Question about EZ Keys

[Steve Salamone]

Hello. I am new to this forum and EZ Keys. Before I give my over rating of this product I have a couple of questions.
I purchased the Bundle that comes with 2 Electric Pianos and a Grand and UpRight Piano.
In my EZ Keys Midi Library it contains:
Basic Chords, Pop/Rock, SoulRNB, Country, Gospel, Jazz, Latin, Blues, Boogie, Funk and Fx and Endings.
Then you can purchase those specific Midi Packs for $29 each.
Do the Midi Packs come with MORE Libraries then what’s included in what I mentioned above? If so, where can I find what exactly do these extra charge packs come with? Thank you.

Topic

[Scott]

Every EZkeys sound library comes with the same basic MIDI library. The MIDI packs contain unique MIDI that aren’t found in the basic library.

More info is found on each MIDI pack product page but I think they indicate overview info about each product.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Steve Salamone]

Thanks for the quick reply. So I noticed that the Pop/Rock midi that comes with the EZKeys bundle I purchased has a lot more variations then the SoulRNB, etc. So if I purchase the separate Pop/Rock Midi pack for $29 I will get more variations?
Right now the one that came with the bundle has Straight 4/4, Ballad 66bpm, Rock Ballad, Basic77bpm, Slow Push 94bpm, One of the Greats and Memphis 131bpm, Swing 4/4, Slow 80bp and Laid Back 82 Bpm. So if I purchase the Midi Pack Pop/Rock for $29 I will get a lot more midi variations then the ones I listed? Thank you.

[Scott]

‘So if I purchase the separate Pop/Rock Midi pack for $29 I will get more variations?’

Yes.

‘So if I purchase the Midi Pack Pop/Rock for $29 I will get a lot more midi variations then the ones I listed?’

Yes. The MIDI packs contain unique MIDI that isn’t in the basic library. I’m not sure how many grooves are contained in each pack.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Steve Salamone]

Thank you again for your quick reply. Is there a reason Toontracks did not add an “outdo” to all of these midi parts? There are several variations of intros, pre chorus, chorus, bridge but no outrtos in the mix. In the library that came with my bundle there is a finishes but they are kind of useless. So my question is why are there no Endings for us to use? Thank you.

[Scott]

Do you have an example of an ‘ending’ you are talking about? A simple 1 chord on the downbeat? A flourish? A ritardando?

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Steve Salamone]

I own a Korg Pa3x Arranger Keyboard. It comes with many different styles. It also has 3 different intros and 3 different endings you can choose from. It’s not logical to me to offer song writing tools with a intro, verse, bridge, chorus and no endings.

[Scott]

But what kind of ending? If it’s a simple 1 root chord on beat 1 of the last bar of the song, just add it. If it’s a ritardando, the tempo is handled by the DAW.

My point is, song endings are song specific, in my opinion. Endings can be easily added to fit the song much better than ‘canned’ endings could ever fit.

But again, I don’t know exactly what you have in mind regarding endings.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Steve Salamone]

You don’t think the Intros are Canned?

[Scott]

@allrics said:
You don’t think the Intros are Canned?  

IMHO? No, they are played by a real keyboard player. And, there are so many EZkeys features to customize the parts to fit your song.

I’m a songwriter and a guitar player. I can’t play keys at all. I’ve had total success with adding keyboard parts to my songs (including endings). 99% of the time it’s a simple root key chord on beat 1 of the last measure. It takes 1 second to click the ‘add chord’ icon and set it to the I chord. The other 1% I’ve had success using the included Endings.

This is my experience when using EZkeys.

YMMV.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Steve Salamone]

I appreciate your help and opinion but I feel as I just threw $300 out of the window. For that kind of money I should have received a lot more midi packs then just 4 virtual instruments. If I could return this product I would. I should have done more homework before forking over $300 for EZKeys. On the other hand the $129 I spent to upgrade to EZ Drummer 2 is well worth every penny. This is an excellent program and I’ve received many comments how good the drums sound in my songs. I mean no disrespect to Toontracks and it’s satisfied users but EZKeys is a waste of my money and time.

[Scott]

Have you tried the ‘Use Brower MIDI’ function? It allows for say, taking one chord progression and using the MIDI from another style to create you own custom MIDI. It vastly increases the usability of the included MIDI. Check out some of the videos on the Toontrack YouTube to see what can be accomplished.

Scott Sibley - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

[Spikerama]

Here’s a video on the “use browser midi.” I didn’t know about using it when I first started with EZK. It makes a giant difference.

[Author]

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