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

Yeah- what Aaron said- the XL7's synth engine is far beyond a "ROMpler"-

I've owned lots of synths, and not in a collector fashion- (including  
a VirusA and a VirusC) and I don't feel like I'm missing much by not  
having them anymore-
IMO they didn't do anything for me that my SQ-80 couldn't do (or  
JUNO-6/60/etc), which is 80s tech-
Sure there's the polyphony and inputs but eh...
It's a Virtual Analog, and a good one- but therein its limitations are  
defined- so why not just get a real one for 1/5 the price?
I've spoken many times with the guy who programmed the DSP in the  
Virus, and actually contributed some distortion algorithms to him, but  
I still am able to say that it just didn't do it for me.
I'm one of the most ardent "CD VS Vinyl - you're an idiot" proponents  
(on the CD side) but at the same time, an SQ-80, a Juno, SH101, TB303-  
these just sound different, in a way that the Virus (or Nord or  
whatever) has not yet achieved.

I can't explain it- neither can you.
Different strokes for different folks-
But since you've got a spare rack space, I'll talk about synths I miss-
Waldorf Microwave XT - GOD in a box.
(for rack mounting, you'll just want the Microwave-II)
After hitting the "randomize" button, I've heard things come out of  
that that I couldn't comprehend-

Uhm- the Kawai K5K was a good one too- I picked one up on the GC  
blowout many years ago for those that remember-
Careful with that Reso knob-

Hmm what else- I think if I had to choose one synthesizer to sell  
someone on that was looking at a Virus (assuming you don't need all  
the gay computer integration). there is only one- and it's made by  
Dave Smith:

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/per/index.php

Christ- I'm talking like an old guy-

-SS

On Jul 25, 2008, at 11:49 AM, Aaron Eppolito wrote:

> You can go pretty far with the XL-7 as a pseudo-analog synth.  What  
> you'll miss: hard sync, ring mod, FM, really fast LFOs, self- 
> resonant filters, live input.  You can get PWM in the XL-7 by  
> messing with the SLoop parameter, sorta do hard sync (albeit at a  
> pretty slow rate) with SRetrig, and the realtime Q you can do with  
> enough layers as I described a long time ago (one layer with low Q,  
> one with high, RT control is via volume on the high-Q layer).
>
> People who dismiss the P2k engine as a "ROMpler" are missing out on  
> some of the really cool stuff you can do in the patchcord section.   
> (not dissing you in any way; on the contrary, I applaud you for  
> thinking to use it in a more synth fashion!)
>
> The Virus is a cool synth and does have features that you simply  
> won't get in the XL-7.  That said, you can get pretty close (not  
> necessarily worse, mind you, just different) for a majority of  
> sounds and will certainly be able to make a ton of sounds a VA  
> simply can't.
>
> It's a tough choice.  I don't think you can go wrong with a Virus,  
> but you might want to spend some time programming a patch or two in  
> a VA style in the XL-7 before you decide to drop coin!
>
> -Aaron
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Atom Smasher <atom@...>
> To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 9:54:21 AM
> Subject: [xl7] virus vs xl7?
>
> i have an empty space in my rack, and it's calling to me... one of the
> things that i though about filling it with is a virus-rack.
>
> i haven't yet explored the synth engine of the xl7, and it'll be a few
> weeks at least before i have a chance to dig around in it, so.... is
> anyone here a current or former virus owner? how does the xl7 compare?
>
> right off the top, the virus is ostensibly a virtual analog synth,  
> and the
> xl7 seems more like a rompler. but i'm wondering if i could use some
> "basic" waveforms, a few layers, some virtual patch-cords, and some  
> midi
> CC controllers and roll my own virtual analog patches...? i'm  
> confident
> that i can get good sounds out of it, but can it compete with a  
> virus on
> the the merits of the virus?
>
> i only have one ROM slot in my xl7 filled, and i think it's the XL  
> ROM.
>
>
> -- 
>         ...atom
>
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