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

Hello again.
Having dug  into the machine extensively during this weekend,  
I'm afraid I have a few more complaints to report, adding to my 
previous post. 
In fact, at this point I must admit I am pretty disappointed with 
this machine and I think I will put it back on sale, and start 
looking for something else instead.

The patterns are good but I don't care about those, we all make 
our own after all. So that doesn't count.
The sounds in the MP7 native Rom are unusable. Have I found a 
single, usable piano, strings or organ sound that behaves 
normally? No. Only detuned, crappy distorted presets. 
The drumkits and basses are okay, though.

The interface and OS are good and responsive. The buttons are 
great.

However, the sequencer is the worst I've ever seen in a long 
time. 
As I said the other day, it lacks a basic UNDO function that is just 
too important to be left out.
It lacks a BAR COPY/PASTE function which is the basic of any 
sequencing work. Without it, if you got a wrong bar in a series of 
8, you have to redo all 8. The Erase switch is just too awkward to 
be used in this context.
The EXTEND SEQUENCE function is not very interesting. You 
can lose that if you implement the BAR COPY function.

The extensive synth programming functions interest no one 
here. We want a big sound library engine with realtime controls 
and easy but complete sequencing. Do not assume we all use 
software sequencers; I don't, and I'm a professional. And do not 
assume we are interested in modulating LFO2 with Velocity and 
Aftertouch with whatsoever else and its cousin. Most of us don't 
even haveTHE TIME to even access those menus, much less so 
use them. A good amount of quick edit knobs is all we want and 
use.

The sequencer is my biggest issue here. I mean, I've seen 
sequencing engines since 1988, and I've seen them all, being a 
dealer. This engine here would get serious kicks in the ass by 
any Roland or Yamaha or Korg groovebox, even the smallest 
ones. The mute buttons have a nice touch, but that's it.  Editing 
the pattern is a joke; there is no serious editing function. Again, if 
EMU engineers assumed we'd all use different sequencing 
means they assumed wrongly. If I'd use an external sequencer, 
why even implement a sequencer here? But if you do implement 
it, then you have to FULLY implement it, or you aren't doing your 
job properly. EXPECIALLY IN THIS PRICE RANGE.

EMU should have looked at the sequencing structure of a 
Roland MC-505 or a Yamaha RM1X. I  have both, and I can tell 
you that, although the waveforms and the quality of sound in the 
Roland do suck, the sequencer is massive compared to this one 
here, and the synthesis functions are all there, too. And the 
Yamaha has a seriously powerful sequencer, too.

So my verdict is thumbs down, I'm sorry. I will get rid of this 
machine ASAP and I don't think I'll be looking into other EMU 
gear for a while. Not unless they go back to the drawing board 
and re-design the OS from the bottom.