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Greengate DS:3

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Page last updated Oct 03, 2025

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Description

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The DS:3 Sampler by Greengate. The Greengate DS:3 is a vintage sampler and keyboard expansion card for the Apple II+ (and compatible systems).

Specs:

• It was made in the 1980s. • Keyboard with 49 Keys • It is both a keyboard and a sampler card , so it lets you record (sample) sounds and then play them back via keys.
• It has limited polyphony (4‐note) but is multitimbral (can handle multiple samples/instruments) and supports layering of samples across the keyboard.
• The software for it includes features like a waveform editor viewed in oscilloscope style, pattern editing (e.g. arpeggios).
• All run on an Apple II with its basic text/graphics display.

Because so few of these units remain, there was a lot of mystery around how exactly they work:
• Many surviving cards have undocumented chips, or chips with their part numbers sanded off.
• One particular “mystery chip” turned out (via detective work) to be a DMA controller specifically matched to the Motorola MC6844 after pinout analysis.
• Someone (Bea Thurman) had a photo of the board and also the “album” that came with the Greengate, which used the PCB’s top‐layout as part of its artwork (helpful for reconstructing tracks / routing).
• The board has connectors: a DB‐25 via ribbon cable, and a 2×10 connector for the keyboard. Some of these connectors were nonstandard or modified in surviving units.
• Sample audio (cassette etc.) into memory.
• Very limited sample length compared to modern gear.
• Layer multiple samples across keyboard, use multiple timbres.
• Only 4‑voice polyphony.
• Pattern/arpeggio editing etc. for creative composition.
• User interface very basic (Apple II green screen, limited resolution etc.).
• Works with original keyboard hardware (if you can find it and adapt connectors).
• Hard to find parts (keyboard, foot pedals, ribbon cables), and lots of repair / wiring work needed.

Owner's manual

Greengate DS:3 User Manual

Videos

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House of Angels

Sampler Greengate DS3, Apple II

House of Angels

Sampling, Synths and Computer Music on UK TV 1984 Greengate DS3

House of Angels

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Spike Edney

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Queen

Verified via Photo

In a 1985 Greengate brochure, a photo shows Spike Edney setting up a Greengate DS:3 alongside drummer Roger Taylor, likely for the ongoing Works tour. Colin Holgate, a software developer and co-founder of Greengate, has since further confirmed that Spike was a customer of theirs.