XL-1 Xtreme Lead 1
64 Voice BPM Synthesizer module

The XL-1, or "Xtreme Lead" is a powerful and supremely techno module, and a descendent of E-mu's earlier golden beauties, the Orbit 1, 2 and 3.  This rack synthesizer features this time excellent on-board effects (which were missing in the Orbit).  Clearly the objective of this module, like with the Orbit series, is the provide the user with a plethora of sounds for genres like techno, house, rave, trance, drum 'n' bass, ambient, idm and electronica in general.  It succeeds to a high degree:  the sounds are absolutely slamming, modern, and extremely powerful.  E-mu's powerful filters shine particularly with instruments like these, catered to electronic sytles:  huge synth basses, evolving analog strings, hyper-techno lines, ear-piercing acid bleeps, warm pads, hypnotic arpeggios, and of course super-compressed drum kits!  There really is almost everything you need to produce any of these genres.

A particular word of praise I'd like to direct to this module, is the different way it sounds, being en E-mu:  whereas previous models (such as the Proteus line, or even the Orbit/Planet Phatt/Carnaval) always sounded a bit cold and digital to me, this one, while maintaining the basic digital character of its ancestors, has a different, warmer sound as a whole:  maybe the FX helps out in this regard?  Anyway, this is a very useful module to have if you are interested in any electronic genre.

E-mu XL-1 Xtreme Lead audio examples - demo mp3s

The three on-board demo songs:

 

Progressive M

U People

C-MAN

The factory presets:

(Stream all audio demos below)

Preset name MP3 demos My Comments
User Bank 0, XLEAD Bank 0
0. syn:ORiON

Bank 0\000-015

A very nice opening, with a lot of useful techno sounds.  Basic Saw is very warm and solid, X-light's filtering is excellent, Wet is the perfect Trance lead, SquareV mono would be great for Drum 'n' Bass, and Glory shows off the wonderful arpeggiators.
1. bts:Trancer
2. raw:Basic Saw
3. bpm:Boogy Synth
4. arp:X-light
5. edg:BoXT mono
6. wal:Raverotic
7. bas:1 Shot mono
8. pad:Strings Box
9. led:Wet
10. air:Bat Pann
11. bts:Perception
12. kit:Hide & Seek
13. bas:SquareV mono
14. nse:DISTRUCTOR
15. arp:Glory
16. hit:Hittite

Bank 0\016-031

 

UnderClaSS is a great FX; Synthex 80's is a superb analog pad; Super Saw is a hint to Roland's JP-8000, Raved Pass is an excellent band-pass synth, and Quadralike is perhaps inspired by the ARP Quadra?
17. bpm:UnderClaSS
18. sfx:Moby's Trip
19. raw:Rave Organ
20. syn:70-64
21. syn:Synthex 80's
22. syn:Super Saw
23. syn:XtoZ
24. syn:Spiders mono
25. syn:Brass Juice
26. syn:Raved Pass
27. syn:South Euro 1
28. syn:South Euro 2
29. syn:Digitell
30. syn:Quadralike
31. syn:BigDandyBoy
32. syn:Riverdancing

Bank 0\032-047

Rendalaw: great rave sound; C Z O is a cool Casio CZ-series sample (and so is CZ BIG); Kyng Doam is a very fascinating filtered synth.
33. syn:Rendalaw
34. syn:Dappy
35. syn:Saw On High
36. syn:Tink Or Toys
37. syn:C Z O
38. syn:OBX
39. syn:SinEnsemble
40. syn:CZ BIG
41. syn:Wide Load
42. syn:Cvox
43. syn:Weezeled
44. syn:Post Modern
45. syn:JourneyMan
46. syn:Skouls
47. syn:Kyng Doam
48. syn:Nordica Comp

Bank 0\048-063

DarkShadows shines, R&B Syncomp is fat, Smooth Saw is pure analog, Calmer is what it sounds like, and Air Age is a beautiful arpeggiated synth.
49. syn:Geaxoils
50. syn:DarkShadows
51. syn:AudKlav
52. syn:Syn Chaos
53. syn:R&B Syncomp
54. syn:Octivate
55. syn:Smooth Saw
56. syn:Saint-A.
57. syn:Grindin Me!
58. syn:Calmer
59. syn:Zionate
60. syn:Synterval
61. syn:ObieLand
62. syn:SWELL
63. syn:Air Age
64. syn:SMAK

Bank 0\064-079

T-Dance mono is very powerful; Top Tri mono is an excellent triangular wave synth, F16 mono is nice and creamy, and FATSO mono is certainly FAT.
65. syn:Tink
66. syn:FizzeeString
67. bas:P-dg mono
68. bas:Ring Bassox
69. bas:Saws Normal
70. bas:T-Dance mono
71. bas:Bongo-B
72. bas:Top Tri mono
73. bas:Hard X
74. bas:Hupper mono
75. bas:POLY
76. bas:2000 mono
77. bas:F16 mono
78. bas:Bounce
79. bas:FATSO mono
80. bas:H20 mono

Bank 0\080-095

SuB DuH mono is a powerful sub-bass; Ripin mono is a very cool distorted 303 bassline, Pinhead is an excellent squiggly monosynth bass; CReePeR goes loooow...
81. bas:SuB DuH mono
82. bas:RingCycle
83. bas:Ripin mono
84. bas:REZvsSINE
85. bas:Love Bee
86. bas:Sven Analog
87. bas:B-Acer mono
88. bas:Henny-P mono
89. bas:Pinhead
90. bas:SlappyFlange
91. bas:FinGruzzer
92. bas:Goin'Lo mono
93. bas:Go Long mono
94. bas:M-Deep mono
95. bas:CReePeR mono
96. bas:KEVLAR mono

Bank 0\096-111

JUMPUP mono is a killer D 'n' B bass; Ventolator is a nice FM-bass; A.D. 3033 is the ultimate distorted TB-303 bassline (reminds of the "Aggressor" preset in certain Roland machines), Tugboat is a splendid chorused, huge synth bass. HybridPhased adds phase for an interesting timbre.
97. bas:Mango
98. bas:JUMPUP mono
99. bas:Acid Vox
100. bas:ReedBass
101. bas:FuzzBizz
102. bas:Ventolator
103. bas:Reso TB mono
104. bas:A.D. 3033
105. bas:Tugboat
106. bas:Interference
107. bas:TaurusT mono
108. bas:DistTB1 mono
109. bas:Bullit mono
110. bas:Mo'
111. bas:HybridPhased
112. bas:UKshoot mono

Bank 0\112-127

Organist is a perfect garage house organ; More Cheez and Platinum would be good for Happy Hardcore, Lowy Techno is a splendid Deep House synth/pad/hit.
113. hit:Dinkness
114. hit:PolyClavWOrm
115. hit:Organist
116. hit:Orgy Hitts
117. hit:DeepStall
118. hit:More Cheez
119. hit:PLATINUM
120. hit:Guit Hits
121. hit:EP Rolls
122. hit:Enrezzle
123. hit:Lowy Techno
124. hit:Dreamer Tags
125. hit:FoonZoom
126. hit:Ghost Organ
127. hit:Brazzy Hits

 

Preset name MP3 demos My Comments
User Bank 1, XLEAD Bank 1
0. raw:Classic Tri Bank 1\000-015 Classic Tri is a classy House sound; Prophety is very full sounding; Ringer mono is a squiggly synth; 3 0 3 mono is faithful to the original.
1. raw:Sync4Seqence
2. raw:Prophety
3. raw:Ringer mono
4. raw:Play Sawcomp
5. raw:Drama
6. raw:Big Synthy
7. raw:Syn Brass
8. raw:MortalSynth
9. raw:Farzy Sync
10. raw:SLICER
11. raw:Rez Zip mono
12. raw:3 O 3 mono
13. raw:Acid Blomp
14. raw:Booty Qooty
15. raw:Ubo mono
16. raw:Euro Noise Bank 1\016-031 Mini 2000 is an ELP style Moog; Basic Buzz is a Techno lead.
17. raw:SweeTDreaM
18. raw:Edge
19. raw:Mini 2000
20. raw:Basic Dodo
21. raw:Basic Buzz
22. raw:Basic 2600
23. raw:Low SawSweep
24. raw:Low CL2Sweep
25. raw:BLAHSOM
26. raw:Flaps
27. raw:TeeTH
28. raw:Prophet
29. raw:Profit Braz
30. pad:BP Strings
31. pad:Slow Dance
32. pad:Astrology Bank 1\032-047 DARK CITY is a lonesome pad; Enoze Tri is an atonal style synth
33. pad:DARK CITY
34. pad:Enoze Tri
35. pad:Hi&LowLights
36. pad:Danube
37. pad:Vespers
38. pad:Jumpy Brass
39. pad:Rio Dulce
40. pad:Big Aud'Pad
41. pad:Gorgontastic
42. pad:SlogritStrng
43. pad:Daddy's Girl
44. pad:Ice Dreams
45. pad:SaturnRings
46. pad:Smoovie
47. pad:Aki's World
48. pad:Low Back Bank 1\048-063 Low Back is a powerful analog pad
49. pad:Warm&Lush
50. pad:Lonely Space
51. pad:Pure Synth
52. pad:HarmonicLift
53. pad:Sawpipe
54. pad:www.f mono
55. pad:Spelunkers
56. pad:aRt DeKo
57. pad:Shaku High
58. pad:Symphonix
59. pad:Softaflange
60. pad:Lifedream
61. edg:Spawn mono
62. edg:HlywdINative
63. edg:PUNISH mono
64. edg:Prephad Bank 1\064-079 SCRAPE mono is a buzzy 303; so are REZANATOR and ACiDOP mono
65. edg:SCRAPE mono
66. edg:REZANATOR
67. edg:ACiDOP mono
68. edg:Ringer mono
69. edg:FuzzGrinder
70. edg:BAD A mono
71. edg:B-CUDA mono
72. edg:Swervy
73. edg:Love All
74. edg:Space Komper
75. edg:SynkerSteppr
76. edg:SQUEAKE mono
77. edg:Syncked
78. edg:2Flange mono
79. edg:Listoller
80. edg:Reptoa Bank 1\080-095 Nice
81. edg:TotalControl
82. edg:Growly Glide
83. edg:Small Town
84. edg:Zorkon
85. edg:Skreecher
86. edg:Low Edge
87. edg:Love II mono
88. edg:Bare Edge
89. edg:Honker
90. edg:Mr.Edge
91. edg:19inch Nails
92. vox:Zephyr
93. vox:Air Voices
94. vox:SIRRUS
95. vox:Future Vox
96. vox:Bliss Bank 1\096-111 Nice
97. vox:ARMAGEDDON
98. vox:ANGELIKA
99. vox:Galaxal
100. vox:Bandvoxxe
101. vox:Exploration
102. vox:AfterShock
103. vox:SUrFaCinG
104. vox:Ethereal
105. vox:Suffocating
106. vox:Space Voxxal
107. vox:Upper Bottom
108. air:GhostStories
109. air:Breath Stack
110. air:Tibet
111. air:Futura
112. air:Air Surf :-) Bank 1\112-127 Nice
113. air:Eastern Mist
114. air:Vampirella
115. air:Sonar Ghost
116. air:Druidz Song
117. air:Digital Noiz
118. air:Scary Noise
119. air:StickyFinger
120. air:LeaveMeAlone
121. air:Breathless
122. air:FluteState
123. led:More Senses
124. led:Hisynk Lead
125. led:P5 Zentropa
126. led:Funky-B mono
127. led:Solo Environ

 

Preset name MP3 demos My Comments
User Bank 2, XLEAD Bank 2
0. bpm:Synthex 80's Bank 2\000-015 Synthex 80's is the classic Elka;
1. bpm:Tempo LFOs
2. bpm:Cult-feel
3. bpm:SakuraTime
4. bpm:"Carpe Diem"
5. bpm:Monster
6. bpm:Love 1
7. bpm:Bouncerette
8. bpm:L'room mono
9. bpm:Reepeter
10. bpm:HOUSE
11. bpm:GRITS
12. bpm:TRIPPER
13. bpm:Higher Power
14. bpm:Solace
15. bpm:Lunar Pad
16. bpm:CReeP mono Bank 2\016-031 Nice acid stuff.
17. bpm:Trashy
18. bpm:Mercy
19. bpm:Wading
20. bpm:Multisteps
21. bpm:Squeapels
22. bpm:Grinded
23. bpm:SteppedDream
24. bpm:Clocking Out
25. bpm:Bubbler
26. bpm:End
27. bpm:Wicked Low
28. bpm:RadioDaze
29. bpm:Panhandel
30. bpm:Sparkle
31. bpm:Square Rise
32. arp:Hollographik Bank 2\032-047 Psy-Trance material.
33. arp:Pele
34. arp:C2 Dmachine
35. arp:Lust up mono
36. arp:Bottom Perc
37. arp:You Know It
38. arp:Toxic Vox
39. arp:Deeper Love
40. arp:Full Time
41. arp:OrbisTabula1
42. arp:OrbisPitcher
43. arp:Dreamer
44. arp:Palomar
45. arp:theGrind
46. arp:Fundamentals
47. arp:Tron X
48. arp:XL Feel Bank 2\048-063 Trancey
49. arp:B-loid
50. arp:Glider
51. arp:Axis One
52. arp:Bouchete
53. arp:Saw Standard
54. arp:Tekno Cheep
55. arp:Phrophetics
56. arp:SineDrum
57. arp:CricketGruve
58. arp:Whisper
59. arp:Gut-P mono
60. arp:MooGie-D
61. arp:No Lo
62. arp:Trip Hard
63. arp:Sanctuary Bank 2\064-079 Classic Trance sounds
64. arp:LITTLE Guy
65. arp:Kosy Love
66. arp:Bust In
67. arp:Uroboros
68. arp:Mighty Pulse
69. arp:JUNOsis
70. arp:C2-Play me
71. arp:C2-Play me2
72. arp:T-2000
73. arp:HardNormlMom
74. arp:On The Run
75. arp:Pissto Hi
76. arp:Byg Stryngs
77. arp:Space Coast
78. arp:Futura
79. wal:Ripped
80. wal:Balls2The... Bank 2\080-095 SFX
81. wal:W6 3sEvEn
82. wal:Field
83. wal:ABYSS
84. wal:DonkeyBreath
85. wal:GoSpeedRacer
86. wal:REZARECT
87. wal:Tension
88. wal:Arrival
89. wal:Maryland
90. wal:ByzantineNze
91. wal:Thickets
92. wal:Big Wall
93. wal:Silkness
94. wal:Marvs Modulo
95. wal:Luscious
96. wal:BACKDRAFT Bank 2\096-111 Cool
97. wal:I made it
98. wal:DailyBread
99. wal:Clavonate
100. wal:HoverCraft
101. wal:C-Ride mono
102. wal:Duckfuzz
103. wal:MaMMoTH mono
104. wal:Ice Ring
105. wal:Love 2bee
106. wal:Uncle Fester
107. wal:THE MACHEEN
108. wal:Strangled
109. wal:DOOM 2020
110. led:JungleX mono
111. led:Hypass Ditty
112. led:Mono PolyFX Bank 2\112-127 Nice
113. led:Muffle Sync
114. led:CazioTone
115. led:Groove Wow
116. led:Technoval
117. led:Krane mono
118. led:Wormsine
119. led:Dreamlead
120. led:Tunnelituar
121. led:Crunchette
122. led:Blizzer
123. led:Junosquare
124. led:Multisync
125. led:WiggleWorm
126. led:Levita Brass
127. led:DesertTrance

 

Preset name MP3 demos My Comments
User Bank 3, XLEAD Bank 3
0. bts:D&B Tight Bank 3\000-015 Drum 'n' Bass sounds
1. bts:D&B Smooth
2. bts:LoFi
3. bts:Indy-T
4. bts:Rocket
5. bts:Elbow>>Room
6. bts:L-101
7. bts:Rush
8. bts:Lo-Z
9. bts:Acid-dia
10. bts:K-work
11. bts:Logic
12. bts:Roller Girl
13. bts:Black House
14. bts:HiHo
15. bts:Ginger
16. bts:Unhooked Bank 3\016-031 More D 'n' B
17. bts:Dr&Bass DoFi
18. bts:Dist Treo
19. bts:Big Body
20. bts:Xie-racy
21. bts:4AM`/_Flyin'
22. bts:Lily's Rage
23. bts:HBtoo
24. bts:Light-R
25. bts:X-Mox
26. bts:Dark Hero
27. bts:007
28. bts:The Beast
29. bts:Europia
30. bts:TranzAmbient
31. bts:Frantikk
32. bts:Tekno Tribe Bank 3\032-047 American Techno style
33. bts:Mind Game
34. bts:D-Houce
35. bts:Heaven
36. bts:Peak-777
37. bts:Big Shaker
38. bts:808 street
39. bts:Jump Hard
40. bts:System X
41. bts:Semi-Time
42. bts:Drumatic
43. bts:HI-NRG
44. bts:Trance Date
45. bts:Club it
46. bts:Groove II
47. bts:Groove IT
48. bts:C-Man Bank 3\048-063 Big Beat
49. bts:Humana
50. kit:80's Tones
51. kit:K'werk It
52. kit:BoomBoxx
53. kit:Compressed
54. kit:Dirty Kit
55. kit:G Club
56. kit:MANTIS
57. prc:Crash Head
58. prc:Kicks 1
59. prc:Snares 1
60. prc:Construction
61. prc:Scratchin
62. prc:Scratchin 2
63. prc:Mixed Bag
64. prc:Cooleo Bank 3\064-079 Very electronic
65. bel:Modular Ring
66. bel:Efemm Bellsa
67. bel:Mult-A-Metal
68. bel:Mystery Bell
69. bel:NordicCalm
70. bel:Rainbellz
71. bel:Agualla Bell
72. bel:Encapsulate
73. nse:REZAWRECKT
74. nse:UNDERTAKER
75. nse:Coyote
76. nse:Turbonic
77. nse:Heavy Mental
78. nse:GrainyPixel
79. nse:Faucet Drip
80. nse:DarkForest Bank 3\080-095 More SFX
81. nse:PsychicSea
82. nse:AarnoLdt
83. nse:PLAZMA mono
84. nse:LuciferDom
85. nse:SpottedWhite
86. nse:Uncowardinar
87. nse:Hadrian's
88. nse:Quiet Wall
89. nse:Machined
90. nse:Cast
91. nse:MaRTIaNS
92. nse:Soline 9x
93. nse:PARANO mono
94. nse:Masses
95. nse:Saturn mono
96. nse:LittleWeasel Bank 3\096-111 Ambient FX
97. nse:Future Harmi
98. nse:FutureSteps
99. nse:Bottom Floor
100. nse:That'sCreepy
101. nse:Radon Shield
102. nse:Diffuser
103. nse:Interfear
104. sfx:Odd Quasar
105. sfx:S-METAL mono
106. sfx:Zoned
107. sfx:OverTheEdge
108. sfx:Granules
109. sfx:Glassers
110. sfx:Alienator
111. sfx:Ripped Lazer
112. sfx:FoldingSpace Bank 3\112-127 More Ambient FX
113. sfx:Uncertainty
114. sfx:CosmicCompny
115. sfx:REZA'S LaB
116. sfx:TerrorZoNE
117. sfx:LupeDeKool
118. sfx:CyberSience
119. key:P-soul
120. key:DeepOrg
121. key:Smarm Organ
122. key:HoreGaine
123. key:DxJx Organ
124. key:SynhissOrgan
125. key:Disca Queen
126. key:Organik
127. :XL-1 default

 

 Resources:

E-mu XL-1 Xtreme Lead pictures

                   

E-mu XL-1 Xtreme Lead manual in .pdf

Available at the E-mu website:  www.emu.com

E-mu XL-1 Xtreme Lead Features

 

Features at a glance
Year of release: 200_
Polyphony: 64
Sound generation method: PCM
Preset memories 128 RAM Presets
MIDI: in, out, thru
Sound expansion capabilities: yes, E-mu ROM boards
Sequencer no
Arpeggiator yes, 16 multiple + Beats mode
Effects yes
Touch sensitivity yes
Aftertouch yes
Multitimbrality yes
Sound Layering yes
Keyboard Split yes
Number of Oscillators  
Portamento yes
Unison  
Miscellaneous  

 

••• Preset Categories:
bas: .. Bass
syn: .. Synthesizer
pad: . Thick sustained sound
org: .. Organ
led: .. Lead instrument
hit: ... Orchestra hit
vox: .. Human voice
sfx: ... Sound effect
scr: ... Record scratch
drm:. Drum
bts: .. Used in beats preset
seq: .. Used in demo sequence
lnk: .. Preset link
raw: .. raw waveforms
bpm: ..synched to bpm
arp: ..arpeggio patterns
edg: ..edgy sounds
wal: ..wall of sound
air: .. airy pads
kit: .. drum kits
nse: ... noise presets

arp: Arpeggiated air: Wind noise instrument
bas: Basses bel: Bells
bpm: Synchro-sonic, clocks bts: BEATS presets
edg: Edgy, cutting hit: Shorter
key: Keyboard instrument, organ kit: Drum kit
led: Leads nse: Noises
pad: Sustained, pad-like prc: Percussion
raw: Playable, vanilla sfx: Sound Effects
syn: Complex, harmonically rich vox: Vocals
wal: Dense, harmonically complex

 

Links

 

SITE Type of resource DESCRIPTION
E-Mu home site Emu/Creative/Ensoniq