Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[Double Tap]

Asking for NI's Komplete 13 Ultimate bundle upgrade price. Now is $399. I forgot if they will have better upgrade price during summer time or X'mas time ? thanks!

They did 50 percent off upgrades during June this year.

[LoveEnigma18]

https://www.toontrack.com/holiday-deal-week/

Day 1: Toontrack EZkeys Cinematic Grand for $39.

I have EZdrummer 2 and looking to get EZbass at some point. The last obvious thing one would think of getting is EZkeys to complete the Toontrack EZ family (ignoring EZmix as I am not interested in it at all).

However, I have Scaler 2 and wondering if EZkeys is really worth it. I also have NI Play Series stuff which contains my favourite Hybrid Keys. Any thoughts?

With EZkeys it might start getting expensive when the expansions go on sale only to tempt you more and I want to avoid that. Before I dismiss the thought of getting EZkeys, I thought I'd post here to get some opinions.

[Ploki]

what's happening with downvotes in FS threads lol?

[LoveEnigma18]

what's happening with downvotes in FS threads lol?

Spreading everywhere like the virus.

[ChamomileShark]

what's happening with downvotes in FS threads lol?

Yes, I got one.

I guess some people are using those few minutes they have free from curing cancer, saving puppies and generally awesome contributions to the planet to do this.

[mgw38]

what's happening with downvotes in FS threads lol?

I started to upvote everything.

[sonokinetic]

For those that have been waiting patiently on their serial numbers for Ostinato Strings and Grosso, the serial numbers have been allocated to accounts and can be viewed in the Sonokinetic Manager

[MasterTuner]

However, I have Scaler 2 and wondering if EZkeys is really worth it. I also have NI Play Series stuff which contains my favourite Hybrid Keys. Any thoughts?

I have Scaler 2 and recently bought EZKeys.
The expressions and rhythms are good in Scaler 2, but I couldn't find anything that does the same as the Disco , pop and Funk midi expansions and the way they were articulated.
If you were doing orchestral expressions then EZKeys might be redundant because the Scaler rhythms are more suited to Orchestral-Cinematic. If you're doing other than that, EZKeys is a good option.
(Having said all that Scaler 2 is being developed and might in the future with more functionality and user importable Expressions, knock out EZKeys)

Plus if you devise your own midi expression you like you can import this into EZkeys and it would become part of your expressions library.
I'd not buy EZKeys midi expansions for more than $10 each. I put a WBT post out on KVR Buy/Sell forum a couple of weeks ago and very quickly got people coming back to me wanting to sell their EZKeys midi for $10.

[Rajiv]

https://www.toontrack.com/holiday-deal-week/

Day 1: Toontrack EZkeys Cinematic Grand for $39.

I have EZdrummer 2 and looking to get EZbass at some point. The last obvious thing one would think of getting is EZkeys to complete the Toontrack EZ family (ignoring EZmix as I am not interested in it at all).

However, I have Scaler 2 and wondering if EZkeys is really worth it. I also have NI Play Series stuff which contains my favourite Hybrid Keys. Any thoughts?

With EZkeys it might start getting expensive when the expansions go on sale only to tempt you more and I want to avoid that. Before I dismiss the thought of getting EZkeys, I thought I'd post here to get some opinions.

I think EZKeys and Scaler go hand-in-hand. You record that tasty chord progression you just wrote in Scaler into EZKeys. Then you apply the various MIDI styles until you find something that fits what you are doing (warning -- if you buy EZKeys, you will want to buy the MIDI expansion packs). If you prefer a different keyboard or synth sound. No problem... export your MIDI from EZKeys into a different track. Want a bass track? Import the EZKeys MIDI into EZBass, or just peel off the bottom notes from the MIDI and put them on a bass track.

IMO, the joy of EZKeys is in the MIDI engine more than the sounds. Many of the MIDI styles are amazing and make the playing sound like a real pianist, more so than Scaler. At 39 bucks, it's a steal.

[WatchTheGuitar]

IMO, the joy of EZKeys is in the MIDI engine more than the sounds. Many of the MIDI styles are amazing and make the playing sound like a real pianist, more so than Scaler. At 39 bucks, it's a steal.

Agreed. Also it's worth picking up the MIDI via the EzKeys 6 pack MIDI bundle.

https://www.toontrack.com/product/ezkeys-midi-6-pack
though I usually buy it for £85 from Time & Space as it's slightly cheaper for UK based peeps.
https://www.timespace.com/products/toon ... idi-6-pack

The bundle lets you choose from any of the MIDI packs even ones they've just released.

[LoveEnigma18]

Thank you so much for the detailed advice, guys. Much appreciated.

I am indeed not doing cinematic/orchestral stuff. Considering all the comments, I think getting at least one EZkeys library would be useful for its MIDI engine and would compliment EZdrummer 2 and EZbass too.

Do other EZkey libraries go on sale for this price regularly? I think there was one during Black Friday? I am not interested in the Cinematic Grand that's on offer right now, so if I were to get EZkeys I might just wait and get one I like the most, which would be Dream Machine or String Machine or Classic Electrics. Luckily, others don't interest me. So, I could settle for one of these and then get some MIDI packs for cheap.

In no hurry, so will probably pass this deal, but I will keep an eye on future EZkeys libraries deals.

[agharta]

Dream Machine was very heavily discounted, maybe a year ago.

[MasterTuner]

Dream Machine was very heavily discounted, maybe a year ago.

@LoveEnigma18 About a year ago, Dream Machine was $30. Right now Toontrack are having a 14th-18th Dec Christmas every day a new offer. I'd keep my eye on that.
https://www.toontrack.com/holiday-deal-week/
In fact, I am since I'd like the latin percussion EZX. Also if you don't get what you want you can put out a WTB on the buy/sell forum offering $39 for the one you want. There are no transfer fees with Toontrack, and people are selling often. My guess is you'd pick up Dream Machine for <$40 considering it was $30 last year on BF.

[LoveEnigma18]

Thank you, @agharta and @MasterTuner.

Good to know this. Even I am keeping an eye on this holiday deal week for some EZXs. The intention is to get a couple of EZXs and EZbass first and then look for EZkeys. So, I will keep an eye on any sales in the next few months or if needed, will consider posting a WTB on the forum as you said.

[aerotone]

For those that have been waiting patiently on their serial numbers for Ostinato Strings and Grosso, the serial numbers have been allocated to accounts and can be viewed in the Sonokinetic Manager

F5 F5 F5 for Indie, just saying.