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

!*!*!*!LONG POST ALERT!*!*!*!

   I've owned my XL-7 for about 3 months now and have been slowly 
sifting through all the programming possibilities for it.  My final 
goal is to use solely (due to lack of funding) my command station and 
my Boss SP-303 sampler as a foundation for a Live PA setup.  
Presented with all the bugs and problems with the command stations 
hasn't left too many open doors for me that will still lead to my 
desired end results.  
   I was hoping all you out there in internet land could look over my 
setup and tell me if I'm missing anything obvious.  I'm trying to 
leave my options as open as possible when programming, but I've 
seemed to have hit a dead end with where to go next.  I'd like to see 
how everybody else in the forum programs their command stations, as 
compared to my setup.  The main problem I've been trying to address 
is switching patterns smoothly, without a break in the sound at all.  
By the way, I'm trying to make some jungle, dn'b or breaks tracks.

My setup is as follows:

 - 16 Bar patterns (what most DnB revolves around IMO)
 - Sticking to simple Global FX instead of via preset
 - SP-303 using Sub 1 for FX and Sample mixing
 - Using software sequencer to do multi-channel track recording

MIDI:
[1A-8A], all drum channels: divided into two kits (1A-4A,5A-8A) - 
With every pattern I try to have a default drum sequence consisting 
of instruments on channels 1-4.  I've made some custom presets that 
only include one type of drum hit; all snares on 1A, all kicks on 2a, 
etc... all tweaked to perfection.  This allows me to use the volume 
knobs to take stuff out of a drum pattern without giving up a track.  
Therefore I can fit two completely different drum sequences with two 
completely different kits on one pattern, allowing me to mix between 
the two *and* isolate a instrument for use in the Quick Edit mode.

[9A-16A], bass, fx, alternate percussion:  Still working on how to do 
these guys most efficiently.  

[1B-6B], pads:  I have these tracks reserved for pads and other 
sounds that I really don't have to sequence any data for.  All I do 
is assign one of the trigger buttons to the channels, assign a 
programmable knob to the channel volume, and play from there.  I can 
still select the track and use quick edit on it from the data wheel.  
Keeping the presets the same pattern-to-pattern is a trick tho...  I 
have to initialize these channels by placing volume events in a 
MultiB track; namely #16 my sampler track.  

[7B-8B], kits:  I have a couple kits set up here that I like to use 
to add a little "whatever" to a track.  I try to stick to percussion 
that complements *both* drum sequences.  These two channels are 
linked up to tracks 7 and 8.

[9B-15B]: Unused as of yet

[16B]: Sampler channel

TRACKS:
[1-6], MultiA, drums: For each drum kit I usually sequence three 
tracks; the normal track for measures 1-15, a break and a fill.  This 
way I can have the normal track playing up until measure 16, and then 
I can either have silence, or the break or fill track.  This also 
makes for interesting mixing opportunities if done intelligently.  

[7-8], 7B-8B, Misc:  Like I said above, I use these for general kits 
that complement the drum tracks well.

[9-15], Bass, FX, Schtuff:  Pretty straight forward.  Just using 
these tracks to start sequence on corresponding A channel.  

[16], Sampler:  This is the track I use to sequence to my sampler.  I 
have to keep this on the B channel to allow output from my XL-7 to my 
computer.  

My methodology is this:  Every pattern of mine has two complete drum 
sequences; one for the beginning and one for the end.  I also have 
every pattern set up so only the first drum pattern is playing when I 
switch to it.  I've assigned all my drum sequences a letter, so when 
I'm switching patterns I know what drum sequence is going to be 
playing at measure 1.  This allows me to effectively mix between 
patterns... Not pretty but it works.  

Any other Dn'B producers wanna comment on their setups?  Or mine?  
Any ideas for improvement?

sapo