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[David George]

I route all of the mixer’s tracks to separate tracks in my DAW (Pro Tools) and mix those as I would any other instrument. I tend not to make changes in the EZD2 mixer: I leave that as given and make the changes in the DAW.

I agree with Scott 100%. Context is everything.

[David George]

Thanks.

I was very frustrated when I first got EZD2 because everything seemed BOOM BOOM BOOM.

But as I experimented I found that adjustments to the velocity (not the audio volume) could accomplish a lot.

Think about it: If John Bonham and Charlie Watts were to play the same basic beat, the only difference would be that Bonham would hit at least twice as hard. Since I prefer Charlie, the velocity comes down.

[David George]

@songhead said:The rock is too hard rock and the pop is “modern rock” or whatever sounds…but I’m not hearing Hal Blaine, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner stuff that you would find on hit singles from the 60’s/70’s. 

I have found that by reducing the velocity for entire clips I can make some of this “hard” sounding stuff sound really good and more appropriate for what I do. Just a suggestion. On the last track I put together I reduced the velocity to -45 and it was perfect.

[David George]

@dg27 said:The biggest fault I find with EZD2 in general is that the grooves do not have unique file names: I go slightly batty with everything being “Variation 1,” etc.  

I take this comment back: I did not know that clips can be renamed so easily. I’ve started assembling folders in my user MIDI, named as per the MIDI pack from which the clip comes. I didn’t realize that you could right click and call them whatever you want. For me I go with the “family” plus the part it is, plus the number of the variation. This is very useful.

[David George]

Thanks for clarifying, Scott. We were replying at the same time, it seems.

[David George]

I don’t think that’s always the case. The EZX Reggae grooves and the Reggae Beats MIDI seem to be different.

For example, Roots/Straight 4/4 in the EZX are 110 bpm.

The Roots Straight 4/4 in the MIDI are 100 or 120 bpm.

The biggest fault I find with EZD2 in general is that the grooves do not have unique file names: I go slightly batty with everything being “Variation 1,” etc.

[David George]

@AllenM said:
I don’t if this will help or maybe you are already aware of this feature..AllenM  

Allen, Thanks so much for sharing this info: I had no idea. I noticed the Web MIDI shop link a couple of times but never even clicked it because I thought it was just a link to regular web store.

Will have to check this out before I buy anything else.

DG

[David George]

Thanks, sumskilz–this is very helpful.

I did not know that if I set a clip to 1/2 speed in the song track in EZ2, it will stay that way after I drag it into my DAW (Pro Tools). I was under the impression it would default to the BPM of the DAW file. Amazing!

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Thanked by: Brian

[David George]

Thanks for clarifying, Scott.

I think I can work around it. I was losing my mind though trying to figure out where it was coming from.

[David George]

@sumskilz said:

Bossa Nova is usually played on drum kit. Although some sparse auxiliary percussion is common. The rhythm of bossa nova is based on a half time samba, so you can set any of the samba patterns in the Latin Percussion EZX to 1/2x and they’ll sound bossa nova if played along with a drum kit bossa nova beat. 

Thanks–this is very useful. To clarify, do you mean to use a 1/2X LP EZX samba beat using a kit to get the “drum kit bossa nova beat?” Not sure what you mean “along with.”

I bought the Jazz MIDI this morning specifically to hopefully fill this need, btw.

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Thanked by: Brian

[David George]

I’m also looking for this and I have the Latin Percussion EZX. All that seems to be in the ADDITIONAL CAXIXI” folder.are snare/hi-hat fills.

Am I looking in the right place?

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Thanked by: Brian

[David George]

Yes–this helps–thanks. I’m going to try something like this!

[David George]

I think I get what you mean and will have to try that.
For example, I’d like to have two snares going to the same aux in my DAW…
Thanks for the tip!

[David George]

What I have found very cool is to start with a Hip Hop EZX groove and use my very sparse custom kit. I set up another set of tracks using the Latin Percussion EZX. The combination of the two is great!

[David George]

Henrik–Yes: I’m sorry–I should have thought of this since I use Edit Play Style all the time. Thanks.

[Author]

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