[Ableton] Looking for the VST’s

[ChiRhoPunk]

I’m sorry to bother you all with more of my simple problems, but this and homerecording.com are about the only places fr me to turn since all of my friends use either Logic or Cubase.

Preliminary information: I’m on a PC, I’m using Windows 8 (BLECH), I have Ableton Live 9 which I bought last week, the latest version of EZDrummer with the Drumkit From Hell add-on, I have never produced music before, only played it while others recorded me, and I am completely ignorant regarding…wel, everything in this arena.

So here’s the dillemma. I finally figured out how to read the lessons in the Help view menu, and I finished the bit on recording audio and making beats. The process is simple enough once somebody explains it to you, and I have to give kudos to Ableton on that. They definitely do a great job of using plain language to explain what turns out to be somewhat complex concepts.

I opened up EZ Drummer, found a groove I liked, went into the view that isn’t Arrangment, the one with the “scenes” where you drag and drop a MIDI file into a slot. I dropped the MIDI into the apropriate slot and tried to play it. I now realize this was only half of what I was supposed to do, my friend who regularly uses Logic informed that I also had to drop a VST into one of the slots.

So, I went searching for the Drumkit from Hell VST’s, and cannot find any that are clearly marked as being from EZDrummer. There is a folder marked as EX DRummer VST Files, but when I try to open it my computer warns me that the apocalypse may occur if I do.

The problem here is that I’m tech-ignorant. I’m trying to rectify that problem. I can’t find the VST’s to get the right drum sound, and instead I’m stuck with hardcore punk and thrash beat being played over a funky-fresh 80’s hip-hop synthesized drumkit. While in some projects that might be kind of neat, with what I’m up to it just sounds silly. If anyone has any solid ideas on what to do about my predicament, it would appreciated. Thanks for your patience and for taking the time to read this. I’m trying to keep irritating newbie questions to a minimum.

Topic

[John]

Hi,

my first question is: are you using EZdrummer in Standalone at the same time as Ableton Live?
If so, this is not how it is meant to be used, you should use it as a VST plugin but on a MIDI Track, not on an Audio Track.

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[ChiRhoPunk]

When I check out my plugins folder, nothing about Toontrack, EZDrummer, Drumkit from Hell, or anything related to the product is visible. I am not running Solo and Ableton simultaneously

[ChiRhoPunk]

:/

No, that’s not how I’m using it.

EZDrummer does not show up in my VST plugins.

Basically, I’m feeling pretty jipped at this point. Hours of combing the internet and tryign to figure out exactly how I’m supposed to do this have been fruitless.

I cannot get the instrument sounds from EZDrummer.

[John]

Hi,

did you install the 1.3.2 update? Both 32-bit and 64-bit?
I am slightly confused if you are able or not to load the EZdrummer plugin (your first post indicates you can) or if it is the dfh EZX expansion that you can not load?
If the EZdrummer plugin does not show up among your VST’s, you need to check that Ableton includes the path to where the plugin is installed.
If you are using Live in 64-bit, this location is not the same as the path to the 32-bit version of the plugin.
E.g. the 32-bit version would normally be installed to ‘C:Program Files (x86)VSTPluginsToontrack’ (or similar, depends on your system wide VST settings), while the 64-bit version of the plugin would Default to ‘C:Program FilesVSTPluginsToontrack’.

If it is the dfh EZX you wish to load, check the library selection drop-down at the top of the EZdrummer plugin interface if there’s anything else but the ‘POP/ROCK’ library populating the list.

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[ChiRhoPunk]

Okay, I’m completely unclear what to do.

I can drag and drop MIDI and play it on one of Ableton’s awful techno VST’s.

What I cannot do is access any kind of VST for EZDrummer. It doesn’t show up in the VST plugins folder.

I have both the patch and EZDrummer in 64 Bit.

I went to Ableton page and followed their advice to run Ableton as Admin.

DFH loads in the toontrack solo. However, Ableton cannot seem to locate anything to do with EZDrummer.

[ChiRhoPunk]

Honestly, that’s as clear as I can get.

I can use EZDrummer in the Toontrack solo thing.

I can only drag and drop Midi from EZDrummer to Ableton. It doesn’t show up in the VST plugins folder for Ableton, so I’m stuck using shitty techno drums. I’m not sure where the problem lies.

Does EZDrummer work with Ableton Live 9? The two function independently just fine.

Is this an Ableton problem? Do I need to speak to them? IS there a way to make sure the path you mentioned is covered by Ableton or whatever?

[Olof Westman]

I only have Ableton 6 installed so it may be different with version 9.
But, at the bottom of the Options menu I find Preferences, select
it and am presented with a pop-up window that allows changes of
various categories like: Look/Feel, Audio and MIDI/Sync. The
next category is File/Folder. That’s where you can check on and
set the path to where Ableton looks for VST plug-ins.

Olof Westman - Toontrack
Coder

[ChiRhoPunk]

Okay, thanks much

[ChiRhoPunk]

So, I uninstalled the prgram, deleted it, then redownloaded it.

I was going to start again from scratch with the information given me here.

The download finishes, and I open the installer. And I keep getting notifications telling me that none of the program files are present.

What are you guys playing at here?

[Scott]

Please tell us exactly what downloaded files you installed and in which order you installed them.

For example, you should download the TT106_EZdrummer_WIN.zip file. Unzip it and run the installer to the default location. Then, I would download the EZdrummer_Update_WIN_132.zip update. Unzip it and run the 32-bit installer. Then run the 64-bit installer if applicable. Then, I would open my DAW and make sure the path is set to those default plugin install location.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Author]

Replies