Not Happy with EZkeys

[Bernard Dembowski]

Quite some time ago I purchased EZkeys and then when I received a promotional offer, I bought some additional midi packs. However I have to say that I have only occasionally used Ezkeys for experimenting with chord progressions and have never used the product in a final musical composition. None of the midi styles suit the type of music I write and often the Midi pack phrases won’t correctly play the chords and inversions that I want to use.
I tried an experiment the other day, I typed out the chords for the well known Bert Bacharach song “Always Something There To Remind Me” Although it’s a simple Bossa Nova, I couldn’t find one midi style from any of my tracks that would fit properly.
The Sampled piano is very realistic and I like the chord picker which I use for working out progressions and inversions but as I said, once I select a midi style, the inversions are lost.
I wouldn’t buy anymore midi packs or recommend EZkeys.
PS> I’ve just bought “Scaler” which is a great tool for working out chords, modes and scales. It was a fraction of the price of EZkeys.

Topic

[joe]

You can, of course, fill water into condoms to make water bombs, but condoms were not invented for that.

I am of the opinion that EZkeys is not the tool that MAKES YOU write new songs, but rather a great tool that HELPS YOU writing new songs.

In my experience, EZkeys MIDI fits perfectly with a range of playing styles, patterns and grooves.
Since EZkeys is just a tool, the MIDI can only be suitable for your new song if the characteristics of your new song match those of the MIDI.
When it comes to writing songs, the possibilities are unlimited, unlike a MIDI collection.
Concerning that one has to make decisions and one also has to set limits. A healthy middle course must be found.
And I think that is exactly what Toontrack is aiming for with the EZkeys MIDI packages.

I see more of a problem in the expectations, probably caused by the current zeitgeist.
Today we are used to starting hundreds of processes by pressing only one single knob. Twenty years ago it was more like “no pain, no gain”.

I currently have 23 MIDI packages in my EZkeys browser.
Finding the right MIDI for a new song is sometimes pretty time-consuming, and sometimes seemingly impossible, and sometimes only satisfying when I combine parts of different lines. But there are also new creations that are perfectly supported by EZkeys MIDI. Quite often, a style crossover fits very well 😉
The higher the number of options, the lower the chance of quickly finding the right MIDI.

So, the only thing that I really miss in Toontrack EZkeys is an appropriate way of searching for MIDI lines that fit to a very specific rhythmic.
Something that matches with accents and emphasis. Whatever it might look like?

To name another example, there are more than 30 preset packs in my EZmix browser, but I almost never use just one of those presets for a track in the final mix.
It is great to quickly approach an idea without being forced to include several plugins and change several settings – BUT WITH the freedom of starting apart from usualness.
When a new song bases on guitar, I always load the Cubase Preset and then the first thing is opening EZmix on the guitar track and changing the sound until it fits to the current mood.
Okay, that’s a bit off-topic now. But only a little.

EZkeys MIDI provides you with common material for different genres.
EZkeys itself on the one hand supports you concerning the integration and on the other hand helps you when it comes to quickly trying alternative chords or finding the missing parts within your structure.
Combined, tool and MIDI, along with your ideas, can play a role that is a bit like what a second musician would do. Lead you on a path that you would not have found alone.
And that, without you taking the opportunity to create something completely new.

If you found a tool that suits better to your personal needs then it is great.
But I think that EZkeys definitely is a recommendation for songwriters.
Especially if piano is not one’s main instrument 😉
And let us not forget, EZkeys MIDI can also help improving your playing skills.

License transfer fees countervalue is $ 2,250.00
(done...)

So my anger about the Toontrack license transfer fee introduced in June 2021 is not entirely unfounded...

https://www.toontrack.com/faq/transfer-of-license-and-multiple-installs-important-information/

[RonnieDean]

Toontrack, I saw the demo for EZBass and it has a section where you can drag music files into the GUI and it finds the chords, progression, etc.  Would you be able to add that functionality into EZKeys?  This would be incredibly helpful.  I too find it very challenging to use this tool as I am not a keyboard player.  The addition of the music file option (like EZBass) would turn this product around for me.  Please?

[Author]

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