The Ensoniq Mirage is a sampler keyboard played by Prince the mid 1980s. It was the first affordable sampler keyboard, in comparison to the more expensive Fairlight. It combined digital samples with analog subtractive synthesis (LFOs, envelopes and filters). Prince first used one on Around The World In A Day, where it was used for string and choral sounds.
Prince used the keyboard again in 1986, and it appears on the Sign O The Times album, appearing on "Play In The Sunshine", "Starfish and Coffee" and "Adore". It also appears on the outtakes "Love and Sex", "When The Dawn Of The Morning Comes" and "Everybody Wants What They Don't Got" from the Sign O The Times Super Deluxe Edition.
It was also used live by Boni Boyer on the Sign O The Times tour. Barking dog samples were triggered from a Mirage by Sheila E.
References
Tudahl, Duane. (2021) Prince and the Parade and Sign O The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986.
