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

These are all really good suggestions, including a lot of useful sequencer refinements.

> 2. The ability to record or enter Track Mutes in a Pattern and Song.

Muting as a whole is pretty rudimentary and could definitely use some improvement. All of the suggested changes would help.

> 4. The ability to make a layer sample playback in reverse.

I'm surprised at this one. My Morpheus will do this, and it's ancient. Why did they get rid of this feature?

> 15. The ability to stop at a certain measure while in grid recording.

Stop the editing "frame", that is, not the playback itself. This is vital.

> 24. A way to select new Patterns without having to scroll.  Similar to RPS
> and RPPR functions.

Actually, "Pattern Call" might be a better term - RPS would be nice too but it would be partly covered by item 12. Pattern Call is absolutely crucial since *every* other groovebox product out has this feature. It should also be possible to do this via MIDI, like on the Electribes.

> 25. Real-time preview of quantize settings in Pattern Edit so you can hear
> your changes as you make them, as well as new Groove Quantize features.

Timing control is another weak area.

> 28. The ability to record and playback sysex in order to make changes to
> external gear.

Vital.

> 30. The ability to burn ROMs directly in the XL-7, without the need for an
> Emu sampler.

This is the one that strikes me as the most difficult to implement. Would be nice though.

> 31. A way to allow the 16 knobs to control Volume, Pan, and Note Values
> for each step while in Grid mode, similar to an analog style
> step-sequencer.

Cool idea.

> 38. The means to swap out tracks from other patterns during play back,
> allowing you to slowly morph from one pattern to another on a Track by
> Track basis.  Similar to Megamixing.

Also cool.

Good list. I'm sure there will be welcome bugfixes as well.

My guess is E-mu will wait until after the MC-909 press release to announce the finalized upgrade list. That's what I would do, anyway.