Marshall
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EZKeys and alternatives
As a non-keyboard playing guitarist singer/songwriter I am tempted to get EZKeys to add nice sounding piano parts to my songs. Are there any other similar products out there that I should also look at?
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Mesh
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 08:55:37
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I'm also a "non-keyboardist" guitar player, but haven't seen anything better and easier than EZ Keys.....(I'm sure there might be a bunch of stuff there that I'm not aware of). EZ Keys + the Groove 3 tutorials on using it will make you a happy keyboardist. :))
Also (if you go the EZ Keys route), get as many EZ Keys Midi Packs that suit your fancy.....they're all (for the most part) very good.
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Fleer
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 09:00:47
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Mesh is absolutely right. Nothing like that great EZkeys chord help. Plenty other and better pianos without of course, should you only look for sound. And if you're looking for similar chord apps, there's AutoTheory and a few otters, but never as easy or thorough as EZKeys. If you have Reason, v9 comes with the new Chords and Scales. But in the end, EZKeys still brings any non-keyboard player the most fun. Get the MIDI packs of your musical choice. As for the piano, they all come with the chord help. Maybe go for the Studio Grand first. Or the Electric Pianos. You can add piano expansions later.
post edited by Fleer - 2016/08/05 09:22:47
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MachineClaw
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 11:24:51
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this will sound completely stupid but ....
where/what is the EZ Keys product.
I look on ToonTrack as well as other distributors and they all have lots of EZKeys products but I'm not sure what product is the base to start with.
ToonTrack drummer - EZ get EZ Drummer OR SD2, simple. ToonTrack EZMix, get EZ Mix 2 product add to your hearts content. want EZKeys then get.........uh what the hell do I get?
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Fleer
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 11:48:14
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☄ Helpfulby bodhi65 2017/11/25 18:02:19
Well, you pick your piano of choice (not an expansion) and the whole EZ Keys shebang comes with it. Here's the vid on the Studio Grand, explaining how things work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ko3waYg_j0Then you may jump on two kinds of add-ons: MIDI packs and Instrument Expansions, according to your taste, MIDI packs like Country, Gospel or Soul, and Instrument Expansions like Rhodes and Wurli, Mellotron or other pianos. There's a bundle also. Before buying, check Time & Space for pricing. But you don't have to add any of these expansions. Your base option always already holds several instrument presets as well as MIDI files. So, without further ado, here's the Studio Grand package link: http://www.toontrack.com/...t/ezkeys-studio-grand/
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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Mesh
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 12:07:47
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bapu
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 13:18:56
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MachineClaw
this will sound completely stupid but ....
uh what the hell do I get?
Let me take this from another perspective. The real meat of EZKeys is in the MIDI Packs (i.e. styles of playing). If you already own pianos that you like, then just getting a base piano module (Grand or Upright) is a great starting point. Use the song creator portion of EZKeys and then drop that generated MIDI you created (that is in EZKEYS) into a SONAR MIDI track and apply that to your fav piano for mixing. Just remember to mute/delete EZKEys unles you want a doubling up of the piano part.  Or just get them all like I did (modules and MIDI packs), but watch for the sales (of course I knew you would).
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BassDaddy
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 19:43:26
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Mesh, Fleer and Bapu (kinda rolls off the tongue like Crosby, Stills and Nash ,doesn't it?) are giving you the straight poop here. I would only add a few details I have learned. Getting the Studio grand like they said is a good start. The Electric Grand, Classic Electrics and the Retro Electrics are the most likely to be on sale for stupid low prices around Thanksgiving so best to wait on them. The regular upright would be better for studio and is a bit brighter. The Vintage Upright is warmer and maybe better for a smaller mix. Mesh is right on the midi but don't think the genres represented would be something you wouldn't use. They are just not that binding. My fav is still the Gospel pack and I can use it on way more than I thought I would. There also some 3rd party piano midi guys out there with packs ready to use in EZ Keys. I bought 1 and it works just fine. Don't remember who it was at the moment. IMHO, if you want something to expand what you can do and something you will use and something you wont regret buying it's the biggest no brainer out there.
It's Bass, not Bass. i7 2700K, 16GB DDR3, 2 SSD sample drives and OS drive, HDD SATAIII for projects, 2 24" monitors Focusrite Saffire Pro 24, Focusrite VRM Box, LAVA Lamp, SONAR Platinum 64 bit, Mackie MCU and 1 MCU XT, Akai Advance 49, Windows 10, Komplete 9 Ultimate, Cakewalk, Toontrack, IK, AAS, XLN, UVI, Air Music Tech, Waves Factory, Sample Tek and Sonivox VSTi's. Overloud, T-Racks, Audio Damage, D16, Nomad Factory, Waves Gold FX
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Fleer
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/05 23:19:22
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CSN wouldn't be complete without good old Neil "BassDaddy" Young.
And he's right about it all, particularly that Gospel pack. Damn sweet melodies.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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Marshall
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/06 01:00:30
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Thanks for all the advice. I've a groove 3 account and watched Eli's videos before taking the plunge with the studio grand version last night. I honestly think this will help me come up with lots of new songwriting ideas. No brainier indeed. Interesting about the gospel pack, I'll have to check it out.
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BassDaddy
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/06 13:34:34
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Get a 6 pack for your midi from Best Service or Time + Space and pay in British Pound Sterling for best price. If anyone know a better please post it.
It's Bass, not Bass. i7 2700K, 16GB DDR3, 2 SSD sample drives and OS drive, HDD SATAIII for projects, 2 24" monitors Focusrite Saffire Pro 24, Focusrite VRM Box, LAVA Lamp, SONAR Platinum 64 bit, Mackie MCU and 1 MCU XT, Akai Advance 49, Windows 10, Komplete 9 Ultimate, Cakewalk, Toontrack, IK, AAS, XLN, UVI, Air Music Tech, Waves Factory, Sample Tek and Sonivox VSTi's. Overloud, T-Racks, Audio Damage, D16, Nomad Factory, Waves Gold FX
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MachineClaw
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Re: EZKeys and alternatives
2016/08/07 17:43:12
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thanks much. I was really quite confused with all the products and sales whatnot. very cleared up.
going to go look into some of the offered products.
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