Melodic Percussion: Wood

P2P | 25 June 2024 | 4.47 GB

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.

Melodic Percussion: Metal EKX

P2P | 25 June 2024 | 8.47 GB

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.

Session Organ v1.0.0 EKX

P2P | 24 June 2024 | 48MB

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.

Singer Songwriter v1.0.0 EKX

P2P | 24 June 2024 | 1.4 GB

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.

Elements EZX SOUNDBANK

P2P | 12 May 2024 | 128 MB

CREATIVE SPACE NEXT.

30 kits and three libraries, tailored for experimental sound design and creative beat making. In this EZX, three parallel sonic worlds collide and converge in a multi-dimensional display of organic, electronic and viscerally evocative sounds. Presenting a total of 30 unique kits distributed across three conceptually different libraries, this is an all-encompassing collection of multi-spatial sounds designed to live in a nameless divide where genres, styles or narratives are secondary. Frankly, this is an EZX for fearless exploration – loaded with sounds that have the power to awaken the senses.

Eighties Ballads EZbass MiDi

FANTASTiC | 11 March 2024 | 13 MB

Shimmering in blinding neon pastels, the ’80s was an era when technology forced its way to the forefront and got its first permanent foothold in mainstream music culture. It was a time when acoustic and electronic merged to form all-together new sounds, musical expressions and even genres. In all of this, the bass of course played a tremendous part – not least in the shape of the surging use of the synth filling its traditional role. For this MIDI pack, we turned to its sibling for EZkeys and used it as a foundation to create the perfect complement for EZbass. Expect a wealth of ballad-esque basslines that perfectly capture the spirit of the time but that you can doctor for use in any thinkable style or scenario.

Disco EZbass MiDi

FANTASTiC | 19 March 2024 | 13 MB

Although the bell bottom pants and jumpsuit days are long gone, disco is just as alive and well today as it was some 40 odd years ago – it just changed venues. Have a listen to Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake or Madonna – to name a few – and you’ll know. For this MIDI pack, we turned to its sibling for EZkeys and used it as a foundation to create the perfect complement for EZbass. Expect a groovy, funky, rhythmic and double-note-infused overload of octave-ridden basslines covering all the signifying traits of disco bass as we know it. If you’re looking to spice up your creative toolset with some feverishly infectious grooves, here you go!

Mastering III EZmix Pack

FANTASTiC | 06 March 2024 | 12 MB

The magic of mastering can’t be overstated. Done right, it’s that inexplicable alchemy that transforms a song from rough to broadcast-ready without infringing the slightest on the integrity or dynamics of its original mix. No easy feat and by all means an art and a craft in itself. That’s why this EZmix pack is a great starting point. Organized in three different categories, each with a distinct end goal or workflow in mind, this pack will make it easy to find what you are looking for, creating your own mastering chains or fixing a potential issue that you’ve singled out as a problem in your mix. If you’re looking to make sure your mixes sound as good as possible to anyone and anywhere, this is your new secret recipe. Launch your EZmix 2 and get started mastering faster and compressing less – but all with better success!

Gospel Fusion MiDi

FANTASTiC | 21 February 2024 | 13 MB

In this MIDI pack, drummer makes the fifth stop on his tour-de-force journey of fusion. This time, he’s ended up at the way station where fusion meets gospel and come up with a backbeat-driven collection of grooves and fills that seamlessly fuses all the distinctive traits of both genres. “As a drummer, both gospel and fusion have had a big impact on my own style of playing. With this collection, I wanted to pay tribute to gospel drumming on a whole while maintaining all the aesthetics of fusion. I also sought to deliver something that is useful beyond any genre labels or etiquettes,” he comments. If you’re looking to bolster your upcoming songs with elaborate drum acrobatics of the highest possible standard combined with hefty portions of groove and soul, this is the MIDI pack to go for.