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

I got an MP7 and I got a problem with it.

First symptom: When recording a pattern, regardless of mode (ie 
grid or realtime etc) or input trigger (ie. pads or external), my 
notes often become gated or 'clipped' once entered. This 
happens most frequently when I place a note at the first beat of 
the first bar of a pattern. When the bar loops it seems that the 
note at this point is either severely gated or totally missing. This 
can happen with all types of ROM sound. The only way I can get 
the sequencer to record the note and its value is to keep entering 
it in record various modes whilst experimenting with different 
quantise settings and tempo values until it sticks. This can be 
very time consuming.

Note: I have experienced no problems when triggering MP&'s 
ROM sounds live from both MP7 pads and external sources, it 
'plays'  just fine. This prompts me to assume that there is a 
problem with the sequencer and it's MIDI relationship with the 
ROM set.

Second symptom: When doing a same-track overdub in real 
time,  my previously recorded notes can become corrupted. 
Gating often occurs, release points may wander and chord parts 
seem to vanish. When I check the graphic note entry in grid 
mode to see if everything is still in place it all appears fine and 
as it was when originally entered, it just sounds wrong because 
of the said random gating of notes. 
These problems are intermittant, affecting about 1 in every 8 
takes. Has anyone else experienced this?

Tried Remedies:
Firstly I did a full diagnostics test via the boot screen by the
usual 
method: power up with cursors < and > held. I did all the tests 
and they all came up without fault.
I thought that the sequencer may be crowded so I then did a 
factory reset and discarded all pattern and user preset data.
I then laid a simple three track realtime pattern. To my fury the 
bass drum immediately became very badly gated at the first beat 
of my 4 bar loop. When building up a simple chord track with a 
keyboard preset some notes beneath became gated.
I emailed EMU support who, normally being very helpful, 
suggested an OS upgrade. I am still running V1.01 until I get  a 
PC. 

Surely this is not an OS issue as the EMU Command Station 
was born out of a long and rich heritage of hardware 
sequencers. I don't accept that a company such as EMU would 
release a product line that required an OS upgrade in order to 
properly fascilitate one of its basic functions: that of a rock
steady 
sequencer. If this were to be the case then it would suggest that  
EMU are prepared to supply an expensive piece of  dedicated 
hardware without fully testing it first.
I am fully aware of  the occaisional note dop-out when using midi 
sequencers. I have been using Akai MPC line for years and, like 
with most supposed 'bombproof' sequencers, I still experience 
the inevitable drop-out from time to time, but the problems I am 
having with the MP7 surely shouldn't still be cropping up this 
side of SP1200.
I shall of course update my MP7 OS soon but, in the meantime, I 
would like to know:
Will I be wasting my time doing this whilst a more serious fault is 
at play?
Who else has had these problems?
What else, apart from returning the unit to my dealer, can I do to 
sort it out?
Please offer any advice that you might have. Thank You. . .