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

Hello all,
	I'm wondering about the Protozoa ROM.   Anybody willing to give a 
quick run down of what's on it?  I had a Proteus for a short while years ago 
and remember the sounds were pretty good and varied, but that was a few 
years back and I didn't have it all that long - for some reason it wouldn't 
behave well in my midi rig.  Also, never heard the other two.
	I've just gotten the Proteus POP ROM, so I'm wondering if it is 
complimentary or just roughly covering the same territory.  I've got several 
other older synths, so I don't really need that kind of material. My ESQ'm 
still kicks sonic butt :)  Great little boxes... (old, but great) They can sound 
like so many other synths.  Still amazes me... Sorry, off on a tangent...

Pop review:
	I was rather disappointed in the string selection in the POP, frankly. 
However, I fortunately have that covered by other gear so it isn't tragic - for 
me.  But if you are looking for a lot of strings they aren't there.  Really not 
enough strings for my taste.  There are more string presets than string 
instruments on the ROM.   I would have gladly given up some of the 
copious drum samples in favour of strings...   Almost half the instruments in 
the POP list are drums and percussion, maybe more than half actually.... 
Granted, drum samples don't take up a lot of space, generally. There are 
some great ones in there, though, but with that many to choose from you 
will need a good memory.... Plus there are roughly 100 varied hits. There 
are some other very good sounds there, too, though. Brasses didn't blow 
me away, but some were OK I guess... Sampled guitars always seem a bit 
useless to me, so I can't say if they are, "good" or not. I've played guitar 
longer than keyboards, so they all sound dead to me.  Clean, but dead.  I 
won't comment on the quality of the EP's and organs.  People get so 
obsessed with those instruments, anything I say I'd probably end up 
regretting.  But, there are quite a few, relativey speaking.  I liked a lot of the 
basses... Very good selection there... Lots of synths, and assorted waves 
for doing analog or odd stuff - got nothing on the XL-7 there, though.   It 
definitely suffers from trying to be all things in one collection - which is what 
you'd expect.  I would have liked more pads, too. But, overall, it isn't bad.  
At 99$ - I think it is a very good investment.  
	With the mangling capability of the xx-7's you can get a lot of 
variety if you are willing to program a bit.  I've got the XL-7, so it is a good 
compliment to that ROM at the current pricing.  I love the XL-7 sounds, but I 
also like to layer synths and traditional instruments a lot, so I needed 
something else, too.  The XL-7 ROM is very focussed.  Nice they put them 
on sale :)  The presets are pretty nice, but I mostly like to use my own 
programming, so that's not where I look first.   They are nice as a reference, 
though.  Many sound better than the instruments they are made from - 
which is telling... Synth magic, there... Some things to be learned, clearly.
	As rEalm has the POP, maybe he can be a bit more thorough on it.  
It's real new for me - arrived Tuesday...   Sounds are very subjective and 
this is my OPINION, only.  I've only had the thing two days - so... Take it 
with a grain of salt if you are picky.  	
	FYI - I like making NEW sounds, so I am really not a good person 
to review this kind of stuff from the point of view of somebody who is going 
to use them in a straight forward manner.  I am not a classical sound 
connoisseur.  I'm somebody who likes to mangle stuff.  I don't gig.  
	Hope that's useful to you,
	
			Best, 
				Flibfree