1) buying any EZ Keys from the EZ Keys Line includes the standard MIDI pattern library and one main virtual instrument?

Yes. Each of the full products (pianos) come with the same group of patterns - 9 different genres - each containing a few different tempos (generally 2-5). Several include some Swing and/or some 3/4 or 6/8.

2) is the MIDI pattern library included with this Dream Machine one that is tailored specifically to this instrument or is it truly a standard library included in all EZ Keys Line products?

Not tailored to the Dream Machine. It is the standard group that comes with them all.

3) does it include additional MIDI patterns for the included instrument?

No.

4) buying another EZ Keys Line product is at a reduced price because you are buying the instrument and already have the application?

You CAN buy expansions - less expensive because they are just the instrument, no MIDI libraries. You can also buy another full package that will simply add the instrument (since you already have the app and the standard library). As in this case, I bought the full Dream Machine app - for $29 - and it installed the instrument to my existing app.


5) what are the EZ Keys MIDI products such as Americana, Country and Hip-Hop? Are those just new MIDI patterns to add to the standard MIDI pattern library?

They are additions to the MIDI libraries in styles/patterns typical of their respective genre. Usually they include 5 or 6 new groupings/tempos. The demos on the Toontrack site will usually cover them all so you can hear what you will get.


6) how much additional patterns do you get in these EZ Keys MIDI products?

See 5.

7) does the standard MIDI pattern library contain a significant number of patterns to be truly useful?

Depends on who you are, what you play/produce...

8) is the offer at Sweetwater the exact same as buying it from Toontrack?

Yes. They simply provide you a KEY which is used on the Toontrack site to download and install the product. There is a Toontrack Downlaod Manager (that I have found to work well. I've had no problems with it at all).

9) is there any advantage from buying directly from Toontrack like access to updates or anything?

No. See 8. When you open the Manager, it will tell you if there are updates for any product you own.

10) I'm not very interested in the virtual instrument included in Dream Machine and so I am a little concerned I'll end up with MIDI patterns that are specific to this instrument rather than generic ones I can use with my other librarys

The standard patterns are the same regardless of instrument.
The Dream Machine has a lot of really nice sounds (I think).
Whatever you produce in the program can be exported as MIDI to use with any other instrument you choose.
The patterns are provided with some really nice chord progressions, btu they can be changed to whatever you want. Or you can simply input any chord pattern you want and then apply the playing pattern/style of the provided styles to your chords.
All of this is fairly easy to see from short "tutorials" - either on the Toontrack site or Youtube.

For $29 (at Sweetwater), you aren't out a lot if you don't end up using it for anything. And another $10 will show you what comes with one of the MIDI expansion packs. (The New Wave one is a nice one in my opinion). I've bought bought a dozen of them over the years - during the holiday sales.


Watch closely (pause the video) and you can see the genres that come with the standard library. Then you can also see what comes with an expansion (Country in this case).



150+ Songs produced using BIAB RealTracks
And 50 more...
and some more...