Toontrack EZX: Alt-Rock

Alt or Nothing

Drums recorded by the man who helped shape the sound of alternative rock: Steve Albini.

Steve Albini's imprint on the sound of rock is undeniable.

Having worked on seminal albums by the Pixies, PJ Harvey and, perhaps most notably, Nirvana's milestone record "In Utero", his sonic DNA is in the fabric of productions that have helped create a new branch in rock history.

This collection of drums captures the incomparable sonic fingerprint of not only Steve Albini but also the ambience of his very own studio, which he personally built and designed.

Welcome to Electrical Audio in Chicago, IL - and a truly unique collection of drums.

The Alt-Rock EZX presents a crude, genuine and raw palette of drum sounds with an incredible range, perfect for the soft-loud-soft approach that is synonymous with the distinct dynamics of the classic alt-rock sound.

Capturing Steve's unique method of mic placement, attention to detail and drum tuning scrutiny, this EZX gives you two full kits and cymbal setups as well as several additional instruments and percussion pieces, all crafted to perfection.

Even though this EZX takes off in the tremors of the nineties alt-rock scene, it presents a tonal palette with enough color to aid you in painting whatever sonic landscape you wish.

Features

• Recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio
• Two (2) full kits and cymbal setups (Ludwig Club Date & DW Collector's Series)
• Five (5) additional snares, two (2) kicks and five (5) cymbals
• Five (5) percussion instruments, including 26" and 29" Ludwig timpani drums
• Comes with a selection of MIDI drum grooves inspired by alt-rock music

The Engineer

With a unique approach to producing and by categorically refusing major label influence or letting commercial values dictate any musical direction, Steve Albini has played a vocal part in the evolution of the alternative rock sound ever since the 1980s.

Much unlike a lot of contemporary music producers, Albini sees himself more in the role of an engineer – someone who makes sure everything works (hence the workwear).

He doesn’t want to impose his own ideals on a product, he rather wants the band, artist and raw tone of the instruments to come out in everything he does.

Ironically, that's one of the traits that makes an Albini recording sound Albini.

Having produced groundbreaking records by Nirvana, PJ Harvey, the Pixies and Bush, it is hard to assess the profound value of his work - not only to the alt-rock scene but to music on a much larger level.

The Studio

Electrical Audio is situated in central Chicago and was designed from the ground up by Steve Albini.

Since it opened its doors in 1997, hundreds of music projects have been captured here - some of them heralded as genre-defining classics.

The main 1200 square feet room of studio A, where the Alt-Rock EZX was recorded, has some truly unique acoustic qualities.

The adobe brick walls, oak floors and meticulously designed asymmetrical ceiling produce a dense yet large, controlled and bright sound - expressing the entire tonal range of especially drums.

While the studio is centered around mainly vintage and analogue outboard gear, it has a steady foothold in modern audio technology and offers the best of both worlds.

The centerpiece of studio A is the one-of-kind Neotek Elite console, custom-built especially for Electrical Audio in 1998.