Essential Information About the Metal Machine EZX Software
- A modern, massive, and precise metal sound: heavy double bass drums, sharp snares, and ultra-clear toms, designed to cut through a wall of guitars.
- Production by Andy Sneap: a "mix-ready" aesthetic inspired by his iconic metal productions, with drums that quickly sit well in a mix.
- 3 kits and a wide selection of pieces: two Tama Starclassic Bubinga configurations, one Ludwig Stainless Steel kit, plus an extensive selection of snares and cymbals.
- Included MIDI played by John Tempesta: effective grooves and fills for quickly writing solid parts, from classic metal to more aggressive patterns.
What Metal Machine EZX Is For
Metal Machine EZX is a virtual drum expansion in the EZX format, designed to enhance EZdrummer or Superior Drummer with a metal-oriented library. It is used to program, compose, and produce credible and impactful drum tracks, whether for demos, final production, or studio preproduction. Thanks to its very "mix-ready" character, it is particularly suited for hard rock and metal productions (heavy, thrash, groove, modern metal), when you want a sharp attack, clear imaging, and immediate power.
Main Features
An EZX library designed straightforwardly for metal
The goal of Metal Machine EZX is simple: to provide a kit that hits hard, remains clear at high gain, and maintains precise definition in fast sequences. The kicks are designed to keep impact and consistency, the snare is calibrated to stay "up front" in the mix, and the toms retain a sharp attack even in dense arrangements.
A sonic direction by Andy Sneap
With production and recording focused on efficiency, this expansion emphasizes clarity, controlled dynamics, and an "album-ready" feel. It's an excellent choice if you want to spend less time searching for tone and more time recording, arranging, and finalizing your tracks. The sound is ideal for tight riffs, fast breaks, and double bass sections where precision is essential.
Kits, variants, and a selection of pieces tailored for stage and studio
The library revolves around three kits, including two Tama Starclassic Bubinga configurations and one Ludwig Stainless Steel kit, complemented by additional elements (notably several snares) to adapt the response and tone depending on the track. You can switch from a more massive and round kick to a punchier option, or adjust the snare to favor attack, width, or projection.
Included MIDI to speed up writing
Metal Machine EZX includes a selection of grooves and fills played by John Tempesta. The benefit is twofold: on one hand, you have immediately musical foundations to build verses, choruses, bridges, and transitions; on the other hand, you can easily edit them (quantization, velocities, orchestration) to fit your arrangement. In production, this allows you to quickly move from riff to a complete structure while maintaining a credible and energetic performance.
Toontrack workflow: fast, creative, production-compatible
Like any EZX expansion, Metal Machine EZX integrates into the Toontrack ecosystem: kit loading, piece selection, balance and character adjustments, then using MIDI grooves by drag-and-drop into your DAW. It's a particularly efficient solution for guitarists and producers who want a reliable "drum engine" without complicating the project.
Technical Specifications
Product Type and Compatibility
- Type: EZX expansion (drum sound library)
- Usage: requires a functional installation of EZdrummer 1.4 or later, or Superior Drummer 2.3 or later
- Positioning: EZX version described as a streamlined variant of the Metal Machinery SDX library (same kits with a more direct approach)
System Requirements
- Disk space: 1 GB free space
- RAM: 1 GB RAM
- Host software required: EZdrummer (1.4 or higher) or Superior Drummer (2.3 or higher)
Sound Content
- Included kits: 3 kits
- Configurations mentioned: 2 Tama Starclassic Bubinga kits, 1 Ludwig Stainless Steel kit
- Additional content: wide selection of snares and cymbals
- Sound profile: powerful metal, sharp attacks, thunderous kicks, aggressive snare, clear and detailed toms
Included MIDI Content
- MIDI included: yes
- Performer: John Tempesta
- Usage: grooves and fills to quickly build parts and song structures
- Note: MIDI content corresponds to the same source as the dedicated "Metal Machine MIDI" pack
Recording Information and Mic Chain
- Drum samples by: John Tempesta
- Produced and recorded by: Andy Sneap
- Recording studio: Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M Studios), Los Angeles, Studio B
- Mixing: Backstage Studios, UK
- Console: SSL 6000 E
- Right kick in: Shure SM91
- Right kick in 2: Audix D6 / AKG D12 (on Stainless Steel)
- Right kick out: Yamaha Sub Kick
- Left kick in: Shure SM91
- Left kick in 2: Audix D6 / AKG D12 (on Stainless Steel)
- Left kick out: Yamaha Sub Kick
- Snare top: Shure SM57
- Snare bottom: Shure SM57
- Snare top 2: Beyerdynamic M-201
- Hi-hat: Shure SM7B
- Toms: Sennheiser 421
- Cymbals / ride close: Neumann KM184
- Overheads: AKG 414
- Room mono: Neumann CMV3
- Room mid: RCA77 (ribbon)
- Room far: Neumann U67
Examples of Pieces Mentioned (Depending on Kits and Additional Elements)
- Kick: 18 x 24 inches Tama Star Classic Bubinga
- Snare: 6.5 x 14 inches Tama Bell Brass
- Rack tom: 9 x 10 inches Tama Star Classic Bubinga
- Rack tom: 10 x 12 inches Tama Star Classic Bubinga
- Floor tom: 14 x 16 inches Tama Star Classic Bubinga
- Floor tom: 16 x 18 inches Tama Star Classic Bubinga
- Hi-hat: 14 inches Zildjian Avedis Master Sound
- Ride: 22 inches Zildjian A Ping Ride (brilliant finish)
- Additional snare: 6 x 14 inches Masai Bubinga
- Additional snare: 6.5 x 14 inches Dunnett Titanium
- Additional snare: 6.5 x 14 inches Sonor Artist Bronze
- Additional snare: 6.5 x 14 inches Ludwig Supraphonic
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