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

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 Roms that come with the Command stations are very genre specific. 
You won't find good pianos and the like in the MP&XL-7's.  You need to get 
the Sounds of the ZR Rom for that. <<<

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. 

>>>I think alot of the complaints you have are fixed in the the 1.18 OS 
update, which includes a "Revert To Saved" feature similiar to Undo.  It 
would be nice if this was hardwired to the Compare button though, I agree 
on that. <<<

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 new OS does allow you to specify a bar range for Copy and Cut, 
althogh it was mistakenly left out of the Paste screen.  Emu said it'll be 
included in the next OS update.  Hopefully they'll include the ability to 
Paste overwrite, not just merge as it is currently. <<<

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.

>>>Well, most people don't have extensive sound libraries, so the 
extensive Preset editing features are very welcome.  As for wanting knobs, 
look at the front panel, there's quite a few there :) BTW, sometimes 
making good music takes time, so I've heard. <<<

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.

>>>I hate to say it but you're right on this account.  The mc505 and even 
the cheaper RM1x have much more powerful sequencers, with the Yamaha 
surprisingly having more features than the more expensive Roland.  That 
being said, there's very few things you can't do on the XL-7, that can be 
done on the others (groove quatizing being one).  I think Emu are on the 
right track, and they genuinely seem to want to make the sequencer 
features better.  Hopefully the next OS will address a lot of these 
(relatively minor) issues, if not...  Well, the sequencer still work fine 
for me. <<<

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.

>>>Best of luck then! <<<

rEalm