My Music

In case you haven't guessed by now, I'm a keyboardist, and my main style of playing tends towards the electro- rock side of things.  As well as samples and synths, I also mess around with MOD and MIDI programming (well, a bit), have been known to dabble with the odd virtual synth, and don't mind having a thrash on a guitar.

The current main weaponry I use to assail the eardrums of the unsuspecting are an 8-bit beast of a sample keyboard known as the Ensoniq Mirage DSK-8, a highly modified digital/analogue hybrid synth, the KORG Poly800 mkI, and a multi-timbral digital synth with pcm samples, the Roland D-5.  In addition to these I have a Yamaha SHS-10 FM synth, which I've modified with a full-sized keyboard to replace the mini-keys (now working on a unique new body - details when it's near completion)

I've been spending most of my time lately with my Session electric guitar, which, considering how much I picked it up for (Aus$70!), is actually a very decent guitar.  I'm currently making a very cool new body and re-wiring the pickups - pics and full details when completed!.

I have an array of various PCs for programming, tracking, sample editing, and virtual synthesis - most work is done on my AMD XP2400 or K6-2+ 450, whilst my Compaq Armada 1592DT docks to become a portable MIDI controller.  I also hope to use one of my old 486's as a dedicated mono Virtual-Synth - if I can figure out how to remote-control it using my laptop.

My outboard effects consist of a Korg G3 multi-FX unit (distortion/overdrive, flanger/chorus, delay/reverb), an Arion digital delay, which I'm quite fond of, and a home-made (and at the moment unboxed) combination DOD Overdrive 250 distortion and Muffer boost/fuzz unit.   I'm currently working on more distortion / fuzz units, as well as a basic Talk-Box, while future projects include a variable resonant low-pass filter and a basic wah-wah.

Good source of schematics for guitar effects pedals (by Jack Orman):   AMZ

Amp-wise, I'm using a 50W stereo amplifier feeding two three-way speakers with 12" woofers - total cost (including custom aluminium grate fronts and surrounds) less than Aus$70!

I have started to compile a future resource for users of the Mirage, comprising basic info and stats, tips, problem diagnostics, links, and in the near future samples in .wav, sys-ex, and disk-image formats.  It's first tentative form can be found here