Toontrack have released Wood EKX and Metal EKX, new melodic expansions for EZkeys 2, each available for €89.00.
Melodic Percussion – Wood EKX
As obvious in soundtracks and classical arrangements as in anything from pop and rock to hip-hop and all thinkable offshoots of electronic dance music, the marimba and the xylophone are the uncontested big two in the family of wooden melodic percussive instruments. The dark, rich, full, earthy and plucky sound of the marimba is as ideal for arpeggios and leads in an EDM track as it is for a dramatic segue in a film. Equally, the more accentuated, bright and dry tone of the xylophone is an amazing and piercingly effective melodic voice in any context it’s used.
Recorded to cater to anything from full-scale classical compositions to any general songwriting needs, both instruments were captured at the famed 330 square meter main hall at Galaxy Studios using an array of different microphones. In addition to a generous selection of close mics positioned to pick up the immediate attack and body of each instrument, several mics were positioned around them for complete surround sound compatibility in up to 5.0 systems. In addition, the marimba was also recorded in the smaller Studio 1 room to offer an even more intimate take on the same instrument.
Aside from the instruments, this EKX also includes a basic library of MIDI unique to the product as well as a broad collection of presets showcasing the sounds and microphone options in anything from the scaled-down to the monumentally big.
Be it for classical, acoustic or electronic – if you’re looking for the quintessential melodic percussion instruments that can be seamlessly applied in virtually any musical narrative, this EKX is for you.
Melodic Percussion – Metal EKX
This EKX for EZkeys 2 includes two absolute staples when it comes to melodic percussion: a vibraphone and a glockenspiel. Heard in not only countless classical arrangements but also across all genres of popular music, these staples from the metallophone family of instruments have become two of the definite go-tos for audio creatives across the board. The vibraphone, with its vivid tremolo and sustained colorful, metallic timbre, boasts a strikingly distinct character. Likewise, the glockenspiel, with its curious tinkle and bright, bell-like tone, simply has an inimitable harmonic voice able to cut through in any musical context. Undoubtedly, if you’re looking for percussive and melodic instruments that have an extraordinary ability to carry melodies that sing, ring and soar, these two gems are essential.
To capture the instruments, the Toontrack sound design team returned to the same complex that the Superior Drummer 3 core library and Orchestral Percussion SDX were recorded in; Galaxy Studios. Built with an unprecedented attention to detail and designed to withstand virtually any noise interference from the outside world, this is the epitome of a studio for sampling delicate instruments of this kind.
To offer flexible use in anything from the full-scale and orchestral down to the intimate and natural, the setup used to capture the two instruments boasts an array of 17 individual microphones. In the final product, these mics are used to give you mix-ready presets showcasing the instruments in all imaginable mixes, tonalities and colors. In addition, the vibraphone was recorded in both the main hall and the smaller Studio 1 room as well as sampled with mallets and a violin bow, offering you three completely opposing tonal takes. Aside from the instruments themselves, this EKX also includes a basic library of MIDI enabling you to start creating from the get-go.
If you’re looking to supercharge your EZkeys 2 with a vividly vibrant EKX adaptable in any context from orchestral to singer-songwriter, jazz, rock, electronic and pop – this is one that should top your list.
For more information on both expansion packs, click here:
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