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

Some things that you should know:


An Ultra Sampler can address 128MB of memory.

If you install one ROM/FLASH you lose 64MB of that [but you can have two 
ROMs/FLASH and not lose further memory].

The only benefit of having FLASH memory (in an Ultra) is that you don't have to 
load the samples into RAM (which is not long if you locate the files that you 
use regularly at the top of the disk file system).

The ultra sampler won't put anything useful into the preset memory of the FLASH. 
That is, the presets used by the ultra sample are stored within the main FLASH 
(together with the waveforms) whereas the proteus 2k series rack unit requires 
its own presets in the preset memory -> meaning that you will have to create 
your own presets for both units.


Copying a ROM (or FLASH) onto an ultra sampler (ie from SIMM to HDD) only copies 
the main memory, and not the proteus 2k presets.

All of the proteus 2k ROMS contain within them some presets which are useable by 
the ultra sampler (but these are not anything like the ones used by the proteus 
2k).


Consequently its not simple nor necessarily useful to compare "identical" 
presets from the proteus 2k to the ultra sampler although the filters are pretty 
much the same. I suspect that there will be slight differences that will boil 
down to personal preference. [I haven't bothered with this myself]

As for moving SIMMs from the Ultra to a proteus module - its really tedious. 
Basically, once you go to all the effort of creating useful presets on a proteus 
module you really aren't likely to want to reburn it with another set of 
waveforms and have to go through the entire process all over again [you have to 
create a bank of user presets for the FLASH, and then copy the entire bank into 
one FLASH bank]. Bottom line is that the FLASH SIMMs tend become single use (you 
put one set of waveforms on them and once you create the presets you just leave 
it alone). More like a custom ROM than a truly flexible option. 


Its a little easier if you put a copy of an existing ROM onto the FLASH because 
you can download all the presets for that ROM as sysex (although you need to 
change the waveform from ROM to FLASH in the sysex data).

So unless you're extremely motivated, the FLASH SIMM is really a over-rated 
comodity, since you can't easily change its contents in situ in the p2k module; 
and why spend the money on an ultra when you can just load samples into RAM?

If you're going to get an ultra sampler, you might be better off extending its 
capabilities with an RFX-32 card (despite its failings) rather than waste time 
with the E-MU FLASH SIMM.




________________________________
From: James Ulibarri <jamesulibarri@...>
To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, September 14, 2010 4:46:18 AM
Subject: Re: [xl7] Custom Roms... - Any updates?

   
This question has came up before I think. 

What has the feedback been on the filters in the CS vs. the filters in an Ultra 
sampler?   Which one has the better filters?
Which one dips into distortion faster (not good) and which one has the deeper 
and warmer filters?   Anyone have both or had
both units that can answer that?   I know it depends on what samples/ROM you are 
using.   I am definitely making the leap
away from the computer.   The Ultra sampler & custom Rom burning is sounding 
better and better.   Bottom line is I need
an Ultra sampler no matter what happens.    I guess it's a $500 experiment at 
this point.  A used Ultra sampler and then the
rare 16/32 flash rom.  That's where we're at.