abacab

Wow! Fantastic cover, and all virtual as well!

The DAW plugin is pretty cool. And you can still bake your own songs, while using BIAB for session backing tracks to jam with, and as an idea generator.

Ah, OK Jim. Understood. Then I don't really know what to recommend. The built-in instruments in most DAWs generally require a similar learning curve as a VSTi does. I had assumed that you were approaching the question from a strictly cost/benefit perspective. I suppose the old advice of just plugging your instrument into the DAW and recording that to a track still makes great sense as far as musicality is concerned.

Another option for electronic drumming, there is this Drum Synth 500, a hybrid 8 channel drum synth which has 2 sampler channels, where you can load your own waves. Comes with 500 drum sounds, 50 kits, 500 samples, and 500 MIDI loops. No sequencer included, but the MIDI can trigger the synth from your DAW. So there is potential for "atmospheres" using the sampler channels... ADSR has it now for $44.70 until Jan 10th. I have seen it for less, though. I got it direct from Akai back in March in one of their $9.99 daily deals. https://www.adsrsounds.com/product/software/air-music-tech-drum-synth-500-drum-synth/

Same here. I upgraded to the 2021 UltraPAK+ on HDD last year, and I believe it has all I need for now! And speaking of Toontrack, my budget took a severe beating this year as I acquired EZdrummer, EZkeys, and EZbass, along with some expansions and MIDI packs...

"Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows - Time is Running Out! Our SALE on Band-in-a-Box® 2022 Upgrade purchases is almost over! Save up to 50% when you purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2022 for Windows Upgrade, but only until December 31st!" https://www.pgmusic.com/news.htm

Just added it to my Groove3 favorites list.

Hope you like it! This Dream Pop kit is interesting and different! Definitely not another run of the mill acoustic drum kit. Definitely useful for electronic music & synth based genres. Here is what Sound on Sound had to say about it a few years ago... "Toontrack’s Dream Pop EZX expansion pack for EZdrummer is most definitely not just another acoustic drum kit. In fact Toontrack themselves describe it as “nature meets technology”, blending as it does samples of organic sounds, conventional drum kit pieces and electronic percussion — and many of the sounds are processed in some way. Nor are all the sounds percussive: you can call up slow-attack textural whooshes, synth tones and processed natural sounds as well as electronic and acoustic drum voices." https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/toontrack-dream-pop-ezx

Rick wrapped?

As a newbie to the franchise, are there any significant differences between 'Tomb Raider GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION' and 'Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration'? The first title appears to be the original, while the second is described as "Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration includes the base game and Season Pass featuring all-new content. Explore Croft Manor in the new “Blood Ties” story, then defend it against a zombie invasion in “Lara’s Nightmare”." So I was wondering if it's actually necessary to install both...

Yep, that link above gets you an automatic 40% discount for the subscription. But if you apply the code for the 20% off, that replaces the auto 40% off...

Take a look at Thomann. They are selling that one for $66 USD. Many other EZX are on sale for $39 thru 12/31. They are also selling value 3-packs of EZX licenses for for $141 = $47 per EZX. Perfect for those higher priced titles! https://www.thomannmusic.com/toontrack_ezx.html

Ableton Live Lite also ships with the OEM software bundle for many MIDI hardware controllers and/or audio interfaces. You might want to check see if you already have a license that you may have overlooked!

I just updated my post to add that qualification...

Yes sir, you have!!! ?

Right, but if you only select from the long list of $39 options, you could get 3 for $39 = $117. But that 3-pack might be a good option, for the higher priced EZX, if those are what you are looking for!

Well then, scook is a mod, and his reply on page 1 was not very encouraging...

Nope. Toontrack site has a sale price, but it's set at $53 USD, not $39...

Nearly every great deal in the Deals forum in 2021...

Well, what are the next steps towards getting this new sub-forum officially approved?

Singer Songwriter EZX is $66.

Nice catch! I was just searching for that specific EZX after seeing it for $47 at Time+Space. Right on!