Toontrack has released two new MIDI packs for EZdrummer 2, Superior Drummer 3 and EZkeys. The Sixties Pop EZkeys MIDI pack features a collection of piano MIDI inspired by the sixties pop scene.
Sprung out of post-war optimism, the ’60s wasn’t only a time of liberty and individuality, it was in many ways a defining decade for culture and music. From both sides of the Atlantic, bands and artists garnered success that shook values to the core and set off a pop explosion that had an aftershock lasting to this day. This is the inspiration base for the Sixties Pop EZkeys MIDI pack.
Think the Monkees, Beach Boys, the Beatles, Roy Orbison and many, many more and you’ll hear it. Expect song ideas that cover the entire range from ballads to up-tempo, all with the songwriting quirks and denominators of the ’60s zeitgeist.
Sixties Pop EZkeys MIDI features
- Piano MIDI inspired by the sixties pop scene.
- Performed by professional session player.
- 4/4 and 6/8 in straight and/or swing feel with tempos ranging from 72 BPM to 160 BPM.
- Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus and bridge sections.
Also released is the Sixties Pop Grooves MIDI pack, a collection of MIDI drum grooves by Norman Garschke.
Transitioning from rhythm and blues, rock ’n’ roll and soul to a more open sound, the ’60s pop era is one of blurred lines when it comes to drums. Suddenly, drummers were caught in the midst of a musical and cultural revolution bursting with innovation, calling for new ideas, grooves and personality. Pop and rock players like Bobby Orr, Mick Avory, Keith Moon, Levon Helm, Charlie Watts, Mitch Mitchell, Ringo Starr and others in many ways rewrote the role the drums used to have in a pop or rock song.
“From a drum perspective, the ’60s is an era of extreme forward musical thinking. I’d like to think of this decade as the musical cradle that shaped the modern pop and rock drum hero. Finally, the drums did more than just play along. Much like in a jazz setup, they were in the forefront of the sound and a pivotal part of the overall expression,” says drummer Norman Garschke.
The Sixties Pop Grooves MIDI pack takes off in the wake of this era and explores its seemingly infinite fount of treasures. Expect a cross section of what pop was during this decade – and then some.
“For this collection, I wanted to hone in on mainly the pop side of the era. However, when diving into this endless well of inspiration, I realized it was impossible to not come out with something that ventured outside the confines a bit. In the end, blurring the lines between genres is what made pop drumming stand out and advance back then. I think we came up with a very diverse pack, true to what made the ’60s so great.”
Sixties Pop Grooves MIDI features
- Drum MIDI grooves and fills inspired by iconic pop songs and drummers of the ’60s.
- Performed by session drummer.
- More than 500 individually played files.
- 4/4 and 6/8 in straight, swing, ’60s latin and/or rock ’n’ roll shuffle feel with tempos ranging from 68 BPM to 178 BPM.
- Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge and fills sections.
Sixties Pop EZkeys MIDI and Sixties Pop Grooves MIDI are available from Plugin Boutique for 25 EUR/$29 USD.
More information: Toontrack
