Dms Classic Analogue Waves

Rackmount edition of the famous MIRAGE DSK-8 : the first affordable keyboard sampler on the market will change the music history.

RACKMOUNT 2 standard units.
The main panel features simple segment display, a DD floppy drive and 25 buttons.

Backpanel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- mono out
- mono audio input for sampling
- slot expansion for sequencer memory cartridge

TECH the main core is based on a Motorola 6809 CPU manages up to 8 voices polyphony A basic patch is a layer of 2 samples, and each sample has various edit parameters including:

- wave start - end offset - volume balancing - detune ratio - variable loop points HEAR

MEMORY the internal RAM is split into 2 banks: upper and lower memory.
Each bank holds 64 Kb data for a total amount of 128 KB - time recording / frequency are limited to:

- 2.0 seconds at 33 kHz - 6.5 seconds at 8 kHz frequency.

INTERFACE uncomfortable. All parameter edit with single parameters and hexadecimal value on segment display.

'great...hexadecimal edit...'

MIRAGE KEYBOARD 3 mirage keyboard models:

- DSK-8 mk1 first 'black' original version (pic 1) - DSK-8 mk2 enhanced 'grey' keyboard and slightly different case design (pic 2) - DSK-1 (1986-1988) is the latest version featuring a red stripe under the logo (pic 3) LEFT - CLICK to enlarge PIC

FILTER section is based on 8 chips CURTIS CEM 3328 with a 4-poles resonant filter.
Mirage VCF also features a KEYTRACK function that compensates the filter cutoff toward higher or lower octaves with either positive or negative values.

HEAR filter samples

LFO a single triangle modulator from 5 Hz to 40 Hz frequency range.
The LFO modulates only the oscillator pitch (too bad no filter destination) and it is triggered by 4 sources:

- modulation wheel - breath control - foot volume pedal - aftertouch.

ENVELOPE there are 2 EGs based on CEM3360 VCA:

- EG1 amplitude: 5-segments - EG2 filter: 5-segments APDSR ('P' stands for PEAK).

SEQUENCER really simple and useful for some on-the-fly ideas: basically it is a step sequencer with overdub function that records up to 333 events (can be either a note, a bender or modulation value) or even 1024 events if expanded with SXQ-1 cartridge.

SYNC hardware transmits Midi clock and can be slaved to other units such as compatible drum machines. HEAR sequenced samples

STORAGE floppy disk DD 3.5' 400 KB formatted with custom Ensoniq file system format, NOT-DOS compatible, although some third-part company softwares are able to read and write floppy disks images. A neat upgrade could be USB devices emulator like HxC or other commercial.

TIP: common disk error on display are: - 'NF' stands for No Disk - 'Ud' stands for Unformatted Disk.

EDIT everything is programmed on the display by hexadecimal system and the relative parameterslist is essential, luckily the Mirage responds to Midi exclusive systems
Mainly some old computer software for the glorious Commodore 64 and Apple IIe, are available like:

- MMirage Data Displayer: displays sample parameters (with graphic) - MirageFREQ: an utility to match in tune samples using Sid chip - VES :another waveform displayer for perfect loop and tuning - Soundworks Mirage (for Atari ST) PIC - ST Sonic Editor (for Atari ST) PIC - Digidesign Sound designer (Atari ST) PIC - Mirage editor (PC modern) PIC - Mirage editor (PC modern)PIC - kindly sent by its author David Barraclough Download

MIRAGE RELATED FAMILY:

- DSK-8 mk1 first 'black' original version (pic 1) - DSK-8 mk2 enhanced 'grey' keyboard and slightly different case design (pic 2) - DSK-1 (1986-1988) is the latest version featuring a red stripe under the logo (pic 3) LEFT - CLICK to enlarge PIC

AUDIO DEMO

various sounds p1 various sounds p2 death bells Mono synth sampled fromMinimoog D human voice sampled fromCBM Amiga dirty mirage sound

Loops saturated nature fx libraries drum kits with octa modification tine rhodes Famous Lore sampled fromKORG M1 original vinyl demo

VIDEO CLIP SELECTION

Sound Demo

DSK-8

original samples & sequences

original brochure

original brochure

original brochure

REVIEW'Excellent if you need some low fidelity samples with punchy analog filters! rack version takes a lot less of space than classic Mirage.
Be aware- Do not expect hi-fidelity Steinway multisampling! best approach for sound creation are very small loops with cyclic waves for some analog synthesizer''