Brian Walton

I don't remember a scalable UI in the first release, but it is there now! Looks like a good update.

It is stated on the website that if you buy a full version during the "pre-order" period that you get the upgrade to EZKeys 2. There are still 3rd parties to buy them from so it isn't like you have to order a v1 seat from them directly...you just need to register it in this period. I have an unregistered full Classic Electric I'm debating what to do with. It would either be a sell it situation or add it to an account to get more seats as I do use more than 2 computers (but not at the same time)

An existing user can buy a full version to get the upgrade also. This is simply a 3rd party selling it at a larger discount than everyone else is. That also looks like a pretty obscure store.

They changed it to about $12 last year from what I recall for the specific pack offered. Retail remained the same but percent off reduced.

Personally speaking I thought the upgrade price was also crazy. I think the asking price for an upgrade was more than double what I'd paid for SD 2 just a few months before release. And them they also had a very short period. I don't think I've even used SD 2 on a project and just abandoned it as there is no upgrade path.

Good, didn't need the temptation of a $50 purchase when I already have all the PA alternatives.

Toontrack isn't exactly the pinnacle of best customer practices either

Word on the street is Current serial numbers for expansions won't work for yet to be released sound expansions. If Bapu has all the current sounds of EZK1, those extra serials don't provide value to him personally as there is nothing left to expand.

That is lame. too bad they are not full product keys, those should sell like hotcakes at a discount due to the upgrade offer. You really have all the sound expansions for EZKeys? That is quite a chunk of change.

Everyone is different in the approach, but honestly don't care about the built in sounds (none of them are world class) but simply use the brain to drive other VSTs. The approach I'd tend to suggest taking is if you plan to use this to build out ideas, what instruments/sounds would you want to preview things with? Then once you have ideas together you drag to other instrument tracks or route the midi output. Thus something like a classic electric or grand piano can be a good "preview" instrument, where a mellotron is a really specific sound (and more of an expansion choice, IMO). At ~$80 for one instrument expansion - they certainly are not a "go to" for me to expand the sounds of the product. The value for me personally is in the engine. It almost sounds like they are going to make the MIDI package broader in 2 which is a free upgrade. The Add On Mini Packs I think are where to be more strategic about it. These are what can help fuel the creativity and ideas.

Ok, OK, I'm in

I had the same, but you can order through plugin boutuque to get a serial number that becomes redundant thanks to the generious authorization system. At least it will give you the 5 seconds of euphoria of getting something for free.

If you use it on non-vocal instances, you may find ClarityVx isn't the right tool for the job.

Also be careful/aware that the Acon doesn't come with the dialog extract or derustle dialog plugins in this package. For what it does come with DeNoise 2, you really need a section of consistant noise to grab for it to work fairly well. While I don't like WAVES, ClarityVX is the only thing I care about from them, and I already own Acon DeNoise 2. (And RX Elements). The use of each depends on the source. I think it is absolutly worth the $15, but it won't have the magic of ClarityVX on some sources.

Nice free one. ADSR had this with free with purchase a couple years back. Love the fact you don't need to grab an extra seat for other machines because they use the Melda licensing system where it is good for as many computers as you personally own as long as you are the only user and free updates for life - with no WUP.

Yeah, I got the pedal in a large part so that I could track without running one comptuer into another computer. You need to have the pedal plugged in for the Librarian tab (which I'm betting you can't even see). I haven't tried running the program while open and selecting through things on the same computer I'm running an audio interface so not sure how well they play together on the same machine yet. I am using the pedal into a Radial JDI direct box into a different interface, but if I'm running the Librarian tab, technically I'm also conncting it to a different laptop instead of through the same computer I'm running the DAW on - but what you are asking might also be possible - just haven't tried.

They gave the eventide away for free a while back too, so someone might have it and not even realize it. If they allow transfers via ilok that also might open the door for someone willing to part with it for a nice discount below retail.

Yeah they should let you load 20, so you gotta be careful there. They recently ran the unlimited version for $50 (less with jam points) so it might be a little while before they drop it that low again. Don't remember what limitations were on the IRs, I caved in close to release as I what I heard was pretty good and I knew I'd want to capture stuff eventually. Regretfully they dropped the entry tier quickly and then also released the pedal I had to get. So it was a double purchase of sorts and can't transfer as each had a NFR due to combo with hardware.

$34 per plugin is more than retail and this assumes each and every plugin added is one you would have bought. I personally just don't see it as a value proposition.

Click the presets tab in ToneX Then right click and "import preset" Note you can select a bunch at one time on import.

Can't believe I forgot the link! Thanks! He has done a ton of Kemper packs and you can check out his YouTube channel to get a feel for how many amps he owns (he has also borrowed and had some temporarily to capture). I like packs like this because you get a good range of what the amp does and can setup presets to switch between gain levels fairly easily for pedal use. I think IKM didn't do as much of this approach as one might expect even in MaX, with the exception of a few pieces of gear such as a Klon where they ran quite a few different settings.

Ok, that is the spoiler for his April Fools "pay double" sale Legitimate discounts if you use the code though. I had the Trainwreck, but stocked up on the Purple Plexi, Gibson Skylark, and Ampeg 58 Rocket due to the discount. (I'm sure it also applies to his Kemper and Helix packs...but my only interest is ToneX)

This is always the case with loyalty vouchers.

The last paragraph was epic. Made my day already.