Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 - The Best Drum Library for Metal, Hardcore, and Heavy Rock
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0: A Review
If you are looking for a drum sound library that can deliver the unfriendly, dark, raw, and unpolished sounds of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock, you might want to check out Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 by Toontrack.
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 is an expansion pack for EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3 that features two complete kits from the Death & Darkness SDX, recorded in the legendary Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen.
In this article, we will review Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 and see what it has to offer, how to use it, and what are its pros and cons.
Introduction
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 is a drum sound library that aims to capture the essence of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock drums.
It is based on two kits from the Death & Darkness SDX, which is a massive collection of drums for extreme music genres.
The two kits are:
The Death Kit: A Sonor SQ2 kit with a selection of cymbals from Meinl, Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, Istanbul Agop.
The Darkness Kit: A Tama Starclassic kit with a selection of cymbals from Meinl, Zildjian, Sabian.
Both kits were recorded in the empty swimming pool drum room in Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen, who has worked with bands like Meshuggah, Behemoth, Hatesphere, etc.
The pool's tile floor and walls combined with the brick structure of the room create an ambience that is bright but still deep and loud yet still menacingly soothing.
The result is a collection of drum sounds that are ghastly, dark, raw, and unpolished, perfect for any material that calls for drums of the unfriendly kind.
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 also features a broad collection of mix-ready presets that cover various genres and styles within metal, hardcore, and heavy rock.
Additionally, it includes a collection of drum grooves by Jami Morgan of Code Orange that can inspire your creativity and help you create your own drum tracks. To use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0, you need to have EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3 installed on your computer. You can download and install Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 from the Toontrack Product Manager or from your Toontrack account. Once installed, you can load Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 from the EZX menu in EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3. You can then choose a kit, a preset, and a groove to start playing or composing your drum parts. The Kits
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 features two kits that are designed to deliver the sounds of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock drums.
The Death Kit is a Sonor SQ2 kit that consists of:
Kick: 22x18" Sonor SQ2 Vintage Maple with Powerstroke 3 batter head and Powerstroke Ebony resonant head.
Snare: 14x6" Sonor SQ2 Heavy Beech with Controlled Sound Coated batter head and Ambassador Hazy resonant head.
Toms: 10x8", 12x9", and 16x16" Sonor SQ2 Vintage Maple with Emperor Clear batter heads and Ambassador Clear resonant heads.
Cymbals: 14" Meinl Byzance Dark Hi-Hat, 18" Zildjian A Custom Projection Crash, 19" Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash, 20" Paiste Signature Full Crash, 21" Istanbul Agop Signature Ride, 18" Meinl Byzance China.
The Darkness Kit is a Tama Starclassic kit that consists of:
Kick: 22x18" Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Powerstroke 3 batter head and Powerstroke Ebony resonant head.
Snare: 14x6.5" Tama Starphonic Aluminum with Controlled Sound Coated batter head and Ambassador Hazy resonant head.
Toms: 10x8", 12x9", and 16x16" Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Emperor Clear batter heads and Ambassador Clear resonant heads.
Cymbals: 14" Meinl Byzance Dark Hi-Hat, 18" Zildjian A Custom Projection Crash, 19" Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash, 20" Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Ride, 21" Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Ride, 18" Meinl Byzance China.
Both kits have a similar configuration but different tonal characteristics. The Death Kit has a more aggressive and punchy sound, while the Darkness Kit has a more warm and smooth sound.
You can hear the difference between the two kits by switching between them in the EZX menu or by using the Kit Selector knob in the Mixer window.
You can also customize and tweak the kits to fit your needs by using the Edit window in EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3. You can change the volume, pitch, decay, and other parameters of each drum or cymbal. You can also swap any piece of the kit with another one from the same or different EZX library. The Presets
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 also features a broad collection of mix-ready presets that cover various genres and styles within metal, hardcore, and heavy rock.
The presets are divided into four categories:
Basic: These are the raw and unprocessed sounds of the kits, with minimal EQ and compression.
Mixed: These are the processed and polished sounds of the kits, with more EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects.
Engineered: These are the sounds of the kits as mixed by Tue Madsen, the engineer who recorded them. They have his signature sound and vibe.
Artist: These are the sounds of the kits as mixed by some of the artists who use them, such as Meshuggah, Behemoth, Code Orange, etc. They have their own unique sound and style.
You can choose a preset from the Preset menu in EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3. You can also use the Preset Selector knob in the Mixer window to switch between them.
The presets affect the sound of the kits by changing the volume, pan, EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects of each channel in the mixer. You can see and adjust these settings in the Mixer window.
You can also create your own presets by tweaking the settings to your liking and saving them for later use. You can do this by clicking on the Save button in the Preset menu or by using the Save As option in the Mixer window. The Grooves
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 also includes a collection of drum grooves that can inspire your creativity and help you create your own drum tracks.
The grooves are performed by Jami Morgan of Code Orange, a Grammy-nominated band that blends metal, hardcore, and rock in a unique way.
The grooves are divided into four categories:
Basic: These are simple and straightforward grooves that can work for any genre and style.
Advanced: These are more complex and challenging grooves that can add some spice and flavor to your tracks.
Experimental: These are unconventional and creative grooves that can push the boundaries of your drum production.
Fills: These are short and dynamic fills that can transition between different parts of your song.
You can access the grooves from the Grooves window in EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3. You can browse, preview, and drag and drop them into your DAW.
You can also edit and modify the grooves to suit your song structure and tempo. You can do this by using the Edit Play Style window in EZdrummer 2 or the Grid Editor window in Superior Drummer 3. You can change the velocity, timing, articulation, and other parameters of each hit or note. The Pros and Cons
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 is a drum sound library that can offer a lot of benefits and drawbacks for your drum production. Here are some of the pros and cons of using it.
Pros
It provides two complete kits that are recorded in a unique and acoustically pleasing room, giving them a distinctive and powerful sound.
It offers a wide range of presets that are mixed by professional engineers and artists, giving you instant access to high-quality drum sounds.
It includes a collection of grooves that are performed by a talented drummer, giving you inspiration and ideas for your drum tracks.
It is compatible with EZdrummer 2 and Superior Drummer 3, giving you flexibility and control over your drum production.
It is suitable for various genres and styles within metal, hardcore, and heavy rock, giving you versatility and diversity in your drum sounds.
Cons
It requires a lot of disk space and RAM, as it is a large and detailed library.
It may not be compatible with some older versions of EZdrummer or Superior Drummer, as it is a newer expansion pack.
It may not be suitable for some genres and styles outside of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock, as it is designed for those specific sounds.
It may not be very customizable or tweakable, as it is already processed and polished by the presets.
It may not be very original or unique, as it is based on existing kits from the Death & Darkness SDX.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 is a drum sound library that can provide you with the unfriendly, dark, raw, and unpolished sounds of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock drums.
It features two complete kits from the Death & Darkness SDX, recorded in the legendary Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen. It also features a broad collection of mix-ready presets that cover various genres and styles within metal, hardcore, and heavy rock. Additionally, it includes a collection of drum grooves by Jami Morgan of Code Orange that can inspire your creativity and help you create your own drum tracks.
If you are looking for a drum sound library that can deliver the sounds of metal, hardcore, and heavy rock drums, you might want to check out Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 by Toontrack.
You can find more information and resources on Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 on the following links:
[Toontrack Dark Matter EZX]
[Toontrack Death & Darkness SDX]
[Toontrack Antfarm Studio]
[Toontrack Tue Madsen]
[Toontrack Jami Morgan]
Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it useful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I would love to hear from you.
FAQs
What is the difference between Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 and Death & Darkness SDX?
Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 is an expansion pack for EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3 that features two kits from the Death & Darkness SDX, which is a larger collection of drums for extreme music genres. The Death & Darkness SDX contains six kits in total, recorded in two different studios by two different engineers. The Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 focuses on the two kits recorded in Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen.
How much disk space and RAM do I need to use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0?
You need at least 4 GB of free hard disk space and 4 GB of RAM to use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0. However, it is recommended to have more disk space and RAM for optimal performance and loading times.
Can I use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 with other drum libraries?
Yes, you can use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 with other drum libraries from Toontrack or other brands. You can mix and match different pieces of different kits to create your own custom kit. You can also layer different sounds to create more depth and complexity in your drum production.</p How can I get Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0?
You can get Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 from the Toontrack website or from any authorized dealer. You can also get it as part of the Metal Bundle, which includes four other EZX libraries for metal drums.
What are the system requirements for Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0?
You need to have a Windows or Mac computer with a 64-bit operating system and a 64-bit host application that supports VST, AU, or AAX formats. You also need to have EZdrummer 2 or Superior Drummer 3 installed on your computer.
Can I use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 for other genres and styles besides metal, hardcore, and heavy rock?
Yes, you can use Dark Matter EZX v1.0.0 for other genres and styles besides metal, hardcore, and heavy rock. However, you may need to adjust the settings and effects to make the sounds fit your genre and style. You can also use the Edit window or the Mixer window to change the sound of the kits or the presets. dcd2dc6462