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

I'm wondering how the mpc2kxl compares to the XL-7/MP-7 because I 
could spend about the same amount of cash for each now (of course the 
mpc would be used). I don't have "that" great a need for on board 
sounds, but it would be something nice to have. My main need is I 
need something to be able to sequence my Nord and my Supernova 2
(hopefully, still working out that deal). Anyone possibly have both 
machines, or used both extensively and could give me their honest 
opinion of both in terms of sequencing external instruents ? 

I want to make rap beats, dark techo and breaks, and light fluffy 
trance (yea I said light fluffy trance!). Also wondering if I should 
just save all of the cash and put it towards the pc+sound interface.

I have an MPC, and I'll tell you right now if you want a nord, you'll want
to use a MP/XL-7... not to mention the supernova!  Those things are cool as
shit.


----- Original Message -----

From: "Ken" <vrmlmaster@...>
To: <xl7@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 12:44 AM
Subject: [xl7] How does the XL-7/MP-7 compare to the MPC2kxl ?


> I'm wondering how the mpc2kxl compares to the XL-7/MP-7 because I
> could spend about the same amount of cash for each now (of course the
> mpc would be used). I don't have "that" great a need for on board
> sounds, but it would be something nice to have. My main need is I
> need something to be able to sequence my Nord and my Supernova 2
> (hopefully, still working out that deal). Anyone possibly have both
> machines, or used both extensively and could give me their honest
> opinion of both in terms of sequencing external instruents ?
>
> I want to make rap beats, dark techo and breaks, and light fluffy
> trance (yea I said light fluffy trance!). Also wondering if I should
> just save all of the cash and put it towards the pc+sound interface.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> xl7-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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On 11/21/02 1:44 AM, "Ken" <vrmlmaster@...> wrote:

> I'm wondering how the mpc2kxl compares to the XL-7/MP-7 because I
> could spend about the same amount of cash for each now (of course the
> mpc would be used). I don't have "that" great a need for on board
> sounds, but it would be something nice to have. My main need is I
> need something to be able to sequence my Nord and my Supernova 2
> (hopefully, still working out that deal). Anyone possibly have both
> machines, or used both extensively and could give me their honest
> opinion of both in terms of sequencing external instruents ?
> 
> I want to make rap beats, dark techo and breaks, and light fluffy
> trance (yea I said light fluffy trance!). Also wondering if I should
> just save all of the cash and put it towards the pc+sound interface.

At the top the answer to "use external sequencing or PC sequencing?" is a
very complex issue and you will get lots of advice on that.  Bottom line:
the choice depends on how you like to work, how you like to interact with
your gear, your tolerance for dealing with non-music issues, and your
affinity to the screen-mouse-keyboard interface.

I've used an MPC3000 for a while and am familiar with the MPC2K sequencing.
You will find I believe that the MPC is a better work horse sequencer for
studio work.  You have many, many more tracks to work with (XX7 is only 16).
You can have sequences of lengths of your choosing (the XX7 restricts
patterns to 32 measures or less and its one song sequence is a tad on the
underpowered side with its single, though multichannel track).  You can also
run two sequencing in parallel, which is a valuable tool in itself.

The MPC way of working is pretty smooth and conducive to laying down tracks.
So is the XX7.  the XX7 has grid-style programming (Roland X0X style) where
as the MPC does not.

The MPC is a bit stronger at MIDI editing but the XX7 is improving in this
area.

The XX7 is stronger as an interactive or live performance tool.  It also has
those sixteen programmable knobs which can be useful (though in your case
the Nord and SNII has that pretty well covered).

Finally the MPC has storage options like floppy and SCSI drives.  The XX7
requires connection to a computer for loading and saving its memory.

Sampling on the MPC for beats and loops; built-sounds on the XX7 that are
very good and expandable with additional sound ROMs.

That all said, you will find the XX7 will work well in your use.  Emu is
committed to improving the XX7 and has announced its intention to have a new
OS available early next year.  The MPC, on the other hand is what it is.
Akai has moved on to the monumental and still unfinished MPC4000.

In my mind it would be no contest if you were comparing a new XX7 to a new
MPC because of the price difference.  But getting either at the same
price...  Hard to pass up an MPC that cheap!

One additional thought.  The XX7 will translate well going forward into a
world where you become more and more computer-centered in your production.
It can be a good control surface for software sequencers and software
instruments.  the MPC offers no such benefit.


drk

www.delora.com/music
www.mp3.com/zdrk
drk.iuma.com

That's a super tuff call to make, I know, I had to make the exact same
choice. In the end, I obviously bought an XL7 over the MPC2k. They both have
so many good and bad points to there sequencing capabilities, that they
nearly cancel each other out....there are a few major differences that
helped me make my decision though....

the xx-7's have over twice as much onboard max sequencing memory as the MPC
(300,000 compared to 120,000 events). BUT, the MPC has the easy access disk
storage, where as the xx7's have all of the patterns internal when you start
it, which wouldnt be bad if it weren't such a pain to have to use the one
part of your studio that you dont want to take to a gig with you (the PC) in
order to load and backup the entire thing.

In the MPC's favor though, is it has twice as many simultaneous tracks that
can be playing at once, BUT, on the other hand, the one I had been using had
the newest OS, and still crashed 3 times as much as the xx7s.

If you want easy to use and sequence sampling capabilities, the MPC is
great, but the xx7s have all the onboard sounds...so it just depends on how
you prefer your source material.

The xx7's ALSO have all the assignable knobs, but if you have a Nord Modular
(you didnt say which Nord you have) then you already have more than enough
knobs I'm sure.

The MPC's pads are much nicer imho, and the roll button is much easier to
use, and you can change the time signature in realtime as well, which the
xx7s can not do while rolling. In fact, the xx7's can ONLY use the roll (or
repeat) function while RECORDING! AH! That still pisses me off.

The last BIG difference is the external midi sequencing cpabilities....the
MPC wins hands down. The xx7s do a good job, but are a bit tedious for
configureing every single pattern while still retaing internal sound rom
sequencing capabilities, which in themselves can be glitchy as well (in
terms of the right patch STAYING saved with the right sequence!)

....geeze, sounds like I made the wrong choice! lol! jk, I'm happy with the
xl7, but i cant honestly say that I wouldnt go the other route if I had the
chance to. Overall, I found the MPCs more user friendly, but I also consider
my K2500 user friendly, which many people would beg to differ with.

To sum it up, the MPC's are extremely well endowed drum machines, and the
xx7's have the potential to blow them away in terms of capabilities and
flexibility, they just have some things to fix in my opinion first.

As for the PC option....If I didnt have a PC at all, I think I would be
happier with the XX7's, but then how would I backup my patterns!!!???

Byron

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken [mailto:vrmlmaster@...]
> Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 12:44 AM
> To: xl7@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [xl7] How does the XL-7/MP-7 compare to the MPC2kxl ?
>
>
> I'm wondering how the mpc2kxl compares to the XL-7/MP-7 because I
> could spend about the same amount of cash for each now (of course the
> mpc would be used). I don't have "that" great a need for on board
> sounds, but it would be something nice to have. My main need is I
> need something to be able to sequence my Nord and my Supernova 2
> (hopefully, still working out that deal). Anyone possibly have both
> machines, or used both extensively and could give me their honest
> opinion of both in terms of sequencing external instruents ?
>
> I want to make rap beats, dark techo and breaks, and light fluffy
> trance (yea I said light fluffy trance!). Also wondering if I should
> just save all of the cash and put it towards the pc+sound interface.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> xl7-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
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