E-MU MP-7 Command Station

OS 2.0. Price: $270

Having owned mc505, mc909, rm1x, rs7000, korg er1 and many other crap out there, this has to be the best sounding sequencer of them all. The presets and tracks actually sound good and there's many of them. Editing patches is fairly easy and it can be done quick. Lots of knobs which also helps.

The manual I got from the web and it's a pdf file, but reading through it is kind of boring, but it's a good reference and it's long and detailed.

Polyphony is good, plenty of different noises at the same time is good. The pads are fine, but could be better, they get a 7. The pads seem to respond properly if you hit them in the middle, which works best for recording, not so hot when playing live...

Effects are great and can be routed different ways, they're complicated, but very effective...

Roms can be snatched for around $100 from ebay or other sources. There's lots of sounds in each of them, I only have 1 rom and am satisfied for now...

This thing sounds great, very usefull sounds and you can also add more roms if these sounds get boring one day and editing is great, plenty of filters and effects, something roland and yamaha lacked, and the sounds, too...

MP-7 is good for any music, rap, hiphop, rock, dnb, techno, trance, but I guess the mophatt rom installed is aimed towards rap music, which is not bad...

This thing is very versatile, sounds good and does its job better than any other mcs or rm1xs can. Should have bought this long time ago, I guess I was going for the looks and not the sound when I wasted $1400 on a new mc505, back in 98, but still was useful though and it thought me few things...

I guess I can depend on it, I got mine used and it still works great, every knob or button is built solid and they all respond like brand new. This can easily be used in a gig, thanks to its sounds and powerful sequencer...

Downloaded all software and manuals online, so they get a plus for that. More sounds should be provided online though, so you can just upload them to your Station.

I'd buy another if I could break this one... I've had it for few months and still trying new things each day... CS is far more sophisticated and better sounding than MCs, RM1x, RS7K or Electribe... This thing replaces them all and extra roms make CS 10 times better than all those combined... I guess at least 2 minute sampling could be nicely incorporated into this machine, but that's just asking for apples on a palm tree... It helps making music by letting you to jump tracks and patches more effectively and sequencer is superb with 2 midi outputs...

This machine is deceptive, there is a lot going on under the hood... It can take a while to delve into the deeper side of this machine but once there it is highly rewarding. You must update to the 2.0 OS to avoid some bad early OS bugs and READ THE MANUAL

Other then not having a sampler this machine has a lot of everything... I have never run out of polyphony. I currently have the xl-7 and composer roms installed along with the stock mp-7 rom and the amount and range of sounds available is insane. The midi spec both internally and when synched to other gear is nice and tight. The pads are not fun at all for playing keyboard parts but they will do in a pinch. It is also an excellent controller for other external gear and software. it has three stereo outputs and a master spdif out. Another cool feature is the ability to use send and return cables to insert processing into the outputs for more sound sculpting. ( check the manual for more details )

Overall the sound is excellent. Emu wants you to buy their sound roms... Every genre specific module for the most part only has sounds geared towards whatever market it is designed for. This actully cuts down on useless "filler" sounds. So expect yourself to start to want other roms after a while. But with the cost of used mp-7s and roms being what they are it is not that expensive to get extra sounds. The effects implamentation is crap. The effects are good enough but they are implemented in such a way that I turn them off and use outboard processing. The pattern based drum sequencer is awesome!

At best the build quality of this machine is sketchy at best. This is the second command station I have owned ( my other one is an xl-7 ) and both units have had the uasual command station software and hardware issues. First off you must upgrade to OS 2.0 Secondly i have had the following hardware issues with the command stations... 1, bad data encoders 2, dead buttons on the step sequencer/track enable matrix 3, dead keyboard pads 4, dead curser navi buttens. At this point I would not reccomend buying one of these units if you dont have a spare for parts. When it works though it is butter!

Other then archived manuals and OS updates on the creative labs website emu has gone back to the ether. You are better of searching the web for user groups etc,

If both my command stations go tits up I will buy another for $300 or less. When they work they are awesome. When they only half work they are extremely frustrating. I have used command stations as both the principle sound source and sequencers to produce commercial music and soundtrack work and have been very happy with the results. I used to play live with my first command station and although at the time I thought it was a tank... It wasn't. Keep them in your studio and baby them like they were a 25 year old analog and revel in the rompler goodness!

This thing is very well laid out, its so straightforward. Dedicated buttons take you straight to various menus. In most menus once youre in you just scroll to what parameter you want - no need to go into second layers to find obscure parameters - it all seems to be one layer away. Im so impressed - it makes this thing seem childishly simple, yet theres a lot of power there. You have dedicated buttons to shift between multi and preset (patch) modes. There are 16 dedicated knobs to control the volume/pan of each of 16 tracks or parameters for a preset, or else user assigned functions.
The manual is fine no complaints.

Mine came as new with 3 extra sound ROMs, the Rob Papen Beat Garden, XL7 and something called "Proteus"?, 128 voice polyphony, velocity sensitive trigger pads whilst not as robust feeling as the Akai MPC are great for playing this thing without any keyboard, you can sit in the backyard or in bed, or take it away on trips - its so self contained.
You can also use it as a powerful sound module hooked up to a sequencer and keyboard. Multiple audio and midi outputs, so you can use it as a sequencer to control other gear.
On board pattern based sequencer, real time, step and grid programming,16 tracks, dedicated buttons to mute tracks and 16 volume knobs, independent arpegiator for each track, headphone socket, 12v lamp thingy.

With the 3 expansions there is an enormous range. The XL 7 good for synth and drums, Beat Garden ROM quite diverse ranging from synth, drums, to ethnic, the "Proteus" lots of bread and butter pianos, clavs, guitar, rhodes, orchestra, wind, mine is tilted towards the synth and drum end of things but with different ROMS you could make this more orchestral for example.
Ive found lots of useful sounds, 60+drum kits, some sounds are like small licks or phrases with movement, like bass guitar licks, great filters, modulation matrix allows great programming depth.
Overall its got a warm mellow tone that sits well in my mixes. Its not a purists synth, you wouldnt buy it just for "the sound", its sensibility is the obvious and popular. The enormous range and the playability of the patches make it so useful for me.

Mine was second hand in great condition, I havent used it long enough to tell. It appears a bit plasticy though.

Havent had to use this.

I dismissed this thing as a toy for many years. I had a so so experience with the Roland MC 505 many years ago, great interface, love those track sliders, but finding the sound on that a bit lifeless. So I was convinced only dedicated purist synths could sound interesting. I was also put off by the MP7 and XL7's "crazy" colour schemes and the marketing of this thing as being 'so hip and cutting edge etc - I thought this will be dated in no time.
But I has a chance encounter with one and now I think theyre quite underrated. The synth engine whilst sample based, is complex, the 128 voice polyphony is huge. Its very editable you can coax a huge range of sounds out of this - and so you could do most any style of pattern based compositions.
I suppose it would have even more possibilities as a sound arranging machine if it sampled but for the price I paid Im not complaining - anyway you can use it as a pattern based sequencer to control a sampler anyway and you get to have seperate audio outs for the sampled sounds.
And the interface is so straighforward, im finding myself using it all the time.
Ive got a number of more esoteric synths like the Waldorf XT which has a sublime sound but a narrow range of usefulness. This fills a gap nicely for me as a drum machine with tight timing and thousands of drum sounds, and also with natural basses guitars, licks, stabs, hits, and a broad range of synthy sounds.
The price of these second hand now makes them quite reasonable - I would get another if stolen - but only at the second hand price. Dont be put off by the cheesy marketing and colour scheme, you can use this synth for a much broader range of duties than the "mo phatt' title suggests.

Upgraded mine to the 2.0 OS. The E-MU Command Stations are the apex of their hardware romplers, before they dumped the whole lot and went to sounds cards and soft synths only. Killer machine. I dont care for the stock Mo'Phatt sound set, but only because I don't do hip hop or rap. I'm sure its great for that, the drums and bass are very good.

Much easier to edit patches than the Proteus 2000 rack unit because of all the shortcut buttons. The sequencer is very easy to use, but not perfect. I'm not a big fan of having to create a bunch of patterns and then string them together to form a song. I usually sequence a song on the computer and then download it to the MP-7 for performance. This is very easy to do with the E-Loader software. It's great as a scratchpad or for laying down quick beats, but trying to input bass or keys parts with the pads is an exercise in frustration. Connect a good controller keyboard and you're set.

A lot of people dont like the purple color. I dont mind it, I call it my "Purple Haze box". The manual is well written, like all E-MU manuals, and about two inches thick.

MP-7 has the same powerful synth engine as the P2K and P2500. 128 voice polyphony, 32 MIDI channels, main and sub outs, SPDIF digital out. Expandable up to 128 MB of ROMs. Two 24 bit effects processors. 12 velocity sensitive rubber input pads and also a ribbon controller. 12 realtime controller knobs, and 16 trigger buttons which can also send MIDI to external units, very cool. 16 track sequencer can record in realtime, step or grid mode. Multi-channel arpeggiators, Z-plane filters, this thing has so many features I can't list them all.

I dont care for the Mo Phatt ROM it comes with. I loaded mine up with the World, Beat Garden, Protozoa and Pop ROMs and I have a huge amount of great sounds to work with for just about any style. If you have used a P2K based module, you know some presets are great and some are really bad. You have to tweak them to get the most out of it. With the 12 realtime controller knobs though, programming the MP-7 is a snap!

Responds well to velocity and also aftertouch. MIDI timing is rock solid.

Seems pretty sturdy.

Forget about it, E-MU discontinued all their hardware synths in favor of sound cards and soft synths. Personally, I'd much rather use this thing for performance than a laptop.

Yeah I would buy it again, they are cheap these days! My main instrument is guitar, I play everything from ambient\experimental to world beat, rock and blues.
I use the MP-7 for two things: as a sound module in my studio, and also to provide accompaniment when I play solo. I do not use it as my main sequencer in the studio, I use Sonar for that. Computer sequencers are just so much easier to use. However, for a scratchpad, laying down quick grooves to jam over, and performance, the MP-7 sequencer works great. I wish it had a sampler, but it still is a marvelous machine for the price I paid.

Ver 1.31
Where can i update the OS???
Very easy to use. Never looked by manual.

I use it in two ways: as a sound module for my software based computer sequencer and as a table top groove box! Very frendly sequencer. Made lots of phat tracks on the spot! Just like that! I put the Composer Rom in it for more sounds. Im looking for more Roms but they are hard to find.

I use it to make Hip Hop. Phatt dirty sounds. Super bass. Some sounds are realistic, some are not that real but they still are sounds you hear on commercial tracks! Huge variety or drum sounds! Kicks, Snares, Hats, Shakers and more... Even Drum kits with sounds that work great together. Havnt used the onboard effects yet cos i use effects from my studio. Great Velocity and aftertouch!

I never used it live on a gig yet. But id like to play some tracks raw without mixing them at the studio.

No customer support for me in Greece!

This little baby has taken my production skills to another level. For me its priceless. The one i have is at my studio. It keeps me up till late and i dont go home cos of it! I want to buy a second one for home so i can make tracks while im home. And maybe a third one as a gift for my brother. This way ill visit him more frequently and i wont be bored! LOL!

version 1.00


presets nice as hell

manual dont have one learned every thing on my own.

i dont use the patch editor i just send my tracks trough my 10 track wich has a cd burner and i mix it down live from the patern mode

every thing in this section is perfect i like every aspect of it

yes most of them are and on the world exspansion chip its lovely \\

well its very reliable but theres one problem with mines.
maybe some one can help me with please when ever i turn it off the sound i had on track 4 changes to sublevel . every time so when i turn it on my sound thats in the trackn is gone please help me.


you can contact me at prorecords2004@yahoo.com thanks

there all a bunch of ass holes the wont even help me fix my proplem they think im am a amiture or somethin dummys!!!!!!!!1

i couldnt make my music with out it i dont like mpcs the dont come with sounds and the dont have mo phatt modules you have to go spend a fortune like your already in the industry to even get it to the way you want

Well, I've had this now for a year. I read the manual cover to cover. I have the latest one (revision F) printed out and inside a 2 inch binder for easy access (I recommend this to everyone). Actually, it spilled over to a 2nd binder, where I also keep all my notes on patch changes and tips. So, I definitely can say through experience: it's easy! Just RTFM (read the f*** manual). :)

128-voice polyphony, wonderful pad and ribbon controller action, excellent built in effects (tip...change multi mode to poly or omni to hear effects assigned by E-mu to a particular patch...). People who complain about the "lack of effects" haven't cracked the manual, obviously. Expandable (I have the Proteus Pop, ZR, and Protozoa ROMs). Too many features to mention. What a bargain! Oh, ok...microtonality. What an amazing instrument this is.

Sounds are not as slick as the big Japanese three (Korg, Roland, Yamaha). Shorter loops, less memory, etc. But they are made for tweaking. If you want great sounds out of the box, get a Roland XV-5050 or a Yamaha Motif rack. The ZR piano is excellent and you can adjust the amp and filter velocities to get a softer touch (RTFM). With the ROMs I have and the tweaking I've done, all bases are covered. So..."raw" presets? An 8. Expressiveness (w/tweaking): 10. So...

Solid construction. Everyone uses these command stations live without a problem. Be sure to have the version two upgrade. But even the previous upgrade was perfectly reliable. If you have an original model, be sure to upgrade immediately. E-mu should be commended for their attention in upgrading and adding new features. Remember that they are a small company (within the larger Creative company) and so their initial quality control is not on a par with the Big Three, but they plug away with the updates and new features. So, a "10" nowadays, as opposed to when they first were released.

Friendliest tech support I know. Never had a problem asking a question. :)

I think I've said everything. After a year of use, I can tell you: the E-mu command stations are classics of their kind.

Well when I brought it Friday I was in the middle of a session, but later I was going threw the sounds and patterns. Same with the rest of the weekend I was flippin' threw the thibk ass book. Tell latter I got the basics I was set for mad beats. If you know how to use a simple drum machine the basic recordings is simple. Learn the rest on ya own time. YK

I need to buy my Midi to Midi cable to get deep into this.

There some good sounds. People say you'll run out of sounds soon that's wit any sound machine. You gotta be more creative with ya samples, plus you can buy more cards with sounds. I'm not gon do that though, this just more sounds to me, all the sounds I been missing.

Hell yeah they got the stuff I been missing.
But I wonder is there I nice software when I could send my tracks to it like wish Acid was able. Not just that E-Loader, Im not feelin that maybe there's more to it.

dunno

well, not easy to use, but what do you expect from a more sophisticated piece of gear. i'm running on version 2.00, everything's working fine now...
editing takes quite some time, but hey, you can really go deep...
the manual is some 300 pages, but very clearly written (take note, ROLAND!)

polyphony 128, which should be enough for almost anybody, effects are nice, but a bit cmplicated to use...
EMU expansion cards can give you up to 128 MB of sounds...great!
MIDI is well implemented, 2 midi outs, all knobs transmit midi data, midi menu makes it quite a flexible machine, sequencer is great, 3 different types of recording, although i don't like the step mode too much...
but grid mode is really easy and very useful...

yep. sounds. that's what is in there: sounds. really nice hip-hop sounds, also suitable for downbeat, even r'n'b. i'm going to get some expansions to make it even more versatile...
effects are good, sounds are very dynamic...

seems solidly built. definitely gonna gig without any backup...that's why i bought it...

had e-mail contact with emu...was quite nice...

very good machine all in all. have been owning it for a month, but really improved the overall sound of my band. must be one of the most professional and good-sounding groove machines ever built. ok, i don't include akai mpcs, but they are something else...

the mp-7 is definitely something like a masterpiece, the concept itself as well as all the details (no wall-wart!!!)...

oh my god where would i be without my mp7... presests are awsome, editing patches is a snap, the manual couldnt be clearer, i think im on version 1.31? not sure...

you know the features, 128 note poly, velo. sensitive, great effects,(not a fan of the reverb) the effects are kinda hard to use, if can be expanded with simms, awesome sequencer

all the presets are really good, but there is no piano! no harps either. all these things can be added with an expansion board though so its all good. onboard effects are great. it reacts to just about everyhting you do and it has velo and aftertouch

so far no problems, i would use without a backup, unlike roland

wouldnt know, but the manual is very helpful

if it were lost or stolen id be eating shit cus all my beats are on it. i would most definatly buy it again becuase its name shouldnt be mp7, it should be GOD. i wish it had some pianos and harps on it, but ill just get the expansion boards. it definatly helps make music!