Emu XK6 Techno Keyboard (Model 9726)
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!
Overall User Ratings (based on 37 ratings)
Submitted July 8, 2003 by a customer from aol.com
"A great mini workstation short of a sequencer."
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
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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