Toontrack has announced the release of the Modern Pop Grooves MIDI pack and the Modern Pop EZkeys MIDI pack, two individual collections of MIDI for drums and EZkeys.
Here's what they say:
Modern Pop Grooves MIDI pack
Pop as a cultural music phenomenon is broader than ever before. In its vast landscape, the already blurred lines between the styles it encompasses are constantly thrusted to the side to make room for new iterations. As a foundational component in any genre, drums in particular are often in the forefront of this experimental and ever-changing panorama. Sometimes all-digital or all-acoustic, other times hybrids of both or somewhere floating in between. Production values, one may argue. But fact remains, the groove is the heartbeat of any song.
"I wanted to create a MIDI pack with grooves that had that tight pocket-feel to them. Each groove works as is, but in modern pop productions, a lot of times a drum beat is comprised of several elements outside of what one may consider a traditional drum groove. The beauty of MIDI and working with it in Toontrack's software is the limitless possibilities to change, rearrange and combine bits and pieces to come up with unique variations. Take the hi-hat element from one of the grooves and mix with a programmed kick and snare beat, add a shaker or an electronic component and you have the best of both worlds. I think this collection is ideal for that type of experimentation, " says Norman Garschke.
"I think one of the biggest challenges in modern pop productions is to keep the human feel. Starting with full drum grooves, or elements thereof, performed by a real drummer is a great advantage," says Norman.
To Norman's point, MIDI offers a bottomless well of creative options. Apply an acoustic kit to it and you get one feel – change it up with an electronic kit or any other sounds at your disposal and you end up with something completely different. Mix, match, change and rearrange – with the limitless framework of EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3, only your imagination sets the limits.
Feature Spotlight:
- Drum MIDI grooves and fills inspired by modern pop, dance and EDM music.
- Ideal for any songwriter.
- Performed by session drummer.
- More than 400 individually played files.
- 4/4 and 6/8 in straight and/or swing feel with tempos ranging from 69 BPM to 144 BPM.
- Artists used for reference: Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida, Zara Larsson, P.nk.
- Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge and fills sections.
Intro Price: €20.
Modern Pop EZkeys MIDI pack
Although it sometimes may be amid layers of other instrumentation, tweaked or distorted almost beyond recognition, there is no denying that the piano still has a prominent role in contemporary pop. Listen to anthemic songs by the likes of Ariana Grande, Kygo, Coldplay or Pink and you can easily pick it out as the dominant melodic vehicle. And given the flexibility and endless sonic application of MIDI, switch the piano for another instrument and the feel changes in an instant.
This is where the Modern Pop EZkeys MIDI pack comes in. It was designed to give you a broad baseline of chord progressions and melodic structures to spark your next batch of keys-driven, contemporary modern pop songs. And, again, don't feel constrained to using the MIDI for only piano. Modern pop is a borderless and ever-changing sonic landscape where no rules apply.
Feature Spotlight:
- Piano MIDI inspired by modern pop, dance and EDM music.
- Performed by professional session player.
- 4/4 and 6/8 in straight and/or swing feel with tempos ranging from 62 BPM to 138 BPM.
- Artists used for reference: Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida, Zara Larsson, P.nk.
- Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge sections.
Intro Price: €20.
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