Hello! I’ve had my Mirage since purchasing it new in 1985. Recently, out of the blue, the following issue began.
When playing sounds such as the piano or pipe organ that should have a fast release time, they instead play-on for a couple of seconds. Obviously, not realistic at all. I have compared all of the parameters with my 2nd Mirage, which is working correctly. The parameter values are set the same on both keyboards. Both are DSK-8’s (gray). Both using O.S. 3.2.
Has anyone else experienced this issue and found an answer?
I installed the Indian Valley Manufacturing (IVM) Megabank expander in this Mirage when it first came out. I love having 9 “keyboards” ready to go at the touch of a numbered button. It was necessary for live performance back in the day. I bet Sam is familiar with this rare modification.
I just installed Syntaur’s Gotek drive in my 2nd Mirage. It’s awesome! Still, I’m hoping that with your help, I can get an answer to the “release” issue that I’m having on my Megabank Mirage.
I appreciate your help in making this Mirage happy again.
Sincerely,
Kim
Your electrolytic capacitors are failing from age. all 1980’s 1990’s electrolytic capacitors are past timing out. You could also have tantalum capacitor failure. They fail in a burst of smoke or a dead short without any visible signs.
Thank you, midnightvisions. I will get started with these items.
I truly appreciate the help,
@midnightvisions
I have to admit that I don’t like replacing capacitors based on pure conjecture. It’s like shooting into the fog because you’ve heard a roar. You won’t hit the wolf only with extrem luck (and it might be, that it was your stomach that roared… 
)
@Wildlifestudio
Basically the error looks like that the synth thinks the release time is set to maximum. Did you try to change the sounds to a different release time for those programs?
Logic functions begin to fail when the power supply goes unstable. 30-35 years is the time limit for all 1980’s capacitors, even less for SMD capacitors. As the synth is 40 years old, its the place to start looking.
When the power supply goes too far out of spec, then un-replaceable IC chip damage can happen. Everything has a lifespan, so the choice is do you invest in repairing something old, or buy something new. Same with Cars, or homes. If you don’t have the resources to fix something, it may be better to buy something new and see if some one else wants to invest in a synth that needs repair.
The time needed to find the one capacitor that may be causing the issue is the big expense. because if you can get that one issue repaired then investing is a refurbishment becomes an easier to handle. But if you can’t solve then tone issue then it might be wiser to cut your losses.
Sorry if this seems like a rant, but were at that point of deciding ‘The sentimental value’ vs ‘The market value’, when to invest and when to cut our losses. Not trying to scare the owner, but we at that point in the synths life.
@midnightvisions
It’s not about a “sentimental value”. I’m saying that I don’t repair anything that I haven’t reliably verified as the cause of a fault. I don’t repair on speculation. Under certain circumstances, you can even introduce new behaviors that make it even more difficult to find the actual cause.
In @Wildlifestudio 's specific case, the error pattern is also far too clear. If we had a poorly filtered supply voltage in the 5V segment, various possible errors would have to occur. Not just the endless release time.
I did indeed start with the release time parameters. The sounds I put in my working Mirage have the same release parameter values as those on the Mirage with the issue. I take the release times down to zero. Doing this does indeed make the piano or organ release times shorter. Yet, when I release the key, I hear something continue on. It sounds like white noise playing. It lasts for about 2 seconds. The sounds definitely don’t sound right once I’ve taken the release time down to zero, or near zero. I loaded a clavinet to see how that would work out. It actually has the short release time you expect. Sadly, I still hear that 1 to 2 seconds of the white noise type sound. The sound reminds me of 8 seconds of sampled white noise. It’s a quiet sound. But, it’s there.
I really wanted to get this particular Mirage working correctly because it has the MegaBank in it. I performed on stage with this for years. I’m sticking with trying to get this release issue fixed.
Thank you so much for your help. I need it on this one.
