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

SOP for me when checking out a new sample-based synth (or in this 
case, sample ROM) is to disable the effects, open up the filters and 
kill any modulation, and then step through each of the individual raw 
samples. They hold up very well for the most part...there are some 
places where the keymap points are apparent, but I didn't notice 
anything that couldn't be covered by a little 
filtering/layering/whatever.

And happily, most of the filter sweeps are generated by the Command 
Station and NOT embedded in the sample itself. I hate that. 
Exceptions include several of the synth basses (which is to be 
expected) and the Rogue waves, but at least you can set SampleStart 
to 127 to trim off the transient. The raw waves are indeed raw.

That said, the presets are well done (I usually hate E-mu presets, 
sorry programmers) - they sound good but aren't so distinctive as to 
be unuseable. No DigitalNativeDance or SkiJam here.

Bear in mind that the XL ROM has a much broader range of waveforms to 
play with than the Vintage. I personally prefer the sound of the 
Vintage, but I wouldn't want to exchange one for the other as I find 
they work better in concert. I have little interest in samples of non-
electronic instruments though, so YMWV.



--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Thanks man, that's very helpful!  I've been debating swapping my XL-
7 ROM 
> with the Vintage, and I think you may have sold me.  One more 
question for 
> the Vintage Rom owners though:
> 
> I typically don't use factory presets in my songs, preferring 
instead to 
> start with a blank Preset and browse the Instruments in order to 
choose my 
> sounds.  So, are the Vintage Instruments good on their own, or do 
they 
> require Preset patchcord work to sound good?  IE, are the factory 
presets 
> good because of the way they have been programmed, or is the source 
> material good on it's own too?
> 
> rEalm