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

I tried a demo version of Ableton, and wasn't too impressed with it. Aside from not liking it, I had quite a few problems with it playing nice with an EMU 0404 and the CS... I assumed it was because of being a demo version, but I had the exact same problems you did.

Just a thought, though... instead of slaving your DAW to the CS, have you thought about slaving your CS to the DAW? I've had a lot of luck with that configuration, by assigning the 16 tracks of the CS's sequencer to channels 1-16A, and having it slaved to my DAW (Sonar 8.5) by sending 16 more tracks of MIDI to channels 1-16B. I like the sequencer in the CS, but not for everything... so I use it for the stuff I like on the A side, and also MIDI out to control a hardware sampler and a couple of efx processors. For the things that I prefer having a visual aid to sequencing, I record on the DAW, and send to the B side. You can still assign real-time control set-ups with the multi-setups menu and have hands on controls for channels on both sides, giving you that 'hands on sequencing' feel. I always had much more luck with the CS in the slave position as far as timing and latency, etc. I think the CS silently suffers from 'MIDI choke' especially when things like polyAT are being used that is less noticeable when receiving MTC rather than trying to be the master clock. Just some things to think about... the CS is so versatile, there's surely some set-up that will give you the flexibility you're looking for, while playing nice with the rest of the rig.