JimmyS1969
MOODerator
I am downloading the EZD2 demo now myself.
I
ItsTheSebbe
New member
Hehe, I won't. Else all this would not have been an issueOh good, you got one of the 4 core i5's.
Make sure not to connect to one of the pirate sites. You will flog yourself and I will have to not like you anymore.
Download demo from *still no URL's allowed*.
. By the way, isn't SSD4 cheaper than EZDrummer 2? The platinum version is 150$, which is about €110,-. Which makes it 30$ cheaper than what they're selling EZDrummer 2 for. Not sure if I'm overseeing something or not. Anyways, will try out the demo version. Thanks!
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Yep. EZD1 was usually around $79. You have to pay another $79 or so for each expansion kit. IMO, EZD1 sucked bad. I have heard good things about EZD2 and that is why I am checking it out. Still, you will need to upgrade to other kits ($$). SSD4 Plat has 100 kits included. EX version 25. EZD2 only 5 to choose from @179.
I am not even concerned with price myself. I know the SS samples work best for me. They are ready for mixing. Meaning the raw samples are actually raw. The EZD 1 samples were already processed and you couldn't do much with them. If the sound didn't fit your song, you buy another kit expansion and hope that worked....After 5 expansion packs I moved on to Addictive Drums. That was better but not near as good as SSD4.
Keep in mind, the user interface is important as well. Ease of use is what EZD was good at. Addictive no as easy but more control.
Gonna check out EZD2 now.
I am not even concerned with price myself. I know the SS samples work best for me. They are ready for mixing. Meaning the raw samples are actually raw. The EZD 1 samples were already processed and you couldn't do much with them. If the sound didn't fit your song, you buy another kit expansion and hope that worked....After 5 expansion packs I moved on to Addictive Drums. That was better but not near as good as SSD4.
Keep in mind, the user interface is important as well. Ease of use is what EZD was good at. Addictive no as easy but more control.
Gonna check out EZD2 now.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Already not a fan myself. Samples don't sound right.
Same MIDI track through EZD2 with Prog Rock kit:
Same MIDI track through EZD2 with Prog Rock kit:
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
On further play, it is a great writing tool. Just wish there was a way to manipulate the samples. I would not be able to mix this the way I would like. Can't find a way to tune just the snare. All 'Heads' are tuned at once. Cymbals sound just like I remember in EZD1. Harsh, not smooth. I did notice there are a bunch of HH samples tho. 'Hats' off to them doing that.
Again, I would call this an awesome writing tool. Not what I would use to use as the final drums for a recording. I may still buy it just for the easy factor.
I suppose I should post in the EZD2 thread huh? lol
I'm off!
Again, I would call this an awesome writing tool. Not what I would use to use as the final drums for a recording. I may still buy it just for the easy factor.
I suppose I should post in the EZD2 thread huh? lol
I'm off!
G
Greg_L
Banned
I use basic EZ Dumber myself all the time for writing and demoing song ideas. Then I record that shit for real with real drums.
I
ItsTheSebbe
New member
I am on my mobile phone now, Jimmy, I'll check out the midi track tomorrow when I'm on my PC.
I haven't had time to install and play with EZD2 just yet, also will do that tomorrow. However, I have found that there is SSD4 Essentials for only 20$ which I believe includes something like 10 drumkit presets that could set me up for at least a littl while, and it gives me time to really get to know the program before spending 100/150$ on it.
I'm not sure if there will be a some kind of discount when you upgrade to EX or platinum. I would guess not, though I believe I saw it when upgrading from EX to platinum.
- Aright nevermind, scrap all that. Apparently it was only available for a limited time
I haven't had time to install and play with EZD2 just yet, also will do that tomorrow. However, I have found that there is SSD4 Essentials for only 20$ which I believe includes something like 10 drumkit presets that could set me up for at least a littl while, and it gives me time to really get to know the program before spending 100/150$ on it.
I'm not sure if there will be a some kind of discount when you upgrade to EX or platinum. I would guess not, though I believe I saw it when upgrading from EX to platinum.
- Aright nevermind, scrap all that. Apparently it was only available for a limited time
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Ok, there is a way to tune each individual instrument in the Drums setup. My bad.
Still I am not a fan of the sounds. A bit better than EZD1 but not as convincing as I am used to with SSD. I'm gonna play with EZD2 till the demo runs out and likely buy it anyway, just because of the ease of writing parts.
@Greg. You can easily create your part by just adding each hit for whatever whenever. It has it's own sampler ability to create what I suppose would be called 'grooves'.
I would recommend checking it out as you will be using it much the same as I would. For demo previous to playing it for real. It is really cool in this respect.
Still I am not a fan of the sounds. A bit better than EZD1 but not as convincing as I am used to with SSD. I'm gonna play with EZD2 till the demo runs out and likely buy it anyway, just because of the ease of writing parts.
@Greg. You can easily create your part by just adding each hit for whatever whenever. It has it's own sampler ability to create what I suppose would be called 'grooves'.
I would recommend checking it out as you will be using it much the same as I would. For demo previous to playing it for real. It is really cool in this respect.
G
Greg_L
Banned
That's what I do. I use one of the basic boom whack patterns and just draw it how I want it. Then play it for real.
I
ItsTheSebbe
New member
I tried out the demo of EZD2 and I really like the sounds aswell as the interface. Though, I have the feeling it was made more for creating loops than for actually programming the drums one by one. Like I've not yet found a way to see the drum patterns on a piano roll or a grid or something like that. I could have overlooked something, though.
Anyways, I added Jimmy's drum to the mix, aswell as a vocal part (again, played on guitar) at the end that I forgot. I also made some volume changes.
Any new feedback would be really appreciated!
Anyways, I added Jimmy's drum to the mix, aswell as a vocal part (again, played on guitar) at the end that I forgot. I also made some volume changes.
Any new feedback would be really appreciated!
M
mspin
New member
Hello,
Nice job. Let me suggest something that I have experienced doing myself that makes a very big difference.Look at your monitors as a stereo field and try and place tracks with this in mind. I am sure this is not unique but is often overlooked by artists. Copying guitar tracks or duplicating them and placing them strategically in the stereo filed gives a much fuller sound than just one single audio track. Also using some time based effects on some but not all of the duplicated tracks is another way of adding depth and clarity to guitar parts. Placing them in the stereo field(panning) can make or break a part. Hope this helps
Nice job. Let me suggest something that I have experienced doing myself that makes a very big difference.Look at your monitors as a stereo field and try and place tracks with this in mind. I am sure this is not unique but is often overlooked by artists. Copying guitar tracks or duplicating them and placing them strategically in the stereo filed gives a much fuller sound than just one single audio track. Also using some time based effects on some but not all of the duplicated tracks is another way of adding depth and clarity to guitar parts. Placing them in the stereo field(panning) can make or break a part. Hope this helps
I
ItsTheSebbe
New member
Yeah, I did something like that aswell in this one. I replayed the rhythm guitars twice and panned them 50% to the left and the right. I didn't do it on the lead guitars, because I thought it could get a bit too much, if you know what I mean.
Also, I'm not entirely sure about what you mean by time based effects, could you maybe give an example? Thanks!
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Yeah, I thought it was quit obvious you doubled (played rhythm tracks twice) some of the guitars. I think mspin may have been trying to convince you do 'duplicate' (copy/paste) tracks to get some separation. Though this can work in some situations, it is frowned upon as it does create some phase issues. Sometimes it is very distracting and sound quite unnatural.
As far as 'time based' effects are concerned, that could be a delay or anything that a plug uses to change time. I have a plug in that is a favorite of mine called 'Micro Shift' by Soundtoys. It uses delay and pitch shift to create a chorus type of effect that does not have the lame phase effects that just delaying a track has. This can also be done with simple stock plugs, but the GUI and layout of the plug makes it much easier to find the right amount of the effect.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Here is an example of the Micro Shift:
R
Razor-
New member
Just a note, if you copy and paste a guitar part (double it) it is a good idea to adjust the eq of one slightly, and then the other complimentary (opposite) to the first, but keep it subtle.
Then put a distortion or amp emulator on one of the tracks and adjust it to give a slightly different tone. Then pan them out wide.
It should give you reasonable separation and fullness inside of your mix.
Hope this helps a bit.
Then put a distortion or amp emulator on one of the tracks and adjust it to give a slightly different tone. Then pan them out wide.
It should give you reasonable separation and fullness inside of your mix.
Hope this helps a bit.