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

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Atom Smasher <atom@...> wrote:
>
> i'm looking into a XL-7 as a hardware sequencer... 
. . .
> what i'm really looking for is a hot-rod replacement for an MMT8.
. . . 
> so, does 16 tracks mean one channel per track? 
> or could i assign 16 channels to each of the 16 tracks? 
. . . 

Command Stations and the P2500 have two midi out ports (A & B). You 
can assign each of the 16 tracks (T01 -> T16) to the following 
destinations:

none
int [internal synthesizer]
ext [external gear connected to the midi ports]
both

In addition, you can assign track data to any of 32 channels
(01A - 16A; 01B - 16B), MultiA, or MultiB.

Its been decades since I had a functional MMT-8, so I can't really 
compare the funtionality or the ease of use of the two. Your summary 
of the XL-7 sounds right, though.

> with 16 tracks (instead of 8), 1024 patterns (instead of 100), 
memory for 
> ~300K events (instead of ~10K), 2 MIDI outs (instead of 1), and a 
bunch of 
> modes and editing features that the MMT8 will never have. is that 
right? 

> in pattern play mode, can pattern numbers be entered through 
something 
> other than the data wheel? can i use sysex? or a keypad? are 
there "next" 
> and "previous" buttons?

Some options for changing patterns without using the big data knob 
(I hope others will add to the list):

In song mode, you can create a chain of patterns.
You can set up foot pedal to step through (up or down) patterns.
One of the trigger button modes is to select patterns, which will 
allow you to use each of the 16 trigger buttons to select a 
different pattern.
  
> if i get a used one (i guess they're used, now?), are there any 
versions 
> of hardware or software i should be looking for? or avoiding? how 
do i 
> tell what version it is?

You probably want OS2.0 [the latest and last OS]. If you get a box 
with an earlier OS, you should be able to upgrade it using a PC with 
midi and a utility called E-Loader (available at www.mu.com).

> from what i've read so far i guess i should check the data-knob 
before 
> buying... anything else i should know about, or ask about, or 
check, 
> before buying one of these for a hardware-only rig?

Usual warning: make sure is it is 100% functional with no problems. 
Also, find out what ROMS it has. The more the merrier, since 
instrument samples and presets are on the ROMS (E-Mu SIMMs).