iZotope Iris 2

[Apostate]

There's so much more to it than that. I guess if you're looking mostly for presets to use, and/or for presets to inspire you, Iris 2 doesn't have a bunch of them. However, if you start from init, read the manual, and begin exploring, a whole world opens up.

I'm not claiming that I only want to use presets. I'm just pointing out how pedestrian the demo presets are. Only a handful of the 35 or so demo presets made me think "wow, I can't get this sound anywhere else."

I mean, they're trying to sell the product, right? Why include sounds that other vsts can do as well or better at making? It's odd. When I think of the potential of Iris, I think of awesome soundscapes and maybe 1 or 2 ho-hum presets in the demo would fall in that category.

Maybe one of their artificial intelligence forum robot reps can come here, acknowledge my question, and then answer some completely unrelated question.

Oh no, BUSTED

I see your point, and I agree.

[wagtunes]

There's so much more to it than that. I guess if you're looking mostly for presets to use, and/or for presets to inspire you, Iris 2 doesn't have a bunch of them. However, if you start from init, read the manual, and begin exploring, a whole world opens up.

I'm not claiming that I only want to use presets. I'm just pointing out how pedestrian the demo presets are. Only a handful of the 35 or so demo presets made me think "wow, I can't get this sound anywhere else."

I mean, they're trying to sell the product, right? Why include sounds that other vsts can do as well or better at making? It's odd. When I think of the potential of Iris, I think of awesome soundscapes and maybe 1 or 2 ho-hum presets in the demo would fall in that category.

Maybe one of their artificial intelligence forum robot reps can come here, acknowledge my question, and then answer some completely unrelated question.

I can actually answer that question. It is because they're trying to sell the product that they include sounds that other synths can make, especially in certain genres. They are trying to appeal to the masses with a synth that, in reality, should appeal to everybody else.

Ultimately, they don't believe there are enough "everybody else's" out there to justify creating a bunch of off the wall presets that only a handful of people will use.

In short, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Personally, I would make two banks if this was my synth.

Bank 1 - Bread and butter
Bank 2 - For all you nerds

And have an equal amount of each.

But I'm stating that without having done their market research to determine if that's the right course of action.

[Sampleconstruct]

Whatever iZotope thinks Iris should be used for, it's still up to us what we do with it, no matter how they market it. After 3+ years with Iris, creating hundreds of patches and samples for it, I'm still fascinated by the rather simple yet effective spectral masking/filtering it uses, despite the lack of this and that and that and this. Many people around the world seem to use it, occasionally I hear some of my Iris sounds on TV, so it's seems to be quite popular and alive, despite the disappearance of support-Brad and the ongoing non-support of the half-baken Iris 2.

And thank's for the mention, guys.

[aMUSEd]

There's so much more to it than that. I guess if you're looking mostly for presets to use, and/or for presets to inspire you, Iris 2 doesn't have a bunch of them. However, if you start from init, read the manual, and begin exploring, a whole world opens up.

I'm not claiming that I only want to use presets. I'm just pointing out how pedestrian the demo presets are. Only a handful of the 35 or so demo presets made me think "wow, I can't get this sound anywhere else."

I mean, they're trying to sell the product, right? Why include sounds that other vsts can do as well or better at making? It's odd. When I think of the potential of Iris, I think of awesome soundscapes and maybe 1 or 2 ho-hum presets in the demo would fall in that category.

Maybe one of their artificial intelligence forum robot reps can come here, acknowledge my question, and then answer some completely unrelated question.

I can actually answer that question. It is because they're trying to sell the product that they include sounds that other synths can make, especially in certain genres. They are trying to appeal to the masses with a synth that, in reality, should appeal to everybody else.

Ultimately, they don't believe there are enough "everybody else's" out there to justify creating a bunch of off the wall presets that only a handful of people will use.

In short, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Personally, I would make two banks if this was my synth.

Bank 1 - Bread and butter
Bank 2 - For all you nerds

And have an equal amount of each.

But I'm stating that without having done their market research to determine if that's the right course of action.

They are being stupid and have ended up alienating many of the people that bought Iris 1 because of its strengths as a sound design and sound exploration tool, and at the same time trying to market it to people who will just compare it to the likes of Serum or Massive for the sort of sounds they currently seem to be trying to say it can make and see that they are fooling themselves. So they have managed to undermine themselves on 2 fronts at once, quite an achievement really, it no longer plays to its strengths but instead painfully highlights its weaknesses, from being a very focussed product it's gone to something that tries to be a bit of something for everyone and ends up not really knowing what it is.

[wagtunes]

They are being stupid and have ended up alienating many of the people that bought Iris 1 because of its strengths as a sound design and sound exploration tool, and at the same time trying to market it to people who will just compare it to the likes of Serum or Massive for the sort of sounds they currently seem to be trying to say it can make and see that they are fooling themselves. So they have managed to undermine themselves on 2 fronts at once, quite an achievement really, it no longer plays to its strengths but instead painfully highlights its weaknesses, from being a very focussed product it's gone to something that tries to be a bit of something for everyone and ends up not really knowing what it is.

You may very well be right. Sadly, many times companies just make bad marketing decisions.

[billcarroll]

Is Iris 2 a no brainer at $126.65. (crossgrade price + discount at jrrshop)

[Michael L]

Yes

[Apostate]

Is Iris 2 a no brainer at $126.65. (crossgrade price + discount at jrrshop)

Get it.

[Astralp]

Bill it's only a no brainer if you will make use of it, it's a very particular instrument and it's fantastic for Pads and Atmospheres not to mention it's fun to create them. I'd say spend a few hours with the demo to see what you get out of it. I'm glad I have it but I'm a Pad junky, and that price is a good price I think. Check out some of the demos of my Iris collections if you want an idea of the sort of sounds I get from it.

[dnekm]

I can do things with it that I cannot in other instruments. That makes it worth it for me. Never had V1 though....

[Apostate]

I can do things with it that I cannot in other instruments. That makes it worth it for me. Never had V1 though....

I agree, and I never had V1 either. However, I just got the full version of Camel Alchemy today and, as I dig into its spectral editing, I can't help but wonder just how much more Iris 2 can do that Alchemy can't...I never realized just how far ranging Alchemy is. The demo didn't really give me that good of an idea.

I'm even wondering about Harmor now, in light of this recent acquisition. I realize they're all three different synths. But.......

[Astralp]

I love Alchemy but never really got on with spectral editing in it, I found Iris to be much more focused and fun. Plus I don't think you can load waveforms into Alchemy's spectral editor can you? As far as I remember you just draw Spectral waveforms, but it's been a long time since I played with that corner of the beast

[billcarroll]

Bill it's only a no brainer if you will make use of it, it's a very particular instrument and it's fantastic for Pads and Atmospheres not to mention it's fun to create them. I'd say spend a few hours with the demo to see what you get out of it. I'm glad I have it but I'm a Pad junky, and that price is a good price I think. Check out some of the demos of my Iris collections if you want an idea of the sort of sounds I get from it.

Thanks. Listening now.

[billcarroll]

Whatever iZotope thinks Iris should be used for, it's still up to us what we do with it, no matter how they market it. After 3+ years with Iris, creating hundreds of patches and samples for it, I'm still fascinated by the rather simple yet effective spectral masking/filtering it uses, despite the lack of this and that and that and this. Many people around the world seem to use it, occasionally I hear some of my Iris sounds on TV, so it's seems to be quite popular and alive, despite the disappearance of support-Brad and the ongoing non-support of the half-baken Iris 2.

And thank's for the mention, guys.

Simon, where are you're patches for iZotope Iris 2? Do you have any up for sale with demos? I didn't see them on your site.

[dnekm]

I had Alchemy since it was released. Sold it when Camel called it quits. Never got on with the Spectral part of Alchemy... Maybe it is a personal thing.... But I always felt that Alchemy did not give you enough control....

Never had Iris V1, so cannot comment on that. Can only go by what I have. It is useful.

But - it is a tool for me, not an instrument. I do not know if that makes any sense....