue low-pass filter for shaping the sound of samples, offering a level of warmth and resonance that added character to its lo-fi samples. However, editing the Mirage’s sounds is not as straightforward as modern samplers – it uses a hexadecimal-based interface, requiring users to enter parameters manually through a combination of numeric codes and button presses. While this made sound programming more complex, it also offered deeper sound-shaping possibilities for experienced users. The Mirage also allows for basic looping and pitch modification.
Performance Features
The Ensoniq Mirage offers 8 voices of polyphony and can operate in a multi-timbral mode with up to 8 parts. It supports velocity sensitivity, giving the sampler a level of expressive control that was uncommon for its time. The built-in 8-track sequencer can record and playback sequences, but it’s relatively limited by today’s standards.
Sampling and Storage
The Ensoniq Mirage uses 3.5” DD (double-density) floppy disks to load and save samples, sequences, and programs, with each disk capable of holding up to 128 KB of data. Ensoniq provided a range of factory disks that included orchestral instruments, piano samples, and other presets, which helped establish the Mirage as a versatile sampling instrument despite its memory limitations.
MIDI Integration
The Ensoniq Mirage was one of the first samplers to offer full MIDI implementation, allowing it to be easily integrated into studio setups and used as a central control unit for other instruments.
