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

I've been quite happy using my Axiom 49 with my XL-7.  I think it cost me about $200.

What made it easy, however, was using the Enigma software that came with the keyboard to configure it via my Mac.  (A PC version was on the same CD.)  That software's made it so I haven't really had to learn how to program the Axiom directly.  (Yeah, I'm lazy.)

The other gotcha was that the keyboard doesn't come with an AC adapter, because they assume you'll be powering it via USB.  I got an adapter at Radio Shack for $20 or so.

But once that's done, it can do great things!

For instance, the eight pads on its upper right gave me an idea, and I finally have a reason to use latch-mode arpeggiation.  I have an empty pattern with three parts configured as drums with latch-mode arpeggiation enabled, one of which is tripled relative to the others.  I map the pads to those parts.  Now, that may sound simplistic, but I have it so the arps aren't NECESSARILY synced to each other.

Anyway, that serves as a DIY rhythm section, and I either map the keyboard to one other part or two other parts.

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Radio Free Entropy:  http://just-john.com