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

I will start by saying that I am sorry if I rubbed you the wrong 
way.  I think I have just heard to much complaining in here about 
this box.  I know it is all for the best and is the way to get a 
more complete box.  And I will also say that I have done my fair 
share of complaining as well.  So that being said I will reply.


> << It only took me a couple of days to get my head around this 
> simple setup. With the level of expearence you are boasting I am 
> suprised  that you would say that.> > 
> My level of experience goes proportionally inverse with my level 
> of time available, dude.

Dude it is simple I am not shur why people have a hard time with it. 
Anyone who has ever used a mixer with four FX sends can just look at 
it the same way.  Look at the 16 tracks as the same thing as a 16 
chan. mixer.  you have four fx sends with a set about of mix on set 
up for A and B in the global menue and once you have things set up 
the way you like you just set fx buss in the pattern menue.  Hope 
that helps.
> 
> <<One of the main reasons i bought this box it the extra outs and 
> the aftertouch pads. >>
> Fine; I honestly couldn't find a single application for them. 
Let's  run a poll: aftertouch pads or graphic display?

Shur a poll would be find but it is done now.  I plan on using the 
pads for live use so i dont have to lug a controller keyboard 
around.  so having the aftertouch is handy and as for the second 
midi outs I find em good for a couple of things i like having my 
Roland drum head hooked up to em with my external FX to keep the 
timing as tight as I can for layering drum sounds.
> 
> <<I will now totaly flame you for telling me what I wan't in my 
> gear. >>
> You shouldn't be flaming nobody. Period. I said I didn't want to 
> offend anybody.

I hear ya there but I think it is my place to tell you when I 
dissagree with you when you take the time to tell me what I wan't 
and don't want.  You may not have wanted to offend anyone you did.
>  
> << synth is huge, in your opinion way to big to ever be used.  so 
> there is a future for the box is this a bad thing?>>
> Ok, I'll tell you my ideas about that.
> Extensive ADSR and Filter/LFO features are great for simulating 
> playing techniques in classic or acoustic type of sounds.
> For electronic/classic synth type of sounds, I think a 
> virtual-analog machine is much better. A PCM type of engine 
> cannot give you that sound/smoothness/expression, no matter 
> how good the waveforms or how extensive the mod matrix & 
> filters. For me, it is the same as graphically comparing a random 
> wave with a sine. From a distance, they might seem similar, but 
> in detail, the sine is smooth, the other is rough.
> For drum type of sounds, a mod matrix is overkill. None of those 
> samples has the time to develop over time. 

I see what you are getting at but is very good to have things like 
the LFO's for triggering/retriggering drum sounds.  As well I do use 
the filter ADSR for filtering even the shortest sounds.  It is nice 
to be able to use a filter to make a sound short rather than just 
using the amp decay.  The effect is different, soubtle but different.
I am not flaming here I am just talking about the way I do use the 
chords on the kits.  Once you get familier with the chords and the 
setup of the preset edit layers it is not a long process to get what 
you are after, as long as you know what you want.  It is easy to get 
distracted in there.

> For pop/rock/bread'n'butter type of sounds the main editing 
> shortcuts (cutoff/rez, ADSR, LFO rate & wave) are usually plenty. 
> Obviously I am not here to tell you you shouldn't filter a piano  
> and morph it in any way you like, tremoloing with a distortion    
> applied to the tail end of the filter release or whatever. 
> I just meant that, for the typical average user of this kind of 
> machines, this programming features are a trifle too much when 
> compared to the skimpy features of the sequencer. I appreciate 
> them in the P-2000, but in this machine the sequencer should 
> be king. And a sampler, too.
> 
> One thing I did not mention yesterday, comparing this box with 
> the competition, is that it lacks a realtime arrangement feature 
> called transpose pattern; am I wrong?

Nope it aint there, that would be kinda cool to have.

> And anyway, my biggest issue is that I still can't download the 
> new OS into it.

I wish I could help you out there but I know nothing about MAC's.  
That is totaly frustrating, I had some trouble with it the first 
time and it drove me nutts.  Good luck, but i dont think you will 
need luck if you have Aaron helping you.
> 
Peac 

Mike