Toontrack Fusion EZX Expansion Pack

Big, resonant and articulate kits ideal for anything from classic to modern fusion.

In fusion, where jazz, rock and funk seamlessly blend with an eclectic mix of other styles, the drums are, and have always been, the definitive heartbeat. This EZX for EZdrummer 3 and Superior Drummer 3 aims to unravel some of the defining mile markers in the genre’s history and provide you with the ultimate collection of tailored drums. If you’re looking for big, resonant kits that can handle the entire dynamic range from the subtle to the explosive and offer tones covering the bright, crisp, earthy and warm, this EZX is for you.

The Fusion EZX was recorded by engineer Stefano Civetta (Nile Rodgers, Ed Sheeran, Earth, Wind and Fire) and drummer Pete Riley (Guthrie Govan, Keith Emerson, Richie Kotzen) at School Farm, a brand new state-of-the-art studio in Essex, England. With its SSL Duality console, stellar mic locker, 24 channels of Neve preamps and, most importantly, spacious but not overpoweringly reverberant live room, it was the perfect choice for capturing the vibrant energy of the drums in this EZX. In total, four unique kits are included, each handpicked, tuned and curated to offer its own niched tone and flair to the project. To add, one of the kits was recorded with two different drum head setups, essentially giving you a total of five completely different flavours of tone. Further, with the kits boasting seven toms each, extras such as side snares, octobans, cowbells, a gong bass drum, several extra kit pieces and a breadth of cymbals ranging from 6-inch splashes to 23-inch rides, stacks and chinas, this is an EZX that covers an enormous width.

In addition to the kits, a wealth of mix-ready presets as well as a collection of drum grooves and fills are provided, allowing you to instantly get going producing drum parts that perfectly pair Pete’s lock-tight drumming with Stefano’s impeccable high-fidelity engineering.

Beyond the scope of songwriting and music production, this EZX was also designed with the e-drummer in mind, offering tailored presets with balanced starting points and optimal settings for e-drum use.

Featuring all the traits you’d expect in an EZX labeled fusion but just as adaptable beyond any boundaries a genre may suggest, this is an expansion for limitless experimentation and exploration. In many ways, that’s just like the genre itself. Ready to make some songs where the drums do way more than just keep time? Enter the fusion universe.

• Big, resonant and articulate kits ideal for anything from classic to modern fusion
• Four unique 7-tom kits (out of which one was recorded with two different drum head setups)
• Featuring extras such as side snares, octobans, cowbells and a gong bass drum
• A total of 20 cymbals, 10 bass drums and 14 snares
• Toms encompassing sizes from 8 to 18 inches
• Sampled by drummer Pete Riley (Guthrie Govan, Keith Emerson, Richie Kotzen)
• Engineered by Stefano Civetta (Nile Rodgers, Ed Sheeran, Earth, Wind and Fire)
• Recorded at School Farm Studios in Essex, England
• Features mix-ready presets for a broad range of sounds
• Offers tailored solutions for e-drummers with custom presets

ABOUT THE STUDIO.

School Farm is a newly built studio located in a 17th century barn in Essex, England. Featuring an SSL Duality console, a stellar mic locker, 24 channels of Neve preamps and, most importantly, a spacious but not overpoweringly reverberant live room, it was the perfect choice for this EZX. The room has an exceptional frequency response that lends itself especially well to drums, offering that crisp, lush and crystal-clear high fidelity ambience that is one of the most identifying traits in a great drum sound for fusion.

THE DRUMS.

REALIZATION KIT.

Brand: Yamaha
Model: Recording Custom 9000
Material: Birch
Finish: Solid Black
Era: 1990s

This is the quintessential studio kit that was the choice of high profile fusion drummers throughout the 1990s. The 6-ply Birch shells range from 10” to 18” which combined with clear single-ply heads tuned high, create a bright, articulate and open tone, with plenty of attack and maximum resonance.

CONVERGENCE KIT

Brand: Sakae
Model: Almighty
Material: Birch
Finish: Real Black
Era: 2010s

With ultra-precise 45-degree bearing edges, the highest quality hardware and the last iteration of Hokkaido Birch shells from the famed factory in Japan, these drums are the pinnacle of craftsmanship. Equipped with double-ply clear batter heads tuned lower than the single-ply clear resonant heads, this kit has a distinct and focussed yet vividly vibrant ring that can’t be desired as anything other than exquisitely lush.

UNIFICATION KIT

Brand: Tama
Model: Star
Material: Maple
Finish: Gloss Sycamore
Era: 2020s

Inspired by Simon Phillips’ multi-tom setup complete with a gong drum and Octobans, this contemporary top-tier kit is constructed of a combination of 6-ply and 8-ply maple shells with a unique suspension system. With a warmer and rounder tone than the birch shells, this seven-tom kit was fitted with clear single-ply heads tuned for maximum resonance. The default bass drum was also recorded unported for that extra lively decay.

ABSORPTION KIT

Brand: Yamaha
Model: Recording Custom 9000
Material: Birch
Finish: Jade Green
Era: 1980s

The first incarnation of the most famous birch kit in recording history. These original models had 60-degree bearing edges with a slight round-over compared to the sharper 45-degree of later models. These drums have become rare and highly desirable among players and collectors alike. Fitted with coated single-ply heads, expect a slightly more vintage tone that still retains plenty of attack and resonance. Pete tours with a smaller version of this kit.

PROFUSION KIT

Brand: Yamaha
Model: Recording Custom 9000
Material: Birch
Finish: Jade Green
Era: 1980s

In stark contrast to the other kits, this version of the Absorption kit was sampled with the resonant heads removed and classic 2-ply clear heads with in-built damping fitted to reduce resonance and overtones. Inspired by Steve Gadd’s legendary drum solo on the Steely Dan song “Aja,” this lower tuned kit gives a much tighter and more focussed sound compared the more resonant vibe of the other kits in the library.

MICROPHONE OVERVIEW.

Here’s an overview of the mics used and roughly how they were placed around the kits and in the studio room.

THE MIXER & THE PRESETS.

In addition to the preset library created by the Toontrack sound design team, a collection of presets engineered by Stefano Civetta is provided. Each preset features its unique set of channels and macro controls, allowing you to fine-tune individual instrument levels as well as adjust the effects used behind the scenes, the overall saturation amount and more.

THE MIDI.

The included MIDI was performed by sampling drummer Pete Riley and designed to provide a palette of grooves and fills tailored specifically for the genre. The content in each “song” was inspired by the drummers, sounds and eras that correspond to the kits in the EZX, giving you great starting points to venture off from when creating your own material.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.

• 15.6 GB free disk space (plus 15.6 GB for download), 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended).
• A working EZdrummer 3.0.6 (or above) or Superior Drummer 3.3.6 (or above) installation.

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