EZ Drummer

[ckbarlow]

I'm using EZD with Logic 8; haven't installed Logic 9 yet.
But yeah, it works like a charm, including using the multi-out option. Love the sounds.

Here's a little screenshot of EZDrummer plugged into a Logic software instrument track; see the little plus button beneath the Solo button?



Click that, and Logic adds an aux track wired to EZD output 3-4. Click it again for 5-6, and again... you get the picksha. Pretty low PITA factor IMO!

The minor pain is that in EZD, their default multi preset, weirdly, sets the individual channels out as 1-7 with all three toms on output 5; whereas if you watch their videos, they mention that you really want to start with output 2 b/c 1 is normalled to be the main out. So, kick on 2, snare top on 3, snare bottom on 4, HH on 5, all three toms on 6, OH on 7 and room on 8. That is a minor PITA, but takes a few seconds to set up. Anybody, feel free to correct me on that if there's a better way, but that's what one of the videos on their site advises.

[mazz]

You mean THIS memo?

[mojobone]

I'm using EZD with Logic 8; haven't installed Logic 9 yet.
But yeah, it works like a charm, including using the multi-out option. Love the sounds.

Here's a little screenshot of EZDrummer plugged into a Logic software instrument track; see the little plus button beneath the Solo button?



Click that, and Logic adds an aux track wired to EZD output 3-4. Click it again for 5-6, and again... you get the picksha. Pretty low PITA factor IMO!

The minor pain is that in EZD, their default multi preset, weirdly, sets the individual channels out as 1-7 with all three toms on output 5; whereas if you watch their videos, they mention that you really want to start with output 2 b/c 1 is normalled to be the main out. So, kick on 2, snare top on 3, snare bottom on 4, HH on 5, all three toms on 6, OH on 7 and room on 8. That is a minor PITA, but takes a few seconds to set up. Anybody, feel free to correct me on that if there's a better way, but that's what one of the videos on their site advises.

Yeah, that's "plus one" to almost anybody's drum map, and more than just a minor pain. Can you have EZDrummer and not also EZPlayer Pro? Reason I ask is that EZPP works with pretty much every drum VI, pardon my French.

[fullbirdmusic]

I think so, mojo. I just looked and it doesn't seem like I have it. Maybe I missed installing it when I installed SD2.0...?
Dunno

I didn't realize the + button did it so efficiently - it's still a bit of a pain to do with all the settings and reverb and blah blah blah - ignore me, I'm lazy. I can't believe the mixer in SD2.0 doesn't have a reverb! Or am I missing something?

[ckbarlow]

The minor pain is that in EZD, their default multi preset, weirdly, sets the individual channels out as 1-7 with all three toms on output 5; whereas if you watch their videos, they mention that you really want to start with output 2 b/c 1 is normalled to be the main out. So, kick on 2, snare top on 3, snare bottom on 4, HH on 5, all three toms on 6, OH on 7 and room on 8. That is a minor PITA, but takes a few seconds to set up.

Yeah, that's "plus one" to almost anybody's drum map, and more than just a minor pain.

Well, then, save that as a channel strip setting. As in, load up an instance of EZDrummer, set the outputs as you'd like them (e.g. the outputs 2 through 8 map as above), then, using the Channel Strip Setting button's pop-up menu, choose "Save Channel Strip Setting As...," and save it as, say, My EZD Multi. I just tried it; it works. Next time you want to use EZD with multi outs, load your saved strip setting using the Setting button, instead of loading plain old EZD in the I/O section.

You could create similar channel-strip presets to your liking for each output aux strip.

But then, at that point, shouldn't you be saving all of that as part of a Logic template?

I haven't been using EZD enough that it gets up my nose so much, but that's what I'd do.

[Kolstad]

That's a great tip CK. Im going to mess with that in Live.

EZ Drummer player doesn't come with EZ Olayer Pro. I had to get that separately, but I think it's bundled with Superior.

[ckbarlow]

I'm also thinking, as an alternative (or in addition) to saving individual channel strip settings or having a template, you could probably set up the whole shebang - the plug-in with correct output assignments, plus the aux tracks with any effects you'd like -- and then put those in their own layer in Logic's Environment, which would then mean you could import that layer into any Logic project. A little more flexible than a template, because it would be exclusively the EZD-related tracks.

[fullbirdmusic]

I'm also thinking, as an alternative (or in addition) to saving individual channel strip settings or having a template, you could probably set up the whole shebang - the plug-in with correct output assignments, plus the aux tracks with any effects you'd like -- and then put those in their own layer in Logic's Environment, which would then mean you could import that layer into any Logic project. A little more flexible than a template, because it would be exclusively the EZD-related tracks.

That's what I'm talking about! That would really help. I really don't like using templates too often for what I use EZD for, that's really why I never set one up. I should dig deeper and make my stuff work for me. Thanks for all the info.

BTW, I installed EZ Player Pro from my SD2.0 installer disc (I missed it the first time) and it's really really dang cool! I have so many midi loops from all over and it was ALWAYS a pain to audition them here, put them there...now it's a breeze. Thanks to mojo for the motivation to dig into the goods!

Cheers,
Wes

[ckbarlow]

No prob! If the Environment is too fussy, just loading EZD via a chan strip setting will get you the output config you want every time.

Good luck!

two contrasting uses of ezd on my taxi page: Real Cool Head, and Voyage à Phoenix...

[mojobone]

I'm also thinking, as an alternative (or in addition) to saving individual channel strip settings or having a template, you could probably set up the whole shebang - the plug-in with correct output assignments, plus the aux tracks with any effects you'd like -- and then put those in their own layer in Logic's Environment, which would then mean you could import that layer into any Logic project. A little more flexible than a template, because it would be exclusively the EZD-related tracks.

Whoah, great post!