iZotope today released Ozone 9, a new version of its audio mastering tool that includes real-time instrument separation capabilities for balancing sound without access to original stems.
The new Master Rebalance module allows users to correct and change levels in a stereo audio file without remixing the original tracks, iZotope said, with the ability to target bass, drums and vocal elements without resorting to fine-tuned EQ. The adjustments can be easily automated with keyframes to raise and lower different elements at appropriate points in a track.
Wondering how well that can work? iZotope has prepared a demo video illustrating how Master Rebalance can make fairly substantive adjustments to a few different music files.
Also new is Low End Focus, a “bass-shaping tool” designed to address songs with a messy low end. Basically, it’s a tool for shaping sound — increasing or decreasing the apparent difference between extremes of spectral content in the range of frequencies between 20 Hz and 300 Hz. Again, this is a lot easier to hear than it is to describe or to imagine, so take a listen to iZotope’s demo video to get a better sense of what this module does.
Also new this time out are improvements in Ozone’s Tonal Balance Control, which allows a track’s spectral characteristics to be compared against and/or adjusted to match a reference track. The tool now includes a range of genre-specific reference targets created through analysis of existing high-quality masters; they have names like Bass Heavy, Hip Hop, Orchestral, Pop, and Rock. The system also works if you load in a specific reference track with the target characteristics you’re looking for, or a folder of different tracks that can be used to create a composite target.
Tonal Balance Control has the capability to communicate with other iZotope plug-ins, including instances of Neutron, Nectar, Relay or Ozone, meaning it’s often possible to make appropriate EQ adjustments without leaving the environment. Watch the video to see it in action.
Here’s iZotope’s list of key features in Ozone 9:
- Master Rebalance: Adjust the levels of vocals and other instruments in a stereo audio file, solve balance issues without needing the original stems.
- Low End Focus: Quickly adjust the contrast and definition of low frequencies and get a hard hitting master every time, without needing a complex plug-in chain.
- Improved Tonal Balance Control: Tonal Balance Control is improved with smoother metering, resizability, new target curves, and inter-plugin communication with Relay and Nectar for quick and easy gain control across the mixing and mastering stages.
- Expanded Master Assistant: Choose from a modern or vintage vibe, with loudness targets for CD and streaming. Get a great starting point every time, no matter the style, format, or genre.
- Match EQ module: Ozone 9 offers a brand new experience for Match EQ, with a better preset workflow, the ability to match from a reference track, and deeper controls that let users match parts of the frequency spectrum.
- Vintage Modules: A colorful collection of Vintage modules add warmth, grit, and vibe to a creator’s music, now in Ozone 9 Standard.
- Updated UI/UX: Ozone 9 is faster and easier to use, with a modernized resizable interface, fluid metering, and an expanded module chain.
- Native Instruments NKS Support: NKS support puts Ozone directly into the creative production process. Easily access controls, presets and DSP from within an NKS supported environment, such as MASCHINE or a KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard.
- Improved Performance: Experience faster performance and smoother workflows improved visualizations and fluid metering.
- Component plug-ins: Use any Ozone 9 Advanced module as a separate plug-in in a DAW, meaning users get more than 10 component module plugins.
With Ozone 9, iZotope also launched its Music Production Suite 3, which includes Ozone 9 Advanced along with Neutron 3 Advanced, RX 7 Standard, Nectar 3, VocalSynth 2, Insight 2, and R4 and Nimbus by Exponential Audio.
Ozone 9 is available now in Advanced ($499 MSRP), Standard ($249 MSRP) and Elements ($129 MSRP) versions; please note that if you want the marquee features like Master Rebalance, Low End Focus and Tonal Balance Control, you’ll need the Advanced version. Ozone 9 Advanced is included in Music Production Suite ($999 MSRP) and in the Tonal Balance bundle ($699 MSRP).
Ozone 9 is supported on hosts including Ableton Live 9-10, Cubase 9.5, Digital Performer 9, FL Studio 12, Logic Pro X, Nuendo 8, Pro Tools 10-12, Reaper 5, Reason 10 and Studio One 3-4.
At press time, all Ozone 9 products were being offered at substantial discounts.
