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

Hi--

I'm looking into a mp7(gotta love the purple), but the main use i 
would have it for is a sequencer, both for studio and live use.  It 
would be sharing this responsibility with a mc-5o5.  How is the 
sequencer at this point(lets not talk of future potential yet 
please)  If anyone could describe its strengths and weaknesses for 
both the studio and live usage i would greatly appreciate.

Also has an Orchestral Rom been released yet(or in pre-release?)

Thanks,
klown
(heya rEalmerz...)

personally,i like the sequencer a lot. it was also the main reason 
for me to buy the mp7. it's very easy to use. pluspoints; stable as a 
rock, very intuitive interface, morethanenough possibilities for 
assigning channels (32) to tracks. downpoint; small screen, that's 
why i still like to do some things in cubase (extensive key editing 
for instance)
by the way... you'll need a computer anyway to dld new o.s. and 
sequence management. so if you don't have a computer in the studio i 
would think twice about buying it... i'd still buy it though... in 
fact can't live without my mp7 at the mo!

all proteus roms can be used in mp7 (up to 4 of them), orch rom is 
available, haven't heard it myself but should be good (might as well 
for the price!)

hope this helps, best,

peter.

--- In xl7@y..., "klown_mr" <klown_mr@h...> wrote:

> Hi--
> 
> I'm looking into a mp7(gotta love the purple), but the main use i 
> would have it for is a sequencer, both for studio and live use.  It 
> would be sharing this responsibility with a mc-5o5.  How is the 
> sequencer at this point(lets not talk of future potential yet 
> please)  If anyone could describe its strengths and weaknesses for 
> both the studio and live usage i would greatly appreciate.
> 
> Also has an Orchestral Rom been released yet(or in pre-release?)
> 
> Thanks,
> klown
> (heya rEalmerz...)

Go home Klown, you're not welcome here, you industrial music beotch...  :)

Anyway, I'll compare it to the 505 since we know that one pretty well. 
Instead of having 7 tracks for instruments and 1 R part, the XX-7 has 16 
freely assignable tracks, and each can have up to 16 midi channels on it 
if you want.  Channels can be sent to one of two MIDI Out ports, or both 
if you prefer.  Patterns and songs are similiar to the 505, Patterns can 
be up 32 measure, Songs can be up to 999 measures long and are made the 
same way as the 505.  Here's my opinions on it's strengths and weaknesses, 
I'm sure others will pipe up if they disagree.

Strengths:
- Very flexible midi channel routing, since each track is effectively 
capable of using 16 midi channels  So you could (for instance) write your 
percussion parts on their own tracks, and then copy them all to single 
track to free up more tracks for instruments.  Or you can keep each track 
assigned to single midi channel (how I work).
- Very quick work flow in that you don't need to stop the sequencer to 
edit your Patterns most of the time, only when changing the quantize and a 
couple other things.  Also, ergonomically the Comman Stations are very 
cofortable to work with too, all you Edit menus, cursors and the data 
wheel (which is way better than the 505's BTW) are right under your hand.
-  Stability and fast response, since the new OS came out, this thing is 
rock solid timing wise, especially nice as you get 128 note polyphony too, 
double the 505s :)  Over all I find the XX-7 much faster to sequence with 
than the 505.
- Being able to freely assign the 16 knobs to almost any parameter on any 
channel means it's dead easy to control other gear from the XX-7 in live 
setting.
- BRN lamp socket makes it easy to see what you're doing on stage in the 
dark.  Although I know how much you like the dark, so you may not want 
this.  Your groupies may not be able to pass for 21 anymore if it's bright 
enough in the clubs too...
- List editor lets you see a list of all your notes or contrller data for 
a particular track. 
- Kick ass pads for note input, I wish Emu would make a full size keyboard 
with those pads instead keys, I'd buy one in a heartbeat...

Weakness:
- No RPS yet, although there's a long winded workaround using the arps 
that sort of fits the bill for now.
- No megamixing, bummer. You know how much I liked that when I played live 
on the 505  :(
- No onboard storage, so if you get to the gig and find out you need to 
reload a pattern or Presets in a rare accident, you're screwed unless 
you've got a laptop with E-Loader installed.
- Less editing options than the 505, no groove quantize (the shuffle is 
very musical though), all recording is currently done in an Overdub mode 
(versus Replaced).

rEalm 






I'm looking into a mp7(gotta love the purple), but the main use i 
would have it for is a sequencer, both for studio and live use.  It 
would be sharing this responsibility with a mc-5o5.  How is the 
sequencer at this point(lets not talk of future potential yet 
please)  If anyone could describe its strengths and weaknesses for 
both the studio and live usage i would greatly appreciate.

Also has an Orchestral Rom been released yet(or in pre-release?)

-  Stability and fast response, since the new OS came out, this thing 
is  rock solid timing wise, especially nice as you get 128 note 
polyphony too, double the 505s :)

****
Cool, so not experiencing the dropped note problems like the 5o5?
****

- BRN lamp socket makes it easy to see what you're doing on stage in 
the dark.  Although I know how much you like the dark, so you may not 
want this.  Your groupies may not be able to pass for 21 anymore if 
it's bright enough in the clubs too...

****
Awww, i'm glad you get to act cool in front of your new friends over 
here :)  Its sad that you're still jealous of my bitches...
****

- Kick ass pads for note input, I wish Emu would make a full size 
keyboard with those pads instead keys, I'd buy one in a heartbeat...

****
How is it for actual note playing?  Or is it just better for drum 
work?
****

- No onboard storage, so if you get to the gig and find out you need 
to reload a pattern or Presets in a rare accident, you're screwed 
unless  you've got a laptop with E-Loader installed.

****
Huh, kind of surprised on that one.  No storage options at all?  That 
one may scare me off because i've learned not to trust gear before 
shows...
****

- Less editing options than the 505, no groove quantize (the shuffle 
is very musical though), all recording is currently done in an 
Overdub mode (versus Replaced).

****
Never used groove, so not to worried there, but not sure i follow 
what you mean by overdub mode.  What other features are missing that 
i might feel are missing?
****

Thanks,
klown

Cool, so not experiencing the dropped note problems like the 5o5?

>>>Not even close, that was a biggy for me when deciding to get the XL-7. 
It really is a rock solid sequencer in that respect. <<<

Awww, i'm glad you get to act cool in front of your new friends over here 
:)  Its sad that you're still jealous of my bitches...

>>>Well, you know how it is, always wanting to be part of another man's 
harem... <<<

How is it for actual note playing?  Or is it just better for drum work?

>>>Now that I'm used to it and they're broken in, I totally prefer it for 
note playing, but then again I was never a concert pianist either.  They 
have a great feel to them, your fingers just bounce right off and are 
ready to go again!  Admittedly it took a bit to get used to, I was always 
double triggering drums at first, but after a week or so, it felt totally 
natural.  I only use my controller keyboard now when I need to hold huge 
chords or something.  In fact I haven't even powered my CS2x on in months 
to be honest, it's for sale BTW too. <<<

Huh, kind of surprised on that one.  No storage options at all?  That one 
may scare me off because i've learned not to trust gear before shows...

>>>Sorry.  Actually it's not too bad, not saying I trust it 100%, but 
certainly way more than I did the 505 whenit comes to having freak 
accidents.  PLus, since you have 8 banks of 128 locations for both 
Patterns and Presets, you can always make tons of back ups (what i do) 
just incase.<<< 

ever used groove, so not to worried there, but not sure i follow what you 
mean by overdub mode.  What other features are missing that i might feel 
are missing?

>>>You never use groove?  Man I miss my reggae grooves, they were perfect! 
 Anyway, say you set up a track to record in pattern mode and start 
jamming over it.  If you wanted to replace the notes you just recorded and 
try another take, you'd need to erase what you just did (Or Revert TO 
Saved, which is like a 1 level Undo) , then try again.  Some sequencers 
like the 505 will erase (or not, you're given the choice) any previously 
recorded notes if you play over them while recording.  It's not a huge 
deal, but it did save a marginal bit of time.

What else might you miss?  Well I think you'll be way better off when it 
comes to live stuff, especially controlling all that gear you've got.  In 
the studio it's hard to say as you'd need to actually finish a song in 
order for me to judge that aspect. :)  You're welcome to come over 
sometime if you want to get hands on with it, or maybe I can drive down by 
you too.  My studio is in pieces right now, building new furniture and all 
that fun crap. 

OT: Oh yeah, Mixmaster Morris (The Morning After CD) is going to be RedNo5 
on Saturday, head to the Pure site to get on guestlist. It'll be a cool 
show, they're redoing the decorations upstairs for him to make it into a 
giant chill out space, tons of couches and stuff I heard.  I know you like 
that CD, so thought I'd point it out, and there'll be trance downstairs 
(Chris Fortier), which I know you love ;p  We'll be there early, full of 
brownies I'm sure... <<<

rEalm

--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Weakness:
> - No RPS yet, although there's a long winded workaround using the 
arps 
> that sort of fits the bill for now.
> - No megamixing, bummer. You know how much I liked that when I 
played live 
> on the 505  :(
> - No onboard storage, so if you get to the gig and find out you 
need to 
> reload a pattern or Presets in a rare accident, you're screwed 
unless 
> you've got a laptop with E-Loader installed.
> - Less editing options than the 505, no groove quantize (the 
shuffle is 
> very musical though), all recording is currently done in an 
Overdub mode 
> (versus Replaced).
> 
> rEalm 
> 

Greetings list! My first post. My name is Ravi Sharma. And I am a 
gear-aholic :) It has been 4 hours since my last purchase (of an 
XL7):

Regarding the above remaining "weaknesses," what if any have E-mu 
comment upon? And if so, what did/do they say in regard to future 
implementations?

Some thoughts:

- in regard to external storage, would E-mu consider implementing 
something in a future O.S. so that one could purchase an external 
USB card reader to load or unload patterns/presets/os from? This 
would be handy for live preparedness.

- Megamixing and RPS along with being able to mix the parts live 
using the fader are perhaps the greatest live features of the MC505 
and will probably keep me from selling mine until and if they are 
addressed and solved in the Emus. I can see mixing being achieved 
using a 16 channel volume template for the knobs on the emu, or by 
using a kenton control freak or something. 

- Is it even possible to on the fly move one track from a non-
playing pattern into and replacing it's corresonding track in a 
currently playing pattern? That is what I understand Megamix to be. 
If the machine can do that (using I am sure too many button presses) 
then perhaps if such could be achieved by some sort of sysex 
messages, then an External knob box, like Kenton, could be 
programmed to do megamix too.

Ravi

Greetings list! 

>>> Greetings Ravi!  For those that don't know him, Ravi is really cool 
guy and a fellow 505 list moderator.  He knows a great deal about music, 
so we're lucky to have him aboard! <<<

I can see mixing being achieved using a 16 channel volume template for the 
knobs on the emu, or by using a kenton control freak or something. 

>>>The knobs are already assigned to volume on the XL-7 (you get 4 options 
premapped: quickedit, program, volume, and pan), so you don't need make 
your own twmplates. <<

- Is it even possible to on the fly move one track from a non-playing 
pattern into and replacing it's corresonding track in a currently playing 
pattern? 

>>>Nope, no way at all to do it now.  Here's a workaround I proposed 
earlier:

A way to switch out a track in one Pattern, for a track in another 
Pattern, all without stopping playback.  Say during playback you want to 
switch to a new Pattern, but don't want to do it so suddenly as to be 
completely noticeable that it's a completely new Pattern (the way it 
currently is).  Instead, you could Press EDIT + TRACK SELECT/TRIGGER to 
bring up a new screen that would be laid out similar to the Mix Output 
Page in the Global Edit Menu ala; 

Channel 02A: Send2->Main 

The new screen could be laid out like: 

Channel 02A: P:002 Trk: 04 

Meaning that in the Current Pattern, Channel 02A will now be assigned 
Track 4 from Pattern 002, to take effect the next time the pattern loops 
around.  Completely switching to a new Pattern would reset all alternate 
assignments to those saved originally with the pattern.  I wouldn't even 
care about the different EFX types being wrong, it would be a worthwhile 
compromise.  In case you haven't guessed, this is my attempt to give the 
XX-7's a "megamix mode", but it seems like it could work.<<<

rEalm

--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Greetings list! 
> 
> >>> Greetings Ravi!  For those that don't know him, Ravi is really 
cool 
> guy and a fellow 505 list moderator.  He knows a great deal about 
music, 
> so we're lucky to have him aboard! <<<


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