Izotope releases Neutron: "A smarter way to mix"

[lingyai]

Am deciding on Standard vs Advanced.

The only benefit for me with Advanced would be if there is significant CPU savings using the individual plugins.

I'd think that just loading Standard and only selecting, e.g., the EQ, as the sole active module would only be a tiny bit more CPU than loading the separate individual EQ plugin.

Does anybody have some experience-based info re: this?

Wondering the exact same thing...

[pekbro]

So far IME, using just the EQ's for instance, is quite a bit cheaper CPU wise
than using full instances. As is using the full strip on a bus and EQs per track etc.

-Cheers

IMO, definitely go for advanced unless you're absolutely unable to afford it.

[lingyai]

After working with Neutron for about 9 hours now, I think it’s an awesome plug, though not for Track Assistant, which I’m finding very erratic. I've been trying all 3 modes (clear broadband, warm and open, and upfront mids) and all 3 levels (subtle, moderate and aggressive) on dry, well-recorded stems.

No, I'm not expecting miracles or EZMix insta-whoopee; I understand that it's about reaching a starting point.

I really wanted to love it, by the way. Anyway, I've been testing it on several simple (voice + acoustic guitar) tracks. Well, the fact that the Assistant on one track is *not* listening to any other tracks often quickly becomes evident, because the assistants' "prescriptions" often result in something which sounds ok, or even really good, when soloed, but result in a fair / huge amount of clash between tracks. More than would result than if I had started from first principals.

In these cases, when I then check using the Masking display, it is, as expected, all lit up -- as though to say, "Dude, you're clashing everywhere." And I'm like, "Dude, this mix was your idea. I’d never have done this."

But what, after all, would you expect, from a signal chain built in isolation? Would you hire a human Assistant in the studio to mix this way? It's called "mixing" for a reason, not "solo polishing".

Now, sometimes the Assistant has, with some tweaking, reached something which is quite good indeed; but other times, it just seems daft, e.g. insisting that a tonally balanced guitar needs a big boomy boost from 20-110 hz when anyone could tell you that sounds like a mudslide. It can be stubborn about it to -- after this happened I inserted, before Neutron, a HPF at around 80 hz with a 6db slope; after I'd done so, the assistant responded by cranking up the bottom even more, as though to say, "Sorry, this has gotta be boomy, you'll understand when you're older."

Now, I can tweak away these problems, sometimes quickly, but more often I have to move rather far from the prescribed starting point. Ok, that’s do-able, my point is, why would I want to, when the 500 superb bundled presets also give “just starting points”, which are a lot closer to what works, at least to my ears. With them, I’ve reached “Wow!” pretty quickly a number of times, whereas with the Assistant, it’s more often been “Well … hmmm…” “that’s kind of interesting, not bad for a laterally deaf robot” or simply “WTF?”

So I regard the Track Assistant as something of a novelty -- basically Preset 501, "I'm feeling lucky". I can imagine consulting it, to see what it throws out, but not expecting as much from it as from the presets, or from my ears / mouse combo.

Overall I think Neutron is a stonking plug, based on a number of things:

-- the masking function; it’s the only thing I know of which both displays multiple track frequency graphs and lets you apply corrective EQ, all within the same screen; killer tool, that;

-- the DSP quality, the dynamic EQ especially, and the way each module is so accessible "under one roof";

-- first-rate, class-act GUI / ease of use; and

-- some *very* awesome preset chains, at least for vocals (better than Nectar) and acoustic guitar;

*but* the track Assistant is among the selling points for me. Because it's deaf between tracks, it is not a game-changer; it is rather a stage-setter, whetting my appetite for true mixing AI, which would listen to all the tracks while doing its thing.

Which I realise is hard to pull off, to put it mildly; I can imagine might take a few more years of Moore's Law (if it holds out) and AI development to pull off on a consumer PC.

[lingyai]

Double post

[aMUSEd]

Pity there were no updates in the MPB2 for Insight; I find it's interface out of step with that of Ozone which it is supposed to be integrated with.

[e@rs]

Am deciding on Standard vs Advanced.

The only benefit for me with Advanced would be if there is significant CPU savings using the individual plugins.

I'd think that just loading Standard and only selecting, e.g., the EQ, as the sole active module would only be a tiny bit more CPU than loading the separate individual EQ plugin.

Does anybody have some experience-based info re: this?

Wondering the exact same thing...

Same findings here as pekbro above.

[lolilol1975]

After working with Neutron for about 9 hours now, I think it’s an awesome plug, though not for Track Assistant, which I’m finding very erratic.

Wait, if what you're saying is true, it seems to defeat the entire purpose of the track assistant. How can it work out without listening to the master track as well ?


On another matter, it seems that the best way to get it right now when you have no iZotope product yet is to buy Nectar Elements for 30€ and then crossgrade for 82€ or 121€ for the advanced version. That makes a 45% reduction off the list price and you get Nectar Elements for free.

[jpga]

1 Use the assistent
2 Listen to the result and adjust till you are happy.
3 Done.
Lovley result? Yes.

Now take your other tools that you are use to and mix with.
Result? Great, lovely, perfect?

I'm impressed at how easy it is to get a mix sound good with the help from the assistant's suggestions and some adjustments.

I'm sure Izotope will increase the assistant listening and your own listening. It is brilliant for all both professionals and beginners the various modules sounds super good to.

Please make a mastering assistent to our lovely Ozone!

Nice work Izotope!

[rod_zero]

On another matter, it seems that the best way to get it right now when you have no iZotope product yet is to buy Nectar Elements for 29€ or Iris 2 for 22€and then crossgrade for 82€ or 121€ for the advanced version. That makes a 45% to 49% reduction on the list price.

Where you find those two at those prices?

[e@rs]

Iris 2 for 22 Euro? Where?

[lolilol1975]

Iris 2 for 22 Euro? Where?

Hmm sorry I was wrong about that one, but right about Nectar Elements.

http://www.pluginboutique.com/manufacturers/50-iZotope

You should be able to get the same deal in the american shops.

[Saukar30]

I just applied the demo on a track I am working on. I put it on each track. I used the mix assistant and made only minor tweeks to the EQ. I thought about if I should post just what Neutron does on it's own, or post me using it the way it's intended: as a starting point or option and tweek from there. I decided on the latter.

Original Mix
https://soundcloud.com/musicofplexus/pl ... e-constant

Neutron Mix
https://soundcloud.com/musicofplexus/pl ... nt-neutron

I do like the Neutrino mix a little bit more. Its does sound a little more balanced & clear. Take for granted as well that im listening on my earbuds on my phone & Im just casually listening & not trying to pick apart the mix. It gives a good idea if you want that kind of clear sound. Some may like it less clear... just depends on your taste, I guess.

Im not personally sold on it yet. I JUST got Trash2 along with some other plugs to mix with. $100 for a reference tool is a bit much for myself at this time, but it does seems to have some uses.

Most of my music is a bit murkier, so I wonder if anyone has tried it on some music that sounds more vintage.

[woggle]

I just applied the demo on a track I am working on. I put it on each track. I used the mix assistant and made only minor tweeks to the EQ. I thought about if I should post just what Neutron does on it's own, or post me using it the way it's intended: as a starting point or option and tweek from there. I decided on the latter.

Original Mix
https://soundcloud.com/musicofplexus/pl ... e-constant

Neutron Mix
https://soundcloud.com/musicofplexus/pl ... nt-neutron

I do like the Neutrino mix a little bit more. Its does sound a little more balanced & clear. Take for granted as well that im listening on my earbuds on my phone & Im just casually listening & not trying to pick apart the mix. It gives a good idea if you want that kind of clear sound. Some may like it less clear... just depends on your taste, I guess.

Im not personally sold on it yet. I JUST got Trash2 along with some other plugs to mix with. $100 for a reference tool is a bit much for myself at this time, but it does seems to have some uses.

Most of my music is a bit murkier, so I wonder if anyone has tried it on some music that sounds more vintage.

I agree except I thought the original mix was better and clearer and I was listening on Adam A7's.

[KVRocks]

So far IME, using just the EQ's for instance, is quite a bit cheaper CPU wise
than using full instances. As is using the full strip on a bus and EQs per track etc.
-Cheers
IMO, definitely go for advanced unless you're absolutely unable to afford it.

I don't disagree with pekbro, but I'd add the full plugin is remarkably efficient given it's magnitude. I'm working on a 100 track tune and managing my 8 cores which are 95% maxed. When it comes to hefty plugins like MMultiAnalyzer for example my CPU now glitches after adding the second one. But I've got a dozen Neutrons running so far no prob. Mind you, the Track Assistant function just about puts my cmpt over the edge, it glitches while analyzing, but it works fine.

On that note, a little antidote.. I recorded these troublesome metal guitars a while back and couldn't get rid of the harshness. Their EQ profile is scooped in the mids with boomy bass and spiked ear piecing highs. I've used eq at nauseam to revive the sound, but attenuating the lows and piercing highs just makes it sound lifeless. I've tried running it through multiband compressors, some suitable channel presets, my trusty Waves Vitamin and CLA guitar presets etc. Nothing could restore the heavy powerful (Tool like) sound that I knew was buried beneath.
I threw track assistant on it, and was shocked at this particular result. It was incredible, exactly what I was going for. The unique eq curve, and combo of several multiband compressors, parallel compression, and the exciter with attack and sustain which I wouldn't have thought to use before this. I just had to tweak the bass which was still a tad boomy and that was it. Really, for this alone it was worth the price to me.
Yes, of course a better engineer could have achieved the same/better results. I'm just not there yet. Many years at this game has me hearing quite well, but implementing the optimal process chain to reproduce what's in my head is still a challenge..
Track assistant (and masking feature) aside, the plugins sound incredible and the slick UI with granular control of all parameters, beautiful.

[Pingafuego]

If you upgrade from MPB1, is the Alloy license gone? I don't see Alloy listed in the MPB 2 bundle...