Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

I don't like the layout of the Korg and would not consider it an 
enhancement to the XL-7. If you can swing it, some sites have the 
Novation KS4 at closeout pricing. It has lots of controls to use for 
programing and gives you a VA to match up with the ROMpler sounds of 
the XL-7. The KS4 would be handy for patch programming. I use the KS 
Rack and like it a lot. Also note, you can get a simple MIDI 
keyboard and run it through the XL-7. The commandstation will merge 
the signals, allowing you to use the keyboard of the controller and 
the knobs of the XL-7 at the same time. This is handy when editing 
soft synths.

For a sampler, I was lucky enough to pick up a new Yamaha A5000 at 
closeout pricing. $499 is a good price for a sampler that sounds 
that good. The effects are good and it has 128 polyphony. I through 
in an old hard drive, some cheap memory, and had a maxed out system 
on the cheap.

Robert