Elektron Musical Instruments

OBSERVATIONS:

1) unless it's just the pictures being deceiving, it looks as though
the chasis, knobs and switches are now black instead of grey; which is
a nice touch (more sleek looking than the MD, if that's possible)

2) there's no huge tempo/data knob (like the MD has)! nice touch as
well, considering I hardly ever use the thing; the only time I do use
it is to scroll through machines while I'm in mute mode (since I can't
use the function+machine feature in mute mode); but I'm sure they've
figured a way around this

3) the "scale setup" button looks like it goes to 64 steps; very nice
as well! I wish the MD could do that :-(

4) I'm holding out for the module version (due to my lack of need for
another keyboard and a hope that it will be less $), but that joystick
is WAY cool; however, I'd be afraid that I'd snap that bastard *right
off* in transport; not because of its quality, but just because such
things *appear* flimsy to me; maybe it's just me....

5) I'm with the people who say that the SID sound is emulated; I think
they want to move into their own territory with this synth, like they
did with the MD; and keeping with the SID chip kind of holds them back
from that (whereas showing how well they can emulate it doesn't);
however, I'm a bit confused about it - they said the MM wouldn't
compete with the Sidstation...

QUESTION:
are those note designations I see above the keys?  I wonder how that
works in....

Joe.