The miniKORG 700Sm is a modern revival of Korg's first synthesizer from the 1970s, following the successful but limited 2021 release of the miniKORG 700FS. This new model retains all features while being approximately 86% smaller and weighing just 5.8 kg...
The Rise of a Hip-Hop Legend: The E-mu SP-1200 Story In August 1987, E-mu Systems released a machine that would help define the sound of hip-hop's golden age - the SP-1200 sampling drum machine. Created by Dave Rossum, this unassuming piece of equipment...
Released in 1984, the Emulator II (EII) was E-mu's second eight-bit sampler. It improved upon the original by using companding digital-to-analog converters and a 27.7 kHz sample rate, along with resonant analog filters. The EII offered enhanced real-time...
The Ensoniq Mirage DMS-1 is a digital sampling keyboard released by Ensoniq in 1984. It was one of the first affordable digital sampling keyboards available to musicians. It featured a built-in 8-bit sampler, a 61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard, and a...
The Ensoniq Mirage DMS-8 v2 is a vintage digital synthesizer and sampler released by Ensoniq in 1985. It was the first instrument to feature both sampling and synthesis capabilities in a single unit. The DMS-8 v2 was capable of storing up to 8MB of...