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

Go home Klown, you're not welcome here, you industrial music beotch...  :)

Anyway, I'll compare it to the 505 since we know that one pretty well. 
Instead of having 7 tracks for instruments and 1 R part, the XX-7 has 16 
freely assignable tracks, and each can have up to 16 midi channels on it 
if you want.  Channels can be sent to one of two MIDI Out ports, or both 
if you prefer.  Patterns and songs are similiar to the 505, Patterns can 
be up 32 measure, Songs can be up to 999 measures long and are made the 
same way as the 505.  Here's my opinions on it's strengths and weaknesses, 
I'm sure others will pipe up if they disagree.

Strengths:
- Very flexible midi channel routing, since each track is effectively 
capable of using 16 midi channels  So you could (for instance) write your 
percussion parts on their own tracks, and then copy them all to single 
track to free up more tracks for instruments.  Or you can keep each track 
assigned to single midi channel (how I work).
- Very quick work flow in that you don't need to stop the sequencer to 
edit your Patterns most of the time, only when changing the quantize and a 
couple other things.  Also, ergonomically the Comman Stations are very 
cofortable to work with too, all you Edit menus, cursors and the data 
wheel (which is way better than the 505's BTW) are right under your hand.
-  Stability and fast response, since the new OS came out, this thing is 
rock solid timing wise, especially nice as you get 128 note polyphony too, 
double the 505s :)  Over all I find the XX-7 much faster to sequence with 
than the 505.
- Being able to freely assign the 16 knobs to almost any parameter on any 
channel means it's dead easy to control other gear from the XX-7 in live 
setting.
- BRN lamp socket makes it easy to see what you're doing on stage in the 
dark.  Although I know how much you like the dark, so you may not want 
this.  Your groupies may not be able to pass for 21 anymore if it's bright 
enough in the clubs too...
- List editor lets you see a list of all your notes or contrller data for 
a particular track. 
- Kick ass pads for note input, I wish Emu would make a full size keyboard 
with those pads instead keys, I'd buy one in a heartbeat...

Weakness:
- No RPS yet, although there's a long winded workaround using the arps 
that sort of fits the bill for now.
- No megamixing, bummer. You know how much I liked that when I played live 
on the 505  :(
- No onboard storage, so if you get to the gig and find out you need to 
reload a pattern or Presets in a rare accident, you're screwed unless 
you've got a laptop with E-Loader installed.
- Less editing options than the 505, no groove quantize (the shuffle is 
very musical though), all recording is currently done in an Overdub mode 
(versus Replaced).

rEalm 






I'm looking into a mp7(gotta love the purple), but the main use i 
would have it for is a sequencer, both for studio and live use.  It 
would be sharing this responsibility with a mc-5o5.  How is the 
sequencer at this point(lets not talk of future potential yet 
please)  If anyone could describe its strengths and weaknesses for 
both the studio and live usage i would greatly appreciate.

Also has an Orchestral Rom been released yet(or in pre-release?)