Toontrack EZ Keys Session Organ EKX Expansion

Few instruments have made marks in music history so indelible that they in the process have become just as famed as some of the songs that were created on them. The Hammond* organ is undoubtedly one of those. Since it was first introduced, it has fostered generations of new players and has had a profound impact on the development of anything from gospel, jazz and blues to funk, prog, rock and the many iterations of modern music of today. We are proud to add this icon of organs as an expansion for the EZkeys 2 format.

For the sounds, the Toontrack team scoured the market for the most pristine, maintained and transparent organ from which all of its 91 spinning tonewheels were carefully sampled. In the final product, these recordings have been seamlessly merged with advanced modeling of both the organ’s tone and all its classic traits, like key clicks, percussion, vibrato and chorus. Add to that a flawless recreation of a quintessential rotary speaker and you have the utmost in extreme audio realism.

In addition to the sounds and effects, this EKX also includes a wealth of mix-ready presets for all major styles, genres and sounds as well as a comprehensive collection of curated organ MIDI performances. Paired with the powerful framework of features in EZkeys 2, all this combined makes the Session Organ EKX much more than merely a source of sound – it’s just as much a tool for creative songwriting and a host for new ideas.

• Capturing the iconic sound of a Hammond* B-3 electric organ
• Based on real recordings of tonewheels as well as advanced modeling
• Features a modeled Leslie* speaker with seamless user control for rotary speed
• Two full 61-note, five-octave manuals (keyboards)
• A fully featured 25-note bass pedal console
• Three sets of user-controllable drawbars
• Editable dynamics, key clicks, percussion and Scanner Vibrato effect
• MIDI automation functionality for all drawbars and controls
• Mix-ready presets inspired by rock, gospel, blues, jazz, hip-hop and more
• A broad selection of MIDI for a wealth of playing styles and genres

THE USER INTERFACE.

Get to know the main views of the Session Organ EKX.

KEYS

This is the default view from which you can reach all main controls.

ORGAN

Use MIDI Learn, manually adjust or select a preset to alter drawbar settings. From here, you can also control the pedals or tweak the dynamics, percussion and more!

EFFECTS

Each of the included presets has its own unique set of controls. From this panel, you can easily tweak or fine-tune the selected setting to perfectly suit your mix.

GROOVES

Get an overview of the included MIDI content, search by filters, access the Tap2Find feature, drag and drop parts to the EZkeys 2 Song Track and much more.

GRID EDITOR

Manually enter or edit, tweak and customize your parts in any aspect ranging overall timing to expression, drawbars, Scanner Vibrato and percussion.

BANDMATE

Simply drop your audio or MIDI in the Bandmate and have EZkeys 2 list its best matches for an accompanying organ part.

GET UNDER THE HOOD.

A classic Hammond is not just a mechanic piece of machinery, it’s a an instrument where a complex interplay of moving parts and features all contribute to making it one of the most expressive electric organs ever built.

RAWBARS & PRESET KEYS.
Learn all about the drawbars and how they were modeled to flawlessly replicate the authentic character of the original instrument.

SOUNDS & SETTINGS.
Get to know the powerful set of controls for fine-tuning dynamics or adding key clicks, percussion, Scanner Vibrato and more.

ROTARY-READY.

The three-dimensional swirl that changed the world.

The distinct three-dimensional swirl of a classic Leslie* rotary speaker is as synonymous with the Hammond* sound as the organ itself. For this EKX, we went above and beyond to find the best-possible specimen, put it in the perfect-sounding room, surrounded it with meticulously placed microphones and then captured it with more than 120 unique impulse responses. The result is, as expected, unparalleled realism.

• Based on the classic Leslie* 122 model
• Created using more than 60 unique impulse responses each for both the baffle and the horn
• Baffle captured with two different microphones
• Horn captured with seven (7) different microphones
• Adjust rotary speed with the Slow, Brake and Fast controls
• Each full signal chain preset offers its unique parameters for up to four microphone options

MEET YOUR NEW ORGANIST.

Session quality organ performances, at your fingertips.

Combined with the powerful features of EZkeys 2, the Session Organ EKX goes way beyond just being a sound library and a virtual instrument – it’s also just as much a source of inspiration and new ideas. Essentially, it’s like having your very own organ player – readily available, 24/7.

• Get suggestions for organ parts based on the audio or MIDI you drag and drop in the Bandmate
• Instantly preview how different organ parts sound in context
• Use the parts as starting points that you can continue to tweak, edit and fine-tune
• Endless options for experimentation

THE SOUNDS & THE PRESETS.

Expression in every detail.

This is an instrument that can shoulder any song, task or style. Get ready a meticulously captured organ and mix-ready presets that cover anything from the basics, the subtle and the must-haves to the big, saturated and distorted.

MIX-READY PRESETS.
Easy access and full creative control over a wealth of full signal chain presets tailored for anything from the silky smooth to the gritty!

DRAWBAR PRESETS.
The Session Organ EKX includes ten set “factory” drawbar presets each for the upper and lower manuals as well as two adjustable drawbar keys.

• Modelled after a pristine and meticulously maintained Hammond* organ
• Sounds based on real recordings of tonewheels as well as advanced modelling
• Mix-ready presets featuring complete signal chains of effects and mics
• Presets for different styles and genres
• Settings inspired by classic performances, players and bands
• Detailed user control of parameters unique to each preset

THE MIDI.

Customizable building blocks for your songs.

A curated collection of life-like organ performances, ready for you to hone, mold and shape to fit your songs.

• Approx. 600 individually performed MIDI files unique to this product
• For different styles and genres like pop, rock, soul, gospel, jazz, blues and more
• Organized in song part building blocks
• Includes a section for basic ostinatos and arpeggios tailored for use with an organ
• Extras like riffs, fills and more

MAXIMUM PLAYABILITY.

The compact but powerful solution for any player.

As always, a software instrument isn’t complete if it can’t be played. That’s why we’ve made sure that the Session Organ EKX offers an equally unrivaled experience for the live performer as for the songwriter.

• Carefully tested and vetted with organ players for maximum feel and playability
• Works as a plug-in or as a standalone application (with EZkeys 2)
• Split range mode – play multiple organ parts on the same keyboard range/channel
• Toggle drawbar preset keys on/off on MIDI input
• Control the Rotary Speed feature with sustain pedal
• Save your own default loading state for easy access

THE HAMMOND ORGAN STORY.

A brief background to one of the most played, revered and expressive organ instruments ever built.

Had it not been for Laurens Hammond’s ingenuity, music history as we know it would likely have played out differently. It started in the early 1920s with a spring-driven clock from which he later was inspired to create tonewheels that generated sound. As history has it, Laurens eventually purchased a used piano for $15 which he used to build his prototype around. The first instrument was finally unveiled to the public in 1935.

In the initial year alone, more than 1,750 churches had installed a Hammond.* By the end of that decade, in excess of 200 instruments were made every month and by the mid-’60s, an estimated 50,000 churches had a Hammond* organ. Needless to say, as a substitute for the classic and, quite frankly, enormously sized pipe organ, it was a hit. At that, because of its relative portability and, maybe even more so, its unique expression and tone, the Hammond* became equally as much of a hit outside the church realm and found its natural spot in anything from jazz and blues to rock, soul and R&B.

Over the years, this instrument has fostered new generations of players and been more influential than any musical instrument in its niche. Still to this day, the Hammond* organ remains one of the most played, revered and expressive organ instruments ever invented. Simply put, a Hammond* is more than an organ.