Toontrack Music has released EZmix, a channel-strip Happy Meal for Mac and PC. Toontrack, in collaboration with DSP developers Overloud, has developed a simplified plug-in that gives the noob an array of presets for several basic mixing scenarios.
Simply call up EXmix on a specific track in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), select an appropriate preset and Wha-La! You can now call yourself a bonafide Mixing Engineer. (Kinda like calling yourself a doctor because you watch ER. —Ed.) The problem with this product is that it doesn’t do anything to teach an enthusiast about the art of mixing, using compression, effects, panning, etc. Nothing.
Toontime’s EZmix costs €49 and is available now for Mac and PC in the AU, RTAS and VST plug-in flavas. More information on the end of the world Toontrack Music EZmix.
the problem with this blog is that it assumes this is a learning tool. IT IS NOT. thats why it’s called ez mix and not learn to mix. you make the assumption that those who will use this will refer to themselves as mix engineers. that is one lofty assumption about a vast number of computer musicians and it is wrong. if you want to learn how to mix you can teach yourself or go to school or purchase a copy of superior drummer and learn to mix drums from the ground up. as was the case with your last blog about one of toontrack’s products, beatstation to be exact, you seem to be bent on delegitimizing toontrack’s new products. If this is an effort funded by the competition that’s getting their a**es handed to them by toontrack then it is being made painfully obvious that this is the case. you and whoever is backing this may want to watch out. next time another blog like this comes out s***’s gonna get ugly.
OK we’ll bite…
We call it like we see it. And the way we see it is that EZmix should really be called LAZYmix.
The truth is that Toontrack’s marketing and promotion for their latest products has been pathetic at best. But if you actually read our posts, we’re not just calling out Toontrack, we call out everyone who fumbles the ball when it comes to pimping their latest products, even the big guys. So you’re not special.
We’re not trying to “delegitimatize” anyone, especially the Mom ‘n’ Pop operations who we often root for…but if you’re going to send us a “EZ” press release, don’t be surprised if we call you on it.
Finally, the conspiracy theory you’re working on to substantiate that FutureMusic is funded by the competition to dog Toontrack’s products should center around the amount of narcotics that you are consuming on a daily basis.
Can’t stand the heat? Stay out of the kitchen!
–Greg Geller