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

Hi,

I've got a problem: I've made some Fruityloops tracks that sound not 
bad. Sequencing in Fruityloops is very easy, the best interface so 
far. But my goal is to make a track only with the XL-7 not only 
because I've spent 600,-EUR for that beast.

So, I've started with creating some sounds on my own. The results 
were not bad. Some nice "megasaws", fatter Kicks and Basses. So far, 
so good. The effects settings are not very flexible. Is bpm-synced 
cross-delay possible there? The two effect processors are too few, so 
I've had to use the chorus setting in the preset menu.

But then, the sequencing. A pattern can be max. 32 bars long, right? 
Hmm, what about filter sweeps that are at least 64 bars long? How 
should I start seuquencing a whole track? Meaning intro, fill-in, 
verse, break, outro etc.? How are complex melodies that are longer 
than 32 bars possible? How do _you_ do it?

Or should I use a PC sequencer? Which one? Should I use Fruityloops 
for that? Or is there a nice _freeware_ midi sequencer available? 
Even if it is, then I've paid too much for the XL-7 because I don't 
need the onboard sequencer anymore. And that's a pity.  I really miss 
a piano-roll view of the tracks there. Even a tracker-style view, 
meaning showing the notes, velocities, note lengths and additional 
parameters would be enough, but editing in the event editor there is 
a real pain in my eyes.

So:

What is the best way to sequence on the XX-7?


Another point:
There are 1102 members in this group, but there are only a handful of 
people who posted a link to mp3 of them containing tracks made with 
XX-7. Why? 1102 members and only 10 posts about mp3s? Not to say 
about "groovesharing" on EMU's site. This section is dead. Why? Is 
there no one who wants to share it's pattern/songs for uploading it 
on the XX-7?


Thanks for reading and cheers,
Uri

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "u_ri_p_ui" <u_ri_p_ui@y...> wrote:
> The effects settings are not very flexible. Is bpm-synced
> cross-delay possible there? 

Yes. Turn the delay time below zero (counter-clockwise) to get note durations. Only the B Effect has BPM sync, IIRC.

> The two effect processors are too few, so
> I've had to use the chorus setting in the preset menu.

That's what I do. I don't think I've ever even used the chorus in the FX. Plenty of polyphony to burn.

Here's a tip: route an LFO (or looping envelope) to Chorus Depth to add some additional animation to the sound (this is similar to what an actual chorus effect does). And the "Delay" parameter in the layer is equivalent to "pre-delay" on a chorus.

> But then, the sequencing. A pattern can be max. 32 bars long, right?
> Hmm, what about filter sweeps that are at least 64 bars long? How
> should I start seuquencing a whole track? Meaning intro, fill-in,
> verse, break, outro etc.? How are complex melodies that are longer
> than 32 bars possible? How do _you_ do it?

Song mode. Make your sections as individual patterns, arrange them in order using song mode, and overdub controllers as needed.

> Or should I use a PC sequencer?

I don't think using a PC sequencer means the ComStat sequencer is a waste at all. I prefer the xx7 for composition, experimentation (muting, x-mixing, dropping arps), drum programming, and (of course) live use. It's not a bad idea to have a computer sequencer as well for archiving and finalizing songs - computer sequencers are really just glorified tape recorders, in my opinion, as opposed to a well-designed hardware sequencer, which is more like a musical instrument.

Woah, how many questions here? If you don't have any computer 
sequecing gear, maybe the best thing is to actually explore how much 
you can do with the XL. I come from using Sonar for years, but I am 
having lots of fun messing about with the sequencer in the XL, it is 
NOT the same thing as a software based sequencer. I think of them as 
fundamentally different ways of sequecning but complimentary ways of 
working. If you do get computer based sequencer - and I would point 
out that all the major software packages have cheaper versions that 
will still do great midi stuff, you can easily use that in 
conjuction with the XL, bouncing tracks back and forth using 
eLoader. You can, as rEalm pointed out, import tracks up to 64 
measures long, even tho the manual says its only 32.
Plus of course you can use the XL live and not drag the computer 
around with you.
I would suggest you search the archives, read the manuals (get the 
latest in the file section) and play with the box till you have a 
good handle on what it can do. And that will take a damn long time, 
I have had mine for a year and I feel I am only scratching the 
surface of what this amazing thing will do.
You can go to my website:http://www.braintransfer.org and on the 
songs page, the last two songs make heavy use of the XL7, including 
the sounds from the now crazily expensive World sounds card.
have fun with it!
Dana

--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "u_ri_p_ui" <u_ri_p_ui@y...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I've got a problem: I've made some Fruityloops tracks that sound 
not 
> bad. Sequencing in Fruityloops is very easy, the best interface so 
> far. But my goal is to make a track only with the XL-7 not only 
> because I've spent 600,-EUR for that beast.
> 
> So, I've started with creating some sounds on my own. The results 
> were not bad. Some nice "megasaws", fatter Kicks and Basses. So 
far, 
> so good. The effects settings are not very flexible. Is bpm-synced 
> cross-delay possible there? The two effect processors are too few, 
so 
> I've had to use the chorus setting in the preset menu.
> 
> But then, the sequencing. A pattern can be max. 32 bars long, 
right? 
> Hmm, what about filter sweeps that are at least 64 bars long? How 
> should I start seuquencing a whole track? Meaning intro, fill-in, 
> verse, break, outro etc.? How are complex melodies that are longer 
> than 32 bars possible? How do _you_ do it?
> 
> Or should I use a PC sequencer? Which one? Should I use 
Fruityloops 
> for that? Or is there a nice _freeware_ midi sequencer available? 
> Even if it is, then I've paid too much for the XL-7 because I 
don't 
> need the onboard sequencer anymore. And that's a pity.  I really 
miss 
> a piano-roll view of the tracks there. Even a tracker-style view, 
> meaning showing the notes, velocities, note lengths and additional 
> parameters would be enough, but editing in the event editor there 
is 
> a real pain in my eyes.
> 
> So:
> 
> What is the best way to sequence on the XX-7?
> 
> 
> Another point:
> There are 1102 members in this group, but there are only a handful 
of 
> people who posted a link to mp3 of them containing tracks made 
with 
> XX-7. Why? 1102 members and only 10 posts about mp3s? Not to say 
> about "groovesharing" on EMU's site. This section is dead. Why? Is 
> there no one who wants to share it's pattern/songs for uploading 
it 

> on the XX-7?
> 
> 
> Thanks for reading and cheers,
> Uri

Dana, what are the names of the two songs with the XL?? One of the 
last 2 on your site is the Lounge Lizard demo. Thanks for clarifying.
Mark

> You can go to my website:http://www.braintransfer.org and on the 
> songs page, the last two songs make heavy use of the XL7, 
including 

> the sounds from the now crazily expensive World sounds card.
> have fun with it!
> Dana

Whoops! Not very specific am I? Its the top two, Waterwheel and 
Ambitesque.
hope you enjoy them.
--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, "sparky2m4" <mcandrews@f...> wrote:
> Dana, what are the names of the two songs with the XL?? One of the 
> last 2 on your site is the Lounge Lizard demo. Thanks for 
clarifying.

> Mark
> 
> > You can go to my website:http://www.braintransfer.org and on the 
> > songs page, the last two songs make heavy use of the XL7, 
> including 
> > the sounds from the now crazily expensive World sounds card.
> > have fun with it!
> > Dana

"dwoodaman" <dwoodaman@y...> wrote:
> Woah, how many questions here? If you don't have any computer 
> sequecing gear, maybe the best thing is to actually explore how 
> much you can do with the XL. I come from using Sonar for years, but 
> I am having lots of fun messing about with the sequencer in the XL, 

:-))

That to read makes me happy.


> I would suggest you search the archives,

Oh dear, long, long searching. Especially if you don't have a 
flatrate for accessing the internet.


> read the manuals (get the latest in the file section) and play with 
> the box till you have a good handle on what it can do. And that 
> will take a damn long time, I have had mine for a year and I feel I 
> am only scratching the surface of what this amazing thing will do.

That sounds good to me. Well, time is going to Easter. Then, I'll have
some spare time. ;-)) Need to get a key for my room. ;-)))


> You can go to my website:http://www.braintransfer.org and on the 
> songs page, the last two songs make heavy use of the XL7, including 
> the sounds from the now crazily expensive World sounds card.
> have fun with it!

I think you mean "Waterwheel" and "Ambitesque"? I'm always impressed
what kind of sounds the XX-7 can create. 4 layers, different filters
for each, their own three envelopes, patch cords etc... In my eyes,
EMU should stick to their command stations and bring out an advanced
one with better and more effects simultaneously and a real lcd dis-
play. At least that kind the RM1x has got... ;-)))


Cheers,
Uri

"robotchas" <robotchas@y...> wrote:
>> "u_ri_p_ui" <u_ri_p_ui@y...> wrote:
>> The effects settings are not very flexible. Is bpm-synced
>> cross-delay possible there? 
> 
> Yes. Turn the delay time below zero (counter-clockwise) to get note 
> durations. Only the B Effect has BPM sync, IIRC.

Many thanks. Haven't thought that there were any values below zero.
I'll look for that when I get home.


>> The two effect processors are too few, so I've had to use the 
>> chorus setting in the preset menu.
> 
> Here's a tip: route an LFO (or looping envelope) to Chorus Depth

Great tip. Is that in the files section here already?


>> How are complex melodies that are longer than 32 bars possible? 
>> How do _you_ do it?
> 
> Song mode. Make your sections as individual patterns, arrange them 
> in order using song mode, and overdub controllers as needed.

The delay between pattern changing has been fixed? Hmm, so that's a
way to arrange complete productions on the XX-7.

You know, the problem is that you have got to have a plan how you make
your track using the on-board sequencer. Using Fruityloops for in-
stance is more flexible as I can drag notes around for experimenting
with things. Do that on the XX-7 in a quick way before you've forgot-
ten what you really wanted to make. ;-))

I hope you get my point here: I am a newbie producer, so many things
I do are just spontaneous things needing much experimenting. There
is no way to quickly experiment on the XX-7 as the one octave keyboard
is too few to experiment. And I don't have an external midi keyboard
as I don't have the room for placing it somewhere close to the XX-7...


Cheers,
Uri