A massive EZX tailored for industrial rock and metal, dark electronic beats and cinematic sound design.
| ADD TO CART
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
Clock Kick
Bit Kick
Snare
Pitch Snare
Melt Snare
Toms
Chromium Low Tom
Chromium High Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Open Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Crash
Ring Crash
Dead Holdup
Ride
Ring Ride
Percussion
Manifest Clap
FX
Pulsar Noise
Brain Scraper
Other
Bags Tension
Migrant Rim
After Dark
Limited Heart
Wide Space
Amp Click
Tense Bit
Zen Swarm
Feeler Skinner
Shake Loc
Kick
Dim Kick
Fury Kick
Snare
Slap Snare
Rain Snare
Crisp Snare
Toms
Roto Low Tom
Roto High Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Crash
Inception Vortex
Soft Crash
Ride
Metal Ride
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Sky Light
Wrong Day
Other
Unstable Communication
Stun Anvil
Arid Click
Unstable Sign
Trip Rim
Slap Combat
Glass Freeze
Drop Noise
Zap Click
Vulgar Action
Shake Syndrome
Frequency Click
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
Crash
Dystopian Field
Torture Crash
Ride
Doom Ride
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Baron Bleach
Safe Haunts
Other
Carbon Fall
Mouth Click
Unsettled Score
Disaster Bridge
Hadron Fault
Door Plaster
Can Flux
Fizz Rim
After Dark
Shake Syndrome
Kick
Fump Kick
Bleed Kick
Snare
Pitch Snare
Sister Snare
Toms
Vacuum Low Tom
Vacuum High Tom
Hi-Hat
Rival Open Hat
Rival Closed Hat
Crash
Key Crash
Grain Particle
Ride
Lethal Ride
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Hollow Sun
Annexed Nexus
Other
Node Break
Doom Carbon
Simple Think
Angle Click
Pluck Click
Wide Space
Pluto Tings
Acid Twig
Fizz Rim
Chain Gang
London Click
Transgressor Elite
Kick
Bit Kick
Strato Kick
Midway Kick
Snare
Vegas Snare
Boston Snare
Electron Snare
Toms
Dense High Tom
Dense Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Cell Open Hat
Cell Closed Hat
Crash
Fragment Mine
Blunt Crash
Ride
Fizz Ride
Percussion
Impact Clap
FX
Baron Bleach
Clemency Skills
Other
Hull Breach
Left Claw
Limited Heart
Scream Run
Corner Tick
Spring Dimension
Hyper Tick
Blind Slap
Clock Rim
Detective Click
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
Crash
Vague Crash
Inception Vortex
Ride
Bell Ride
Percussion
Asylum Clap
FX
Black Root
Flux Ship
Other
Arid Click
Darker Edge
Roll Denial
River Reach
Exeter Fill
Zap Click
Frequency Click
Notate Darkness
Copper Sweep
Spring Dimension
Conflict Rim
Grain Hole
Kick
Brass Kick
Ye Kick
Genghis Kick
Snare
Pan Snare
Wave Snare
Trent Snare
Toms
Chromium High Tom
Chromium Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Fraud Closed Hat
Fraud Open Hat
Crash
Soul Cannon
Orbit Crash
Ride
Fame Ride
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Grain Mower
Preferred Pain
Other
Hull Breach
Settle Rye
Tear Click
Anxiety Break
Lithium Click
Willow Click
Demon Breath
Meteor Cone
Drop Noise
Human Rim
Range Xenon
Earth Girl
Kick
Body Kick
Bleed Kick
Snare
Dist Snare
Vegas Snare
Toms
Threat Low Tom
Threat High Tom
Hi-Hat
Reserve Open Hat
Reserve Closed Hat
Crash
Noise Crash
Armed Nightmare
Ride
Metal Ride
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Hollow Sun
Annexed Nexus
Other
Left Claw
Double Rim
Node Break
Commodore Clack
Block Lithium
Surface Break
Doom Carbon
Exo Drive
Deep Click
Wood Prime
Kick
Dread Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Iron Snare
Toms
Grind High Tom
Grind Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Apex Open Hat
Apex Closed Hat
Crash
Armed Nightmare
Soft Crash
Ride
Nowhere Ride
Percussion
Fall Clap
FX
Sky Light
Wrong Day
Other
Phase Mother
Poor Construct
Tape Blend
Chain Gang
Deep Click
Conga Rim
Black Oxy
Kick
Argos Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Fist Kick
Snare
Compressed Snare
Sister Snare
Crisp Snare
Toms
Bright Low Tom
Bright High Tom
Hi-Hat
Apex Open Hat
Apex Closed Hat
Crash
Space Hunter
Slaver Crash
Ride
Murder Ride
Percussion
Tick Clap
FX
Radio Search
Evolved Sun
Other
Migrant Rim
Technic Doom
Knife Fight
Knot Clap
Mammoth Call
Hit Miss
Labour Wave
Disrupt Interference
Lithium Click
Corner Tick
Metron Click
Moon Click
Kick
Grease Kick
Cursor Kick
Mother Kick
Snare
Pan Snare
Flutter Snare
Hole Snare
Toms
Forward Low Tom
Forward High Tom
Hi-Hat
Tense Closed Hat
Tense Open Hat
Crash
Moving Hum
Colony Crash
Ride
Fame Ride
Percussion
Social Clap
FX
Pulsar Noise
Annexed Nexus
Other
After Dark
Poor Construct
Rifle Click
Exeter Fill
Can Flux
Hull Breach
Detective Click
Paper Rim
Crush Console
Missing Heart
Static Radio
Sweet Gallows
Kick
Angry Kick
Pinna Kick
Creak Kick
Snare
Vegas Snare
Hole Snare
Node Snare
Toms
Gate High Tom
Gate Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Kevlar Closed Hat
Kevlar Open Hat
Crash
Filter Sweep
Night Crash
Ride
Epic Ride
Percussion
Foil Clap
FX
Bruise News
Flux Ship
Other
Flesh Break
Sweet Gallows
Wood Prime
Knot Clap
Scream Run
Rifle Click
Traffic Rim
Civilian Life
Zen Swarm
Meteor Cone
Kick
Dim Kick
Dread Kick
Amp Kick
Snare
Compressed Snare
Sister Snare
Dist Snare
Toms
Roto Low Tom
Roto High Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Open Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Crash
Hell Dancer
Soft Crash
Ride
Metal Ride
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Careless Lisper
Full Signal
Other
Arid Click
Vulgar Action
Frequency Click
Trip Rim
Drop Noise
Slap Combat
Stun Anvil
Unstable Communication
Doom Carbon
Knot Clap
Shake Syndrome
Zap Click
Kick
Dim Kick
Hunt Kick
Snare
Sky Snare
Toms
Gate Low Tom
Gate High Tom
Hi-Hat
Kite Closed Hat
Kite Open Hat
Crash
Noise Crash
Inception Vortex
Ride
Vector Ride
Percussion
Mandate Clap
FX
Wilhelm Dream
Flux Ship
Other
Cancel Click
Cobalt Grain
Clap Haven
Trip Rim
Click Tunnel
Unstable Sign
Momentary Somnia
Kick
Anti Kick
Dim Kick
Snare
Wild Snare
Rain Snare
Toms
Utility Low Tom
Utility High Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Open Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Crash
Water Crash
Moving Hum
Ride
Traitor Ride
Percussion
Committee Clap
FX
Full Signal
Sky Light
Other
Metron Click
Grip Fist
Surface Break
Pluck Click
Hat Click
Last Rite
Rival Take
Phase Mother
Hyper Tick
Devon Nights
Ender Cathedral
Border Rim
Kick
State Kick
Mine Kick
Forum Kick
Snare
Compressed Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Classic Open Hat
Classic Closed Hat
Crash
Room Structure
Gear Crash
Ride
Epic Ride
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Safe Haunts
Crystal Sense
Other
Ceylon Click
Bright Tungsten
Soon Sorrows
Migraine Signal
After Dark
Clock Rim
Cotton Death
Tambo Fight
Disaster Bridge
Underworld Noise
Kick
Tape Kick
Argos Kick
Thrill Kick
Snare
Sky Snare
Pinhead Snare
Block Snare
Toms
Compressed Low Tom
Compressed High Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Open Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Crash
Night Crash
Dead Holdup
Ride
Traitor Ride
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Hollow Sun
Flux Ship
Other
Rifle Click
Hat Click
Unstable Sign
Clap Haven
Exo Drive
Surface Break
Pluck Click
Border Rim
Ender Cathedral
Corner Tick
Saffron Zone
Broom Plex
Kick
Grease Kick
Fizz Kick
Nevada Kick
Snare
Bark Snare
Pinhead Snare
Boston Snare
Toms
Lion Low Tom
Lion High Tom
Hi-Hat
Spike Open Hat
Spike Closed Hat
Crash
Brushed Carbon
Blunt Crash
Ride
Traitor Ride
Percussion
Protect Clap
FX
Full Signal
Gated Line
Other
Anon Transcript
London Click
Disaster Bridge
Vial Tin
Zen Swarm
Detective Click
Last Rite
Corner Tick
Poor Construct
Complex Rim
Moon Click
Ender Cathedral
Kick
Grease Kick
Fist Kick
Tape Kick
Snare
Neon Snare
Trent Snare
Sky Snare
Toms
Amp High Tom
Amp Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Arm Closed Hat
Arm Open Hat
Crash
Moving Hum
Colony Crash
Ride
Splash Ride
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Baron Bleach
Full Signal
Other
Tape Blend
Dance Shakes
Cotton Death
Detective Click
Complex Rim
Missing Heart
Civilian Life
Black Oxy
Ceylon Click
Thump Brother
Saffron Zone
Zap Click
Kick
Strato Kick
Image Kick
Mother Kick
Snare
Bark Snare
Marcos Snare
Button Snare
Toms
Amp High Tom
Amp Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Sense Closed Hat
Sense Open Hat
Crash
Metal Crash
Mass Orbit
Ride
Tiger Ride
Percussion
Hat Clap
FX
Hammered Sky
Careless Lisper
Other
Static Radio
Vial Tin
Venom Console
Crush Console
Box Click
Missing Heart
Dance Shakes
Drown Snap
Stencil Parade
Detective Click
Holiday Rim
Hull Breach
Kick
Thrill Kick
Atari Kick
Amp Kick
Snare
Snake Snare
Tank Snare
Boston Snare
Toms
Cringe High Tom
Cringe Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Treaty Closed Hat
Treaty Open Hat
Crash
Brushed Carbon
Orbit Crash
Ride
Fizz Ride
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Bruise News
Other
Dramatic Rain
Copper Sweep
Transgressor Elite
Sweet Gallows
Moon Click
Traffic Rim
Down Click
Civilian Life
Coping Click
Knot Clap
Concrete Bits
Noise Debate
Kick
Anomaly Kick
Dim Kick
Blend Kick
Snare
Slap Snare
Death Snare
Rain Snare
Toms
Sterile High Tom
Sterile Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Particle Closed Hat
Particle Open Hat
Crash
Water Crash
Inception Vortex
Ride
Metal Ride
Percussion
Social Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Preferred Pain
Other
Slap Combat
Arid Click
Rifle Click
Alter Night
Trip Rim
Zap Click
Glass Freeze
Migraine Signal
Bell Tower
Unstable Communication
Stun Anvil
Drop Noise
Kick
Zebra Kick
Violet Kick
Trent Kick
Snare
Bark Snare
Wild Snare
Demon Snare
Toms
Forward High Tom
Forward Low Tom
Hi-Hat
March Open Hat
March Closed Hat
Crash
Slaver Crash
Space Hunter
Ride
Murder Ride
Percussion
Tick Clap
FX
Flux Ship
Wrong Day
Other
Hit Miss
Angle Click
Knife Fight
Black Oxy
Inhale Exhale
Cotton Death
Verb Click
Conga Rim
Hat Click
Technic Doom
Mammoth Call
Grip Fist
Kick
Trunk Kick
Cursor Kick
Butt Kick
Snare
Skin Snare
Iodine Snare
Hole Snare
Toms
Trent High Tom
Trent Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Open Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Crash
Group Wax
Water Crash
Ride
Metal Ride
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Cirrus Strain
Other
Throw Click
Black Oxy
Ceylon Click
Unsettled Score
Grain Hole
Limited Heart
Phase Mother
Rival Take
Complex Rim
Cancel Click
Can Flux
Church Mist
Kick
Mother Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Choke Kick
Snare
Sister Snare
Angel Snare
Boston Snare
Toms
Trent High Tom
Trent Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Cell Closed Hat
Cell Open Hat
Crash
Fragment Mine
Night Crash
Ride
Traitor Ride
Percussion
Abuse Clap
FX
Wilhelm Dream
Full Signal
Other
Last Rite
Hit Miss
Range Xenon
Rival Take
Limited Heart
Mouth Click
Spring Dimension
Clock Rim
Doom Carbon
Click Tunnel
Kick
Barn Kick
Slap Kick
Straight Kick
Snare
Flam Snare
Ye Snare
Barn Snare
Toms
Comanche High Tom
Comanche Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Protocol Closed Hat
Protocol Open Hat
Crash
Inception Vortex
Colony Crash
Ride
Lethal Ride
Percussion
Asylum Clap
FX
Full Signal
Gated Line
Other
Bright Tungsten
Earth Girl
Acid Twig
Willow Click
Technic Doom
Soon Sorrows
Labour Wave
Notate Darkness
Complex Rim
After Dark
Kick
Pinna Kick
Bit Kick
Anti Kick
Snare
Straight Snare
Death Snare
Iron Snare
Toms
Vacuum Low Tom
Vacuum High Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Open Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Crash
Moving Hum
Blunt Crash
Ride
Splash Ride
Percussion
Fall Clap
FX
Safe Haunts
Gated Line
Other
Last Rite
Deep Click
Pluck Click
Bags Tension
Spring Dimension
Paper Rim
Metron Click
Blind Slap
Feeler Skinner
Node Break
Game Demise
Unstable Sign
Kick
Sentinel Kick
Argos Kick
Snare
Electron Snare
Neon Snare
Toms
Gate Low Tom
Gate High Tom
Hi-Hat
Legend Open Hat
Legend Closed Hat
Crash
Water Crash
Fragment Mine
Ride
Dahlia Ride
Percussion
Resonant Clap
FX
Ball Contraption
Flux Ship
Other
Technic Doom
Element Strain
Alloy Spring
Boil Figures
Rifle Click
Click Tunnel
Tear Click
Host Rim
Commodore Clack
Kick
Forum Kick
Cursor Kick
Fist Kick
Snare
Neon Snare
Sine Snare
Flutter Snare
Toms
Roto High Tom
Roto Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Riot Open Hat
Riot Closed Hat
Crash
Grain Particle
Soft Crash
Ride
Fame Ride
Percussion
Run Clap
FX
Clemency Skills
Annexed Nexus
Other
Spring Dimension
Border Rim
Door Plaster
Church Mist
Metron Click
Coping Click
Underworld Noise
Disaster Bridge
Corner Tick
Thump Brother
Knot Clap
Frequency Click
Kick
Straight Kick
Ye Kick
Bleed Kick
Snare
Lib Snare
Vegas Snare
Sine Snare
Toms
Lion High Tom
Lion Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Reserve Open Hat
Crank Closed Hat
Crash
Armed Nightmare
Colony Crash
Ride
Vector Ride
Percussion
Doppler Clap
FX
Wind Mall
Ball Contraption
Other
Unsettled Score
After Dark
Grip Fist
Paper Rim
Verb Click
Thump Brother
Acid Twig
Kick
Choke Kick
Mine Kick
Snare
Medicine Snare
Mole Snare
Wild Snare
Toms
Present High Tom
Present Low Tom
Hi-Hat
Blend Closed Hat
Cell Open Hat
Crash
Space Hunter
Grain Crash
Ride
Vector Ride
Percussion
Action Clap
FX
Evolved Sun
Radio Search
Other
Flesh Break
Angle Click
Bright Tungsten
Slap Combat
Momentary Somnia
Tear Click
Company Rim
Throw Click
Disrupt Interference
Tambo Fight
Carbon Fall
Drown Snap
Kick
Straight Kick
Atari Kick
Violet Kick
Zebra Kick
Whale Kick
Attila Kick
Amp Kick
There Kick
Thrill Kick
Fist Kick
Trent Kick
Flash Kick
Anomaly Kick
Barn Kick
Tape Kick
Trunk Kick
Feels Kick
Argos Kick
Strato Kick
Fizz Kick
Angry Kick
Anti Kick
Ye Kick
Choke Kick
Sister Kick
Forum Kick
Dim Kick
Hunt Kick
Seventy Kick
Image Kick
Sentinel Kick
Brass Kick
Broken Kick
Butt Kick
Kamikaze Kick
Earth Kick
State Kick
Cursor Kick
Plastic Kick
Pinna Kick
Fump Kick
Fury Kick
Clock Kick
Nevada Kick
Mother Kick
Creak Kick
Dread Kick
Midway Kick
Genghis Kick
Body Kick
Blend Kick
Dorm Kick
Slap Kick
Bleed Kick
Hide Kick
Snare
Rain Snare
Atari Snare
Electron Snare
Pan Snare
Dist Snare
Slap Snare
Wild Snare
Trent Snare
Button Snare
Pitch Snare
Snake Snare
Pinhead Snare
Skin Snare
Wave Snare
Node Snare
Crisp Snare
Lib Snare
Straight Snare
Neon Snare
Mole Snare
Flutter Snare
Melt Snare
Medicine Snare
Marcos Snare
Death Snare
Hole Snare
Block Snare
Bark Snare
Barn Snare
Demon Snare
Flam Snare
Shale Snare
Ye Snare
Sine Snare
Tank Snare
Iodine Snare
Sister Snare
Hi-Hat
Crank Open Hat
Blend Open Hat
FX
Grain Mower
Black Root
Brain Scraper
Gated Line
Crystal Sense
Sky Light
Cirrus Strain
Wind Mall
Hammered Sky
Cell Totem
Pulsar Noise
Data Bender
Careless Lisper
Wrong Day
Bruise News
Ball Contraption
Other
Disaster Bridge
Wood Prime
Grain Hole
Lithium Click
Vial Tin
Door Plaster
Hit Miss
Glass Freeze
Dramatic Rain
Alloy Spring
Alter Night
Vulgar Action
London Click
Stencil Parade
Angle Click
Darker Edge
Limited Heart
Zap Click
Devon Nights
Crush Console
Down Click
Hadron Fault
Left Claw
Hyper Tick
Knife Fight
Knot Clap
Last Rite
Wide Space
Hat Click
Labour Wave
Simple Think
River Reach
Roll Denial
Broom Plex
Throw Click
Ender Cathedral
Saffron Zone
Bright Tungsten
Settle Rye
Tense Bit
Shake Loc
Shake Syndrome
Box Click
Tear Click
Element Strain
Boil Figures
Flesh Break
Tambo Fight
Slap Combat
Sweet Gallows
Exo Drive
Block Lithium
Bell Tower
Blind Slap
Stun Anvil
Soon Sorrows
Exeter Fill
Noise Debate
Venom Console
Coping Click
Concrete Bits
Drop Noise
Missing Heart
Moon Click
Drown Snap
Anxiety Break
Arctic Wind
Game Demise
Node Break
Cobalt Grain
Arid Click
Mammoth Call
Clap Haven
Civilian Life
Dump Riot
Pluck Click
Church Mist
Earth Girl
Pluto Tings
Poor Construct
Frequency Click
Range Xenon
Can Flux
Bags Tension
*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.
