EZ Guitar – Maybe it’s time…

[Tony Shaffer]

Been a while since anyone posted a request for EZGuitar,...

Been a while since anyone posted a request for EZGuitar, maybe it’s time.

I’ve been using Superior Drummer 3, EZDrummer 3, EZ Bass, and EZKeys 2, and I love ’em all, not just for the sound quality and excellent programming tools, but for the integration in the ways they work together. With the features of these programs, Toontrack has created an incredible workflow that is consistent across all of their instruments and is versatile almost beyond imagination. And it is rock solid and intuitive after using it a while. In my experience, no other company comes close.

But there’s a huge and significant gap in “the band” because there is no EZGuitar to complement the other instruments. All of the available guitar VSTi’s have limitations requiring somewhat tedious workarounds, and Toontrack has already demonstrated its ability to get past those limitations.

OK, I play guitar, so – in theory – I can just mic/plug in a guitar and lay down a track reasonably quickly, and I often do that. I also record “live” keyboardists, bassists, and drummers. But for songwriting, arranging, and laying down guide tracks to record to, I work with MIDI instruments. The advantage is, I can change keys/tempo, swap out chords, change instruments, and more, to shape the song. And if I get that midi refined enough for the guide track, I often keep it in the final recording without re-recording my own playing.

Thing is, I KNOW Toontrack can do this…actually, they already have. My favorite “guitar” VST right now is EZKeys 2. With its new interface and expanded capabilities, I can play a part, send EZK2 MIDI out to one (or two) of my guitar VSTs, mute the piano, tweak a MIDI guitar part (including melody and strumming), automate the parameters of the guitar VSTs, and my Toontrack “band” has a guitar player, with the many tweaks and refinements that Toontrack offers.

But I keep thinking how wonderful it would be if I had a dedicated EZGuitar VSTi to do all of this “under one roof,” with all that Toontrack finesse. EZK2 is brilliant; I have every reason to believe EZGuitar is within reach and would be equally brilliant.

Maybe if enough of us request it, this would happen (maybe even soon). Toontrack was certainly responsive to those of us asking for an upright EZBass.

So, how ’bout it? Are you ready to “meet your new guitar player”?

Been a while since anyone posted a request for EZGuitar, maybe it’s time.

I’ve been using Superior Drummer 3, EZDrummer 3, EZ Bass, and EZKeys 2, and I love ’em all, not just for the sound quality and excellent programming tools, but for the integration in the ways they work together. With the features of these programs, Toontrack has created an incredible workflow that is consistent across all of their instruments and is versatile almost beyond imagination. And it is rock solid and intuitive after using it a while. In my experience, no other company comes close.

But there’s a huge and significant gap in “the band” because there is no EZGuitar to complement the other instruments. All of the available guitar VSTi’s have limitations requiring somewhat tedious workarounds, and Toontrack has already demonstrated its ability to get past those limitations.

OK, I play guitar, so – in theory – I can just mic/plug in a guitar and lay down a track reasonably quickly, and I often do that. I also record “live” keyboardists, bassists, and drummers. But for songwriting, arranging, and laying down guide tracks to record to, I work with MIDI instruments. The advantage is, I can change keys/tempo, swap out chords, change instruments, and more, to shape the song. And if I get that midi refined enough for the guide track, I often keep it in the final recording without re-recording my own playing.

Thing is, I KNOW Toontrack can do this…actually, they already have. My favorite “guitar” VST right now is EZKeys 2. With its new interface and expanded capabilities, I can play a part, send EZK2 MIDI out to one (or two) of my guitar VSTs, mute the piano, tweak a MIDI guitar part (including melody and strumming), automate the parameters of the guitar VSTs, and my Toontrack “band” has a guitar player, with the many tweaks and refinements that Toontrack offers.

But I keep thinking how wonderful it would be if I had a dedicated EZGuitar VSTi to do all of this “under one roof,” with all that Toontrack finesse. EZK2 is brilliant; I have every reason to believe EZGuitar is within reach and would be equally brilliant.

Maybe if enough of us request it, this would happen (maybe even soon). Toontrack was certainly responsive to those of us asking for an upright EZBass.

So, how ’bout it? Are you ready to “meet your new guitar player”?

9

Thanked by: Eric Turman, SnareManiac, Florian Lacaille and 6 others.

Topic

[drobinson0280]

We want it!

3

Thanked by: Tony Shaffer, Eric Turman and SnareManiac

[SnareManiac]

I have been ceaselessly incentivizing Toontrack for the upright EZBass.
It turned out brilliant, as ever.

Same there about guitar, and by guitar, I mean all kinds of. The good old 6-string, baritone, up to 8 strings, and the good old 4-string bass guitar, up to 9 strings (yes!)

You’re right, it’s very often super convenient to have all instruments at your fingertips without having them physically, especially in matters of workflow. I’m traveling loads and bringing my kids (my instruments) with me is a logistical nightmare. MIDI is far from perfect, especially when you don’t play in equal temperament, but whatever… as long as the long awaited EZGuitar release is a bit more than a forum rumor, count me in.

I‘ve been wondering if I should give this topic a nudge, and I’m glad you did. Now, do we wait or team up?

If it’s a matter of strength by numbers, then why don’t we don’t bring up our friends, family, bandmates, colleagues ? Even folks not playing music for a living have their say. Without an audience, would there be a point in pouring all of our energy and feelings into something worthwhile ?

 

2

Thanked by: Tony Shaffer and Brian

[William Brockman]

Hello awesome EZ Team! So, a 12 string bass but still no EZ Guitar? Please help finish the band line up and let the guitar player join the band:)

Thank you!

2

Thanked by: Tony Shaffer and Eric Turman

[Stuartcata]

Yes, I use pretty much everything from Toontrack in my own studio. I use both my acoustic and electric guitars, but I must admit that the whole package would sound interesting together with EZ Guitar. Yes, I think it’s time for Toontrack to think about the next step!

1

Thanked by: Tony Shaffer

[Tony Shaffer]

It’s been almost exactly two years since I posted this originally. I like to think that those of us who lobbied for an upright bass helped move that idea into reality, and that our constant requests for an upgrade of EZKeys paid off too.

…maybe more people asking for EZGuitar would give this idea a little momentum.

I’m sure it’s a daunting task, trying to figure out where to start on a guitar VSTi in a world that has an overwhelming number of actual guitars along with near-infinite variations. So…

Maybe it’s time we let Toontrack know what kind of features we would like to see in EZGuitar. I’ll start:

1. Of course, the main functionality of EZGuitar would be in the Grooves and the Grid Editor. In my opinion, that’s where Toontrack really stands out over all the others. It seems much of that work is already done in a way that would work for a guitar VSTi. Toontrack can handle notes, chords, rhythmic variations, various patterns of playing, and ways to edit and refine the parts. And all of it integrates seamlessy.
2. As for which guitar to start with, I’m betting an electric will create more excitment and interest than an acoustic, and for that first instrument, I’d say any iconic archtype solid-body guitar of the last 75 years would be a contender and work in about any style. (Basically, the same thinking Toontrack has used with all of their instruments.)
3. Considering style/genre, my guess would be, having a little of a lot of genres would be smarter than going way deep into any specific style. I’d opt for “meat ‘n’ potatoes” licks and strums, including the ability to edit and a healthy effects rack to vary the sounds.
4. The “other” guitar (acoustic) would, I think, make a better “second offering” after getting the ball rolling. I don’t think brand matters here as much as body style, starting with dreadnought.

After all, we don’t need “everything” right now; we just need to get started so we can form an idea of where we want to go. And I definitely think it’s time.

So, my wishes for EZGuitar would be:

A three-pickup, solid-body sunburst guitar with a handful of amps (including IR loader), and some generic effects (reverb, tremolo, delay/echo, distortion, compression), along with some MIDI biased toward bluesy, which can lean toward Rock, Americana, Country, and of course, Blues.

Thoughts?

[Al_12]

Yes EZ Guitar We Need It!!!

1

Thanked by: Brian

[Author]

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