Page 1: Table Of Contents
Mirage that will take you to an intermediate level of hat will take you to an intermediate level of sophistication. An Advanced Sampler's Guide is available from your authorized Ensoniq Dealer sophistication. An Advanced Sampler's Guide is available from your authorized Ensoniq Dealer sophistication.
Page 2: Introduction
It has gone on to become the most popular sampler ever made. It is also the best supported, with hundreds of sounds available on diskette from ENSONIQ and other third party developers, as well as a wealth of computer software and other peripherals.
Page 3 This process is called saving. Because all of the crucial sound information is included as software, your Mirage will never be obsolete. An ever-growing library of sounds is available from Ensoniq that will keep your Mirage fresh and new for years to come.
Page 4: The Front Panel
THE FRONT PANEL The Mirage control panel contains a logical array of multi-function buttons and a status display that will show you all you need to know about what's going on inside the Mirage at any given time. Many modern digital and digital/analog synthesizers utilize a multi-function control panel, so you may already be familiar with its use.
Page 6: About Diskettes
ABOUT DISKETTES The Mirage uses 3-1/2" micro floppy diskettes to store information. The diskettes are enclosed in a protective plastic carrier with an automatic shutter to protect the diskette from physical damage. It is important not to alter this carrier in any way.
Page 7 Diskettes have a sliding write-protection tab so that you can protect your own sounds and programs against accidental erasure. Sliding the write-protection tab in the lower left corner of the diskette so that the window is closed will allow you to store information on the diskette. Sliding the tab so that the window is open will protect the diskette against over-writing and erasure.
Page 8: About Memory
ABOUT MEMORY The sound diskettes which came with the Mirage each contain three Upper and three Lower sounds. Each Upper and Lower sound is composed of 64k of sound data - about 64,000 bytes of information - plus the four programs and all the individual wavesample parameters which control the tuning, keyboard range, volume, etc.
Page 9: Inputs And Outputs
Any Lower sound can be loaded in the Mirage along with any Upper sound. Suppose, for example, that you want the piano sound in the lower half, and the sax in the upper half. Simply load Lower Sound #1 from the diskette with the Piano, and then load Upper Sound #1 from the diskette with the Upright Bass &...
Page 10 To run the Mirage in mono connect this jack to your mixer or amplifier. When nothing is plugged into the Right Output, all audio will be routed to this output. When using the Mirage in stereo, connect this jack to one channel of your mixer and pan that channel left. Specs: Same as Right Audio Out Audio input switchable between line and mic levels, Parameter 75 (LINE INPUT ON/OFF) controls the level select.
Page 11: Stereo Operation
Many problems encountered with electronic instruments are in the connections. It is wise to use only high quality cables and connectors and to keep them in good condition. We also recommend that you double check all connections every time you set the Mirage up to play. STEREO OPERATION One new feature of the Mirage DSK which was not available on the original Mirage is stereo operation.
Page 12: Getting Ready To Play
GETTING READY TO PLAY GETTING READY TO PLAY The Mirage is a two-part instrument part instrument - hardware and software. By itself, the hardware won't make hardware and software. By itself, the hardware won't make a sound. It needs the information on the diskettes to start doing its work. Getting this information a sound.
Page 13: Changing Sounds
CHANGING SOUNDS CHANGING SOUNDS Once the Mirage is up and running, there is a slightly different procedure to change sounds, Once the Mirage is up and running, there is a slightly different procedure to change sounds, Once the Mirage is up and running, there is a slightly different procedure to change sounds, either loaded from the same diskette or from a different diskette.
Page 14: Changing Programs
parameter will be displayed. NOTE: If there is no sound stored for the If there is no sound stored for the NF (not found) number you have selected, the display number you have selected, the display Flashing will flash. Press any key. All the sound information is now in the hardware memory.
Page 15: The Sequencer
Press 1, 2, 3 You are now telling the Mirage to You are now telling the Mirage to U(1,2,3 or 4) or4on SELECT change to the desired program for that change to the desired program for that keypad keyboard half. keyboard half.
Page 16 You can speed up or slow down the playback of the sequence by changing the value of parameter 87 (see Selecting and Changing a Parameter). Increasing the number will increase the tempo, decreasing the number will slow down the tempo. The Display shows the new value of the internal clock rate.
Page 17 TO OVERDUB A SEQUENCE TO OVERDUB A SEQUENCE Note that any overdubs you perform will be permanently added to the sequence data in the Note that any overdubs you perform will be permanently added to the sequence data in the Note that any overdubs you perform will be permanently added to the sequence data in the Mirage memory.
Page 18 Once you've recorded them, sequences can be saved for posterity on Ensoniq Sound Disks and Once you've recorded them, sequences can be saved for posterity on Ensoniq Sound Disks and Once you've recorded them, sequences can be saved for posterity on Ensoniq Sound Disks and your own Formatted Diskettes.
Page 19: Playback Parameters
Mirage. Note that any sequence in the Mirage internal sequencer memory will be erased when the new sequence is loaded from the diskette. Eac when the new sequence is loaded from the diskette. Each Ensoniq sound diskette contains three h Ensoniq sound diskette contains three...
Page 20 The parameters of the Mirage are divided into two main categories-playback parameters and sampling parameters. The playback parameters have to do with modifying or enhancing a sound that's already in the Mirage memory. The sampling parameters deal with getting the sound from its source into the Mirage memory.
Page 21 SELECTING AND CHANGING A PARAMETER Here is a quick rundown of the general procedure.
Page 22: Saving Sounds
To do that, you'll need a blank Formatted Diskette. Formatted diskettes (which you can create yourself using the Formatting Program that came with the Mirage) have the same set-up as Ensoniq Sound Diskettes. Each one can store three sounds,...
Page 23 Each sound on an Ensoniq Sound Diskette carries four progr Each sound on an Ensoniq Sound Diskette carries four programs with it. Once a sound is loaded ams with it. Once a sound is loaded into the Mirage memory, any or all of the programs can be modified.
Page 24: Copying Programs Internally
MASOS (M location, or to the other memory half, requires MASOS (Mirage Advanced Sampling Operating irage Advanced Sampling Operating System) which is available from your Ensoniq dealer. System) which is available from your Ensoniq dealer.
Page 25: Using The Formatting Diskette
USING THE FORMATTING DISKETTE The Formatting Diskette is used to format blank (or raw) 3 1/2" disks, or to reformat disks which have been configured for a different machine (such as a computer), so that they can be used to store Mirage sound data.
Page 26 When the procedure is finished, the display will read "Fc" (for Formatting When the procedure is finished, the display will read "Fc" (for Formatting Complete) and the Complete) and the diskette in the drive will be formatted and ready to use for saving Mirage sounds. If the display diskette in the drive will be formatted and ready to use for saving Mirage sounds.
Page 27 Once you have finished using the Formatting Program and wish to return to Once you have finished using the Formatting Program and wish to return to normal operation, normal operation, you can reboot the Mirage from a standard sound diskette without turning the machine off. you can reboot the Mirage from a standard sound diskette without turning the machine off.
Page 28: Sampling
SAMPLING Sampling your own sounds with the Mirage is where the fun really begins, Just about any sound can be a source of inspiration for you, since just about any sound can be recorded and processed with the Mirage. Acoustic sounds can be sampled by using a microphone, while electronic or recorded sounds can be connected directly to the Mirage's line level input.
Page 29 There's more to the details of Mirage sampling and programming than we'll address here. A very extensive Advanced Sampler's Guide, along with a special Mirage Advanced Sampling Operating System (MASOS), are available from your authorized Ensoniq dealer. The Advanced Sampler's Guide examines the capabilities of the Mirage in great detail.
Page 30 The basic sampling process is not much more complicated than making a good quality audio tape copy. It involves making the proper connections, setting the right levels, capturing the recording, and checking the results. The process is controlled by the sampling parameters and gives you a great deal of flexibility.
Page 31 TO SET THE RECORD LEVEL: TO SET THE RECORD LEVEL: Do this... Here's what's happening... Here's what's happening... Display will show... Select This is a switching parameter that will tell the This is a switching parameter that will tell the on (line input) parameter Mirage what type of signal will be coming in.
Page 32: Single Wavesample Wavetables
Also, any sound you sample will be played back through the program presently selected. It is mple will be played back through the program presently selected. It is mple will be played back through the program presently selected. It is often best to load in the sound data from a blank formatted diskette to provide a template often best to load in the sound data from a blank formatted diskette to provide a template often best to load in the sound data from a blank formatted diskette to provide a template...
Page 33: Multiple Wavesample Wavetables Tables
Play the sound The Mirage is now sampling the sound. While it's sampling you'll see the middle bar and when the (sampling sample is completed you'll see... finished) MULTIPLE WAVESAMPLE WAVETABLES Each half of memory can contain up to eight individual wavesamples. When more than one wavesample is used, you must select the location in the memory for each wavesample.
Page 35 You're now ready to begin to sample wavesample #l. If you've selected the You're now ready to begin to sample wavesample #l. If you've selected the lower keyboard half lower keyboard half and checked the input level, all you'll have to do is play the sound to be sampled. and checked the input level, all you'll have to do is play the sound to be sampled.
Page 36 Again, these are guidelines - you can set the values of these parameters to any values you want. To get much deeper into the sampling process, you'll need to consult the Advanced Sampler's Guide, available from your Ensoniq dealer.
Page 37 The digits 0 through 9 represent themselves. However, the numbers 10 through 15 are represented by letters in the following manner: A=10; b=11; C=12, d=13; E=14; F=15. Here are a few general tips which will help you to make better quality samples:...
Page 38 INTERFACING The Mirage can be connected to other keyboards and equipment through a system known as MIDI. MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface is an industry-wide set of computer communication standards that permits MIDI- equipped instruments to "talk" to each other. Some of the benefits of MIDI include the ability to "remote control"...
Page 39 The MIDI standard allows for a wide range of communication between instruments (not to mention computers) of all different makes and models. It's important to understand that any MIDI instrument can communicate with any other. Though each manufacturer does reserve certain special codes (called System Exclusive Messages) for those messages specific to its...
Page 40 instruments, all the important performance instructions - key down, key up, velocity, pitch bend, Mod wheel, sequencer control functions, etc. - are sent and understood by all MIDI instruments, regardless of the manufacturer. In addition to notes played and sync information, the Mirage will also send and receive Program Changes (which can be used to remotely instruct the Mirage to load a sound from disk, or to change Upper and/or Lower programs).
Page 41: Glossary
GLOSSARY Amplitude Expressed as sound pressure or voltage, amplitude is the measured amount of a signal. Sounds with greater amplitude are louder. The first part of a note. In the Mirage it is the rate at which the amplitude of the Attack sound rises from zero to the PEAK level, and is adjustable from instantaneous to very gradual.
Page 42 accuracy than analog oscillators. A system of sound recording where an analog sound is converted into digital Digital Sampling information and stored in computer memory or on a disk. In the Mirage, sampled sounds are given pitch control via the keyboard permitting any recorded sound to be played back as music.
Page 43 The sum total of locations where information can be stored. The Mirage has 64K Memory (65,536 locations) of memory for each keyboard half. The sampling parameters divide the memory into 256 PAGES of 256 SAMPLES each. The beginning and ending points of each PAGE are called BOUNDARIES. Mic Level Audio signals with a strength between 50 and 100 mV.
Page 44 In the Mirage, a sound is defined as a WAVETABLE (comprised of up to 8 Sound WAVESAMPLES) plus a PROGRAM (the collection of all the program parameter values). Ensoniq makes available preprogrammed sampled sounds on mini-diskettes. Sound Diskettes Each of these Sound Diskettes contains three distinct sampled sounds, with each sound having four programs.
Page 45 combine them to create sound. Digital sampling keyboards such as the Mirage generate complex waveforms based on actual sounds that have been recorded (sampled) into memory. A waveform that has been sampled into the Mirage memory. Once in memory, Wavesample the keyboard controls the pitch of the wavesample.
Page 46 15/Copy Program to Lower (CL) 16/Copy Program to Upper (cc) These are command parameters that will tell the Mirage ST that you wish to copy the current program parameter values into another program location. This will allow you to duplicate a program you've personally created, or one of the factory programs, into another program location on either the upper or lower keyboard half.
Page 47 on the even wavesamples. By using key velocity to control the balance (PARAM 35), a soft sound will be heard when keys are depressed slowly and a hard sound will be heard when keys are depressed firmly. 29/Monophonic Mode (ON-OFF) A switching parameter to choose between polyphonic keyboard and monophonic keyboard operation.
Page 48 The VELOCITY SENSITIVE BALANCE parameter makes the digital oscillator balance dependent on key velocity. A soft touch will yield the mix set by param 34, and a hard touch will favor oscillator 2. The D.O. BALANCE (param. 34) will set the initial balance for a soft touch. Parameter 35 controls how much the balance changes with velocity, with one exception.
Page 49 Controls the maximum cutoff frequency the filter will reach at the top of the attack slope. It is adjustable from zero (VALUE 0) to a maximum of 15KHz (VALUE 31). Note that the peak level has no effect on the rate of the attack. 42/Filter Decay (00-31) Controls the rate at which the filter cutoff frequency will descend from the PEAK value to the SUSTAIN value.
Page 50 The VELOCITY SENSITIVE FILTER SUS- TAIN parameter makes the sustain level dependent on key velocity. At value 0, key velocity will not effect the sustain frequency. Increasing the value will make the filter sustain level more sensitive to key velocity (increased key velocity will raise the sustain frequency).
Page 51 Mirage to obtain the best samples. Sampling is an art as much as it is a science. At Ensoniq, many hours of effort and a great deal of care go into creating the sounds provided on Ensoniq Sound Diskettes. Don't be disappointed if your initial samples aren't quite as good.
Page 52 27/Initial Wavesample (1-8) This parameter will select the first wavesample number used by the lowest key of a keyboard half. Except in certain advanced sampling situations, this parameter is usually set to "1". It can be used to make each program of a keyboard half play an entirely different sound. 60/Wavesample Start (00-FF) Sampling parameter used to select the starting segment in the Mirage memory for the current wavesample.
Page 53 (MASOS, the Mirage Advanced Sampling Operating System, which is available with the Advanced Sampler's guide from your Ensoniq dealer, implements a much more elaborate set of parameters for manipulating wavesamples than the standard O.S.
Page 54 Sets the upper limit of the cutoff frequency for the current wavesample, regardless of any other filter value (program, envelope, velocity). 72/Top Key (01-61) Selects the highest key that will use the current wavesample. The TOP KEY values will determine how many keys will use the wavesample. The highest TOP KEY of the lower keyboard will determine the split point.
Page 55 set up all the parameters necessary to create a wavetable made up of a single wavesample. When you want more than one wavesample to make up a wavetable, you will have to set the sampling parameters on your own, after setting this switch to ON. 78/LFO Modulator Source (0-9) The LFO depth can be modulated by external controllers such as After Touch and Breath Controller when the Mirage is played from another keyboard via MIDI.
Page 56 8l/MIDI Omni Mode/On-Off (On-Off) Switch parameter to choose between MIDI Omni and Poly modes of operation, When the switch is ON, the Mirage will operate in the MIDI Omni Mode. When the switch is OFF, the Mirage will operate in the MIDI Poly Mode. In the Omni Mode, the Mirage wi11 receive MIDI data on all 16 MIDI channels.
Page 57 85/External Sequencer Clock (On-Off) To connect the Mirage sequencer with the MIDI clock of an external unit such as a drum machine or other sequencer. On = External Clock Off = Internal Clock 87/Internal Clock Rate (00-99) Changing the internal clock rate will speed up or slow down the playback of a recorded sequence without changing the pitch of the notes.
Page 58: Midi Program Change Chart
Consult the Owner's Manual of your particular MIDI controller for the proper program transmit number. Following are two tables - the first for the Ensoniq ESQ-1, the DX - 7 and any other instruments which begin program numbers at #1, and the next showing the...
Page 59 Note: Changing Programs remotely from a MIDI controller will cause the Mirage to display only the value of the program (1, 2, 3, or 4). The first digit of the display will be blank. Example: You can load a sound from the front panel of the Mirage and select a program number at the same time.
Page 60: Midi Implementation Chart
Date:12/15/86 MODEL: Mirage DSK MIDI Implementation Chart Version: 3.2 Function... Transmitted Recognized Remarks Basic Default Channel Channel 1-16 1- 16 Default Mode Messages 1, 3 1, 3 Altered Note Outside range, True Voice 36-96 36-96 Number wraps in Note ON Velocity Note OFF After...
Page 61: Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS Keyboard 61- note (C-C) polyphonic keyboard with velocity sensitivity Voices Eight-voice polyphonic and polytimbral Panoramic stereo outputs Sounds Waveforms derived from digitally sampled (recorded) acoustic or electronic sound sources. Up to 16 different sampled sounds available at one time. Four instantly-accessible programs per sound bank.
Page 62 Ensoniq Formatted Diskettes: for storage of player- created sounds, programs and sequences. Includes current version of Mirage operating system. Advanced Sampler's Guide: Detailed sampling guide and tutorial with Mirage Advanced Sampling Operating System (MASOS) software.