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

Well, with all the talk in regard to the possibility of being able to burn 
ROMs within the native environment of the Command Station itself, I 
figured I'd throw out a couple of thoughts.  I'll first state that I still 
don't completely realize how this can be done.

>>>Aaron has already told us that the hardware capabilities are there, 
just a few weeks ago: "...and the XL-7 already burns presets to the flash 
ROM as part of authoring, even when using the E4 sampler."  Unless I 
misunderstood him. <<<

Well, in regards to serving as a controller and in regards to serving as a 
sequencer, the Command Stations seem to (IMO) beat out the beast known as 
a 909. 

>>>I think in terms of a controller, yeah the XX-7's have it hands down. 
In terms of a sequencer, that's a tougher call IMO.  Certainly I think 
that the XX-7's are far faster and more intuitive, but the MC series still 
'currently' has more pattern editing options that give it the slight edge. 
 OS2 might change this, hard to say until it's here. <<<

In regard to being a synth, I actually think the Command Stations edge 
out. 

>>>Hmmm, I think that Emu definitely has a better synth engine, certainly 
the routing and polyphony are far and away better.  The one area that the 
Roland might still hold sway is in the included sounds, I bet they give 
you more variety (no splitting genres among units), and the SRX based 
synths do have some very nice realistic instrument samples.  As a pure 
synth though, the XX-7's take it IMO. <<<

One really cool thing we have to remember is that the Command Stations 
have a means of interacting with the computer environment aside from MIDI. 
 Granted, the USB features haven't really been utilized at this point at 
all, but they exist none the less.  Now, as I'm sure everyone realizes, 
the computer environment can be pretty darn capable in regards to being a 
sampler environment (in regard to grabbing and editing samples).

>>>Ultimately I agree with you here.  I think that incorporating a 
computer interface in the sample editing/storing/loading process will be 
the best solution.  By the simple fact that the only options for backing 
up XX-7 data and loading new OS's is via a computer, I think Emu have 
already taken the plunge and assumed most user have access to a computer, 
so I don't think it's too much of leap for them to go this route.  In 
fact, I think that ultimately if we did see this, it would be far better 
than using onboard sampling ala mc909, since we'll have the ability to 
alter and manipulate samples much easier than with simple onboard 
controls.  <<<

Really what we start to look at here is something that comes VERY VERY 
VERY VERY close to matching the MC-909 in capability.  Furthermore, with 
the given cost of the Command Stations, throwing in features like this 
capably puts Roland into a REALLY damn iffy position.  When you consider 
the fact that the MC-909 is planned to debut at a cost that is about twice 
that of the Command Stations, I'm sure the those in the market would 
really think hard on how badly they wanted to purchase the MC-909 over the 
Command Station which nearly matched the 909 in capability....Such a case 
could really work in not just Emu's favor, but in the shoppers favor as 
well.  Sales of Command Stations might see a sudden boost, conversely the 
cost of the 909 may have to be dropped a lot more quickly than normal in 
order to steer shoppers!

>>>Decent points, but I think the key here is not that it benefits Emu, 
but that it has to benefit Creative, their parent company now.  Any one 
who's ever worked for or with a large corporation knows how difficult it 
can be to get projects moved 'up the ladder' and into reality.  I think if 
it was Emu driving this, we'd see stuff like this happen a lot easier. 
They're musicians making music gear, and understand the need.  From 
Creative's perspective, here's a relatively new product line that had to 
be drastically reduced in price in order to sell and remain competitive in 
a waning market.   How do you convince people in that position to spend 
MORE money developing a product that wasn't a huge seller in the first 
place?  I'm in no way saying this is the case, but that's how I would look 
at it from their perspective. 

But again, the competition could be helpful in this case.  Here comes 
Roland, the originators of the 'groovebox' concept releasing a new product 
to less than stellar reviews and criticisms.  Emu sees this and realizes 
they they're still on playing field (in many cases in the lead), and not 
only that, but the increased interest in this product (and it's 
shortcomings) will undoubtedly spill over onto their gear in the meantime 
(most reviews in magazines list an "other options" field).  So, they 
decide to go ahead with OS2 and up the ante. 

So what about sampling?  Hm, well I think that given the XX-7's have the 
ability to burn ROMs, and that the E5 will no doubt interface with their 
hardware samplers which have a similar architecture to ours, then it's 
probably not too big of a leap to guess that the XX-7's have the ability 
get this option as well.  Will it happen?  Hard to say for the above 
reasons.  Certainly I think that Emu has a great chance to reinvent the 
XX-7's and their image right now.  They know what the competition is 
bringing to the table in the coming months, which can only help.  They 
have the hardware in place currently, and the software being developed for 
something else as we speak.  With a new OS on the way as well, not to 
mention Winter NAMM right around the corner, they could do a huge service 
to themselves by announcing and releasing the ability to burn ROMs around 
that time.  Not only will it be around the time that the mc909 is 
released, but NAMM is typically the time to announce major changes like 
that, so the press is already there looking for a buzz.  Offer existing 
users a burnable ROM & E5 package at a reasonable price, and you'd have a 
hit.  Maybe even follow typical Emu marketing strategy and offer a new 
XX-7 turbo unit with these options already included [for god's sake ditch 
the yellow paint too :) ]. 

Whew, long ramble but you get my point.  NOT SAYING THIS WILL HAPPEN, I 
know nothing more than anyone else here about what Emu's plans are 
regarding sampling, but I'm agreeing (in a very long winded way) that they 
certainly are in a good position to do it, provided they can make Creative 
see the light too. <<<

rEalm







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