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Looper's Delight
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The prices have really dropped on this box and at $420 (musician's friend Blem, but I can't find a scratch or issue with it, usually it sells for $499) the sale of my far inferior Roland MC-307 almost covered it. I can't tell you how much I'm digging this box. Jon got me thinking about it when I did a gig with him and I thought his beats sounded great. When I got the PlanetEarth I was pretty impressed with it's sounds and thought, "if only my 307 sounded like this..." Wasn't long after that the 307 went to ebay and the XL-7 came in the mail. I do have a few comments on what Jon said though... On Monday, June 30, 2003, at 04:17 PM, sserendipity wrote: > >> speaking of the EMU XL-7... >> >> any thoughts or reviews? >> how easy is it sequence stuff in the studio? > > Easier than any of the other hardware sequencers. Not as good as a > software sequencer. I have to disagree on this one. Jon's a genius who's probably on the verge of figuring out cold fusion. I thought the 307 was easier in many ways, though also more limited. (it's not without its own quirks too) There are a few of what I call "user interface flaws" in this that are a bit weird. Like no way to quickly initialize a pattern. You've got to copy and paste a blank pattern from another location or erase tracks one at a time. What what what? Silly, but no deal breaker. It's got great effect send or aux out features, but they're awkward to use and the manual isn't clear. Jon moderates a really good and helpful XL-7 users group on yahoo though. It's come in handy for me. Could also have some form of "groove quantize" like the Roland products. All it has is a swing function, but it's pretty good. That was kind of nice about the Roland. I also have a friend who finds the Korg eTribe boxes really nice. All this said, I'm glad I got the XL-7 and I'm not looking back. It's a quirky little box in some ways, but well worth the effort. >> how are the sounds? I agree the sound quality is good, but you're probably going to want to fill up those ROM slots. The World Expedition ROM rules, but no Digerydoo, Tambura or Tablas! Fixed by adding the Protozoa ROM (on special now for $100 at zzounds) and it has by far the best tambura sound I've ever heard from a synth. Pretty good digerydoo and tablas too. Over all the sound quality is higher and more interesting especially on the percussion side. My one complaint is the XL-7's ROM has a bunch of typical techno sounds that I find a little stale. I'm curious to see if they release the new drum ROM that comes with the new Command Station. > > The sounds are the best part. Forget the Roland and Yamaha ones. Even > the > ones with samplers built in can't compare, since their samplers are so > limited. I was looking a long time before I settled on the emu, since > it > cost a lot more back then. > >> a while back, someone mentioned it can be used as a live >> MIDI looper, like a DL4 but for MIDI-- is this true? is it >> easy to do and use? > > Yes, I was the one mentioning it. There's no feedback control however. > >> how is it for a control surface feeding into other >> synths/sequencers? > > It's a nice bonus, but relatively unfeatured - you can program all the > knobs > to send whatever CCs you want, but they aren't motorized, or as > comprehensive as, say, a Peavey PC1600. > >> >> i'm seriously considering one. I want to use it primarily >> for (1) simple MIDI drum controller for Cubase on the PC, > > Hmm. You're better off with a real drum controller - ie. Handsonic. > Yes, I > do bang on the keys from time to time, a bit nicer than a keyboard, > but a > bonus, not a selling point. > >> (2) live MIDI looper (3) LIVE drum machine (if possible, >> i'd like to program beats live) > > Yes, and yes. You can do live X0X style programming on this beast. > > , (4) static drum machine >> (pre-programmed beats), and (5) another synth module. I was >> considering the Akai MPD16 just for a drum pad controller, >> but with the ultra-low price on the XL-7 I'm thinking why >> not get so much more features for not a whole lot more >> money..... >> > > Haven't tried the MPD16, but from the looks of it, the emu's key's > would be > relatively comparable. > >> FYI, at my Guitar Center (I work at GC in Crestwood, MO) >> XL-7 has a guaranteed low price of $449, killer deal. >> >> but, i've heard they can be buggy. > > Not in the least. Check the yahoo group for more info... > > > bIz > > ------------ > http://www.groovetronica.com - "The beats are ok, I suppose, but the > vocals > sound like the vintage jazz singers from my dad's record collection. > It's > not for me." > ------------ > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "dylan" <dylanhassinger@yahoo.com> > To: <loopers-delight@loopers-delight.com> > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 9:27 PM > Subject: EMU XL-7 thoughts? > > >> speaking of the EMU XL-7... >> >> any thoughts or reviews? >> how easy is it sequence stuff in the studio? >> how easy is it to sequence a beat LIVE? >> i've heard it can/does crash-- any experience with this? >> can it be trusted in the live setting? >> how are the sounds? >> a while back, someone mentioned it can be used as a live >> MIDI looper, like a DL4 but for MIDI-- is this true? is it >> easy to do and use? >> how is it for a control surface feeding into other >> synths/sequencers? >> >> i'm seriously considering one. I want to use it primarily >> for (1) simple MIDI drum controller for Cubase on the PC, >> (2) live MIDI looper (3) LIVE drum machine (if possible, >> i'd like to program beats live), (4) static drum machine >> (pre-programmed beats), and (5) another synth module. I was >> considering the Akai MPD16 just for a drum pad controller, >> but with the ultra-low price on the XL-7 I'm thinking why >> not get so much more features for not a whole lot more >> money..... >> >> FYI, at my Guitar Center (I work at GC in Crestwood, MO) >> XL-7 has a guaranteed low price of $449, killer deal. >> >> but, i've heard they can be buggy. >> >> thoughts? thanks in advance! >> >> dylan >> >> >> >> __________________________________ >> Do you Yahoo!? >> SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! >> http://sbc.yahoo.com >> >> >