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

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.  See comments and smileys 8-) below.

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, Aaron Eppolito <synthesis77@y...> wrote:
> > E-Mu clealy refers to "4-layer synthesizer voices."
> 
> Sorry man, I'm not trying to pick on you here.  You're right.  That 
one
> line in the manual is incorrect.  If you replace voices with 
patches or
> presets, everything is alright with the world.

Do you have any pull with anyone who writes the manuals?
"The extremely flexible yet easy to use 4 layer instrument 
structure . . . ." would work well in the intro.

> > Please show me in which manual or addenda there is any explanation
> 
> Page 152, Introduction to Preset Architecture: "XL-7 provides a 4 
layer
> instrument structure.  Each layer is a complete synthesizer voice"

OK. layer = voice; 128 layers = 128 voices.  I missed the implication 
of this line as related to polyphonic reduction.

I like the phrase "4 layer instrument structure."  That section of 
the manual would be a great place to add a short 2-4 sentence 
paragraph to let the user know how different layering configurations 
affect polyphony--with a see page 152 reference added to the 
introduction as revised above. 
 
> Page 166, Voice Chorus: "Each layer with chorus turned on uses twice
> the polyphony for that layer."

I saw that.  Definitely a clear (explicit) explanation.  I picked 
this up when I read the entire manual.

> Page 170, Introduction to Z-Plane Filters: "XL-7 can produce 128
> filters of up to 6th order or 64 filters of 12th order complexity. 
> Therefore, if you decided to use all 12th order filters, XL-7 would 
be
> limited to 64 voices."

Cool!!  Nice to know that using 12th order filters on all 4 layers 
only halves the polyphony unlike chorus.  Ooops.  Just tested this.  
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the polyphonic reduction 
works exactly the same was as with chorus.
"Therefore, if you decided to use 12th order filters on one layer, 
polyphony would be halved. If you use them on two layers, polyphony 
would be quartered, etc."

Preset chorus on all 4 layers of 1 preset + 12th order filters on all 
4 layers of 1 preset ===> 16 voice polyphony.

I get it now! 8-)

With such a preset--through the miracle of midi--I can send different 
controller data to most if not all of the individual parameters in 
each of the layers/audio streams that make up a single note-on note 
of which I can trigger 16, I think.  8-)

> I think everyone probably glossed over the introduction because, as 
I
> said, every rompler/sampler manufacturer measures polyphony in the 
same
> manner.  Sorry for the confusion.  Again, I'm not picking on you,
> especially since you're a helpful member of the xl7 group,

Thanks.  8-)

> but to claim that E-mu is trying to mislead you by having that
> single poorly chosen word in the manual is a tad far-fetched.

OK.  I will grant you it is a <*tad*> far-fetched, but not much more 
than a tad.  ;-)

Seriously, though, I guess I'm one of the few people that read major 
sections of manuals before purchasing gear. 8-) 

> How's about everybody smiles now?  (hoping to extinguish this minor
> flame war...)
> -Aaron

Sounds good to me.  8-) 
  
Now that were all smiley, some serious questions remain:  (1) where 
do I find out which samples/rom instruments are stereo samples and 
therefore cut polyphony in half and (2) what if any polyphonic 
reduction occurs with the use of multi-samples such as kits?

And on a different subject:  remote control via sysex seems 
incomplete--that is, most but not all buttons seem to be 
controllable.  (1) Am I right? (2) If I am, any possibility that all 
of the buttons will be controllable in a revised OS--particularly 
those related to the sequencer, eg. trnasport, pattern selection, 
looping functions, etc. (3) If I'm wrong, where can I get the 
complete list of commands?  (The latest sysex manual I have is 2.2.)

Thanks for past and future answers.

---Steve