EZKeys looks like it could be a good songwriting tool.Has anyone tried it?
What do you think of it?

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With regards to using it for songwriting....

I tried the demo for an hour or so and thought that it was v similar to the EZ Drummer / Superior Drummer MIDI files in that you could create something, but it would be unoriginal and quite restricted.

You're probably better off learning to play (I don't, but I know a lot of music theory).

Some plusses though, at least you can change the key or individual chord types in the VST (unlike the drummer MIDI files) and the piano (standard version) is very nice sounding. Nice interface too.

Another negative or so, the keys available are only Major and Minor. No Modes and no blues etc.

In short they need to extend the number of available keys, add modes, increase the number of MIDI files and improve how to find the bit of MIDI that you want / need.

Maybe V2 will be of more interest.

I still prefer Harmony Navigator, for songwriting.

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What would Bob Clearmountain do?

Quote StevoDaDevo:

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With regards to using it for songwriting....

I tried the demo for an hour or so and thought that it was v similar to the EZ Drummer / Superior Drummer MIDI files in that you could create something, but it would be unoriginal and quite restricted.

You're probably better off learning to play (I don't, but I know a lot of music theory).

Some plusses though, at least you can change the key or individual chord types in the VST (unlike the drummer MIDI files) and the piano (standard version) is very nice sounding. Nice interface too.

Another negative or so, the keys available are only Major and Minor. No Modes and no blues etc.

In short they need to extend the number of available keys, add modes, increase the number of MIDI files and improve how to find the bit of MIDI that you want / need.

Maybe V2 will be of more interest.

I still prefer Harmony Navigator, for songwriting.

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I've got it, been evaluating (read: playing with!) for the last 15-20 hours or so.

I guess some of us are going to find it useful and others not. Like with EZD, I have most of the libraries, but dont use them much these days, I use SD2.0 instead, or Abbey Road.

Of the point raised above, it is arguable that it has been launched maybe too early and that there could be more MIDI files. Possibly so. I will be interested to see if, like with EZD, other producers start producing MIDI files for use with EZK. Bit early for that though.

But for me, the really useful part and where I'm going to get the most use out of it is the ability to change chords within progressions using the chord wheel and being able to hear first hand whether the chosen chord fits or not. Being able to export those results as a midi file in a non proprietary format is going to be very helpful to me. Also, all of the files that are supplied are editable and saveable within EZK, which I'm not 100% sure was possible with EZD.

I think it has tremendous potential; if synth or orchestral or brass or guitar voicings were added, the platform could have some serious longevity. And, as a teaching aid, its about as friendly as any other that I have come across yet, whilst still being a productive tool.

Anything that helps me to unlock the creativity, anything that helps me as a writers tool is worth a punt, in my book, as I'm not a naturally gifted songwriter, but I do have stuff to say and I have a good idea as to how I want it to be, but I'm not blessed with technical ability. Thats why I bought it.

And, by 10:30pm last night, after having had the product for about 6 hours, I have the spine of a track that has been bugging me for months that through my own noodling and chopping up of pre-prepared loops that I have been unable to find the right music for. And if I can accomplish that within 6 hours of installation, I would say that for my part, it could well end up being a go-to tool for me for the future. Yes, a longer gestation period before release may have resulted in a fuller product.

But, in my very humble opinion, the fundamentals are sound and I look forward to using the product a great deal more.

If like Stevo, you have the fundamental theory and technical knowledge in your head already, it is arguable that such a product is indeed, superflous. Or, if you were blessed with the songwriting "gift". I readily admit that I am in neither of those categories.

Also, just to add to the above, there arent just major and minors, there are diminshed's and sus chords and "circle of fifths" as well and others. Also, there are plenty of variations of playing styles as well, almost in a "construction kit" type of format. And, the editing facilities are perfectly adequate at the moment.

If they bring out v2.0 before the end of the year for below £100, I think they'll have a winner on their hands.

Just to clarify, the only keys / scales that EZ Keys uses are Major and Minor. You do get most / all of the chords available in those scales.

Harmony Navigator provides many different instruments, Circle Of Fifths help in constructing chord progressions etc and many more styles of music / MIDI files that can be exported (for all instruments in the arrangement) and used in your DAW of choice.

It is probably more helpful for those of us who don't play, and probably more helpful for those who don't have any theory as well.

For only 149 Euro's it's worth checking out the website, demo etc.

http://www.cognitone.com/products/nav/intro/page.stml

On the downside, the sounds aren't as good (but you can use your own VSTi's in it) and the GUI is a bit clunky and less intuitive than EZ Keys.

Whatever suits you best

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What would Bob Clearmountain do?

Thanks for the info guys.
I'll check out Harmony Navigator too,looks interesting.

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I bought this when it was released a couple of days ago. I would echo all the points made by JPH.

I had some keyboard midi files that I bought a while back from Big Fish Audio. I didn't really find them useful in the format supplied but I was pleasantly surprised when I imported them into EZ keys. They are instantly usable and tweak-able with this software. The supplied VST piano is OK but you can play the midi files via any VST instrument you want.

Of course like all these things YMMV and it is simply a "tool" in the toolbox rather than a revolution in songwriting.

Harmony Navigator looks like a very interesting product too but one that I would go to after having become familiar with the concepts through EZK first... although the LE version does look quite interesting too. Think I need to learn the fundamentals.