Drum Presets in EZMix

[jgro002]

Hi there,

I’m hoping someone from Toontrack will offer an answer on this one: Were the drum presets in EZMix developed more with Superior Drummer / EZDrummer samples in mind? Or were they developed more to be used with someone’s own raw acoustic drum recordings?

Let me clarify why I’m asking: Alot of the samples for Superior Drummer have obviously been recorded with some processing on the way to the recorder (i.e. eq and/or compression) and EZDrummer is essentially ‘finished drums’ ready to be put into a mix. Someone recording at home is unlikely to do any eqing or compressing on the way into their DAW. Therefore the effect of adding an EZMix kick-drum preset to a home recorded kick drum will be very different from adding it on top of an EZDrummer kick drum, for example.

Before someone tells me ‘just use your ears’ let me explain where I’m at as far as recording – I am literally working on my first ‘proper’ recording and my ears aren’t yet sensitive to what is ‘right’ if there is such a thing, or to what is a too much of a good thing (too much compression, too much eq etc). So knowing something more about what the source material that these presets were designed to process would be a great help in determing how they are used.

If I haven’t explained that very well let me know and I’ll try to reword it. I think EZMix is a fantastic product btw, I hope it does really well for you guys.

Cheers,
Jeremy.

iMac 3.06 GHz 4 GB OSX 10.6.5, Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Logic Pro 9.1.3, Lacie D2 Quadra

Topic

[Scott]

I’m not sure of the answer for this. Mattias was the dude in charge of the presets.

Personally, I’ve used EZmix when using Toontrack libraries as well on my own drum recording that were done in my studio live room. Even though there are only 3 faders to adjust in EZmix, there is enough to tweak in alot of cases.

So, for example, if I select a ‘Kick’ preset that uses the ‘Shape’ fader to adjust the EQ and the ‘Blend’ fader to adjust a compressor (amount) I can use it on many types of sources. If the kick I’m processing already has some processing applied, either from tracking (yes, I track with eq and compression in some cases on drums) or from pre-processing like EZdrummer, I can adjust those 2 faders for ‘less effect’ and see if it works. I can use the same preset on a more dry kick signal and bring the fader up for ‘more effect’ (more compression) and listen if that works.

Sometimes I’ll even stack EZmix instances on top of each other (maybe one with a ‘compressor’ preset and one with an ‘eq’ preset) for more control. It really is about experimenting and ‘using your ears’. You may think your ears aren’t sensitive to know what ‘right’ is but I think what you really mean is that you may not be able to use audio tools to make what you hear as ‘right’. You probably know what YOU think sounds good but may not be able to ‘make it happen.’

I think EZmix may help you along with the journey.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Scott]

BTW, here’s a mix I’ve done with EZmix. All different instances of EZmix except for a de-esser on the lead vocal as there is no de-esser in EZmix.

http://www.rainbowsounds.com/Toontrack/Hundreds%20of%20Days%20Faders%20Up%20Dry.mp3  – Dry/no plugin effects

http://www.rainbowsounds.com/Toontrack/Hundreds%20of%20Days%20EZmix.mp3 – With EZmix

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Whitten]

One thing you could consider.
You don’t need to follow the name on the pre-set.
Sometimes a guitar pre-set sounds great on drums, or a stereo master pre-set. Likewise a drum pre-set can work well on keyboards.
I know the tweakability is limited, but it’s still worth trying to ignore the designated function sometimes, just to see if anything good happens.

[jgro002]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I knew I’d be told to ‘use my ears’ lol!

Scott, I’d already heard those mixes on another forum and been very impressed with how the EZmix version sounded relative to the mix done with waves(?) plugins.

And that’s a good point Chris (or is it Mr. Whitten? ) – I’m sure EZmix is capable of some real magic when used in the way you describe.

Cheers,
Jeremy.

iMac 3.06 GHz 4 GB OSX 10.6.5, Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Logic Pro 9.1.3, Lacie D2 Quadra

[reginaldtarkington]

I’d like some clarification on the Parallel Drums preset. Is that preset meant to be applied to the main drum buss – or to a copy of the main drum buss and then blended in with the main buss? I guess what I’m asking is….is it necesary to create a copy (or a send) from the main drum buss – or does the parallel drums preset simulate the sound of setting it up that way – without actually having to do it?

[Mattias]

The Parallel presets is doing the parallel compression within the ezmix plugin

Mattias Eklund - Toontrack
Head Of Sound Design

[Author]

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