Went for this one too, it really sounds amazing.
Neutron 2 and Ozone 8
- Thread starter Mornats
- Start date
synthpunk
Senior Member
Splice.com are offering 14.99 a month rent to own plan for both now. FYI.
https://splice.com/plugins/38538266-ozone-8-neutron-2-vst-by-izotope
https://splice.com/plugins/38538266-ozone-8-neutron-2-vst-by-izotope
OP
OP
Mornats
Hobbyist
Just looked through the rent-to-own pages and there's nothing I can find to say how long you have to rent them for before you own them or what the cost of owning them will be. I'm not at all keen on lack of transparency like this. Hopefully I've just missed something blatantly obvious...
Seems to be Neutron 2 Standard and Ozone 8 Standard.
synthpunk
Senior Member
They been renting to own Xfer Serum on Splice for a while now, that's how I bought it. I believe it was 19 monthly payments of 9.99 minus a couple of months I missed.
Here is a article about it or try contacting splice for more details.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/2017/10/6/16431394/splice-dj-plugins-ozone-8-neutron-2
Here is a article about it or try contacting splice for more details.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/2017/10/6/16431394/splice-dj-plugins-ozone-8-neutron-2
Just a heads up to anyone using Reaper - Nuetron Advanced surround doesn't work.
I've been in contact with support and they told me it's not supported at all. It's strange as Insight works fine. Anyway, I had looked around and found the Voxengo plugs work perfectly in surround so are a good replacement.
I also found the Mix assistant to be a bit questionable in Nuetron as it just seemed to over-process things based on a set of basic presets. It did work well on bass guitar in one case but every other time I tried it it didn't go so well. I guess I'll still use Nuetron in Cubase/Ableton/ProTools but won't be upgrading unless they sort out the Reaper issues.
I've been in contact with support and they told me it's not supported at all. It's strange as Insight works fine. Anyway, I had looked around and found the Voxengo plugs work perfectly in surround so are a good replacement.
I also found the Mix assistant to be a bit questionable in Nuetron as it just seemed to over-process things based on a set of basic presets. It did work well on bass guitar in one case but every other time I tried it it didn't go so well. I guess I'll still use Nuetron in Cubase/Ableton/ProTools but won't be upgrading unless they sort out the Reaper issues.
I have purchased a lot of plugins from there and every single one (incl. those from iZotope) were registered directly on the developers website without any issues. The guys are very responsive but depending on the developer, delivery is not always "instant". iZotope e.g. process their orders manually, so it can take one or two days until the license arrives.
And it´s no big deal to create an account to see the prices (which is reasonable give that they have top-notch pricing).
SpeakPianissimoAndCarry..
Senior Member
I'm getting an upgrade price of $85 from Neutron standard to v.2 via JRR. Just not sure if that's even worth it.
What's new?
'Masking meter' - this is by far my most used feature, but what is new here? Still no attack and release for sidechaining.I see a 'soft saturation' button as well as 'stereo, phase, swap'. Is that really it?
'Visual mixer' - could come in handy, but that does require that you put Neutron on all your tracks, or at least a substantial amount of them. If it had included 3D placement, I'd be all over this. But it doesn't.
'Improved track assistant' - still not improved enough I suspect.
'Gate' - nice, but I've got plenty of those.
At the end of the day, it's a $85 upgrade for a plugin I paid $89 for.
Great! Haha. They attack you and release you from your money.
OP
OP
Mornats
Hobbyist
It looks like I'm in the minority here, but I updated to O8N2 last night and my initial reaction after working with it for two hours is positive. The track assistant in Neutron 1 was a disappointment. But when I tried it with N2 on a few tracks, and instead of letting N2 guess at what instrument I was using, I selected "other" and the results it gave me were much more useful than what N1 gave me. Same type of results using the master assistant, it gave me a very useful starting point. The spectral shaping plugin is also something that I can see myself using. It helped me make a problematic section a little darker.
The tonal control I was selecting orchestral, but what does that mean? My track wasn't fitting in the tonal zones that were there. Then I imported a reference track and my track was much closer to those zones, but it showed me where to tweak. When you work on a track for a long time, it's hard to be objective for me. This was like having another set of ears give me suggestions, I didn't agree with all of them, but I was able to listen in a more focused way and make decisions on areas it suggested.
I'm sure that those more experienced than me can get the similar results using other tools. I learn more about mixing and mastering everyday, it seems like the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. These new tools seem to be pointing me in the right direction which is what I was hoping for.
The tonal control I was selecting orchestral, but what does that mean? My track wasn't fitting in the tonal zones that were there. Then I imported a reference track and my track was much closer to those zones, but it showed me where to tweak. When you work on a track for a long time, it's hard to be objective for me. This was like having another set of ears give me suggestions, I didn't agree with all of them, but I was able to listen in a more focused way and make decisions on areas it suggested.
I'm sure that those more experienced than me can get the similar results using other tools. I learn more about mixing and mastering everyday, it seems like the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. These new tools seem to be pointing me in the right direction which is what I was hoping for.
rrichard63
Perpetual Novice
That's understandable. Izotope's concept is that Neutron is a (very elaborate) channel strip and Ozone is a mastering processor. But the relevance of that distinction probably depends on the style of music and on individual workflow.
Thanks for thatGood to know they're good to deal with.
You are welcome ... and to be honest their upgrade price is so much better than one I would have received elsewhere. I was not into buying these two plugins, because like many here said, Neutron is just 1 year old and I think it´s wrong to not release any relevant update during that time - but the price reduction made me rethink and finally purchase
P.S.: Got my licenses from plugindiscounts, registered with iZoptope, put them on my iLok and all great to go.
Anami
Member
I love ozone, and the option of referencing in ozone 8 is wonderful. Loudness metering is more advanced as well. Worth the update for me.
For neutron I'm not convinced. I simply love using Fabfilter. Most important reason: Mide/side eq and phase options. If Neutron eq gets more advanced with this it will be an option for me. For now.. Fabfilter all the way for me.
For neutron I'm not convinced. I simply love using Fabfilter. Most important reason: Mide/side eq and phase options. If Neutron eq gets more advanced with this it will be an option for me. For now.. Fabfilter all the way for me.
Cruciform
Active Member
For what most of us do, yes, it's perfectly acceptable. Unless you are handing off music to be externally mastered, it's a very good option. It doesn't quite get there on it's own for me so I use it as a part of a larger chain but that's a subjective decision.
Having said that, this thread has alerted me to the Eventide Elevate and I'll def check that out.
I have izotope Music Production Bundle version 2 Advanced. What a catchy name. So... The crossgrade offer for me to get O8N2 was $300, now its $200. I have so many products as a result of the bundle, that I can't keep it clear in my mind what they all do and which ones to use for a given situation. I feel like their product line is too complex. But I don't know the marketplace, so, that's just my thought. The ozone product is like a channel strip, and many people use it as a track plug in--though presumably its cpu intensive as it is intended as a mastering tool. Then I have nectar which is marketed as a vocal thing, but its another channel strip and looks like it would work great on lots of tracks. Then there is neutron which looks like yet another channel strip, but has the analysis tools to calculate settings based on some normative algorithms.
I think what the new version of neutron is advertised as doing is that all neutrons talk to each other and so they can calculate settings for the group of tracks instead of just one individually. Useful?
I can see that if one is working in an environment with lots of music at low pay where the quality is not a big deal, like maybe wedding videos, this automatic process, with maybe tweaking at the end, could be pretty handy.
Also, a philosophical inquiry: What if these automatic plug ins, in a few releases, were able to produce mastered mixes that sounded better than what 50% of industry professionals could prepare by hand and ear?
The objection of excessive uniformity seems less significant to me where my sense is that the music industry these days exerts a lot of pressure on artists to produce the 'sound' of whatever just sold a lot of product? Well, and doubtless noobs like myself would like our work to sound like that of our musical heros--not necessarily what is currently charting.
PS. As a computer programmer, I can imagine that isotope could prepare components like a compressor and eq, and then gui components for each sound components. So, each plug in could be an overall visual and functional scheme for a bunch of these components. In this way, it would be easy to package the functionality a number of ways at a lower cost. Maybe that explains the product line confusion with overlapping products.
I think what the new version of neutron is advertised as doing is that all neutrons talk to each other and so they can calculate settings for the group of tracks instead of just one individually. Useful?
I can see that if one is working in an environment with lots of music at low pay where the quality is not a big deal, like maybe wedding videos, this automatic process, with maybe tweaking at the end, could be pretty handy.
Also, a philosophical inquiry: What if these automatic plug ins, in a few releases, were able to produce mastered mixes that sounded better than what 50% of industry professionals could prepare by hand and ear?
The objection of excessive uniformity seems less significant to me where my sense is that the music industry these days exerts a lot of pressure on artists to produce the 'sound' of whatever just sold a lot of product? Well, and doubtless noobs like myself would like our work to sound like that of our musical heros--not necessarily what is currently charting.PS. As a computer programmer, I can imagine that isotope could prepare components like a compressor and eq, and then gui components for each sound components. So, each plug in could be an overall visual and functional scheme for a bunch of these components. In this way, it would be easy to package the functionality a number of ways at a lower cost. Maybe that explains the product line confusion with overlapping products.
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storyteller
Senior Member
Also, a philosophical inquiry: What if these automatic plug ins, in a few releases, were able to produce mastered mixes that sounded better than what 50% of industry professionals could prepare by hand and ear?
Ozone 9: Choose your reference track. Click “Master It” button.
Ozone 10: Forget the reference track. We’ve got this. Just click the “Master It” button.
Ozone 11: Ozone 10 has been a huge success and has been used on almost every #1 singe in the last few years. But we realize that creativity is important, so we want to open back up all of the tools to you so you can tweak the master to your heart’s content. That’s what it means to be artistic.
Ozone 12: Ozone 11 has been a huge success, but we realize you need more creative ability, so we are opening up more settings beyond just Ozone 10’s defaults and Ozone 11’s customization.
Ozone 13: Ozone 12 has been a huge success, but we realize that you need more variety for artistic creativity on your songs. So now, we are breaking Ozone up into individual components including vintage EQs, modern EQs, vintage compressors, modern compressors, etc. Every plugin will be separate and also available as a package circa 2017.
HA. Maybe not that extreme, but it seems like where this is heading...
I also think the distinction between mixing and mastering is an archaism from the days when some expertise was needed to ensure that the spacing and depth of grooves on the vinyl platter conveyed the maximum signal without making the needle jump out of the groove (the cutting room). I know there are very accomplished professionals who passionately disagree, but time will tell.
Now I think all the things ozone does will continue to be done on the master buss, it will just be a more integrated part of the mixing process.
As to automation: What would make me more uncomfortable would be if software got to the point where mixing was simply telling the program 'more violins' or ' add some horns on the break'. Thinking about pop music. Then folks could talk about purists who actually put notes on a staff...
Now I think all the things ozone does will continue to be done on the master buss, it will just be a more integrated part of the mixing process.
As to automation: What would make me more uncomfortable would be if software got to the point where mixing was simply telling the program 'more violins' or ' add some horns on the break'. Thinking about pop music. Then folks could talk about purists who actually put notes on a staff...
ryst
www.nathandanielmusic.com
I personally love the new Ozone and Neutron. I don't use the mixing or mastering assistant. I tried them both because I was curious what the results would be. But neither impressed me.
What I do use is the modules in each plugin and I've created my own presets and templates for mixing/mastering music and film. In fact, even with RX 6, I had some trouble getting some distortion out of some dialog for a short film I was mixing. The Spectral Shaper in Ozone was the only thing that worked. And it worked really well.
I see where the automated tools are headed, but it doesn't bother me. This is what technology always does. People will complain about it but it's not something I have any control over so I don't bother worrying about how it will affect the future. I always find what works best for me with any tool I have and if it helps the final result, I'll implement it in my workflow If it doesn't, I won't.
What I do use is the modules in each plugin and I've created my own presets and templates for mixing/mastering music and film. In fact, even with RX 6, I had some trouble getting some distortion out of some dialog for a short film I was mixing. The Spectral Shaper in Ozone was the only thing that worked. And it worked really well.
I see where the automated tools are headed, but it doesn't bother me. This is what technology always does. People will complain about it but it's not something I have any control over so I don't bother worrying about how it will affect the future. I always find what works best for me with any tool I have and if it helps the final result, I'll implement it in my workflow If it doesn't, I won't.
jcrosby
Senior Member
Ozone 9: Choose your reference track. Click “Master It” button.
Ozone 10: Forget the reference track. We’ve got this. Just click the “Master It” button.
Ozone 11: Ozone 10 has been a huge success and has been used on almost every #1 singe in the last few years. But we realize that creativity is important, so we want to open back up all of the tools to you so you can tweak the master to your heart’s content. That’s what it means to be artistic.
Ozone 12: Ozone 11 has been a huge success, but we realize you need more creative ability, so we are opening up more settings beyond just Ozone 10’s defaults and Ozone 11’s customization.
Ozone 13: Ozone 12 has been a huge success, but we realize that you need more variety for artistic creativity on your songs. So now, we are breaking Ozone up into individual components including vintage EQs, modern EQs, vintage compressors, modern compressors, etc. Every plugin will be separate and also available as a package circa 2017.
HA. Maybe not that extreme, but it seems like where this is heading...
Pretty sure it's all about Push and iOS. If you look at V.M. It' has iPad written all over it... And if you look at Push they're already half way there...
I have a long history with Ozone, it's been my bread and butter for at least a decade. Ozone 8 to me looks like Izotope is moving in a direction where the technology encourages you to 'trust it to take care of the hard work for you' instead of having to work a little harder to you than develop a critical ear, learning what clearing out the center means, why it works, and when you do it, setting a compressor so it enhances the performance, ducking each element to one another to make space and enhance instrumental movement...
These are human choices, and choices that make your music infinitely more engaging when listened to...
Point is I only see Izotope moving more and more in an atuomated direction.
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