A massive EZX tailored for industrial rock and metal, dark electronic beats and cinematic sound design.
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A massive EZX tailored for industrial rock and metal, dark electronic beats and cinematic sound design.
| ADD TO CARTInspired by anything from industrial metal to dark electronic beats and cinematic sound design, this EZX presents a fathomless fusion of warped, menacing and multi-layered textures of cutting-edge sound design. In total, more than 400 audio sources covering anything from acoustic drums and percussion to electronic drum machines, foley, ambience and effect noises are included. Using elaborate chains of effects and outboard, each individual sound was engineered, re-amped or remixed for a tangibly raw, gritty and distorted feel. With these sounds as a base, 31 mix-ready presets were created, each offering its own unique hybrid kit. Combined, the contents of this EZX will lend you a massive body of sound that melds the two worlds of acoustic and electronic into a sinister synthesis of skewed percussive go-tos for any track in need of a viscerally dark aura.
To add, the intuitively laid-out interface offers dedicated pads for subs, risers, atmosphere and more, enabling you to use this EZX as a one-stop shop for fully produced beat foundations as much as a source for special effects. Lastly, a basic collection of MIDI files composed to go with each kit preset is included. This means that you don’t only have the sounds, you also have a starting point for the groove – one you can take virtually anywhere using the framework of creative features in EZdrummer 3 or Superior Drummer 3.
Sometimes, complete darkness is the most vivid and creative color of them all. When painting blindly – void of context and contour – there are no dots to connect, lines to cross or outer bounds to shun. This is an EZX for just that: fearless audio exploration and utter experimentation.
This EZX expansion requires EZdrummer 3 or Superior Drummer 3.
While this EZX is amazing as is, it can also serve as a great resource for creating interesting percussive textures in combination with more acoustic-sounding drums. In this demo, The Rock Foundry SDX answers for all regular drums while the Dark Industrial EZX handles the top layer of gritty loops and effects. The menacing synths? Of course the Dark Industrial EKX.
These audio demos show all Dark Industrial EZX kits with their accompanying MIDI grooves. The examples were recorded directly out of the EZX using the included kit presets and various amounts of automation of the preset knobs in the EZdrummer 3 mixer. No external instruments or post-processing effects other than master compression/limiter were used.
Acid Square
Counter Clock
Artificial Lighting
Clandestine
Carbon Swarm
Center Hold
Click Bait
Bionic Glitch
Cult Machine
Density Rim
Mechanic Motion
Alter Ego
Electric Shot
Evil Technoid
Factory Fabrics
Automated Wounds
Goth Hymn
Guilty Nature
Jigsaw
Image Witch
Mecha Dreams
Metric Bandit
Propulsion
Nordic Grime
Outer Mind
Doctor Clone
Savage Slam
State Affair
Teutonic Punch
Time Snatcher
Wide Eyed
At the heart of the Dark Industrial EZX is a traditionally laid-out kit of acoustic, organic and electronic kicks, snares, toms and cymbals. Around it, there are pads and surfaces that offer anything from effects to subs, risers and non-percussive atmospheres.
Atmosphere
Non-percussive, haunting and ambient textures like wind, static, crackles and hiss.
Toms
Toms from organic and electronic sources.
Subs
A selection of movie trailer-like booms and basses.
Claps
A mix of acoustic and electronic source sounds layered with foley recordings.
Rim Shots
Hard-hitting and percussive textures from the rims of drums or clanky, metallic objects.
Kick and Snare
Three variations of each kick and snare are provided, enabling you to get subtle but imperative variation even within just one groove.
FX
A big collection of non-standard sound design elements sourced from various acoustic and electronic instruments.
Objects
Heavily post-produced field-recorded percussive foley sounds.
Crash
A mix of acoustic and electronic cymbal crashes.
Reverse Crash
Textured layers of reversed electronic and acoustic crash cymbals and electronic sweep noises.
Ride
A mixture of layered and treated sources of acoustic and drum machine ride cymbals.
Clicks
Distorted electronic click sounds and effects layered with amp noises.
Closed and Open Hats
Textured tight and open hi-hats derived from a mixture of organic and electronic sources.
Jangles
Heavily treated percussion elements like nut shell shakers, tambourines and more.
Click below to view the full collection of audio sources included in this EZX.
Kick
Bit Kick
Clock Kick
Snare
Melt Snare
Pitch Snare
Toms
Chromium High Tom
Chromium Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Arm Open Hat
Ride
Ring Ride
Crash
Ring Crash
Dead Holdup
Percussion
Manifest Clap
FX
Brain Scraper
Pulsar Noise
Other
Shake Loc
Migrant Rim
Amp Click
Tense Bit
After Dark
Limited Heart
Wide Space
Bags Tension
Zen Swarm
Feeler Skinner
Kick
Fury Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Crisp Snare
Rain Snare
Slap Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Ride
Metal Ride
Crash
Soft Crash
Inception Vortex
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Sky Light
Wrong Day
Other
Shake Syndrome
Trip Rim
Zap Click
Frequency Click
Arid Click
Slap Combat
Drop Noise
Vulgar Action
Stun Anvil
Glass Freeze
Unstable Sign
Unstable Communication
Kick
Midway Kick
Flash Kick
Tape Kick
Snare
Electron Snare
Angel Snare
Toms
Ye High Tom
Ye Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Assist Closed Hat
Assist Open Hat
Ride
Doom Ride
Crash
Torture Crash
Dystopian Field
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Safe Haunts
Baron Bleach
Other
Shake Syndrome
Fizz Rim
Mouth Click
Hadron Fault
Can Flux
Disaster Bridge
After Dark
Door Plaster
Carbon Fall
Unsettled Score
Kick
Fump Kick
Bleed Kick
Snare
Sister Snare
Pitch Snare
Toms
Vacuum High Tom
Vacuum Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Rival Closed Hat
Rival Open Hat
Ride
Lethal Ride
Crash
Key Crash
Grain Particle
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Hollow Sun
Annexed Nexus
Other
Node Break
Fizz Rim
Angle Click
London Click
Pluck Click
Chain Gang
Acid Twig
Wide Space
Simple Think
Pluto Tings
Doom Carbon
Transgressor Elite
Kick
Midway Kick
Strato Kick
Bit Kick
Snare
Electron Snare
Boston Snare
Vegas Snare
Toms
Dense High Tom
Dense Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Cell Closed Hat
Cell Open Hat
Ride
Fizz Ride
Crash
Blunt Crash
Fragment Mine
Percussion
Impact Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Baron Bleach
Other
Clock Rim
Detective Click
Corner Tick
Spring Dimension
Limited Heart
Hyper Tick
Blind Slap
Left Claw
Hull Breach
Scream Run
Kick
Trent Kick
Sister Kick
Snare
Trent Snare
Atari Snare
Shale Snare
Toms
Resonance High Tom
Resonance Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Amnesty Closed Hat
Amnesty Open Hat
Ride
Bell Ride
Crash
Vague Crash
Inception Vortex
Percussion
Asylum Clap
FX
Black Root
Flux Ship
Other
Conflict Rim
Zap Click
Frequency Click
Arid Click
Roll Denial
Spring Dimension
Darker Edge
River Reach
Exeter Fill
Grain Hole
Copper Sweep
Notate Darkness
Kick
Genghis Kick
Ye Kick
Brass Kick
Snare
Trent Snare
Pan Snare
Wave Snare
Toms
Chromium High Tom
Chromium Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Fraud Closed Hat
Fraud Open Hat
Ride
Fame Ride
Crash
Orbit Crash
Soul Cannon
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Grain Mower
Preferred Pain
Other
Anxiety Break
Human Rim
Tear Click
Lithium Click
Willow Click
Meteor Cone
Drop Noise
Range Xenon
Settle Rye
Earth Girl
Hull Breach
Demon Breath
Kick
Bleed Kick
Body Kick
Snare
Vegas Snare
Dist Snare
Toms
Threat High Tom
Threat Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Reserve Closed Hat
Reserve Open Hat
Ride
Metal Ride
Crash
Noise Crash
Armed Nightmare
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Hollow Sun
Annexed Nexus
Other
Node Break
Surface Break
Double Rim
Deep Click
Wood Prime
Commodore Clack
Exo Drive
Left Claw
Block Lithium
Doom Carbon
Kick
Dread Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Iron Snare
Toms
Grind High Tom
Grind Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Apex Closed Hat
Apex Open Hat
Ride
Nowhere Ride
Crash
Soft Crash
Armed Nightmare
Percussion
Fall Clap
FX
Sky Light
Wrong Day
Other
Conga Rim
Deep Click
Poor Construct
Chain Gang
Black Oxy
Phase Mother
Tape Blend
Kick
Argos Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Fist Kick
Snare
Crisp Snare
Sister Snare
Compressed Snare
Toms
Bright High Tom
Bright Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Apex Closed Hat
Apex Open Hat
Ride
Murder Ride
Crash
Slaver Crash
Space Hunter
Percussion
Tick Clap
FX
Evolved Sun
Radio Search
Other
Metron Click
Migrant Rim
Moon Click
Lithium Click
Labour Wave
Corner Tick
Mammoth Call
Hit Miss
Knife Fight
Knot Clap
Technic Doom
Disrupt Interference
Kick
Grease Kick
Mother Kick
Cursor Kick
Snare
Flutter Snare
Pan Snare
Hole Snare
Toms
Forward High Tom
Forward Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Tense Closed Hat
Tense Open Hat
Ride
Fame Ride
Crash
Colony Crash
Moving Hum
Percussion
Social Clap
FX
Annexed Nexus
Pulsar Noise
Other
Paper Rim
Detective Click
Rifle Click
Crush Console
Poor Construct
Can Flux
Missing Heart
Exeter Fill
After Dark
Sweet Gallows
Hull Breach
Static Radio
Kick
Creak Kick
Angry Kick
Pinna Kick
Snare
Vegas Snare
Hole Snare
Node Snare
Toms
Gate High Tom
Gate Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Kevlar Closed Hat
Kevlar Open Hat
Ride
Epic Ride
Crash
Night Crash
Filter Sweep
Percussion
Foil Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Bruise News
Other
Flesh Break
Traffic Rim
Rifle Click
Wood Prime
Meteor Cone
Knot Clap
Sweet Gallows
Civilian Life
Zen Swarm
Scream Run
Kick
Dread Kick
Amp Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Sister Snare
Dist Snare
Compressed Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Ride
Metal Ride
Crash
Soft Crash
Hell Dancer
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Full Signal
Careless Lisper
Other
Shake Syndrome
Trip Rim
Zap Click
Frequency Click
Arid Click
Slap Combat
Drop Noise
Vulgar Action
Stun Anvil
Knot Clap
Doom Carbon
Unstable Communication
Kick
Hunt Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Sky Snare
Toms
Gate High Tom
Gate Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Kite Closed Hat
Kite Open Hat
Ride
Vector Ride
Crash
Noise Crash
Inception Vortex
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Wilhelm Dream
Other
Trip Rim
Cancel Click
Clap Haven
Cobalt Grain
Momentary Somnia
Unstable Sign
Click Tunnel
Kick
Anti Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Wild Snare
Rain Snare
Toms
Utility High Tom
Utility Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Arm Open Hat
Ride
Traitor Ride
Crash
Water Crash
Moving Hum
Percussion
Committee Clap
FX
Sky Light
Full Signal
Other
Rival Take
Surface Break
Metron Click
Border Rim
Hat Click
Pluck Click
Grip Fist
Last Rite
Hyper Tick
Devon Nights
Ender Cathedral
Phase Mother
Kick
Forum Kick
State Kick
Mine Kick
Snare
Compressed Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Classic Closed Hat
Classic Open Hat
Ride
Epic Ride
Crash
Gear Crash
Room Structure
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Crystal Sense
Safe Haunts
Other
Clock Rim
Ceylon Click
Cotton Death
Tambo Fight
Soon Sorrows
Bright Tungsten
After Dark
Disaster Bridge
Migraine Signal
Underworld Noise
Kick
Argos Kick
Tape Kick
Thrill Kick
Snare
Sky Snare
Block Snare
Pinhead Snare
Toms
Compressed High Tom
Compressed Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Ride
Traitor Ride
Crash
Night Crash
Dead Holdup
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Hollow Sun
Other
Surface Break
Border Rim
Hat Click
Rifle Click
Pluck Click
Clap Haven
Corner Tick
Ender Cathedral
Broom Plex
Exo Drive
Saffron Zone
Unstable Sign
Kick
Nevada Kick
Grease Kick
Fizz Kick
Snare
Pinhead Snare
Boston Snare
Bark Snare
Toms
Lion High Tom
Lion Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Spike Closed Hat
Spike Open Hat
Ride
Traitor Ride
Crash
Blunt Crash
Brushed Carbon
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Gated Line
Full Signal
Other
Complex Rim
Moon Click
Detective Click
London Click
Poor Construct
Corner Tick
Vial Tin
Last Rite
Disaster Bridge
Ender Cathedral
Zen Swarm
Anon Transcript
Kick
Fist Kick
Tape Kick
Grease Kick
Snare
Sky Snare
Neon Snare
Trent Snare
Toms
Amp High Tom
Amp Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Arm Open Hat
Ride
Splash Ride
Crash
Colony Crash
Moving Hum
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Baron Bleach
Full Signal
Other
Dance Shakes
Complex Rim
Zap Click
Detective Click
Ceylon Click
Cotton Death
Missing Heart
Black Oxy
Civilian Life
Saffron Zone
Thump Brother
Tape Blend
Kick
Mother Kick
Strato Kick
Image Kick
Snare
Marcos Snare
Button Snare
Bark Snare
Toms
Amp High Tom
Amp Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Sense Closed Hat
Sense Open Hat
Ride
Tiger Ride
Crash
Metal Crash
Mass Orbit
Percussion
Hat Clap
FX
Hammered Sky
Careless Lisper
Other
Dance Shakes
Holiday Rim
Crush Console
Detective Click
Box Click
Venom Console
Missing Heart
Vial Tin
Stencil Parade
Drown Snap
Hull Breach
Static Radio
Kick
Atari Kick
Amp Kick
Thrill Kick
Snare
Snake Snare
Boston Snare
Tank Snare
Toms
Cringe High Tom
Cringe Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Treaty Closed Hat
Treaty Open Hat
Ride
Fizz Ride
Crash
Orbit Crash
Brushed Carbon
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Bruise News
Other
Traffic Rim
Moon Click
Down Click
Coping Click
Noise Debate
Concrete Bits
Knot Clap
Sweet Gallows
Civilian Life
Dramatic Rain
Copper Sweep
Transgressor Elite
Kick
Anomaly Kick
Dim Kick
Blend Kick
Snare
Death Snare
Rain Snare
Slap Snare
Toms
Sterile High Tom
Sterile Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Ride
Metal Ride
Crash
Water Crash
Inception Vortex
Percussion
Social Clap
FX
Preferred Pain
Flux Ship
Other
Trip Rim
Zap Click
Rifle Click
Arid Click
Slap Combat
Drop Noise
Alter Night
Bell Tower
Stun Anvil
Glass Freeze
Migraine Signal
Unstable Communication
Kick
Trent Kick
Zebra Kick
Violet Kick
Snare
Demon Snare
Wild Snare
Bark Snare
Toms
Forward High Tom
Forward Low Tom
Hi-Hat
March Closed Hat
March Open Hat
Ride
Murder Ride
Crash
Slaver Crash
Space Hunter
Percussion
Tick Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Wrong Day
Other
Conga Rim
Angle Click
Hat Click
Verb Click
Cotton Death
Grip Fist
Mammoth Call
Hit Miss
Knife Fight
Black Oxy
Technic Doom
Inhale Exhale
Kick
Butt Kick
Trunk Kick
Cursor Kick
Snare
Iodine Snare
Hole Snare
Skin Snare
Toms
Trent High Tom
Trent Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Riot Open Hat
Ride
Metal Ride
Crash
Water Crash
Group Wax
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Cirrus Strain
Clemency Skills
Other
Rival Take
Complex Rim
Ceylon Click
Throw Click
Cancel Click
Can Flux
Black Oxy
Grain Hole
Limited Heart
Church Mist
Phase Mother
Unsettled Score
Kick
Mother Kick
Choke Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Snare
Sister Snare
Angel Snare
Boston Snare
Toms
Trent High Tom
Trent Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Cell Closed Hat
Cell Open Hat
Ride
Traitor Ride
Crash
Night Crash
Fragment Mine
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Wilhelm Dream
Full Signal
Other
Rival Take
Clock Rim
Mouth Click
Spring Dimension
Limited Heart
Last Rite
Range Xenon
Hit Miss
Doom Carbon
Click Tunnel
Kick
Barn Kick
Straight Kick
Slap Kick
Snare
Barn Snare
Flam Snare
Ye Snare
Toms
Comanche High Tom
Comanche Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Protocol Closed Hat
Protocol Open Hat
Ride
Lethal Ride
Crash
Colony Crash
Inception Vortex
Percussion
Asylum Clap
FX
Gated Line
Full Signal
Other
Complex Rim
Willow Click
Labour Wave
Acid Twig
Earth Girl
Bright Tungsten
After Dark
Soon Sorrows
Technic Doom
Notate Darkness
Kick
Pinna Kick
Anti Kick
Bit Kick
Snare
Iron Snare
Death Snare
Straight Snare
Toms
Vacuum High Tom
Vacuum Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Riot Open Hat
Ride
Splash Ride
Crash
Blunt Crash
Moving Hum
Percussion
Fall Clap
FX
Gated Line
Safe Haunts
Other
Node Break
Metron Click
Paper Rim
Deep Click
Pluck Click
Spring Dimension
Game Demise
Blind Slap
Bags Tension
Last Rite
Unstable Sign
Feeler Skinner
Kick
Argos Kick
Sentinel Kick
Snare
Electron Snare
Neon Snare
Toms
Gate High Tom
Gate Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Legend Closed Hat
Legend Open Hat
Ride
Dahlia Ride
Crash
Water Crash
Fragment Mine
Percussion
Resonant Clap
FX
Ball Contraption
Flux Ship
Other
Host Rim
Tear Click
Rifle Click
Commodore Clack
Element Strain
Alloy Spring
Boil Figures
Technic Doom
Click Tunnel
Kick
Forum Kick
Cursor Kick
Fist Kick
Snare
Sine Snare
Neon Snare
Flutter Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Riot Open Hat
Ride
Fame Ride
Crash
Soft Crash
Grain Particle
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Annexed Nexus
Other
Metron Click
Border Rim
Frequency Click
Coping Click
Corner Tick
Spring Dimension
Door Plaster
Church Mist
Disaster Bridge
Knot Clap
Thump Brother
Underworld Noise
Kick
Ye Kick
Bleed Kick
Straight Kick
Snare
Sine Snare
Vegas Snare
Lib Snare
Toms
Lion High Tom
Lion Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Crank Closed Hat
Reserve Open Hat
Ride
Vector Ride
Crash
Colony Crash
Armed Nightmare
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Ball Contraption
Wind Mall
Other
Paper Rim
Verb Click
Acid Twig
Grip Fist
After Dark
Thump Brother
Unsettled Score
Kick
Mine Kick
Choke Kick
Snare
Wild Snare
Mole Snare
Medicine Snare
Toms
Present High Tom
Present Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Blend Closed Hat
Cell Open Hat
Ride
Vector Ride
Crash
Grain Crash
Space Hunter
Percussion
Action Clap
FX
Radio Search
Evolved Sun
Other
Flesh Break
Company Rim
Angle Click
Tear Click
Throw Click
Slap Combat
Tambo Fight
Momentary Somnia
Bright Tungsten
Drown Snap
Carbon Fall
Disrupt Interference
Kick
Creak Kick
Midway Kick
Dim Kick
Straight Kick
Bleed Kick
State Kick
Amp Kick
Choke Kick
Slap Kick
Zebra Kick
Thrill Kick
Angry Kick
Blend Kick
Flash Kick
Broken Kick
Dorm Kick
Violet Kick
Trunk Kick
Tape Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Sister Kick
Cursor Kick
Barn Kick
Body Kick
Fump Kick
Hide Kick
Nevada Kick
Clock Kick
Pinna Kick
Earth Kick
Fury Kick
Fizz Kick
Whale Kick
Fist Kick
Hunt Kick
Sentinel Kick
Brass Kick
Forum Kick
Image Kick
Plastic Kick
Anti Kick
Strato Kick
Mother Kick
Trent Kick
Atari Kick
Butt Kick
There Kick
Seventy Kick
Dread Kick
Genghis Kick
Attila Kick
Ye Kick
Feels Kick
Anomaly Kick
Argos Kick
Snare
Snake Snare
Dist Snare
Bark Snare
Rain Snare
Pitch Snare
Pan Snare
Atari Snare
Hole Snare
Straight Snare
Neon Snare
Ye Snare
Slap Snare
Medicine Snare
Flutter Snare
Skin Snare
Lib Snare
Barn Snare
Node Snare
Marcos Snare
Trent Snare
Pinhead Snare
Wave Snare
Demon Snare
Shale Snare
Iodine Snare
Melt Snare
Flam Snare
Electron Snare
Sister Snare
Tank Snare
Button Snare
Wild Snare
Sine Snare
Crisp Snare
Death Snare
Block Snare
Mole Snare
Hi-Hat
Blend Open Hat
Crank Open Hat
FX
Careless Lisper
Pulsar Noise
Wrong Day
Bruise News
Wind Mall
Gated Line
Hammered Sky
Ball Contraption
Brain Scraper
Crystal Sense
Grain Mower
Cell Totem
Black Root
Data Bender
Sky Light
Cirrus Strain
Other
Shake Loc
Flesh Break
Anxiety Break
Node Break
Shake Syndrome
London Click
Down Click
Lithium Click
Throw Click
Arid Click
Crush Console
Zap Click
Pluck Click
Coping Click
Box Click
Angle Click
Moon Click
Frequency Click
Tear Click
Hat Click
Drop Noise
Can Flux
Dump Riot
Tambo Fight
Element Strain
Cobalt Grain
Tense Bit
Concrete Bits
Game Demise
Slap Combat
Poor Construct
Hadron Fault
Roll Denial
Clap Haven
Noise Debate
Wood Prime
Labour Wave
Venom Console
Broom Plex
Glass Freeze
Civilian Life
Pluto Tings
Dramatic Rain
Bags Tension
Hyper Tick
Bright Tungsten
Drown Snap
River Reach
Wide Space
Exeter Fill
Grain Hole
Disaster Bridge
Left Claw
Knot Clap
Boil Figures
Ender Cathedral
Knife Fight
Earth Girl
Range Xenon
Blind Slap
Alter Night
Door Plaster
Sweet Gallows
Block Lithium
Soon Sorrows
Saffron Zone
Vulgar Action
Hit Miss
Church Mist
Missing Heart
Exo Drive
Simple Think
Stun Anvil
Vial Tin
Limited Heart
Stencil Parade
Darker Edge
Last Rite
Alloy Spring
Devon Nights
Bell Tower
Mammoth Call
Settle Rye
Arctic Wind
*All other manufacturers’ product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Toontrack. See full notice here.
Photo: Marijke Küsters
K/V (Ramon Kerstens and Richard Veenstra)
With respective backgrounds in metal and electronic and both with a deep understanding for complex sound design, Ramon and Richard were the perfect team to realize the spectacular Dark Industrial EZX and EKX project.
Where did the idea for this project come from?
Ramon: We typically try to come up with ideas for these types of things from the perspective of “what would we like to have ourselves that doesn’t exist yet.” There are many great drum- and synth plug-ins but for our style and the way we work, we often find ourselves needing to process the sound extensively to achieve the desired result we hear in our minds. These expansions were an attempt at cutting that process somewhat short and aim for a product that doesn’t need a lot of post-processing to sound cinematic, dark and alternative.
Richard: We also wanted to make sure that users have the option to change a sound drastically with just some small adjustments. This is why we spent a lot of time thinking about which macros we wanted to have for the instruments and what kind of underlying effects that would be needed. In the EZX, for example, we introduced a “Warp” macro which drastically alters a preset.
Creating both an EZX and an EKX under the same project banner, did you think about the synergies between the two? Did you design sounds for one based on how the ones in the other turned out?
Ramon: Definitely. Both projects were born from the same idea, both in terms of how to use them as well as how they should sound. We love gritty, dark and imperfect sounds. Both expansions live in that world. We did take into account, though, that each one has a different role (one percussive and one harmonic), so there are also noticeable differences. For the EZX, we focused on sounds that are pronounced and present but do not linger too much. However, the EKX shares the same kind of grime but exhibits a more undulating quality.
Richard: We envision these two products as a one-stop shop for composers seeking a dark aesthetic in their productions. In the EKX, you will not only find synth- and keys-like presets but also a lot of processed basses and leads as well as textures. It is possible to make a full-blown production with just these two expansions as we did ourselves plenty of times during the creation process. They’re just so much fun to work with!
You recorded acoustic drums and analog synths, electronic and modular synths, all kinds of organic foley and more. Did you have a preconceived plan going in or did you go with the flow? What was the “instrument” selection like?
Ramon: I would say both. Recording live instruments and foley and combining that with (modular) synth sounds is always a big part of our creation process and ultimately our sound as artists. So, to that extent, it was deliberate. We had a list of things we felt we needed to record in order to create the sound we had in our heads, but once we got the basic elements out of the way we kind of just went with it and tried to find interesting and usable sounds and textures with the tools we had at our disposal. This process ranged from experimenting with a drum kit using various items to capturing the sound of pushing metal objects across a cement floor, messing with a prepared piano and hours and hours of modular noodling.
Richard: For both products we wanted to show the perfect balance of acoustic and electronic sound sources. Almost all sounds from the EZX are multi-layered. They include both acoustic sound sources like kicks, snares and cymbals, but we also recorded renowned percussionist Jeroen de Rijk and mangled his sounds to oblivion. The EKX does not only include tonal sound sources, but we also recorded a lot of noises and ambience sounds as well as impacts, all of which you can dial in with the macros.
How does a drum kit or synth preset go from idea to finished sound? Do you hear it in your heads or does it come to you organically as you tweak? What normally goes into the whole production chain?
Ramon: Once all the sounds are edited and prepared and we get to the preset programming stage, we typically have a good idea of the range of possibilities within the collection we recorded. There will be sounds that you can’t wait building a preset around and sounds of which you have no idea how they’re going to turn out, but typically I would say we have a pretty good idea of what we want to make for most of the presets. Our goal is to draw inspiration from the source material and bring it to life through effects and modulation. If your source material is on point – as it should be – the rest will flow naturally.
Richard: Both EZdrummer and EZkeys are incredibly powerful and inspiring tools, so creating the presets was arguably the most straightforward aspect of the process. Ultimately you want a sort of cohesive variety where each preset delivers a different experience but within the same creative definition. As for the production chain, we used lots and lots of outboard gear at Farkosten Studios in Altea, Spain, to sculpt and process the sounds. There are vintage classics like the Eventide Harmonizer, EQs like the GML 8200, Fairchild compression and Distressors on most of the sounds.
When working as a two-man team on a project like this, did you have your own roles as to who was doing what?
Ramon: No, not really. I don’t believe dividing tasks would be effective, to be honest. A large part of the creative process for us is bouncing ideas off each other, so you have to be there with your heads in the same space. Then as the process progresses and we get to the editing stage, we just cut the work in half and work our way through it while staying informed on the other person’s progress. The preset making stage is typically just a fun exercise where we send our results back and forth and rejoice over what the other one has made, haha!
Richard: We share the same headspace and generally have a similar musical taste, although I have a background in experimental electronic music, while Ramon comes from a metal music background. I think those backgrounds complement each other well and you can clearly hear this in both instruments. We don’t want to separate roles too much anyway because we want to have both musical DNAs present in these instruments.
Listening back to the sounds and seeing the finished products, what are your thoughts?
Ramon: I’m crazy proud of this and I think it’s some of the best work we’ve done so far. A large reason for that is the amazing team at Toontrack who supported us along the way and gave us the space and trust to play and discover as we went. As I mentioned earlier, all of this was born from the thought of what we as composers would like to have ourselves and, crazily enough, we managed to actually build just that. These expansions are now standard starting points for our own work and we believe they can be valuable tools for anyone who creates any kind of dark alternative music.
Richard: These are my go-to products at this point to be honest. I love seeing that the ideas we had in mind are included in the final products. I think one of their best features are the macros and their ability to really adapt the sounds the way you want. To add some extra saturation or distortion to a drum sound or to completely change a kit preset with the “Pitch” and “Warp” macros and to be able to automate this all is great.
What do you hope that users take away from the Dark Industrial EZX and EKX?
Ramon: For me, I just hope they will inspire people to create – whatever kind of music it is that they make. Many presets for me are still starters that spawn musical ideas as soon as I start messing around with them and I wish that to be the same for anyone who comes across these products. I grew up with Industrial acts like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry and my musical tastes over time evolved along the many offshoots of that, deep into electronic territory. I think both expansions are a perfect blend of those worlds.
Richard: Exactly, I think the instruments can cater to a lot of different musical genres. I have been using the EZX drums already in techno productions and am using the EKX sounds on a daily base in cinematic productions. We had a lot of fun making these products and we will hope that users will like them as much!
540 MB free disk space, 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended).
A working EZdrummer 3.0.6 (or above) or a Superior Drummer 3.3.6 (or above) installation.
