I don't honestly think it's planned out quite that
thouroughly (sp) - WHen you have a certian technology (rolands (gay) d-beam for
example), you would tend to think "where can I aply this in the real
world." Sure it costs less because all Roland needs to do is duplicate one
sound chip for their JV engine which you see in EVERY one of their
keyboards... The whole EMU idea is real basic: They have an OS, and
with that OS you have the capability to play sounds. What boggles me
is that they take this maybe a little far and actually make a different case for
a module with the same os but a different ROM --> It's marketed
compeletly differently. SURE! You could probably get a Proteus
2000 without the PROTEUS rom but with a PHATT rom installed....
It would be the same as the MO PHATT module, without the purple
box!
I remeber when roland came out with their "Jazz
scat" preset. The roland guys (I know a few of the reps) think this is the
best thing since the piano. It's in EVERY roland piece from the Fantom, to
the RD-700, to the GR-33 guitar synth. I think it's pretty lame
actually.
I agree that the Proteus sounds are pretty
nice. Korg and Roland seem to add a lot of "gimmics" to their
modules. However, EMU, imho, is not without guilt. Beats mode:
Come on, who really uses this??? YOU? ME? NO! As far as the 2500 vs the 2000 is concert, this is the way i
see it: EMU took one of their classic sequencers, souped it up, and stuck
a proteus rom in it. 32 midi channels is quite awesome imo... i'm
still filling my rack trying to figure out "whats next"
You mentioned: I will note here, that though I'm not sure, I'm guessing that the
2500's sequencing abilities lie one overall step ahead of the Command Stations
(falling short only in the live application department) --
I'm almost positive that You're wrong
:P . They are EXACTLY the same. Same menus, Same OS,
just no pads...
and again, as far as marketing is concerned, most
consumers don't think about all this stuff. The idea is, that they come in
the store that may have an XL-7, MP-7, and a 2500 - but what do they ask
for??? "I need a machine that is great for hiphop" - and the
knowledgable salesperson shows them the features on the MP-7...
Which is, again, basicly the MP rom with an AWESOME sequencer. When it
comes down to it, we're all making music. When I buy a guitar the
first thing i look at (I know it's wrong) is COLOR! And I'll have to
say this is the first thing that turned me off from the command stations.
I almost special ordered a 2500 with no rom, and order the MP & xl
roms. I kinda like the purple though, it's grown on me. The orange,
however, sucks. :P
IMO I think EMU has been very clear and honest
about their stuff. It's pretty plane as day that the 2500 has the
same synth chip as the 2000. ; i could be wrong, but i doubt it. I
know for a fact that the 2500 has some different presets and
stuff. Thats one thing that I liked about EMU - their
product line was simple to understand so that I knew what I wanted.
Anyway, I'll have to say that I love my MP-7.
It has replaced all my hardware sequencers, my old sound modules, and my old
"groove boxes." This box takes all that and gives you the
tools to use real equipment with it. It's a powerhorse. i
can't wait to see what they plan to do next! (maybe the PE-7 - a green
command station with the planet earth rom LOL)
Without writting a novel (ehum) peace
out
----- Original Message -----From: atrance23Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 9:51 PMSubject: [xl7] 1 Synth Engine, Many Products (was Re: Greetz to all! OS Question(s)Yeah, oddly, from what I was able to gather from the MP-7, XL-7, Proteus 2000, and Proteus 2500 was that they were all essientially the same thing. Seems that Emu decided to do what Roland had done with the MC-505 and JX-305 (and about about a billion other keyboards based on the JV); the MC-303 and EG-101; the SP-808 and SP-808EX, what Korg had done with the Triton and Karma but simply take a step further.....about an additional 2 steps further actually. Re-releasing the same synth in a variety of formats; each format being in a "initial" catered format for an individual; and each format holding the capability to essientially emulate (arguably) to a tee the capabilities of the other releases. Take one product, and turn it into 4. Capably a smart marketing move (IMO), as now you save money on actually having to develop different synth engines and such, yet still attack a broad spectrum.
The bulk of their latest keyboards, the XK-6, MK-6, and PK-6 respectively seem to continue in this same vein for the most part; though they cut the polyphony in half on these for some reason.
So the real question in regards to practically their whole entire line up becomes one of "How do you want your Proteus?". As really, seems to be the same damn synth engine cooking underneath all of them. I guess Roland arguably did this same thing with their JV synth engine though; as the seemed to just pack that into about a billion and one different things for awhile.
One has to wonder though in regard to the Proteus 2500 why Emu simply didn't go all out and release it under a more typical workstation format; as essientially, that's what it seems to be. I myself am pretty disappointed with the bulk of workstations out there when it comes to how much synth power they pack. Dare I say, I really think a Proteus can hang with, for the MOST part, with Rolands XV line (as I said, I haven't received my XL-7 yet, so this is speaking strictly from specs on paper), and though the Proteus line lack sampling ability, as strictly a (rompler) synth, I'd even dare to say that it has Korg Triton down right beat; and really, it seems that a decent keyboard controller addition is all that's keeping the 2500 seperated from this line. To this end, I will have to say that EMU has done a most impressive thing in how they decided to manage the price on what essientially is the Proteus line. Want an XV, but find it just a bit to pricey? Well, if you're willing to give up on a couple nifty control features (in regard to fancy aftertouch work and such) and a bit of effects power, and in return replace them with some filtering options, pick up something (anything practically) from the Proteus line and you'll most probably end up with the same thing the XV would have givin you if not more. Want a Triton (but realize the darn things are overated =P ), well, espically if you already have a sampler, go ahead and once again, simply pick up something from the Proteus line, and not only are you saving money, but your for the most part beating out what the Triton could have giving you.
Now again, maybe I'm wrong, and there is just more of a difference between the 2500 and 2000 than what I'm seeing, but there really doesn't seem to be. I mean really, if one had a decent MIDI (knob) controller and a 16 (or more) track sequencer already handy to use, I'd consider them a fool to get a 2500 as they'd already have the capability to turn a 2000 into one. More so, unless you just really want more knobs at your disposal, go ahead and just get a Command Station, then you got at least a one octave keyboard and what appears to be a more userfriendly sequencer (for live application espically) at your disposal. I will note here, that though I'm not sure, I'm guessing that the 2500's sequencing abilities lie one overall step ahead of the Command Stations (falling short only in the live application department).
Anyhow though, I'm actually kinda hoping that there is something I'm missing about the 2500. As really, it just kinda disappoints me when companies seem to take (IMO) people for idiots and just pump out rerelease the same thing under a neo name and try to pass it off as some kind of "new and improved" kind of deal, when really, it's anything but.....sell it for what it is I say, don't lie and try to pass it off for something it's not. Where the 2500 is concerned, I hardly think that the addition of simply a faster processor is enough to state that you've released a new synth engine.
Respects,
Aaron Nesby
--- In xl7@y..., "drj0" wrote:
> interesting concept on the proteus. Actually I was more thinking
> that The PROTEUS 2500 was nothing more than an xl-7 with a proteus
> rom and without the pads. Maybe they should have called it the pl-7
>
> hmmm....
> > www.twenty3.tk
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