The VLSI ES5503 allowed the Mirage to offer digital audio sampling technology at a dramatically lower price compared to existing competitors. The Ensoniq Digital Oscillator Chip (Ensoniq ES5503 DOC - referred to the 'Q-chip' in Ensoniq advertisements) that he designed was used in the Mirage, ESQ-1, and SQ-80 and the Apple IIGS personal computer. The Mirage is the brainchild of Robert Yannes, the man responsible for the MOS Technology SID (Sound Interface Device) chip in the Commodore 64. Introduced at a list price of $1,695 with features previously only found on more expensive samplers like the Fairlight CMI, the Mirage sold nearly 8,000 units in its first year - more than the combined unit sales of all other samplers at that time. The Ensoniq Mirage is one of the earliest affordable sampler-synths, introduced in 1984 as Ensoniq's first product.
Ensoniq Mirage DSK-1, the third generationġ6 (32 with alternate OS), digital PCM sampler, 8 bitĪnalog resonant Curtis CEM3328 4-pole 24db/octave low-pass VCF per voice
