EMU XL1 what does it sound like

[Michael B]

Prompted by the 'Supernova what does it sound like?' thread, I am looking to buy an XL1 because I want the simultaneous arpeggiators and my Supernova keeps freezing. When they were new the Supernova cost a lot more than the XL1 and am assuming it sounds better, but is this so?

Are there any other rack synths that have several simultaneous arpeggiatirs that output via midi - so the actual MIDI notes can recorded into a sequencer?

[dubbmann]

hi,

the comparison of xl1 to sn is actually close - both have a lot of 'raw' sounding patches (lots of saw waves, etc). if you want something mellower from emu, try the audity 2000. wonderful machine. lots of other rack synths of the last ten years do multiple arps out midi. the korg triton rack, the motif rack, and the fantom rack all meet the bill. all are great general purpose machines as well, lots of polyphony. check the SoS reviews and get out the credit card

cheers,

d

[Michael B]

That's good to know but are you sure about the Triton Rack? I have the TritonLE and the point is made in the manual that the arpeggiator output is not available, although it can be done with Local Control ON and consequently havinbg to turn Echo Thru off in SX3 which then means the other synths I have running get upset because they have Local Control OFF, and I cannot find a way of starting the LE arpeggiator with LOCAL CONTROL OFF from SX3, even with MIDI set to EXTERNAL

ANd with Combinations the output has to be recorded into the LE Sequencer first and then can be run off into SX3

I want to capture arpeggio patterns so I can have other synths playng the same pattern.

I was thinking of buying an Audity, one was offered on Readers ads for a paltry 60.00 pounds, but was told the XL1 is the Audity with more features and better sounds, and more groove patterns

I'll have look at thge Reviews section anyway - as I like the sound of a Motif !!!!

Thanks for the info

[dubbmann]

hi,

boy, you might be right on midi out part - i assume that any intelligently designed synth of the last ten years would give you that option. of course, that may be giving too much credit to the synth designenrs....

as for the xl1 vs audity, the xl1 is a more dance-oriented machine and it has something emu calls 'beats mode' which is very cool (preset drum patterns), while the audity does not have beats mode (i have an audity, and an orbit v2, which is a cousin to the xl1, but not an xl1 itself since it is so close to the orbit).

what i'd suggest beforo buying is a) SoS reviews and b) when you have it narrowed down, download the manual from the manufacturer's website. that way you can get a definitive answer on midi arps out.

btw, i'd probably give the sn the edge for its arp patterns and power, but i haven't played a lot w/t arpeggiators on the emu gear (i use other synths for arps, the emu is usually in beats mode (orbit) or as a std. expander (audity)).

hope this helps,

d

[Zukan]

The Xl1 is a step up from the Audity and uses a lot of the original raw waveforms and has a ton of new ones.
In terms of sonics it cannot really be compared to the Novations.

The arps alone are worth the money and are more detailed than the Audity.
Beats Mode won a lot of new friends.

It allows for 16 simultaneous arps to be triggered and you can define user ones too.

I think for the kind of money they go for nowadays they are a real bargain.

The filters are, as always with Emu, manic.

[Michael B]

Anyone got an XL1 for sale !!!!!

[Mike L]

I had XL-1 for a while. Really nice sounding synth. I've never got too much into programming unfortunately. I also agree with above, it's orientation is closer to dance rather than to the mainstream esthetics. But bear in mind we are talking about dance of the 90's.Of course there are loads of inspirational sounds but most of the best ones have been already used in "evergreens" of the 90's.
After this experience with XL-1 I am considering to go for Audity2k as I have been told it is more flexible sound-wise and I as far as I remember there's an old software patch programmer on the net.
With regard to arps I have recently bought a Korg Micro-x which is kind of a TR clone (have also TR61) and must say that it's wins for me as it has software editor accessing also arps (and it is so small, 20 or 21").The same way as with TR you can export your arps into your DAW.
Novation KSR and it's keyboard versions send arps via midi and don't hang as much as SN.
Also heard that the latest OS for SN solves many issues including yours for some people.

[Mike L]

Btw if you go for Audity2000 you can also get XL-1 expansion rom as they have the same or similar engine:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EMU-AUDITY-2000-XL-LEAD-EXPANSION-SUPERB-SYNTH_W0QQitemZ220258408154QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Hope it helps a bit

[Michael B]

Thanks for that - though I use software synths as well, and quite impressed with them - there seems to be none that offer as much in the way of arpeggiator patterns as hardware synths do and the reason I want a hardware to output via midi is so I can drive the software synth from the hardsynth output

I try to get along with the arpeggiators in Cubase (SX3) but again there are none as inspiring as hardware synths.

What I do miss is the Interactive Phrase Synth that came with the VST versions of Cubase