Same here. I’ve noticed that the library that comes with the plug-in is extremely limited in styles and in tempos. I found this to be very odd, considering how long the plugin has been around, and the fact that it’s basically a midi file player and a company such as Toontrack probably has access to great piano and keyboard players who really would probably love to play many different styles that would be included in the factory library or the midi packs that are sold. Why they are so sparse is beyond me. The only saving grace is the fact that you can use your own midi files, but now I’m left to find MIDI libraries that I can use with EZkeys which negates the reason that I bought it in the first place. I trusted that they would include a really nice complete library with the plug in and then I would then purchase more midi packs to add to it, but for me at this point that would be really a waste of money spent on really sparse midi packs. Very disappointed with this purchase in this respect.

Thank you Joe. I searched this forum last night and found some videos on usage posted by another member and realized that I might have been a little quick with my criticism. I might have been mistaken as to what the actual purpose of EZkeys is. I am going to watch the one’s you are showing me as well, and thoroughly get into truly giving it a good run before making any other judgments. Thank you for your insight.

joe wrote:

The Singer Songwriter Pack comes with 10 songs.

Each song has 5 parts. Each part has 4 variations.

That is a total of 200 MIDI files. I don’t think that 200 MIDI files means too few possibilities.

I would have to disagree, as I find the TT midi packs to be very limited and generic in nature. Certainly TT could do better. Why stop at 10 songs ?  Why stop at a few styles ? Expanding the number and styles would imho benefit both TT in sales, and us the end users in creative output. Though I suppose since TT is, in my opinion an excellent innovative company I hold them to a much higher standard. And expect more.

However that said, EZKeys is an outstanding innovative songwriting tool that adds much to the creative process. Though it is sadly held back by a lack of midi files. An unmatched high speed racing car, held back by a lack of gas as it were.  Though, simply recording your own bar or two of midi data quickly remedies this. Which is how I use EZKeys, to great effect.

Though you have to ask how could EZKeys and EZD2 not be generic in nature. Has any here found any of the midi files exactly what they needed for their original work ? I haven’t.  That is an impossibility, and not anything to do with TT or their products. Think of any professional recording and find that exact pattern or beat in any TT midi file. You won’t.  Original by it’s very nature is not generic. TT has excellent products, but they have to be put in perspective.

That said thank you for your effort in setting up your YouTube Channel and being an active helpful member of the community. As you said, “we can help each other”.  Yes you’re absolutely right.

Scott wrote:

I’ve had the greatest success when I’m writing songs asks using EZkeys when I input my own chord progressions into the EZkeys Song Track and use the Use Browser MIDI function to find a suitable MIDI performance. Being no keyboard player at all, I’ve added keys to songs that would never have had keys in them without hiring a player.

Thank you for joining in Scott.

I believe that depends on exactly what you’re looking for and your expectations.   If one has an exact idea of what they want, they probably won’t find it with EZKeys. However if they want a more generic cliche’ performance then EZKeys may be the way to go. For example we’ll say this is the song I’m writing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdfqgiUiqWI

Now, I want the Keys to play EXACTLY what is in the video, that is what I hear in my mind. And that you can not find in EZKeys. You will either have to play the part yourself, or settle for something entirely different or possibly ‘close enough’. But certainly not what you had originally intended for that part. Thereby altering your song to fit the software you’re using.

Now on the other hand, if you write more cliche’ music then you are more likely to find what you’re looking for. For example if you write songs along the lines of “Rock & Roll” – Led Zeppelin, I’m sure there’s more than enough in EZKeys to suit your needs.

So as I said, it depends on what your needs and expectations are.  And if you’re willing to alter your song to fit the software. That is the key point.  I am not willing to do that, as I probably spent hours/days writing the part. And what would be the point ?  Either you’re the songwriter or you’re not.  Though it must be said, this is not the fault of the software. It’s just the reality of this type of application.

For myself I write mostly Prog Rock (Yes, ELP, Rush, King Crimson, Floyd, ect) and EZKeys can not produce the ideas I have in my mind,  and I knew that going in.   So why did I purchase it… it is, with it’s Circle of Fifths to me an outstanding learning and writing tool . One can actually hear how chord progressions fit together. (how does that dim7 sound resolving back to the I chord).  Or, want to solo over Lydian, Dorian, Phrygian ?  ….set your progression and play away.  Tritone Chord Substitution ?  …No problem.   Not to mention most of the sounds are very well done.

BTW, this is in no way a criticism of anyone’s preferences, style or abilities (I know how forum posts can be misconstrued).  There have been many great songs written by great artists using cliche’ that EZKeys could easily handle. Chuck Berry, Beatles, Beach Boys and even Led Zep and Queen got a lot of mileage out of cliche’.  And I wish I had a fraction of their talent. It just comes down to what your needs are.

Steve McNamara wrote:

Robert wrote:

For myself I write mostly Prog Rock (Yes, ELP, Rush, King Crimson, Floyd, ect) and EZKeys can not produce the ideas I have in my mind, and I knew that going in. So why did I purchase it… it is, with it’s Circle of Fifths to me an outstanding learning and writing tool . One can actually hear how chord progressions fit together. (how does that dim7 sound resolving back to the I chord). Or, want to solo over Lydian, Dorian, Phrygian ? ….set your progression and play away. Tritone Chord Substitution ? …No problem. Not to mention most of the sounds are very well done.

That’s a great selection of artists to have as influences as you compose, and one thing I’ve tried in the past is to find online midi of, e.g., a prog rock piano or organ/synth part of a song, bring it into EZKeys, choose a key and then use “randomize chords” to change things all around. You can get some fantastic prog chord progressions. Or input a large blocks of the same chord and use “randomize” as well. Then use midi packs (such as the 70s Prog Midi) to begin fashioning different styles.

If this helps, great.

Steve

Thanks Steve, I haven’t tried the randomize chords feature yet. I’m wondering if it works diatonically within the given key ?  Though I suppose you could go back in and alter further if need be.

Interestingly I’m noticing quite a few people are reverse engineering their music, meaning they’re taking a pre-existing midi chord progression (online) and then using EZKeys to alter it in one form or another. That or laying out a few chord blocks in EZKeys and using a pre-existing ‘performance’ to create a section or phrase. That method though doesn’t work for me, as I usually write my sections on either guitar or keys. For example, if you wrote the main section to Roundabout Em, F#m, G, as ‘your’ idea, there would be no way EZKeys could reproduce that exact phrase. You couldn’t find a midi file online exactly like that, since it is an original musical idea. Nor would laying out the chords in blocks and then trying to find a ‘performance’ in EZKeys work. By it’s very nature an ‘original’ idea doesn’t exist. So, by using EZKeys you have to accept that you can not use your own original compositions.  You could place the three blocks (Em, F#m, G) in EZKeys and search for a performance, but it will not be true to your original idea. It seems a matter of Originality vs. Performance, whereas EZKeys is strong on performance but weak on originality.

However I have found a good compromise, at least for me. I combine two software apps, which gives me a true original piece with a descent performance. I first score the piece in notation software (MuseScore is free) then move the midi over to EZKeys using the ‘humanize’ feature which softens the rigidity of notation software. The end result is not a real performance from a proficient keyboardist but is at least true to the original idea I wrote. Depends on what is important to you I suppose. 

I’ll just add that I’d like to see EZKeys move in the direction of EZDrms which is far more feature rich, such as ‘edit play style’.