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

Thansks so much for answering, eric,

it all makes sense. My only gripe: I went for the mp-7 to get away 
from the computer stuff that I have to face 10 hours a day  ;-) Have 
you ever come across the all-in-one-box Yammie RS7000 and if so, do 
you think this machine is easier to handle for composing songs rather 
than "only" pondering (oops, my English, can you say so?)out some 
groovy tracks? Does it give you a better overview of whats going on? 
(Soundwise the RS 7000 would never be a serious competitor to the mp-
7, anyway, to my ears - but maybe its easier to handle without a 
computer)
 Waddaya think?

Heinrich







--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Hehehe, I know what you mean.  I too started out on Roland and 
Yamaha 
> machines (still the moderator of the Yahoogroups mc505 list), and 
then 
> migrated over to the PC side of things almost completely after I 
was 
> forced to sell my hardware suddenly last year.  After awhile 
though, I 
> missed the live aspect of hardware (I used to do Live PA's 
regularly), and 
> needed something to compliment my DJ sets.  Not to mention I missed 
being 
> able to make music outside of the studio, so I decided to get the 
XL-7. 
> After working exclusively in the computer for awhile, it was a bit 
of a 
> shock to suddenly be confronted with what some might consider 
the "limited 
> features" of the XL/MP series.  I've found that the best way to 
approach 
> it, is to not expect the sae things that you would from a computer, 
or 
> other gear.  I know, I know, it's much easier said than done 
sometimes! 
> Just try and trea the Command Station as a new instrument, like you 
would 
> a guitar or sax.  Something that has to be learned for what it is 
and not 
> what it should be.  The new OS really has gone a huge way towards 
making 
> this a feasible possibility.
> 
> Also, using E-Loader, you can really have the best of both worlds 
too.  I 
> typically have been hashing out my patterns (I never use Song Mode) 
using 
> just the XL-7.  That way it's easy and quick to get your basic 
groove 
> going, make all the relevant Presets you need, and all the basic 
> programming/sequencing stuff.  Once I've got the basics down, I'll 
save it 
> to my computer using E-Loader.  From there I can Import the midi 
file into 
> Cubase and do all my fine tuning.  It's easier to do things like 
drawing 
> and cleaning up controller info, adding groove quantize, and 
randomizing 
> my percussion velocities (via Cubase's logical editor) to give them 
a more 
> human feel.  Once I'm done I save the MIDI file again, and (after 
> rebooting my computer, since E-Loader won't run twice, grrr!) I 
load it 
> back into the XL-7 to take out live with me.  Takes me minutes to 
do it 
> this way, versus hours with just the XL-7.  I find this hybrid 
approach is 
> best if you really need or want fine control over your music.  You 
could 
> even arrange an entire song in the computer and then load it into 
the MP 
> for playing back if you wanted too, as long as you don't exceed the 
note 
> capacity of the sequencer...
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Somehow I just can´t find a quick workflow in composing songs with 
the 
> mp-7. I just don´t have the time anymore to fiddle around for days 
until I 
> have a few tracks done. Maybe I am just too used to working with 
rolands 
> and yammies.