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

Hello everyone,


  Just picked up the XL-7 last week, and wanted to see if someone could 
point me in the right direction of a sound card that would be ideal for 
using the MIDI in/outs, and also the E-Loader software. I'm fairly new to 
the gear, but seem to be picking most of the learning stages up, and have 
just lost myself in it so far. (which is good!) It also helps that one of 
best friends has a few pieces of gear too, from which I can learn some 
valuable info from.

  I was looking at the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum with the front panel 
mumbo jumbo, however it doesn't seem to have a USB input. Does anyone have 
any suggestions or feedback? thank you




Jay Giacoppo




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Ok, a few things to clarify here:

- A sound card does not necceasarily have a MIDI port on it, in fact by 
definition it doesn't.  The Sound Blaster series typically does, but most 
'pro' cards don't, you need to buy a separate MIDI box.  I personally 
would never recommend a sound blaster card to anyone looking to do 
anything serious musically, though there are certainly people out there 
using them.  Might want to look into the MIDIMan Midisport series, 
something like the 2x2 is only $70 tops, and a great way to get midi into 
and out of the computer.  The 1x1 is even cheaper if money is an issue.

- No sound card will have a USB input, that should be part of your 
motherbaord, and most computers built in the last few years have at least 
two on the back already.  All you'll need is a USB cable to hook the XL-7 
directly up to the computer.  Keep in mind though, that as of right now, 
you can only use the USB functions to transfer Patterns from the XL-7 to 
E-Loader and back.  OS Updates and Presets must still be transferred via 
MIDI.

- Be sure to go to the Emu website and get the latest version of the OS 
(ver1.31) for your XL-7, as well as the newest version of E-Loader.  Both 
contain info on how to install and use them.  If you still need help, let 
us know, we're always glad to help out.  Welcome aboard too!

rEalm




  Just picked up the XL-7 last week, and wanted to see if someone could 
point me in the right direction of a sound card that would be ideal for 
using the MIDI in/outs, and also the E-Loader software. I'm fairly new to 
the gear, but seem to be picking most of the learning stages up, and have 
just lost myself in it so far. (which is good!) It also helps that one of 
best friends has a few pieces of gear too, from which I can learn some 
valuable info from.

  I was looking at the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum with the front panel 
mumbo jumbo, however it doesn't seem to have a USB input. Does anyone have 

any suggestions or feedback? thank you

Jay,

First of all. Soundcards do sound, midi is done via a midi port and usb is
either on the computer or is added via an ad in pci card. Sorry for stating
the obvious, but they truly 3 completely separate things. While some
soundcards have a single midi i/o, I know of none that also add a usb port
and do all three.

If you don't have usb built into your computer's motherboard, you need to
get an add in usb card.

For sound and midi: Forget Soundblasters if you want anything approaching
semi-pro. Check out soundcards and midi interfaces (if you need more than  a
single midi i/o) online at musician's friend or american musical supply and
see what's available. Figure out your price range and then check back here
with more questions.

Ravi

Will anyone recommends Echo MIA.
Yes, No, Why...... ???

Thanks
--- In xl7@y..., erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Ok, a few things to clarify here:
> 
> - A sound card does not necceasarily have a MIDI port on it, in 
fact by 
> definition it doesn't.  The Sound Blaster series typically does, 
but most 
> 'pro' cards don't, you need to buy a separate MIDI box.  I 
personally 
> would never recommend a sound blaster card to anyone looking to do 
> anything serious musically, though there are certainly people out 
there 
> using them.  Might want to look into the MIDIMan Midisport series, 
> something like the 2x2 is only $70 tops, and a great way to get 
midi into 
> and out of the computer.  The 1x1 is even cheaper if money is an 
issue.
> 
> - No sound card will have a USB input, that should be part of your 
> motherbaord, and most computers built in the last few years have at 
least 
> two on the back already.  All you'll need is a USB cable to hook 
the XL-7 
> directly up to the computer.  Keep in mind though, that as of right 
now, 
> you can only use the USB functions to transfer Patterns from the XL-
7 to 
> E-Loader and back.  OS Updates and Presets must still be 
transferred via 
> MIDI.
> 
> - Be sure to go to the Emu website and get the latest version of 
the OS 
> (ver1.31) for your XL-7, as well as the newest version of E-
Loader.  Both 
> contain info on how to install and use them.  If you still need 
help, let 
> us know, we're always glad to help out.  Welcome aboard too!
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   Just picked up the XL-7 last week, and wanted to see if someone 
could 
> point me in the right direction of a sound card that would be ideal 
for 
> using the MIDI in/outs, and also the E-Loader software. I'm fairly 
new to 
> the gear, but seem to be picking most of the learning stages up, 
and have 
> just lost myself in it so far. (which is good!) It also helps that 
one of 
> best friends has a few pieces of gear too, from which I can learn 
some 
> valuable info from.
> 
>   I was looking at the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum with the front 
panel 
> mumbo jumbo, however it doesn't seem to have a USB input. Does 
anyone have 
> 
> any suggestions or feedback? thank you

Most definitely!!!  That's always my first choice when people ask me for a 
good sound card!  Installed two of these for friends (I use a Layla24 
myself) and have had nothing but the best of luck with them.  Great 
sounding card for less than $180, you can't beat it.  Just make sure if 
you're using an Athlon based system that you have a compatible motherboard 
chipset, preferrably kt133 or later.  I can't help you out if you don't 
know how to find out what you have.  If you're using a Pentium, you're 
fine.

rEalm




Will anyone recommends Echo MIA.
Yes, No, Why...... ???

Thanks