Izotope Ozone or SPL Vitalizer?

[flimbo]

Hi everyone!

I need to take a final decision on what to use to finalize my music, and I've basically reduced the choice to two products:

- Izotope Ozone 3 (plug-in, about 200 euro)
- SPL Vitalizer MK2 (hardware unit, about 550 euro)

I gave a try to Ozone; as a complete mastering suite, it amazed me... well laid out, thought out and impressive quality, though it requires me some fiddling to get to the right result.

I never tried the SPL Vitalizer, but its incarnations have been getting wonderful reviews year after year. Although it's an enhancer (so not a complete mastering solution as Ozone), it seems dead easy to use and a quick way to get "that" sound. The price stings a bit though...

Is there anybody who tried both and can objectively criticize how good they are one against each other??

Please let me know. I appreciate your help!!

Thanks a lot,
Giacomo

[davidlinn]

I'm interested as well. I was just looking at the Ozone in the Sweetwater catalog and thought that might be what my final mixes are missing- in addition to a larger dose of musical talent. I'm also thinking of getting the BBE sonic maximizer plugin, as I've used the rack version for years and love it. Anyone using that one?

David

www.davidlinn.com

[kmonkey]

I cant judge or criticize because i dont have SPL but Ozone is more completed mastering suite and it is just that. Mastering suite. Spl Vitalizer is only that. Vitalizer. You can't do complete mastering with it (of course depend on what you are tryin to get from your mixes).

Buy them both since you can't emulate SPL Vitalizer with Ozone (or with anything)
Right now i am considering to put one Tube vitalizer (rather then SPL) in my rack for adding nice color/character to my mixes.

[flimbo]

Thanks for your answers... though still waiting to hear from someone who tried a Vitalizer too.

To David: BBE Sonic Maximizer sounds good too, though I ended to like the Vitalizer most because it doesn't add transients to the sound signal (at least that's what they say... )
Try Ozone out. For 10 days it will be fully functional. You could be amazed too...

To kmonkey: a Tube Vitalizer? Whoa! Lucky you. You must be rich man

Cheers,
Giacomo

[kylen]

I use the mastering maximizer/limiter in Ozone3 quite a bit when I want smooooooth, and the MB stereo imaging when I want to narrow the bass image a bit, the widening doesn't sound too cool to me.

I have a BBE 462 as well as the software plugin - I took them out for a drive the other day but somehow they found their way back...

[Lee702]

flimbo check out crysonic Spectralive plugin

[kaufi]

yes! SPECTRALIVE rules!! but the SPL Vitalizer is very very ... nice ... nice ... nice ...!

[Musicisbest]

Thanks for your answers... though still waiting to hear from someone who tried a Vitalizer too.

To David: BBE Sonic Maximizer sounds good too, though I ended to like the Vitalizer most because it doesn't add transients to the sound signal (at least that's what they say... )
Try Ozone out. For 10 days it will be fully functional. You could be amazed too...

To kmonkey: a Tube Vitalizer? Whoa! Lucky you. You must be rich man

Cheers,
Giacomo

Good points and also the fact that they sound fairly differtnt from each other.