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

The following was taken from my latest blog entry on the abomination called
Myspace, I thought some of you may be interested.  I'll ask that if any of
you have happened to have conducted similar testings with things side by
side and feel that you may have something to contribute, please either
comment directly on the relevant blog entry OR send me an email/message on
myspace with what you would like to add and I will add it to the blog.  The
blog entry itself can be found
HERE<http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=10837760&blogID=173583428&MyToken=7f899dba-e1ae-4d3a-af24-6a4c92879a2c>(for
comment adding).  The entry itself can be read below, I am appending a
couple notes that were/are not apart of the original blog entry (at the
end).

Regards,

         Al

The FutureRetro 777 Vs. The TB-303 (and else)

Though I had done this in the past, I put the 777 up to a 303 emulation test
again.....somewhat oddly, the results were a bit different than my first go.

First I'll note, that as I'm sure many of the 303 owners here are aware, it
has often been stated that dont' be surprised if two 303s don't sound
exactly alike (though that is pretty much the case with most analogue
guear).

Secondly, realize that the emulation test are a fuckin pain in the ass.
Tuning can be an absolute bitch to nail down perfectly and the fact that the
777s filter is so much wider can make things a bit of a bitch as well.

Anyhow, I'm not posting recordings of the results, but if someone would like
me to, I'd be more than happy to.

So, the results:
A)The first time doing this, the 303 used proved to be a noisy damn beast!
For whatever reason my 303 is a lot less noisy than the 303 I had used
previously. As far as a natural noise factor being issued out by both
machines (777 and 303), they ran about equal this time around.

B)When dealing with saw waves, the 777 nailed the 303 perfectly. I began by
having a single plain note be triggered by the sequencer with a fully open
filter (on the 303) and moved to get things to the point where I could swap
out which machine was audible. This was a bit tricky, as I'll note that
though the 303s filter was set to be fully open, this doesn't make for a
fully open 777 filter. I then tried different filter settings on the 303 and
was able to continually find corresponding settings for the 777. Next, Full
on sequences were slowly built on and tried. Where things became noticable
was when one started doing serious tweaks, but this isn't surprising
considering exactly how much wider the 777 filter is (by default).

C)After testing things with Saws, I moved to the infamous fucked up 303
square test (something I had not ventured to in previous test), and here
things got different. I really respect what Jered did with the 777 in this
area (continously variable wave shape), as it allowed for a DAMN close
emulation of that fucked up wave the 303 calls a square, but it was never
quite able to match it....it just continously ALMOST matched it.

When I can get off my lazy ass, I plan on fucking with this some more,
swapping out the 777 that I used for testing and eventually hitting up both
777s against the 303 that had first been used (which truly does seem to
sound different than my own). Anyhow, in regard to the 777 doing a 303, I
will now change what I had formerly stated to that the 777 at times won't be
as noisy as a 303, can match the 303 perfectly when a saw is in use (I've
achived this twice now against two different 303s), but doesn't seem to be
able to nail the 303 "square" quite perfectly (only closely).

I'll also note that from a natural stand point, it's actually hard to take a
unmodified 777 and have it perfectly emulate an unmodified 303. The octave
range of the 777 is greater for one, then there is the issue of how wide the
filter is (to say the 777 filter is a little wider would be an
understatement). The 777 sequencer is also capable of A LOT more, I'll say
notably in the notational area....due to this, even without getting into
doing fancy loop changes and what not, a typical 777 sequence is capable of
issuing out things (note wise) that the 303 can't hit. The 303 sequencer
gives the user essientially a 3 octave range, while the 777s gos WAY beyond
this.....this makes it really easy to end up with sequences that the 303
can't hit and calls once again on a line of limitation to be followed if one
is trying to get the 777 to emulate a 303.

Ultimately, as I've said in the past, I still can't view the 777 as a 303
emulator as there is just so much one has to neglect about the synth when
using it for such. It's a TOTALLY different (and sonically superior) synth;
just so happens that it can do one hell of a 303 emulation.

As for now, with two 777s, an MC-09, and a TB-303 I'll confess that I still
view all of them as acid devices of a sort. The 777 is the most
powerfull/flexible of them all when it comes to sheer sonic capability, has
a superior sequencer, and will lend itself to the creation of synth leads,
basses, drums, bells, weird clangs, and effects just as easily as it will to
the area acid. The MC-09 has the second most usefull sequencer of the bunch
and though a considerable step down from the 777 in power, is definately the
second most capable synth in regard to sonic capability. HOWEVER, it is a
totally different beast than the 777 and TB-303. It can throw out TBish acid
lines, but it's specialty (IMO) really comes in simply anger.....I don't
know how else to describe the sound of an 09 other than that on the one end,
it can end up sounding like a rather interesting 303 emulation, but an
emulation that is obviously an emulation and not the real thing. While on
the other end it can end up sounding like somebody took a 303 and really
really pissed it off or gave it some sort of hallucinogenic drug (acid on
acid?). I prefer the 09 for acid simply due to how damn aggressive the thing
can sound.....the 777 and 303 really can't touch it in this regard (without
some serious help behind them). The TB...well, it's the TB. It's annoying to
program, has a mind of it's own at times in regard to how sequences will be
constructed (double button clicks), and has a damn limiting paramater set.
The TB will provide you with decent synth basses, but more so, it excells at
acid.....in fact one might say that it could be argued that it's limited
paramater set helps make it more ideal for the real acid sound.

The Juggernaut (777)
The James Bond/Cool Cat (303)
and The Berzerker (09)

I guess if I had to attribute likenesses to the 3 devices, those would be
them. And maybe just because I'm a bit disgruntled, I'll confess that I
prefer The Berzerker for my acid.

*The following is an appending to the original entry*

In regard to the 09, I'll elaborate a bit on what I mean exactly by it
sounding "angry".  The 09 comes with 3 filter types, that being a 12db,
24db, and a third which I believe is an 18db but I'm not certain (nor does
the manual say).  When in 12db or 24db mode, the filter is capable of self
oscillation.  There are two keys to the 09's angry sound, and these keys
are:
1. The type of waveforms/tones available (there's a nice varitey, and some
of these just naturally sound harsh)

2. The snappiness of the filter envelope (on the 12db and 24db modes most
notable)

3. The 24db filter (with a roll off so sharp, and punchy envelopes, the
thing can slap the hell out of things).

Utlizing some of the harsher waveforms/tones, abusing the quick action of
the envelopes, and occassionaly utilizing the small amount of effects
available, one can just come with some extremely viscious bases.  Further,
as 2 of the filter modes are capable of self oscillation, the thing can
really just start screaming.  All of this makes for something that just
truly excells at sounding aggressive.
I'll further note that the "vintage mode" of the 09 (what seems to be an
attempt at 303 emulation) falls way short of sounding like an actual 303.
When in this mode, a good number of features available in the other modes
are stripped.  ADSR for both the filter and AMP section are availabe in the
other modes, an LFO which can be applied to the filter, and any effects
usage all disappear when the 09 is in "vintage mode".


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