EZKeys for 29 USD (At Sweetwater) has to be the lowest price I have seen. I am hoping this means EZKeys 2 is finally coming soon.

https://www.toontrack.com/black-friday/?utm_source=Facebook%26Instagram&utm_campaign=BF+-+WEEK+-+US%2C+EU%2C+SE+%282019%29+%23&Adset.Name=BF+-+WEEK+-+RETARGET+%28ALL+WEEK%29+-+VIDEO&fbclid=IwAR2_yuNs31dD6GXlggkexvjlG_M99RvPFQ_0dS6BAC_Qx35XzPw1YlFoYsM

Are you talking about the EZKeys Dream Machine? It's showing here at $36.

I'm a big fan of EZDrummer2 but don't know anything about EZKeys, is the Dream Machine standalone or is it an expansion library for EZKeys?

Yes, keep an eye out for toontrack daily sales. Late last night I picked up ambient and guitar amps for EZMix2 at $20 USD each. That was the lowest price I have ever seen for EZMix2 effects.

Ya this is tricky. For 36$ you get the full EZkeys app with a single piano (the dream machine). Any thing after this is an addon. Many of the midi libraries are going for $10 bucks. this is a great way to get introduced to the program. But you will want to buy more add ons over time.

Thanks! For $36 it's a no brainer, I bought it

They do this every year.

And when they do, Sweetwater has that same thing (piano pack) for $29.
I'll be getting it there. (same way I got the String Machine, the Upright and the Studio Grand and Electric pianos over the years).

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EZkeysDM--toontrack-ezkeys-dream-machine-songwriting-software-and-virtual-pianos


Usually, they (Sweetwater) also have the $10 midi pack deals for $9 (but they don't seem to at the moment).

^^^This! I have the same piano modules.

So I think I understand that this includes the complete EZ Keys application but is limited to a couple of virtual instruments. Is that correct?

Further, maybe someone can help me but does EZ Keys (and this deal specifically) have built-in patterns or riffs to help build keyboard tracks?

If so, does this package include that in its entirety?

And assuming everything so far is affirmative, can I create/build a key track in EZ Keys and then export it to my DAW as MIDI and then apply/assign a different virtual keyboard such as one from my Kontakt collection? And still retain all of the patterns and nuances and whatever EZ Keys let me build?

If so I think this is a no-brainer for me as I do not play keys but would love another option besides BIAB to build a key track.

John, this is a no brainer. It will do all you said.

It is a complete package. but for 29$ you are limited to one virtual instrument, the String Machine. Other keyboards and pianos will be addons at a cost. I eventually invested a ~ couple hundred dollars to get a lot more content.

Yes you will get a nice collection of patterns or riffs to help build keyboard tracks.

Yes, it works sweet in Reaper to move midi around and assign anything you want to it. Perhaps you have other VST Pianos? No problem

An yes, you can move BIAB chord sheets into EZKeys, opps you don't ask that.

Here is what you get with String Machine.

Where's that EZBass they were releasing ?
With EZKeys you can set it to Midi Out and use it with any Virtual Instrument.
You can create and save your own patterns from midi.
It will follow the BB Chord Output track fitting the phrases to the BB chord progression.
Biab Chord Sheet to EZKeys

Ya, no ezkeys2 and no ezbass - after all these years of waiting. Turns out Toontrack is less than 100 employees. With the flagship products SD3 and EZD2 they just don't have the horsepower to keep the other lines on an agressive timeline.

They announced a few weeks ago that EZBass is delayed and won’t be released until 2020.

I’m holding out for EZTalent!!

Thanks everyone! A few follow up questions if you don't mind?

1) buying any EZ Keys from the EZ Keys Line includes the standard MIDI pattern library and one main virtual instrument?
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?
3) does it include additional MIDI patterns for the included instrument?
4) buying another EZ Keys Line product is at a reduced price because you are buying the instrument and already have the application?
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?
6) how much additional patterns do you get in these EZ Keys MIDI products?
7) does the standard MIDI pattern library contain a significant number of patterns to be truly useful?
8) is the offer at Sweetwater the exact same as buying it from Toontrack?
9) is there any advantage from buying directly from Toontrack like access to updates or anything?
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

Dang, this product is harder to buy and configure than anything I've seen yet!

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).

Floyd, thanx for this. I wasn't aware of how good EZKeys were at MIDI. IMHO PGMusic should view this to see what the competition is doing in MIDI. It looks like I'm going to be spending some money.

Good to see there are some new recruits for EZKeys. It is really an application which integrates well with both BIAB and Reaper for music making. Definitely a different sales model compared to BIAB. For EZKeys you have to individually buy all the pieces. But you can skip stuff which may not be to your taste.

Like BIAB there are sales (this time of year generally but others as well) where the pricing does down to the no-brainer level. Ask FJ about how he got his pair of grands, the sales can be very good at times. Oh, and by the way always check pricing at Sweetwater.

Floyd, thank you so much for such detailed and informative responses to my questions! I'm sold! Totally. Gonna buy it today.

Fitting EZKeys Midi phrases to chord track:
EZKeys will also fit any standard midi files to the chord track.

Full Screen > Import BB Chords to EZKeys

Full Screen > Inserting EZKeys Browser Phrases into BB Chords

Sweetwater has the Dream Machine package for $29 US. The same package on the ToonTrack website is $39 US.

However, the ToonTrack website also offers +++ EZmix2 +++ for $39 US. If, like me, you're not an experienced mixer this is a fantastic deal. The EZmix2 plug-in does a couple of things that greatly help beginners. First it puts together an effects chain appropriate to the instrument, vocalist, buss or to master. Second each effects chain has two rotary controls that can be used to fine tune the settings to your taste.

Sale prices are available at the ToonTracks website until December 02.

I went to Sweetwater and grabbed the Dream Machine package for $29 along with two MIDI packs for $10 each (Drama and Hooks & Chords).

I downloaded and installed the whole thing and I can see this is going to be quite a lot of fun! As much as I like the keys that came with I look forward to a sale on a piano so I can use this with basic piano sounds though.

Thanks to Dan for starting this thread and turning me on to EZKeys as well as answering my questions.

Thanks to Floyd for patiently answering my questions in perfect detail.

Thanks to Pipeline for always helping with tech tips to get the most out of these tools.

Thanks to Mario for being a resident MIDI supporter and expert for those of us who know nothing about it.

Thanks Jim, I got EZMix 2 and the Mastering pack, and got out of there quick before I saw anything else.

It's $36 on the toontrack site actually, not $39.

I'm hoping they will offer some of the EZDrummer midi expansion packs on sale at some point, so far not.
Most of the EZX sound expansion packages are on sale however, I picked up Southern Soul and will probably get at least one more before the sale is over.

Toontracks has traditionally done a "12 Days to Christmas Sale". There has always been an EZKeys offer then (I got all of mine then)...and at least one more MIDI pack...

I just ordered the Dream Machine and a MIDI pack from Sweetwater for $29 each. Hopefully later today I can install them and have some fun/1

Don't forget you have
http://www.prosonic-studios.com/midi-drum-beats/
I got their Country & Folk pack
"Get over 72,000 pro-quality drum loops for only $29.95"
You can re-map from GM to EZD with MidiFileMapper
https://github.com/markheath/midifilemapper/wiki

https://groovemonkee.com/

I am actually not a personal fan of the e-pianos and the synths. I once won a free version of IK Multimedia Syntronic just by entering the contest (can't win if you don't enter). So I have a boat load of vintage sounding synths at my disposal.

For EZKeys I have the Grand for pure piano and several of the e-pianos - all from sales over the years. I also have the "String Machine" which I picked up years back. And I pick up most of the midi packs when ever they drop below $10.

But now I have just realize this current sale is the "Dream Machine". I thought this was the "Sting machine". [Who makes this stuff up?] I don't have this one. And here I am telling you folks this is a no brainer and I have not even considered buying it since I thought I had it. So I spent some time listening to the String machine - ya more e-piano, but, come on it is less than $30. That is well below my pain threshold. So I have put it in my Shopping cart over at Sweetwater and will likely pull the trigger later today.

Just sayin.

Happy Thanksgiving Guys.

What pack did you pickup? Inquiring minds want to know. I see this is a new one which sounded cool. But I only wait for sales...

Also have a look at UJAM 50% OFF
https://www.ujam.com/black-friday

They are RealPlaying as well as a sample set.
The Guitars and Bass will follow the BB Chord Output midi.
The Drums are RealPlaying also and have a sample set as well.

Dream Machine has a really good Rhodes sound which is perfect for the type of music I do. And some other great sounds too.

Thanks again for the heads up! Man, I love it, wish I had bought it years ago.

I really appreciate the sentiment... we have got to pace ourselves. It is going to be a long sales season.

Man, what a bunch of great deals. I only picked up their free player last summer but it put me on their mailing list. I just checked out the link I got this morning and there's some tasty stuff at these prices. With all the positive comments I just may pull the trigger on everything and figure it out later. Hey, it's a hobby, right?

Bob

Right! And anyway, what else ya gonna do with all that money? Leave it to the kids? Nah!

Today they added a few EZD2 midi expansion packs for sale, 66% off. I'm going to pick up a couple of them.

Also two of the EZX sound expansions at 75% off (the rest are also on sale for 40% off).
Need to audition them first to see if they are something I would use.

Thanks Jim and Pipeline. This sounds great.
One Q: Will it work with RealBand?
Mike

I just tried it and it seems to work ok.
The Mastering one you can load on the master in the mixer then load one on each track.
To have all the VST windows open you can use PluginFlipFlop Free if you have JBridge or MiniHost Free
You just load FlipFlop or MiniHost then load EZMix in them.

A bit hot today hey.

Thanks Pipeline. If this product is half as good as the website makes out it will be a great help. I think I will head there now.
Yes, it is a bit warm today. Where are you from?
Cheers,
Mike

I have only tried it a bit but it seem good for getting things done quick.
Just north of the Gold Coast.