Emu XK6 Techno Keyboard (Model 9726)

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...

61 keys. 64-voice polyphony. ***Note: Due to the large price decrease on this keyboard, Emu has ended their rebate program on this item. You cannot get a free ROM for this keyboard at this time. It's still a great deal at this price though!

Overview

The new XK-6 is E-MU's Electronica performance/production keyboard that delivers the advanced synthesis architecture and 12th order filters found in the Xtreme Lead-1 Sound Module in a 61-key package at an affordable price. The XK-6 gives you a host of interactive SuperBEATs, arpeggiators, and effects, all synced to BPM, delivering unprecedented rhythmic control. 16 mute/enable buttons let you bring beats in and out of your mix on the fly, while the 12 controllers allow you to tweak filters and synth parameters in real-time. The XK-6 ships with a diverse 32 MB Electronica/Techno soundset that features everything from cutting lead sounds to drumkits to ethereal pads, and can be expanded using any of the many Proteus expansion ROMs available — you can even create your own custom ROMs using E-MU's E4 Ultra samplers. Whether it's your main axe or an addition to your arsenal, the XK-6 delivers total sonic satisfaction in at an amazing price.

Features
61 keys

64-voice polyphony

32 MB soundset with 640 factory/512 user presets (expandable to 128 MB)

16 programmable real-time control parameters/preset

16 simultaneous/syncable ARPs

SuperBEATs interactive Groove Mode (with 16 mute/enable buttons)

24-bit dual stereo effects processor

4 analog outputs

24-bit DACs

2 footswitch inputs

***Note: Emu has halted their rebate program on this item. You cannot get a free ROM for this keyboard at this time. It's still a great deal at this price though!

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 831-438-1921

Operation Manual

Reviews

(37 ratings)

Submitted July 8, 2003 by a customer from aol.com

"A great mini workstation short of a sequencer."

Overall:

(see rating details)

This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.

After adding the Techno Synth Construction Yard, and hopefully a couple more expansion roms I see this keyboard staying w/ me. Its not the end all/be all answer, but it holds its own really well as an entry level synth and has features that even more expensive models don't. It could use a vocoder and I would be content.

Sound
The initial sounds on the xk-6 are great, but the best thing is tweaking them and saving to create your own. The strings are a little weak, but usually are on a techno keyboard. The pads and leads are excellent. I thought the bass was pretty good for a digital rompler.

Features
The 16 independent arp triggers are awsome, especially when you learn to creat beat patterns in the arp menu. The SuperBEATS mode is cool, but you can't use it and the arp pattern triggers simultaneously. Hence the need to program beat patterns into the arp. I like the assignable control knobs for on the fly tweaking.

Quality
I though the XK-6 looked pretty cheap when I first saw it, but after using it for about 6 months, it has held up well. I realized that the main body of the keyboard is actually metal, with the endcaps being plastic, overall it is pretty sturdy.

Value
Best synth for the money, blows the Korg X5d and Alesis QS6.1 out of the water feature wise, and with expandability options, you can lose.

Manufacturer Support… read more
No need yet for support

The Wow Factor
Unique looking keyboard, although the pk-6 and mk-6 are essentially the same keyboard w/ a different color scheme and rom set.

Musical Style:
Electroclash, Industial, New Wave, EBM, Synthpop

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