Bought EZ Drummer 2 last night

[GuitarBilly]

I just started to play with the interface but I can say that so far it's the easiest most intuitive drum software I've ever used. Really awesome, the "tap to find" feature is great. I will play with it a bit more tonight but so far I am incredibly excited about it.

[Loins of Fire]

I've heard nothing but good things.

[Sendapollos]

So is it worth upgrading? I upgraded to the metal machine and finally found a really nice full sound. Always didn't too much like their kick sounds until this. To me everything is practically spot on although I tend to back down the snare a bit as it can seem a little overpowering. I'll read up on it but as a quick question can you add other drums in? Say add an extra snare if you wanted?

[Dickarms]

whats total entry cost if im buying in new?

[GuitarBilly]

So is it worth upgrading? I upgraded to the metal machine and finally found a really nice full sound. Always didn't too much like their kick sounds until this. To me everything is practically spot on although I tend to back down the snare a bit as it can seem a little overpowering. I'll read up on it but as a quick question can you add other drums in? Say add an extra snare if you wanted?

I think it's worth it. Not for the sound, but for the ease of use alone. The new interface is awesome, pretty much solved all my issues with drum programming.

whats total entry cost if im buying in new?

$149

[Sizzler]

ezDrummer 2 is definitely cool.

One of the things I dig about it aside from the composition/search tools is the ability to create a kit from the ground up using any ezx you already have.

My favorite ezx is Metal Machine for the shells, but there's brass from other ezxes that I like better. No problem you can mix and match whatever you want. I am going to dig into ezD2 over the next few weeks... my hope is to retire SD2

[Sendapollos]

Very cool. Yeah I just watched the detail video on it on YT. Looks like a great upgrade. I will definitely be upgrading here shortly.

[Devin]

I want this....I always liked the grooves and ease of use of EZDrummer but it sounded like ass.

I need to move my DAWs and VST's on to a new computer though since my old laptop I always used to record is on its last legs....that is gonna suck

[Sizzler]

I want this....I always liked the grooves and ease of use of EZDrummer but it sounded like ass.

I need to move my DAWs and VST's on to a new computer though since my old laptop I always used to record is on its last legs....that is gonna suck

Yeah - the new out of the box drums are pretty good. I like the blues ezx and metal machine ezx expansions from a sound perspective - they easily match anything I did in SD 2.0 with the Avatar and Metal Foundry sdx add ons except for the brass...

There are some things that give you more control in SD 2.0 even using loaded ezDrummer expansions so it might be a case where I work 95% with ezD 2 and then for final drum tweaks switch over to SD if I can't do it with ezD2.


edit -

I got about an hour with it last night and the songwriting features are really cool. I was able to throw together 3 different complete drum tracks in that time. Granted I wasn't trying to match up the drums to written parts but that was really cool.

I am thinking that with the UI based "midi editing" with the power hand/drum hit counts/etc I can do probably 80% of the work right in this tool. Very cool - I only need to hit piano roll for more complicated parts and finishing touches.

[Steinmetzify]

Bought it Saturday after messing around with the demo for a week. For a drum noob this thing is a godsend. I love it so much, and not being at the mercy of everyone else's drum jams is a blast. Busted out 5 tracks in a couple hours for me and a friend. So easy to use.

[fretless]

gasin

[bdubbs]

Just bought this right now and am downloading. I'm REALLY excited just got into recording last week and found I needed some drums. This thing looks like i can get decent drums without hassle.

[RIFF]

You guys do realize you can download a DEMO of this from the website...

http://www.toontrack.com/product/ezdrummer-2/

Its kinda nice to know if its gonna work out or not.



Anyhow, I got it & yeah, its nice stock, but Im interested in some expansion packs. I mostly play rock/metal, not too much high speed, mostly heavy grooves.

[VTM]

Anyhow, I got it & yeah, its nice stock, but Im interested in some expansion packs. I mostly play rock/metal, not too much high speed, mostly heavy grooves.

You should lay some of that down in an upcoming drum jam.

[RIFF]

Anyhow, I got it & yeah, its nice stock, but Im interested in some expansion packs. I mostly play rock/metal, not too much high speed, mostly heavy grooves.

You should lay some of that down in an upcoming drum jam.

Im finally getting shit set up to where I can record a little easier.. Ill try to get in on one. Itll at least be worth a chuckle!

[Maddnotez]

Would you guys say that it is better than Addictive Drums or Superior Drummer in the sense of realism?

I see it appears easier to use which is great but to me it is all about how it sounds.

I do have EZdrummer1 with the Drumkit from Hell but even that to me doesnt sound very real.

Maybe it is user error?

[RIFF]

Would you guys say that it is better than Addictive Drums or Superior Drummer in the sense of realism?

I see it appears easier to use which is great but to me it is all about how it sounds.

I do have EZdrummer1 with the Drumkit from Hell but even that to me doesnt sound very real.

Maybe it is user error?

I have EZ2 & thats my main experience here, but never tried Addictive or Superior (heard great things about all of them though), I only barely tried EZ1, so I cant even speak on that.. I know it had the Humanize feature, EZ2 doesnt, but IMHO has a great sense of realism.
The lines are all played by real drummers via midi, and a general tempo is given, so they seem to actually FEEL right in a given range.
I think a lot of it has to do with subtle velocities while playing a certain way.

If you want I can send you a few examples that Ive got from EZ2, or do a search for "drumjam" here, & youll be able to hear some of the tracks guys have made by various programs. If it doesnt say somewhere in the thread, you might be able to ask.

[Maddnotez]

Would you guys say that it is better than Addictive Drums or Superior Drummer in the sense of realism?

I see it appears easier to use which is great but to me it is all about how it sounds.

I do have EZdrummer1 with the Drumkit from Hell but even that to me doesnt sound very real.

Maybe it is user error?

I have EZ2 & thats my main experience here, but never tried Addictive or Superior (heard great things about all of them though), I only barely tried EZ1, so I cant even speak on that.. I know it had the Humanize feature, EZ2 doesnt, but IMHO has a great sense of realism.
The lines are all played by real drummers via midi, and a general tempo is given, so they seem to actually FEEL right in a given range.
I think a lot of it has to do with subtle velocities while playing a certain way.

If you want I can send you a few examples that Ive got from EZ2, or do a search for "drumjam" here, & youll be able to hear some of the tracks guys have made by various programs. If it doesnt say somewhere in the thread, you might be able to ask.

Ok cool I'll check out the drum jams.

Idk if I even use the humanize feature, I manually adjust velocities and use the piano roll copy/paste method.

I should probably learn how to use a midi controller

[RIFF]

Would you guys say that it is better than Addictive Drums or Superior Drummer in the sense of realism?

I see it appears easier to use which is great but to me it is all about how it sounds.

I do have EZdrummer1 with the Drumkit from Hell but even that to me doesnt sound very real.

Maybe it is user error?

I have EZ2 & thats my main experience here, but never tried Addictive or Superior (heard great things about all of them though), I only barely tried EZ1, so I cant even speak on that.. I know it had the Humanize feature, EZ2 doesnt, but IMHO has a great sense of realism.
The lines are all played by real drummers via midi, and a general tempo is given, so they seem to actually FEEL right in a given range.
I think a lot of it has to do with subtle velocities while playing a certain way.

If you want I can send you a few examples that Ive got from EZ2, or do a search for "drumjam" here, & youll be able to hear some of the tracks guys have made by various programs. If it doesnt say somewhere in the thread, you might be able to ask.

Ok cool I'll check out the drum jams.

Idk if I even use the humanize feature, I manually adjust velocities and use the piano roll copy/paste method.

I should probably learn how to use a midi controller

Yeah, with midi controlers youre pretty much playing them, which wouldnt really work for me! But You can also downloand a Demo of EZ2 from toontracks website.

[Maddnotez]

Would you guys say that it is better than Addictive Drums or Superior Drummer in the sense of realism?

I see it appears easier to use which is great but to me it is all about how it sounds.

I do have EZdrummer1 with the Drumkit from Hell but even that to me doesnt sound very real.

Maybe it is user error?

I have EZ2 & thats my main experience here, but never tried Addictive or Superior (heard great things about all of them though), I only barely tried EZ1, so I cant even speak on that.. I know it had the Humanize feature, EZ2 doesnt, but IMHO has a great sense of realism.
The lines are all played by real drummers via midi, and a general tempo is given, so they seem to actually FEEL right in a given range.
I think a lot of it has to do with subtle velocities while playing a certain way.

If you want I can send you a few examples that Ive got from EZ2, or do a search for "drumjam" here, & youll be able to hear some of the tracks guys have made by various programs. If it doesnt say somewhere in the thread, you might be able to ask.

Ok cool I'll check out the drum jams.

Idk if I even use the humanize feature, I manually adjust velocities and use the piano roll copy/paste method.

I should probably learn how to use a midi controller

Yeah, with midi controlers youre pretty much playing them, which wouldnt really work for me! But You can also downloand a Demo of EZ2 from toontracks website.

I may check that out.

Honestly, midi would be faster for anyone IMO unless you are just using the preset looped drum tracks.

If you are manually entering each hit and then copy/paste whenever possible MIDI would save time.

Even if you cant play the beats just use a MIDI keyboard, maybe track the cymbal hits and snare in one take, kick drum on another take and then manually enter the fills? idk seems faster to me.

[RIFF]

I may check that out.

Honestly, midi would be faster for anyone IMO unless you are just using the preset looped drum tracks.

If you are manually entering each hit and then copy/paste whenever possible MIDI would save time.

Even if you cant play the beats just use a MIDI keyboard, maybe track the cymbal hits and snare in one take, kick drum on another take and then manually enter the fills? idk seems faster to me.

EZ2 has gotten WAY faster & easier. So you have an idea for a beat, using tap to find you tap in a beat, then you have your choice of SEVERAL similar beats but played with feel, AND you can mod them. (this video shows it)

Plus you can have it make suggestions based on your initial offering for other parts of the song.

Plus you can take a beat, say hat/snare, and use the kick line from a different beat.

You gotta use whatever works for you, but check this little demo out:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJH3WM6Oz8[/video]

[Maddnotez]

I may check that out.

Honestly, midi would be faster for anyone IMO unless you are just using the preset looped drum tracks.

If you are manually entering each hit and then copy/paste whenever possible MIDI would save time.

Even if you cant play the beats just use a MIDI keyboard, maybe track the cymbal hits and snare in one take, kick drum on another take and then manually enter the fills? idk seems faster to me.

EZ2 has gotten WAY faster & easier. So you have an idea for a beat, using tap to find you tap in a beat, then you have your choice of SEVERAL similar beats but played with feel, AND you can mod them. (this video shows it)

Plus you can have it make suggestions based on your initial offering for other parts of the song.

Plus you can take a beat, say hat/snare, and use the kick line from a different beat.

You gotta use whatever works for you, but check this little demo out:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJH3WM6Oz8[/video]

Oh damn

That addition is worth the $90 upgrade alone. This is a must have if I stick with EZ drummer.