rgarber(update 3/22) PLEASE NOTE: This thread took part over a couple of days and in subsequent posts, if you read down to my last posts you’ll see I learned something about EZ Keys that I get it now. If you’re undecided about EZ Keys like I was, you might want to read my 3/22 post where it discusses the Split tool which is not discussed in any detail in the manual, that I could find. I get it now. 🙂
My copy of EZ Keys is running fine. No problem there. My dilemma is I don’t get the point of the package. It’s coming across to me more like a Loop splicing tool where I’m limited to mixing and matching pre-played piano splices with some ability to change chords where needed. And I can import midi’s and all, that’s pretty easy. But where does the song development part come in at? Since I bought EZ Keys I reckon I’m stuck with it but even at that, I just don’t see where for someone familiar with writing software, where this program even has a purpose.
I’ve read the manual and it’s pretty short. Nothing against that but am I missing something? I gather I just can’t type in chords at will, right? And worse, I can’t apply the midi patterns to my own set of chords if the chord changes don’t match where I would want my changes to take place unless I find a pattern that matches my own, right? I did import a midi with no problems but I couldn’t figure out how to merge their playing prowess with the chords I desired.
If this stuff can be done, then great, but I can’t see how to do it without butchering the pre-made stuff first and I just wonder how long does it take to do that especially with a complex chord change. I also didn’t see where I could set markers so I could know where I’m at in the song either.
Trust me, after shelling out the bucks for EZ Keys, I’m not in the mood for venting. What I can’t see is how to use the program in a serious situation. Possibly working with very small clips and building a new song in a DAW, maybe?? I’m worried that to get any use out of EZ Keys that it will mean lots of workarounds and shoot, I got this other program, Band In The Box – and to get what I want to do with it, I got to do workarounds with it. I had hoped the way I understood the video promoting EZ Keys that this software would be an awesome if not only a song development platform but also a song accompaniment package as well.
I’m just totally lost with this package in that I think it’s just a Loop-like tool where you work with pre-set recordings and mix and match. No offense to the Loopers, just trying to understand what I bought (verses what I thought I was getting).
Rich
(update 3/22) PLEASE NOTE: This thread took part over a couple of days and in subsequent posts, if you read down to my last posts you’ll see I learned something about EZ Keys that I get it now. If you’re undecided about EZ Keys like I was, you might want to read my 3/22 post where it discusses the Split tool which is not discussed in any detail in the manual, that I could find. I get it now. 🙂
My copy of EZ Keys is running fine. No problem there. My dilemma is I don’t get the point of the package. It’s coming across to me more like a Loop splicing tool where I’m limited to mixing and matching pre-played piano splices with some ability to change chords where needed. And I can import midi’s and all, that’s pretty easy. But where does the song development part come in at? Since I bought EZ Keys I reckon I’m stuck with it but even at that, I just don’t see where for someone familiar with writing software, where this program even has a purpose.
I’ve read the manual and it’s pretty short. Nothing against that but am I missing something? I gather I just can’t type in chords at will, right? And worse, I can’t apply the midi patterns to my own set of chords if the chord changes don’t match where I would want my changes to take place unless I find a pattern that matches my own, right? I did import a midi with no problems but I couldn’t figure out how to merge their playing prowess with the chords I desired.
If this stuff can be done, then great, but I can’t see how to do it without butchering the pre-made stuff first and I just wonder how long does it take to do that especially with a complex chord change. I also didn’t see where I could set markers so I could know where I’m at in the song either.
Trust me, after shelling out the bucks for EZ Keys, I’m not in the mood for venting. What I can’t see is how to use the program in a serious situation. Possibly working with very small clips and building a new song in a DAW, maybe?? I’m worried that to get any use out of EZ Keys that it will mean lots of workarounds and shoot, I got this other program, Band In The Box – and to get what I want to do with it, I got to do workarounds with it. I had hoped the way I understood the video promoting EZ Keys that this software would be an awesome if not only a song development platform but also a song accompaniment package as well.
I’m just totally lost with this package in that I think it’s just a Loop-like tool where you work with pre-set recordings and mix and match. No offense to the Loopers, just trying to understand what I bought (verses what I thought I was getting).
Rich
TomWhat fooled me with the EZK browser was that it looks like a Windows browser, but doesn’t work like one. You can’t drag files between folders in the EZK browser for instance.
You can, however, extend the folders in the EZK browser by creating the folders you need in the Windows browser and then tell EZK to add those. Not a big deal. You do the organizing in Windows and then have those folders available with your own stuff when composing.
JohnI could import a BITB generated piano progression, for example, and add it to the library
Yes
You can, however, extend the folders in the EZK browser by creating the folders you need in the Windows browser and then tell EZK to add those. Not a big deal. You do the organizing in Windows and then have those folders available with your own stuff when composing.
Correct. You can only drag Patterns to the Favorites inside the EZKeys Browser.
John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor
rgarberI haven’t been back to EZ Keys since, but this allows me to add my own descriptions too, right?
ScottBy ‘descriptions’ do you mean change the name of a file you add to a Favorites folder? If so, yes. Right click on a file in a Favorites folder.
Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor
JohnYou can organize favorite patterns in different folders and name the folders e.g. ‘OK for Pop’, ‘Great Country grooves’, ‘Best Intros’, etc. The patterns themselves can also be renamed from e.g. ‘Variation 02’ to ‘Country verse favorite-slow’.
John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor
Mark CohenI was asked to do a review for Time & Space as one of the first purchasers http://blog.timespace.com/2012/03/toontrack-ezkeys-is-now-available-so-what-is-the-verdict/?utm_source=Friday+30th+March+2012&utm_campaign=Newsletter+30th+March&utm_medium=email. Interestingly at the bottom of the page they quote “With more piano sound-banks and midi-files coming soon, EZkeys set’s to establish itself firmly in the Toontrack product portfolio.” Supposition on their part..? Well, they are a pretty reliable company. If there were more midi files in certain styles (pop, rock, country) I would happily pay for those. I’m not too bothered about more piano sounds as I bought Pianoteq a while back. You can see though that perhaps future updates might include Electric piano, wurlitzer maybe even organ. Could be very interesing.
JuicyDon’t you think its fair to be compared to existing types of software good or bad , being a 2012 product you would hope it would be heaps better. Time will tell .
TomORIGINAL: Whitten
Hmm, shame Tombur gave it a two star review at T&S because it isn’t ‘BIAB’.
True, but I also wrote I would increase to 4-5 stars, once it could remember my chosen chord sequence.
Actually 4 stars for that, 5 stars when there is a direct midi out too so that it can drive my Kontakt instruments directly.
For me it is the composing part of EZKeys that count including more libraries to come. I don’t care about the instrument at all.
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Thanked by: Kenthany KellyrgarberWell, I never had found the site anyway, but stars or no stars, the program needs a few things to be super awesome. I think Tombuur issue is addressed already, sort of, in that we learned from this thread that we can save our chord progressions into our own library. And the library can be subdivided into categories. So maybe not to the master library but to a library remembered by EZ Keys.
What would make EZ Keys a five star’er for me is to be able to type chords in from scratch (which we can if we do if we do it externally from Ez Keys and then drag/drop the progression into EZ keys), AND then… to be able to take a preset and apply it to our own created progression matching the accompaniment to the chords within our chord progression.
Oh, and more libraries (starting with jazzy stuff first. )
TomWell, my “issue” has been solved when I could not save my own progression. But what I have been asking for again and again here is exactly the same as you above: ability to type in your own chords and then have the progressions automatically adjust to your chords.
Toontrack has answered such a feature is high on their list. So now I am just waiting. Until implemented I have very little use for EZK (hence my two stars).
rods2sI love EZ Keys it does what it says it does, it is great for drafting chord structures i can’t wait for more midi etc THANK YOU Toontrack
WhittenORIGINAL: juicy
Don’t you think its fair to be compared to existing types of software good or bad , being a 2012 product you would hope it would be heaps better. Time will tell .
Not at all fair, unless the product is advertised as a competing product.
For example, is BIAB a virtual piano instrument?
It’s like comparing Superior to Maschine. You could give Superior 2 stars for not coming with a hardware sequencer box, and not including a couple of gigs of hip-hop and techno samples.
This is the core of my issue with Tombur.
EZkeys didn’t turn out to be BIAB, so he gave it a bad rating instead of just reviewing it for what IT IS
Juicy I guess i stuck my neck out there ,its so easy to generalise to make your point ,fair enough
Still think people should be able to freely compare without you or me telling them what is acceptable or not.
Most requests that have been made have been publicly noted and accepted by TT thus must be considered as valid one would hope.
Newer software should do more or more for less,thats what people expect or really why buy new software in the first place.
Not comparing EZdrummer to EZKeys as one is only a percussive instrument but the name EZ does evoke variable expectations to a wide range of users .
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Thanked by: Kenthany KellyNo products in the cart.