Toontrack Decades SDX / Big Band EZX with Al Schmidt

[Guy Rowland]

A heads up - I only just clocked that there's also a Big Band Grooves midi pack. I asked Toontrack if these were duplicated from the SDX and / or EZX, and the answer is that these are original. With a couple of spare codes from a 6 pack sale a while ago, I duly scoffed it.



https://www.toontrack.com/product/big-band-grooves/

For anyone interested, here's the sets:
85bpm swing 4/4s
155bpm swing 3/4
104bpm Latin 4/4
110bpm Latin Bossanova 4/4
135bpm Mambo 4/4
128bpm Swing 4/4
220bpm Swing 4/4
296bpm Swing 4/4

They all sound very good, though the snares only seem to make use of Center and Rimshot articulations, so perhaps lacks some of the finesse of which the library is capable. That said, the main Decades SDX looks the same there as far as I can tell.

After a quick spin, the 220bpm Swing is perhaps the jewel here with stacks of variations including loads of tom grooves.

[wst3]

you are doing me no favors there Mr. Rowland!!! None whatsoever.

[wst3]

Unfortunately, at this point I need something first-a new computer. I've finally hit the wall with Mojave-I got it installed but it was clear I'd have no breathing room, at least not in Cubase. <snippity>

Well I will try not to write anything that will aggravate the situation.

I am sorry you are caught in this spot!! There really is no great answer, but there has to be at least a passable one.

Hope it helps, but I was in this spot about 20 years ago. It is no fun!

[wst3]

An unintended, or at least unexpected, consequence of purchasing the Decades license... I am gaining a new appreciation for the SD3 stock library.

I always thought the SD3 library was well recorded, but for whatever reason it never quite connected, and I tended to use the Music City and Roots libraries, and even NY Volume 1 most of the time.

In fact I'm actually discovering bits about all the libraries, and SD3. Decades has proven to be a much more useful investment than I ever imagined.

Not complaining at all, except now I suppose I could become tempted to purchase others? That would not be good for me!