EZ Drummer 3 announced.

[Synth Master Jedi]

I woke up a bit late today, but that's ok, because I knew that the download would be ready when I woke up and it was.

I just got done installing everything and it went as smooth as can be. The whole installation took less than 30 minutes.

I started completely from scratch, I had wiped all traces of EZD2 from my system.

I also found out that it's better to install the EZD3 core library before the EZD2 core library, because on Mac at least, you can select your destination when first installing the EZD3 core library. The EZD2 core library will not let you select the destination but it will install to wherever you had selected the EZD3 core library to be installed. So installing the EZD3 sounds on an external drive is a breeze.

After the installation completed, I fired up Logic to test it out real quick and see that everything was working fine, and yes, it all seems to be working fine.

I went through each kit included, and they all opened up fine. The new resizable GUI is nice and all of the EZD3 kits look nice. The EZD2 kits are a bit smaller looking than the EZD3 kits, but they all work fine.

I haven't really gotten a chance to play and listen to the sounds yet, but I'll do that later when I break out my Midi Pads. I hate playing drums on a midi keyboard. I like to have real drum sticks in my hands when banging away.

All in all, everything is looking good and the whole download process was quick and easy. Their servers must also be good, because I was getting a nice speed the entire time and everything downloaded extremely quick.

[Aloysius]

Bandmate looks interesting. Only one hour of downloading left.

[hotmitts]

Bandamte is good. I've been throwing simple guitar and Bass guitar stuff at it and the selections match well. As said it can crash Ableton when dragging audio in though.
Think the bandmate alongside the other new features is a good creative mix..

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Bandmate looks interesting. Only one hour of downloading left.

Ouch! I had a 3 minute download for the 15GB library.

[noiseboyuk]

I have tried Bandmate on one track, importing midi keys. It did a fair effort, but honestly not too excited about that in terms of my own workflow.

The quality of the midi grooves this time is outstanding. The kits are all good too. Processed yes, but processed well. I love the updated Edit Play Style and the grid editor performance presets. So overall lots to love.

But there are problems. Aside from early glitches and the horror of Tap2Find making quantisation mandatory, I’m finding other issues here and there with the grid editor in particular. Swing doesn’t seem to work consistently or musically - even with the timing grid settings being tweaked, it sometimes did nothing at all to some tracks (and yet I selected them all). Other times it just sounded rubbish, not shuffling in the expected way. To be fair it seemed rough in SD3 too - I’ve never had cause to use the grid editor before (just editing in Cubase), but the performance algos are so good in EZD there’s a reason to now.

It’s day one, not doubt the rough edges will get fixed. It looks gorgeous, and already looking forward to when SD4 can integrate the best of the new features. I haven’t used EZ for ages and it does feel like using boxing gloves next to SD.

[Kevin63101]

Just installed EZD3. I should preface my comments by saying I have EZD2 and SD3 with all but 2 SDX expansions and many EZX. So it takes a lot to impress me.

I'm blown away by EZD3. Great new core library. Great Eye candy kits. Easier to navigate. Separate grid editor tab is wonderful.

Bandmate is amazing. Especially if you own tons of midi. The transient detection, independent adjustable amount of kick, snare and hihat (or ride) and quick posting onto grid is a joy.

I'm a huge SD3 fan, but I'm gonna be spending some time in EZD3.

Worth upgrade price for new kits alone. Worth it for bandmate alone. Great job Toontrack!

[Kevin63101]

I don't want to oversell EZD3. SD3 still rules, but can't wait for SD4 with some of EZD3 new features and more.

Well ... that may be a wait ... hope not too long.

[Tappistry]

I don't want to oversell EZD3. SD3 still rules, but can't wait for SD4 with some of EZD3 new features and more.

Well ... that may be a wait ... hope not too long.

Considering there was about seven years between EZ Drummer 2 and 3 and thirteen(!) years between Superior Drummer 2 and 3 ...

I wouldn't hold my breath for sequential releases for either of them any time soon.

[noiseboyuk]

Considering there was about seven years between EZ Drummer 2 and 3 and thirteen(!) years between Superior Drummer 2 and 3 ...

I wouldn't hold my breath for sequential releases for either of them any time soon.

I'd bet the farm it's less time than 13 years! I think the gauge to look at is the gap between EZD2 and SD3, which was - I think - 3 years. Still too long imo.

It strikes me that they have a problem on their hands there though. The jump from SD2 to SD3 was colossal in every regard. It inherited good features from EZD2, but also made lots of unique changes to the SD workflow that are excellent. On top there is this massive core library. How do they top that next time? I don't see they can. Everyone will want all the new midi features of EZD3, but do we need a new 500gb core library? At this point all I really want is an updated engine (and some obvious fixes like the Tap2Find thing).

[Tappistry]

Considering there was about seven years between EZ Drummer 2 and 3 and thirteen(!) years between Superior Drummer 2 and 3 ...

I wouldn't hold my breath for sequential releases for either of them any time soon.

I'd bet the farm it's less time than 13 years! I think the gauge to look at is the gap between EZD2 and SD3, which was - I think - 3 years. Still too long imo.

It strikes me that they have a problem on their hands there though. The jump from SD2 to SD3 was colossal in every regard. It inherited good features from EZD2, but also made lots of unique changes to the SD workflow that are excellent. On top there is this massive core library. How do they top that next time? I don't see they can. Everyone will want all the new midi features of EZD3, but do we need a new 500gb core library? At this point all I really want is an updated engine (and some obvious fixes like the Tap2Find thing).

You *almost* owe me a farm, I was off by 3 years. The 2005 date I found referred to DFH Superior, then Superior Drummer 2.0 was the more extensive follow-up with more kits, midi, etc.

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech ... 2-0-169943


I agree that they do have a conundrum on their hands in terms of what will be next, but for now, they have a nicely updated and modernized suite of drum products. My guess is EZD will continue to flesh out the Bandmate feature, and Superior might get a more stripped down version of it as time goes on. Superior will always be about pro-level production with tweaky drum layering and deep mixing features.

At this point, EZKeys is the last songwriting tool in their lineup that needs a refresh and I'm hoping they make it happen sooner than later. It would be interesting if they somehow figure out some synergistic features between the whole EZ Suite: Drummer, Keys, and Bass to come up with AI generated backing tracks between all 3 of them with a few clicks.

[noiseboyuk]

I agree that they do have a conundrum on their hands in terms of what will be next, but for now, they have a nicely updated and modernized suite of drum products, which admittedly share quite a few features. My guess is EZD will continue to flesh out the Bandmate feature, and Superior might get a more stripped down version of it as time goes on. Superior will always be about pro-level production with tweaky drum layering and deep mixing features.

The irony of it is - whisper this - Superior Drummer is actually easier to use than EZ Drummer. Obviously it goes way deeper and can get complex, but on a basic level swapping kit parts is so much easier in SD. With EZ you can only audition one expansion's worth of options at at time. With SD you are presented with a complete list of everything in the arsenal, and you just whizz down on auto-load. Far quicker.. and EaZier.

Can't be sure of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if Bandmate doesn't ultimately migrate wholesale. Yes I can see conceptually it is designed for a singer-songwriter who doesn't have a clue about rhythm, but it's a valid production tool. Much like Tap2Find. It would cost them next to nothing to port it over of course.

SD2 was a really complex and horrible beast. It was SD3 that changed the game by making it simple to use on a basic level. I'd certainly hope they continue on that path. But quite what they can do to up the game is pretty hard to imagine at this point.

[hotmitts]

I do like the layout, especially the grid editor, which fits everything it needs into one big easy-to-follow screen

[Kevin63101]

I do like the layout, especially the grid editor, which fits everything it needs into one big easy-to-follow screen

Such a simple thing, but EZD3 having an all in one grid editor tab is great. It invites tweaking into the workflow instead of being hidden under the hood. I love it and want it in SD4.

I don't mind waiting to get SD4 as a serious upgrade. A new color skin isn't enough. I think Toontrack does it right and offers reasonable free updates in the interim and paid releases worth the price. Their real money model is in the sound expansions and midi, which I embrace as I pay for the flavors I use.

[noiseboyuk]

I do like the layout, especially the grid editor, which fits everything it needs into one big easy-to-follow screen

Such a simple thing, but EZD3 having an all in one grid editor tab is great. It invites tweaking into the workflow instead of being hidden under the hood. I love it and want it in SD4.

Yes it’s good. There’s still a few inconsistencies - double clicking a groove in EZD opens it in Grid Editor, in SD it opens in Edit Play Style which I personally prefer. It feels like Edit Play Style should be its own tab too.

One more inconsistency - in SD3 the midi search results are half the height of EZD with the new midi visual display. I prefer the former, seeing more results. I wonder if its a bit of a bug though, as you can’t always see all the midi data visually, there’s not enough room at half the height.

[zvenx]

you know you can disable the midi visual display right (and enable it at least in SD3.3). I disabled it. (right click over the columns)
Although that doesn't allow it show more though.


rsp