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

erik_magrini@... wrote:

> 1. When you're creating new patterns, is it easy to make changes to
> your programs (sounds?  Not sure what E-mu speak is for programs)
> without leaving the sequencer environment?  What I mean is, if I'm
> working on a pattern, can I tweak and save sounds as I go, or are they
> generally two seperate processes?  The nice thing about the mc505, was
> that you didn't have to stop your creative flow to save small tweak to
> a sound.

Presets we tend to call them.  Seems everyone has a different term. =)
The answer is, yes, you can tweak a sound and save it even while you're
in the middle of recording a sequence.  You almost never have to stop
doing anything on this box to do something else.


> 2. How well does the USB interface work?  Lots of glitches, or is easy
> to transfer SMF's from Cubase for editing and vice versa for example?

USB drivers haven't been released yet, but E-loader can transfer SMFs
between your PC/Mac and your XL-7.  I use it like this all the time (but
usually to a hex editor!).


> 3. I know you can mute and unmute parts easily on the XL-7, but is it
> hard to slowly bring in a part?  I'm used to the sliders on the mc505,
> is tehre a dedicated volume knob for each part you can use?

Yep.  Simply select "Volume" mode on the top left and all 16 knobs
become channel volumes.  Ditto for Pan...


> 4. How many tones can make up a program?  2, 4, 8 ?

Four stereo layers per patch, and two links to other presets, thus
giving you up to 12 layers.


> 5. Do all the LFO's and delay times sync to external BPM?

Yep.


> 6. Honestly, is anyone experiencing any bugs, or features that don't
> work properly?  I'm basically going to be using the drums in Reason,
> and then syncing the XL-7 to that (via ReWire in Cubase, since Reason
> doesn't transmit MIDI) for most of my instrument sounds, anything I
> should be aware of as to why this might not work?

Right now, sending external patch changes from the XL-7 is a little
wonky.  We're fixing that for 1.02, due out November.  In the above
setup, I'm not sure that will be a problem for you.


> Thanx to everyone that can help me out, it's really appreciated.
> Hopefully I'll be able to get one soon, and be a useful contributor to
> this lsit notlong after that!

No sweat.  Hope to see you back soon...

-Aaron