EZkeys 2 is more than a piece of software, it’s a songwriting tool and a creative hub for new ideas. Ready to write, play and create? Meet your new piano player today.
EZkeys 2 is more than a piece of software, it’s a songwriting tool and a creative hub for new ideas. Ready to write, play and create? Meet your new piano player today.
Few instruments have made marks in music history so indelible that they in the process have become just as famed as some of the songs that were created on them. The Hammond* organ is undoubtedly one of those. Since it was first introduced, it has fostered generations of new players and has had a profound impact on the development of anything from gospel, jazz and blues to funk, prog, rock and the many iterations of modern music of today. We are proud to add this icon of organs as an expansion for the EZkeys 2 format. For the sounds, the Toontrack team scoured the market for the most pristine, maintained and transparent organ from which all of its 91 spinning tonewheels were carefully sampled. In the final product, these recordings have been seamlessly merged with advanced modeling of both the organ’s tone and all its classic traits, like key clicks, percussion, vibrato and chorus. Add to that a flawless recreation of a quintessential rotary speaker and you have the utmost in extreme audio realism.
This EKX expansion for EZkeys 2 was specifically designed with the singer-songwriter in mind. Featuring a piano carefully selected for its soft, earthy and delicate timbre, it’s the optimal choice for an instrument that doesn’t stand in the way, eat up space or does anything but add to what ultimately makes or breaks a song: the words and the melodies. The instrument, a meticulously maintained, tuned and captured Schimmel* upright piano from the 1970s, was recorded through a Neve 8068 console at the renowned RMV Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. With rustic ceiling beams, both wood and stone wall surfaces as well as a soft hardwood floor that acts like a cushioning membrane, the RMV room is ideal for capturing acoustic instruments. To showcase the entire tonal scope of this classic piano, it was recorded using three pairs of stereo microphones placed in different positions around the instrument and the room. Aside from the piano itself, a broad selection of mix-ready presets as well as a basic collection of MIDI are included. In a genre where often less is better, the more vital each component of a song is. If you are looking for acoustic perfection, a timeless timbre and the ultimate creative companion for your yet-unwritten acoustic pop, folk and singer-songwriter tracks, this EKX is it.
A contemporary fusion of country and pop playing styles for piano. Already back in the 1970s, artists started deviating from the traditional country mold by incorporating obvious elements of pop music, both in terms of songwriting, instrumentation and production. It proved hugely successful in reaching new audiences outside the core demographic. Still to this day, chart-topping stars like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and many others keep pushing the boundaries of what country is and can be. This collection of EZkeys MIDI comes with a broad selection of playing styles inspired by contemporary country pop where the piano plays a leading role. Expect timeless country elements fused with catchy pop phrasing, epic hooks and big melodies. This is the perfect collection of EZkeys MIDI for writers of modern rock or pop looking to infuse some commercial country flair in their next batch of songs. Start writing!
Synth sounds inspired by the past but reimagined for today! Inspired by the shimmering haze of the timeless tones that propelled the synth-fueled revolution of the ’80s but reimagined with today’s technology, this EKX for EZkeys 2 presents a sonic retrospective with an all-new perspective. If you’re looking for sounds evidently rooted in nostalgic charm but with modern depth and clarity, this is the go-to expansion for EZkeys 2. The main underlying instrument in this EKX was inspired by one of the most iconic synths of the ’80s. From that, numerous patches were modeled to create the best possible range. To further shape each sound, additional sampled hardware synths and effects were then layered, blended and refined to create fresh, one-of-a-kind textures of warm and analog-inspired tones ideal for any type of modern pop production. In total, a staggering 80 presets are included, all of which are conveniently organized in four distinct categories: Keys, Lead & Bass, Plucks & Bells as well as Pads.
As obvious in soundtracks and classical arrangements as in anything from pop and rock to hip-hip and all thinkable offshoots of electronic dance music, the marimba and the xylophone are the uncontested big two in the family of wooden melodic percussive instruments. The dark, rich, full, earthy and plucky sound of the marimba is as ideal for arpeggios and leads in an EDM track as it is for a dramatic segue in a film. Equally, the more accentuated, bright and dry tone of the xylophone is an amazing and piercingly effective melodic voice in any context it’s used. Recorded to cater to anything from full-scale classical compositions to any general songwriting needs, both instruments were captured at the famed 330 square meter main hall at Galaxy Studios using an array of different microphones. In addition to a generous selection of close mics positioned to pick up the immediate attack and body of each instrument, several mics were positioned around them for complete surround sound compatibility in up to 5.0 systems. In addition, the marimba was also recorded in the smaller Studio 1 room to offer an even more intimate take on the same instrument.
This EKX for EZkeys 2 includes two absolute staples when it comes to melodic percussion: a vibraphone and a glockenspiel. Heard in not only countless classical arrangements but also across all genres of popular music, these staples from the metallophone family of instruments have become two of the definite go-tos for audio creatives across the board. The vibraphone, with its vivid tremolo and sustained colorful, metallic timbre, boasts a strikingly distinct character. Likewise, the glockenspiel, with its curious tinkle and bright, bell-like tone, simply has an inimitable harmonic voice able to cut through in any musical context. Undoubtedly, if you’re looking for percussive and melodic instruments that have an extraordinary ability to carry melodies that sing, ring and soar, these two gems are essential. To capture the instruments, the Toontrack sound design team returned to the same complex that the Superior Drummer 3 core library and Orchestral Percussion SDX were recorded in; Galaxy Studios. Built with an unprecedented attention to detail and designed to withstand virtually any noise interference from the outside world, this is the epitome of a studio for sampling delicate instruments of this kind.
Total Posts: ❨ 🎵➡8 ❩ | Paged: ➡ 0
