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Toontracks EZDrummer

Anybody use EZDRUMMER? I just ordered it from sweetwater.
I'm getting tired of the machine I have (i have had it for about 2yrs)
all my rythms are starting to sound the same and I find myself uninspired in a rutt writing songs around my old stale available drum patterns :( :shock: thats not good I should be writing the drums around the song. :x
I really liked the reveiws and demos at http://www.toontrack.com/ezdrummer.asp. I still want to keep my dr-3 its great live but I guess if I want to kick my recordings up to the next level I need to start taking the time to really write out my drums instead of settleing for a preset kinda drum sound. :roll: :oops: I know its all because I am too lazy to tweek all these drum machines :roll: maybe in this format I will get a better groove on 8) Keepya posted :twisted:

Comments

  • Hey ODB,
    Yep, I use EZD and I love it. The grooves that come with it are plentiful, and I know you have the Korg K-49, which makes it easy to play your own patterns and/or just throw cymbal crashes into the EZD grooves you drag and drop. The only drawback that I can see is that it's a little resource hungry. If you find that you're running too close to dropping out, you can always tweak the drums the way you want and bounce the track to audio and then copy that audio track into a new project. I had to do that with my old/slow PC as my recording projects got more complex.

    Also, (you'll need to read up on this) I insert EZD with the tracks separated so you can tweak each mic individually. I learned a trick off of the Cakewalk forum. Open a new project, insert EZD split out, apply effects as desired (reverb, compression etc), then save project as a template. Now, any time I want to start a new project with drums, I open this template, and the drums are all set up the way I like, which is a big time saver. Hopefully your DAW has this template feature as well - I'm sure it must.

    Overall, there is some learning curve involved (however I was trying to learn Sonar and EZD at the same time - probably not a bright idea :oops: ), but with your recording experience and talent, I think you'll find you really like it. 8)
  • HA! Great minds think alike ...again. :oops:
    first the Korg
    now the drums. :wink:

    :D KOOOL I am moist with antisipation :!:

    Currently I run out stereo with the drum machine but I really thought that was way cool how you can have a drum submix like that :!: tweek it bounce it down and rawk on!
    ...anyway Glad to see that you usem INSIDEOUT in case I get all ...:? k0rnfused :? :wink:
  • Yeah it is cool 8) Eazy to use, drag & drop loops etc.. I just realy don't get much time to learn the program. I think you'll like it ODB :D
  • You should really check out JamStix if your in the market for drums. Not only do they have some great sounding drums, but you can set it up so that it plays the drums... not you. You still have total control, meaning you can choose \"beat for beat\" what you want it to play, but it can also respond to your playing and come up with it's own drum beats accordingly.

    Out of all of the add in software I have purchased for my \"guitar recording\"... it's the best investment Ive made. Plus they are getting ready to release \"Jamstix 2\"!!! Which will be even better! And anyone who buys Jamsticks will get a free upgrade to Jamstix 2 when it comes out. So there is no reason to wait!!!

    If your a drummer... you may not need this piece of software. If your not... this S@*T is the BOMB!!!

    Plus... how many times do we find ourselfs in the same rutt? You do 10 different songs to the same beat at a different tempo. With Jamstix you let it come up with the main beat based off of your decisions and then tweak it from there. It is truely an unbeliveable piece of software.

    They do have a DEMO version so you have the chance to try it out before you buy. But just beware... if you try it... your gonna want to spent the money! :lol:

    ODB... you know me... I wouldn't pitch something I didn't truly believe in.

    Check it out for your self.

    IMHO
    KT

    P.S.
    Just an FYI...
    Jamstix will also work along with DFH, EZD, Battery... ECT....
    It will send MIDI commands to those programs so that you use the \"Brains\" of Jamstix and the sounds of your favorite drum program.
  • Hey Killin Time I messed with the Demo & it was good for well Jamming following the Drums if you will. I could never seem to get it to follow me for say an Original Song Idea that I had an Idea of how it should go. It always seemed to have a mind of it's own & have miss hits & such. I know I could clean the file up but I just playe & played with settings etc.. funkyness all that stuff it just would not DEMO Version play with me. Now I agree for Jamming & messing around it was the Bomb!! Not to mention you could not Split notes & run Cal on the Demo Version? I'm sure you can on the full version BUT I just could not take that plunge with the results I was getting with the Demo Version. I suppose I could have tried harder to learn it & my mind may have changed to purchase the full version??
  • one thing you can do to get Jamstix to follow your songs a bit more to your liking is to use envelopes.

    Here's what Ralph from Rayzoon (the company who makes Jamstix) say...
    It's a very powerful way to control a VST programmatically throughout your song. Jamstix offers over 50 automation controls.

    Right-click on the Jamstix MIDI track->Create Envelope->MIDI->NRPN and then the middle list will show all available Jamstix parameters.

    Drag the envelope around so it fits the needs of your song.

    It's really cool how you can use these envelops (just like you would a volume or pan) to handle Jamstix's many parameters.

    You should really spend a bit of time with this program. Once you learn it a bit your really going to fall in love. And bear in mind, this program is a bit different than most because it is capable of SO much. And this program is alot different than other drum programs because it thinks... it doesn't just react. You can control the way it thinks, but it still thinks. And it does things like a real drummer would.

    JS2 is going to be out in a few months and it really has alot to offer.... Ralph has this to offer on the subject...
    Style Modeling - styles will be intelligently modeled

    Player Modeling - on top of the selected style, player models will introduce habits and idiosyncrasies

    Simplicity - the interface will be easier to use

    Structure - the arranger will be section-based rather than bar-based so the structure of a song can be easily defined and handled.

    Odd Time Signatures - we've got some good stuff coming in that arena

    Sound Flexibility - the kit control will be easier to use and even more flexible (i.e. mixing internal and external sounds)

    Groove Timing - sophisticated style-based groove timing will increase realism

    If you want to see the whole write up and some screenshots check out this.

    Like any program that has alot to offer, you have to spend some time with it. And like any program worth learning... there's a curve. Check it out again. If you spend some time with it and truly learn the in's and out's of this program.... your gonna want it.

    IMHO
    KT
  • Thanks for the advise looks like a killa drum program...however I purchased EZDRUMMER before I had a chance to read your review. :cry:o

    I am however Tottaly diggin EZDRUMMER right now it works awsome with protools an RTAS :wink:
    Looks like theres lotsa good pluggins out there right now ...STRIKE looked pretty cool too.
  • Thanks for the advise looks like a killa drum program...however I purchased EZDRUMMER before I had a chance to read your review. :cry:o

    Most owners use Jamstix with programs like EZDrummer or Battery. They prefer the sounds that these programs give them. But they let Jamstix control it because it has the brains to make it sound real.
    Integrates With Other Sound Modules

    integrated VSTi sub-hosting allows usage of any VSTi drum synthesizer, such as BFD™ and DFHS™.
    Combine the sounds of your favorite drum plugin with the jam power and realism of Jamstix!
    flexible key and velocity mapping
    MIDI output as well as export to MIDI file for maximum flexibility

    FWIW
    KT
  • OK... been thinking about it and suddenly realized that not everyone is as familiar with Jamstix as I am....

    Jamstix is a VST plugin that works with any recording software that accepts VST plugins. That said... if you own just Pro Tracks, your gonna need a VST adapter. If you own Sonar 2 thru 5 you would use the \"Cakewalk VST adapter\".

    I believe that sonar 6 or higher does not need this adapter since it is finaly able to handle VST's on it's own.

    Jamstix is a Drum program on it's own. Meaning you don't need EZdrummer or Battery to get drum sounds. It has some very good sounding drums. Expecially for the price point.

    That said... Everyone has their favorite drum sounds.... weather it be BFD or EZD.

    Jamstix also has the capability to input it's data into VST's such as Battery or EZDrummer and let you use that program to determin your tone.

    Where Jamstix shines is that it plays drums for you. Not that you choose thru a bunch of predefined drums and choose the tempo to match your tune. No, you tell it things so that it better understands what you want and it plays the drums for you. Like a real drummer would.

    It has some very indepth limb priorty control which basicly makes sure that a \"Real\" drummer could play it. You cant hit 3 different drums with your left hand at the same time you know!! :lol:

    This is a drum program that is around the 100 dollar price point depending on which expansion packs you get. But understand that your getting much more than drum sounds for that money. You are also getting the drummer!!!

    That is what makes Jamstix better than the other programs out there. It's not a bunch of pre recorded drums... it's the brains that make it think like a drummer and the ability to let guys who don't play drums sound like they do.

    IMHO
    KT
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