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[Whitten]

As I understand it, and I’m not ‘in’ on this, the updated EZX’s will be released as and when Toontrack complete upgrading them. They will all be free to owners of the EZD1 versions, but if you own multiple version 1 EZX’s, they won’t all be available in EZD2 format on May 6th. I’m not sure if you can still use version 1 in EZD2, I presume so. You just won’t have the enhancements until you upgrade (free) your EZX’s.

[Whitten]

ORIGINAL: izzi63 To Mr. Whitten… In my eyes, you’re a famous drummer, who I deeply admire! But it seems like every time someone has something negative to say (whether it’s justified or not) about Toontrack, Universal Audio, etc… on the internet, there you are with a rebuttal! Why someone of your stature would put so much time and energy into this is a mystery! I mean no offense… I am one of the customers/fans who bought the products and records that you performed on!

Probably because I understand the sheer hard work that goes into these. I’m a professional and I value the gear I’ve purchased, and there is more gear and software I cannot justify purchasing based on price. So as users we are all effected by the price and have to make our purchasing decisions based on price. Every time an upgrade is announced someone is going to be the wrong side of the cutoff. Of course that has been me from time to time too. On prices… When I started out (1980) it cost a few thousand to buy a synthesizer. When I switched from drumming to film composing (1992) it cost many thousands to but Pro Tools and a powerful enough Mac to use it. Essentially, we’ve never had it so good. On the perceived value or not….. To cut a long story short, I empathise with the personnel at these companies, the hard work and dedication put into each product because I’ve worked on projects and know the hard work it’s involved and the multiple agonising dilemma’s we’ve had to resolve. Finally, I NEVER abuse the people who complain. I just put forward the alternative view. Not just to be alternative, but because I believe in what I’m saying. It’s getting to the stage where any price a company puts on their product will attract at least a few complaints. Fine, that’s customer feedback. But don’t kick and scream when the alternative view is put.

[Whitten]

ORIGINAL: Larry.Monast If you are correct that other virtual instrument and plug-in companies are also following this practice, Toontracks should innovate by changing this industry practice.

Fair enough, that’s your opinion. It is just incorrect to suggest Toontrack are unusual in this regard. The drum sample scene is super, super competitive. I’m sure they wouldn’t do anything to turn off their customers.

[Whitten]

Every other virtual instrument and plug-in company operate the same way. It isn’t that Toontrack are being unusually unfair, they are just following normal practice for this type of product. The upgrade from 1 to 2 isn’t a software tweak, it’s new software AND two new sound libraries. Also, Superior is another quite large step up.

[Whitten]

ORIGINAL: Larry.Monast This is terrible customer service. “Sorry” is an inadequate response. I was considering purchasing an upgrade to Superior Drummer but after your response, I’ll reconsider. Your response makes me never want to do business with Toontracks again and I suspect I am not alone.

There is always a date for these kinds of things. If it isn’t March 13 it could have been February 13 and someone who bought it on Feb 5th would be upset. The upgrade includes two libraries you don’t have with EZdrummer 1 – recorded at the best studio in London by one of the top record producers from America.

[Whitten]

Auria doesn’t support midi. I think they are working on it.
You can use Drumagog inside Auria, that’s it.
The full (non iPad) version of Drumagog will host EZdrummer, so it would be good to see that supported in the Auria version at some point.

[Whitten]

There is no name you can give different bass drum beats (for example) in pop rock. The way we do it in a real tracking session is be referencing. Like ‘Pretty Woman’ groove, or ‘Bo Diddley’ groove. You can’t really do that on a commercial product, if nothing else, for copyright reasons.
In the end you just have to listen to the drum groove ‘songs’ first to see if they are in the ballpark.
The normal scenario then is that groove 1 will be less full (or complex) than groove 2. So groove 5 will have more going on than groove 1 typically.
Then you get the ride cymbal grooves, which substitute ride cymbal fro hi-hat and again go from simpler to more complex. then you get fills, which again tend to be simple, then later more full and complex.
In the end, you sort of have to audition the different sections and use your ears….. and personal taste.
Once dropped into your DAW, you can edit Superior grooves extensively to suit your song perfectly.

[Whitten]

Just speaking for myself, I downloaded the core software from my account (Superior and EZdrummer), and copied my sound packs and midi from the old to the new computer via an external hard drive. Worked a treat.
I’m sure there are other, perhaps better ways to do it.

[Whitten]

The latest version of EZdrummer is available from your account on the Toon site.
This as far as i can tell is pretty standard procedure with music software. Download the latest version before trying to use.

[Whitten]

I’m on an iMac. Every Toon product has been one click install for me.
Download, one click, start using the product.

I’ve never used a PC, so I don’t know if there are extra hurdles involved.
But based on my several install experiences with Toon products, I think you are being extremely unfair.

[Whitten]

The cheapest DAW (that handles audio and midi) is probably Reaper.

[Whitten]

I think you can probably download them from your Toontrack account too.

[Whitten]

I haven’t done any demo songs, but I think it’s either included midi, or v-drums played.
Outboard processing would only be applicable to commercial songs used as demos. There are usually solo drum demo tracks which I assume would be the drums from the product without enhancement.

[Whitten]

Good point, it’s not crucial, but authentic. Real drummers stop playing hi-hat when they play a crash after a fill.

So move the first beat hi-hat to a crash, or if you already have a crash, delete a couple of hi-hat beats from beat one.

[Whitten]

Your EZdrummer drum tracks are midi in Reaper right?

The easiest way to do this is go to the bar in the midi where you want the crash. Click on the midi editor, then write in a note on the first beat of the bar. It can be anything, a tom a tambourine, whatever. OK, you have inserted a new note on the first beat of the bar. Now drag that note up and down the midi editor until you hear a crash sound. Once you do, leave it on that position.
Alternatively, play up and down a midi keyboard until you hear a crash sound you like, then hit record (in overdub) and add the crash to the bar where you need it. It doesn’t matter if it’s out of time. Again, you’d enter the midi editor and move the crash note to position 1 in the bar.

[Author]

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