E-mu MP-7 Command Station

Price Paid: US $1020 used

Ease of Use: 10
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.

Features: 10
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.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
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.

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

Customer Support: N/A
Havent had to use this.

Overall Rating: 10
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.

Submitted by timski at 06/10/2005 02:10

Price Paid: US $330.00 used

Ease of Use: 8
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.

Features: 9
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.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
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.

Reliability: 8
Seems pretty sturdy.

Customer Support: 5
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.

Overall Rating: 9
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.

Submitted by Anonymous at 01/07/2005 08:56

Price Paid: US $340 used

Ease of Use: 10
Ver 1.31
Where can i update the OS???
Very easy to use. Never looked by manual.

Features: 10
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.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
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!

Reliability: 10
I never used it live on a gig yet. But id like to play some tracks raw without mixing them at the studio.

Customer Support: 1
No customer support for me in Greece!

Overall Rating: 10
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!

Submitted by DJ ALX at 11/09/2004 15:10

Price Paid: US $433.57 used

Ease of Use: 10
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

Features: 9
every thing in this section is perfect i like every aspect of it

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
yes most of them are and on the world exspansion chip its lovely \\

Reliability: 8
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

Customer Support: 7
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

Overall Rating: 10
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

Submitted by kilian at 08/07/2004 13:22

Price Paid: US $700

Ease of Use: 10
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). :)

Features: 10
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.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
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...

Reliability: 10
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.

Customer Support: 10
Friendliest tech support I know. Never had a problem asking a question. :)

Overall Rating: 10
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.

Submitted by Anonymous at 03/04/2004 14:13

Price Paid: US $550

Ease of Use: 10
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

Features: N/A
I need to buy my Midi to Midi cable to get deep into this.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
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.

Reliability: 10
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.

Customer Support: N/A
dunno

Overall Rating: 10

Submitted by YK at 03/03/2004 21:27

Price Paid: 600 (EUR)

Ease of Use: 7
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!)

Features: 9
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...

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
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...

Reliability: 9
seems solidly built. definitely gonna gig without any backup...that's why i bought it...

Customer Support: 7
had e-mail contact with emu...was quite nice...

Overall Rating: 10
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!!!)...

Submitted by lau at 01/03/2004 05:12

Price Paid: US $550 used

Ease of Use: 9
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...

Features: 10
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

Expressiveness/Sounds: 9
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

Reliability: N/A
so far no problems, i would use without a backup, unlike roland

Customer Support: N/A
wouldnt know, but the manual is very helpful

Overall Rating: 10
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!

Submitted by mike at 07/06/2003 13:10

Price Paid: US $670

Ease of Use: 10
10 this thing is made for dumb asses that hold down a pad and a nice preset beat comes out. hold down 2 at a time and your really rockin.
record and repeat until you have all the ones you'd like arranged in your very own beat............please

Features: 1
Try stepping it up a notch. If you want to isolate just one drum ...good luck. you cant seperate drums from the drums Emu matched them with...retarted. try the crap step sequencer that plain sucks. copying patterns ..a pain in the rectum ...all the simplest tasks are menu driven buried and scattered .. i could not have fun making my own beats from scratch. no sampleing, no removeable media.

Expressiveness/Sounds: 5
they are ok for rap but they are going to be played out soon so ill give a 10 for when they 1st came out and a 0 for when they get played out.

Reliability: 7
i would say so but if something goes wrong your going to be busy in those menu's and the crowd will boo your wack ass

Customer Support: 2
Sucks they got a yahho web group and that was my best place for answers , if you made the slightest negative suggestion they wont answer your question, so you had to pretend to be "cool" with the MP-7 so they can help you F%CK THAT!!!!

Overall Rating: 1
I am so glad I got someone to buy this thing. My only regret is I should have returned it for full price. It had pretty good sounds but they will grow old. OH YEAH THE DRUMS SUCK

Submitted by hardware master at 05/21/2003 18:41

Price Paid: £400 (pounds) used

Ease of Use: 7
only paid £495. i think is is version 1.5 i have only had the machine for about 5 days but i got to know my machine. it is quite easy to use but the grid pattern only allows a minimum 1/4 notes so if you want long riffs you have to enter in real time

Features: 9
The polyphony is amazing any type of sound id possible from house to hip hop. It have many effects but i don't understand yet. The mp-7 rom is hav a lot of drums and sounds. I use the mp-7 as a sound module in cubase sx because the sequencer is to complex to program
It has too many features to mention good value for money

Expressiveness/Sounds: 10
Sounds are very good for hip hop and also any other music type.
The keypad is amazingly reponse not at all like how i thought it would be this is an amazing unit. A powerful studio in a box.

Reliability: 7
I have had it for 5 days I havent had a problem yet and i was looking for defects as I bought it used but nothing yet

Customer Support: N/A
n/a

Overall Rating: 9
If it were lost or stolen i would hustle my ass off to get it back
I have had for 5 days use with cubase sx. I compared to mpc2000xl but i was too much just for a sampler/sequecer and i was very interested when i saw rza hold an mp-7. This little machine has pushed my music to another level trust me.

Submitted by Anonymous at 05/10/2003 19:49