simon

https://www.waves.com/downloads/release-notes

looks like there might be some more waves updates too

2 minutes ago, Heath Row said:

I'm just saying what has and still does work for me. Take it or leave it, no skin off my nose.

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 ?

45 minutes ago, Heath Row said:

Just out of curiosity, are you signing in to InMusic or the TM before you try to use BFD? If you are don't, after everything is set up, leave the LM alone, unless you are installing a new expansion, and no need to sign in to the InMusic site. Just be set up and be on your way, It's what I do, I don't and haven't signed into anything since I loaded my last expansion. Zero problems online or off.

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.

1 minute ago, Tim Smith said:

I appreciate you pointing this out. I guess the question here is 18gigs of what? Certainly not unreasonable. I mean how much does a drummer and set of drums cost rented for a few hours? This is a pittance.

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.  

6 minutes ago, Tim Smith said:

What is a guy going to do with three drum programs all using different complicated GUIs and each with many different drum kits and more loops than anyone can count in a day? Will he be creating anything or looking at drums all day?

only you can answer that question for yourself

7 minutes ago, Tim Smith said:

Programs never made hit records. People did

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.

7 minutes ago, Tim Smith said:

The basic factory kits in many of the better drum programs will let you swap out one drum for another IN THE INCLUDED KIT. For me BFD 1&2 were like that.

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 ?

8 minutes ago, Tim Smith said:

Plus, I don't think everyone is buying a new drum program because the GUI was improved. Relearning a reengineered drum GUI might take time and time in the studio is important. If I worked well in the old GUI why would I want another one?

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.

7 hours ago, PavlovsCat said:

For those of you have ez2 and SD2 or 3, do you enjoy ezD because of the patterns? For me, I don't use the patterns,  I'm only focused on the included kits. Like Simon, I own a bunch of ezD kits and like them. Sure, they're not as extensively sampled as SD kits, but I  think they're really nice for what they are. I suppose I should start trying different ways of working,  as I simply just play a part in and if I like it I use it, if I don't I play it again.  But I have bad tendinitis and can't play very well anymore,  so I  should try editing. 

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

5 hours ago, Marc Cormier said:

Might have been mentioned already but does the upgrade for $79 apply if you buy EZD2 from a private sale (license transfer?)

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.

6 minutes ago, abacab said:

The drum kits and such are decent, but probably were not meant to compete with the leading drum plugins. Maybe TT are raising the bar in this regard the 3rd time around? We'll soon see!

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)

7 minutes ago, Grem said:

TT makes great products

^^^^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 ?

Just now, PavlovsCat said:

Does anyone see a reason(s) to get ezDrummer3 when they already have Superior Drummer?  

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 

5 minutes ago, DeeringAmps said:

For those that want complete control, EZD isn't the answer.

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.

Just now, Steve Madden said:

Agreed, but doesn't Best Services have loyalty points of a sort as well?

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.

46 minutes ago, Tim Smith said:

Thanks for clearing that up. Correct me if I'm wrong here. The writing is on the wall to phase out VST2 in C12 unless they changed course due to customer complaints.

What is EZDrummer 3 compared to other drum programs? How is it better, if it is better? In what ways is it better? Can we quantify 'better' here?

And this is a psychological question-

Why would a person pre buy a product they have never heard or demo'd?

 

 

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

13 minutes ago, DeeringAmps said:

7 pages and how much of it is NOT about EZD3?
I get it, we often get off on a tangent.
BUT, BFD, BiaB; I mean BFD!
Really, go get a room!
(or at least start a new thread)

t

sorry to rant...

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 ?

2 hours ago, Tim Smith said:

Cubase won't scan VST 2

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 ?

17 minutes ago, Toffo said:

Does anyone know if this includes EZdrummer 2 bought from 3rd party sellers?

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.

27 minutes ago, PavlovsCat said:

the demos of BFD3 easily sound good enough to justify spending $49USD

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

11 minutes ago, Twaddle said:

It very almost is rock solid now and the most common issue has been with the licence manager.
There is an update being tested as I speak that should hopefully fix. The other issue has been with their server and not the licence manager itself.
It was never ready for release but I think most of the issues a drawing to a close.

Most of us aren't keen on the new licensing structure, currently the LM will need to log in to your account to reauthorise the software and libraries every 90 days.                

For people who prefer to keep their DAWs off-line that's been a major headache. I'm against the whole thing on principle but since my DAW is on-line it should be fine when it works properly and it will run the LM in the background.

 

Steve

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....

Quote

Most of us aren't keen on the new licensing structure

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.

7 minutes ago, LAGinz said:

Haven’t waded through all the promotional material on EZDrummer 3, but one question to which I hope the obvious answer is yes: Will we be able to use all the kits (standard and expansion) as well as standard and purchased midipacks which we already have with 2?

yes I believe so

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

14 minutes ago, JoeGBradford said:

Still nothing happening for me on the update so I'll check again in a few days. 

 

are you currently on V1 or V2 ?