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

Q) I thought the sequencing capability is good on an XL-7 , if  I use
a software sequencer then
1) How easy is it to port between the PC and how easy is it to input
external samples into EMU? How easy is it to input samples into the
505 from the computer?

Well the simple answer is that these machines don't allow samples to be uploaded
into them.  They both expect you to have a sampler to play back custom samples.
They do have loads of samples on board to choose from or make your own sounds
from as patches.  There are tools to manipulate these on the computer and save
these patches to the units, and in the case of Emu, you could pick up one of the
more expensive EMU samplers and burn your own samples to a card for the XL-7
however this means buying a sampler in addition anyway, so there is little need
to buy the additional card.  Luckily sampler are extremely cheap right now and
many are very full featured (I suggest a Yamaha A4000 or the EMU ES series as
they are currently extremely cheap).  Bear in mind that the Emu also has premade
sound libraries you can add to the machine, up to four slots total.  Each one
adds patches based on the stock samples of the card, and you can make your own
patches by combining stock samples from multiple cards.  The 505 allows you to
save patches, and also has a smartmedia expansion to save patterns/patches but
is limited to the sounds allready onboard.

2) Also if I use the software sequencer than am I using the EMU to
create only my basic drum patterns, modify the built in samples and
export it to the PC where I do my sequencing? I am not sure what
strengths lie in the EMU apart from this if I dont use the unit as a
sequencer?

The Emu has a well made sequencer, and as people have pointed out the XL7 has a
32 track sequencer, however (I may be wrong, I haven't checked the newest
features on the OS update) you currently have no way to quickly mute/unmute
channels above the sixteen in group A (There are thirty two logical tracks in
two groups of 16 - Group A and Group B).  The mute buttons are assigned only to
group A, meaning that if you want to modify the loop structure you will have to
copy everything over to the new pattern and erase the data on those tracks you
want muted in group B (the extra midi out port).  In addition people have to
jump through some hoops to do the mutes during a song as well, although all of
this is currently being worked on.  What this all really means is that for basic
recording you will be fine, but if you want to do any serious midi recording you
could start on the XL7 but you would want to finish on the computer.  Most
people do this anyway regardless of the hardware.  The 505 has the same basic
sequencer as the MC80 hardware sequencer, except for the track limitation and is
therefore mature and very intuitive once you understand it.  Probably too much
to understand at first but you apreciate features on it like undo.

As for the other things out there, such as the electribes, most are very
simplistic and are limited in order to keep costs down.  You will find that the
Electribe ES1 can do crazy stuff because you can use samples and it has probably
one of the easiest and straightforward sequencers out there, but it won't really
compete with an XL7 or 505 with a decent sampler.  Here is a very decent piece
of advice from the Chemical Brothers:  You can make incredible music with
anything if you really understand it's limitations and make it go beyond it's
original use.  The Roland TB303, TR606 and TR808 were never up to snuff compared
to a real bassist or drummer, but look how many dance albums star these
machines!  And they don't even have midi!  I suggest playing with the XL7/MP7
and the MC505 and the Yamaha RM1X and see which one inspires you the most, You
will be able to grow into them and really make them shine if you spend the time
on them.  On the 505 scroll to a different preset, the default channel for the
pads is channel 2, the bassline, but the keys play up two octaves by default and
it sounds dorky.  On the XL7 press preset under mode/view and use the track +/-
next to the screen to change tracks to audition sounds.  Press pattern to change
patterns.  Use the audition button to check out a demo of the sounds on each
track.

I don't want people to think I'm knocking the XL-7, far from it. I think it's
incredible and getting better.  I just know I won't be getting rid of my 505
anytime soon (Had it for three years now) because one it is very flexible and
two it keeps surprising me.  Both the XL7 and 505 are smarter because they
started with a full featured synth engine and then tacked on the sequencers and
performance aspects so they are much deeper than they look.

Good luck,
Andre