simon

https://www.waves.com/downloads/release-notes looks like there might be some more waves updates too

of course - we are all just trying to help each other ?️ but I'm not sure how you can leave the LM alone if your products are showing unauthorised ? Are you saying there is another way to authorise without using the LM ?

I've had random unauthorisations so you can't just 'leave the LM alone' In fact I think Drew suggested (on the BFD forum) you periodically run it to refresh everything - but as we've seen sometimes that fails, for various reasons. At the very least you need to run it every 90 days, but even then you can't be sure that the authorisations will last another 90 days. I'm not trying to deny that you're having zero problems. The random nature of some peoples experiences compared to others is part of the problem I think.

have you looked at their website ? (actually 7 drum kits an 1 percussion 'kit') https://www.toontrack.com/product/ezdrummer-3/ Engineered by Michael Ilbert and recorded in 3 different rooms at Hansa in Berlin (the one that David Bowie used for the Berlin albums). Chance of them being 'rubbish' approximately nil There are some audio demos there too. only you can answer that question for yourself that's only partially true - music has always been created hand in hand with technology - from the violin and piano, to the Beatles 4 track recorders to the Who's Hiwatt amps to Stevie Wonders synths......buying EZD3 isn't going to write a hit record for you but it's one of the few drum tools that will help you get out ideas quickly and easily.

EZD3 comes with 8 different kits included (18gig of data) - if you buy EZD2 now and get the free upgrade then you will have an additional 2...giving 10 kits in total. I don't think that's unreasonable ? More than any of the competitors ? maybe not 'everyone' but I suspect most people who use EZD2 are really looking forward the the new GUI I can't possibly decide if EZD is value for money for you personally - but IMO it does feel like very good value to me and the upgrade price seems pretty reasonable too.

I used to have the attitude that "I'm a musician - I'm not going to use somebody else's MIDI files because that 'cheating'" - I've changed my mind Starting with EZKeys I realised that the midi patterns were really a really helpful and quick way of sketching out ideas, especially for somebody who's keyboard skills are pretty poor. By the time you've hacked and edited the patterns in EZKeys the bear no real relationship to the original anyway. I've started doing the same with SD3 too - the "tap to find" feature is brilliant too. Also worth taking a look at is Jamstix - I know @Grem is a big fan. I do have lots (and lots!) of reservations about Jamstix but the idea is brilliant, And you can 'generate' really realistic drum parts. I just wish TT would buy it and integrate it into EZD/SD3. Then it would work properly without the hilariously steep learning curve, GUI from 1983, bugs and (basically) abandoned development. TLDR - give 'em a go

it's mentioned in the TT EZD3 FAQ unfortunately no - it has to be a 'new' sale - either direct from TT or via a reseller.

I have a lot of EZX that I use in SD3 - and most of them are brilliant In the Pocket Dream Pop (currently on sale) Electronic Edge etc those are amazing edit https://www.toontrack.com/product/electronic-edge-ezx/ https://www.toontrack.com/product/in-the-pocket-ezx/ check out the demos - these aren't 'conventional' kits (although TT do lots of those too)

^^^^this I don't know anybody who has a bad thing to say about TT ? ....apart from.....please TT can we have an update to EZkeys ?

I did It's a different/quicker workflow - aimed more at songwriters and just getting something together quickly. SD3 has lots of the features (not the 'bandmate' thing though) but it's not quite as 'quick and dirty' as the EZ range You also get the EZD2 expansion (which is a bit meh in 2022 terms) but you will also get 8 (?) new kits, recorded in Hansa studios, that you can use in SD3 and the demos sound great I think it's a low risk strategy

that's where SD3 comes in or BFD3

I bought EZD2 earlier this week from https://www.inta-audio.com/toontrack-ez-drummer-2-virtual-drum-software-serial-download-p6481 10% off with code VIP10 - works out about £107 with free upgrade to EZD3 - worked perfectly and added 3 pending EZD3 licences in my account (yep 3 - cos there are expansion packs for EZD2 etc) I'm in the UK - and I have no idea if they will sell overseas - or if they remove the VAT for overseas etc....but was the cheapest I could find for UK folks note: the serial wasn't instant delivery - I had to wait until next morning for somebody IRL to email it - so if you buy don't panic if they don't reply immediately. I've only used this company once before and they seem legit - with a real UK shop.

yes -but T+S always seemed a fraction cheaper for us in the UK - possibly because of £/euro conversion even though Best Service can bill in £ too ? Or maybe the loyalty scheme isn't as good....can't remember

well the price is right FWIW the developer, Luca, is one of the 'good guys' - really helpful and responsive.

it's times like these that those of us in the UK mourn the loss of Time and Space (the online shop, not the metaphysical entities!) it was a great way to use/earn those loyalty points.

yes - Steinberg have announced an intention to phase out VST2 in ALL their product range - I'm really hoping they have a rethink and at the very least provide a wrapper of some sort. Suggested timeframe is about 2 years. We can't really comment in detail on EZDrummer 3 as we only have the information that's been released but let's extrapolate from what we do know about EZD2 and their other more recent products: EZD2 is a quick and easy way to get a good sounding drumtrack together. The sample packs are first rate (IMO) and cover everything from classic rock / drum machine / quirky etc. You can use it as a songwriting tool or just trigger it with a keyboard/edrums. EZD2 is getting a bit old now - and the GUI is pretty old fashioned and not resizable. It looks like they have transplanted the GUI of the more recent products such as EZbass, which is great. It looks like they have also added all the great integrated quick-songwriting tools from EZbass too. Why would you buy it without hearing ? well....: 1. it's cheaper to upgrade at the preorder price 2. We already know what it sounds like because lots of us have expansion packs that we already use - and we're anxious to use them with the new GUI/Engine 3. TT stuff is always great so there is very little risk. TT have learned a lot over the years and the expansion packs just get better and better (IMO) It's hard to say what is 'better' - personally I think SD3 is 'better' but that's much more expensive and for many use cases EZD hits the spot just fine. It sounds great - is easy to use - has good support and lots and lots of expansion packs YMMV

EZD3 isn't actually released yet so I'm not sure how much there is to say - we could just quote sections from the website ? I think it's totally on-topic to discuss alternatives to EZD in a thread about it ?

VST2 is still fully supported in C12 on windows - on mac it's still supported via Rosetta neither BFD or SD are currently VST3 - although EZD3 is. Toontrack have committed to supporting VST3 in the superior line but they didn't say if that would be a paid upgrade - SD4 ?

yes it does

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I'd be interested to learn what SD3 kits are they comparing to BFD3 kits when they say BFD3 is 'better' or 'more realistic' ? I think I've got all the SDX and lots of the EZX and quite a lot of BFD1/2/3 kits plus some platinum samples one so I'm very familiar with both. The latest SDX such as Hansa or Fields of Rock or Legacy or Decades or Orchestral Percussion are better than any of the BFD3 ones (IMO) - obviously there is a huge price difference too. Are people comparing BFD3 with older SD kits ? Let's also not forget that edrum support in SD3 is so much better than BFD3 (again IMO). Ultimately, of course, they both sound amazing and I really hope that BFD get their act together, despite InMusic.

yes - it's worth spending $49 - despite what I said in my previous replies

hi Steve I recognise you from the BFD forums and the FXP forums before that - I remember you saying you'd never tried any of the other main competitors to BFD so I think we should bear that in mind. I know you are a BFD beta tester but I fear you have a very rosy view of the current state of BFD although we do agree on one thing.... but lots of us also don't like the glacially slow progress on the bug fixing - the lack of new content - the poor communication (zero!) from support - the lack of VST3 or M1 support - the random disabling of our PAID FOR software mid project.........shall I go on ? I'm really sorry to be so unfriendly but as somebody that owns most of the BFD content it frustrates and annoys me what has happened to it.

yes I believe so

I'm the same and wasn't offered the update - I think it's only for V2 users.

are you currently on V1 or V2 ?