Toontrack Fusion

The Fusion EZX features some classy acoustic drum sounds with added extras such as the octobans and gong drum.

If you’re an EZ user with a hankering for fusion, Toontrack have got you covered.

Toontrack have a thing for doing genre‑themed releases. The most notable of these is their ‘Metal Month’, which is a regular feature in their release calendar when November rolls around. However, the most recent month with a musical theme was focused upon fusion. The two highlight releases were the Fusion EZX (for EZdrummer, but also usable within Superior Drummer) and the Funk Fusion EBX (for EZbass). Alongside these new sound expansions, there were also a couple of MIDI packs — the drum groove Foundational Fusion MIDI and the Jazz Fusion MIDI for EZkeys — and the Session Amps: Funk Fusion EZmix 3 presets pack. Ready for some Fusion‑based inspiration? Armed with these new releases, let’s see what the EZ trio can do...

Drum Roll Please...

The samples for the Fusion EZX were recorded at School Farm Studios, Essex, England, with Pete Riley behind the various kits and Stefano Civetta behind the desk. The two have impressive credit lists with artists such as Nile Rodgers, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Keith Emerson, Guthrie Goven and Ritchie Kotzen.

Pete Riley was also responsible for selecting the four primary kits used (by Sakae, Tama and two different Yamaha kits) and, as his playing resumé includes lots of music that blends jazz, rock and funk, he is clearly well placed to know what’s required to represent the breadth of drum sounds that span the fusion style. The kits themselves were obviously well populated with items to hit (for example, two snares, seven toms and 10 cymbal options) and, as well as additional snare and kick choices, you also get various percussion instruments, the very distinct sound of octobans, and a gong drum.

Within the EZX, the various drum kit presets are divided into groups based upon these four source kits and, in each case, you get multiple preset options, each featuring different styles of mix processing. These include different ambience options (from dry to roomy) and options with some rather nice tape‑style saturation applied. However, what’s most striking (d’oh!) is the undeniably natural sound and the limited use of compression. This is obviously a very deliberate choice and, for those presets that are not intentionally set up as ‘dry’ mixes, you get all the character of the sounds ringing out and the overtones that come with that. Obviously, that might not be appropriate in some genres of music or mix contexts, but in a jazz/funk/fusion setting, the natural vibe is absolutely right. However, one of the Yamaha kits was also sampled in a very different configuration — less resonant and with damping — for a tighter sound when needed.

While Toontrack’s sound expansions often get the headlines, unless you are a top‑notch drummer (or...