iZotope Neutron 4 adds AI Mix Assistant
New iZotope Neutron 4 increases mixing assistance, distortion, and unmasking
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Neutron 4 adds improved Mix Assistant, Exciter with Trash distortion modules, and an improved Compressor module
5 years after iZotope released the first Neutron mixing plugin, the company updated Neutron to version 4. With now eight effect modules, iZotope tried not to increase complexity and choices by stuffing more features in. As an early adopter of AI technology to assist producers and engineers, it should come as no surprise that a new Mix Assistant is the Neutron 4 headline feature.
Neutron’s Mix Assistant is now modernized into the new Assistant View. Powered by machine learning, the new version listens as soon as you play audio, producing a reference starting point and taking you to a control centre where you can perfect your sound.
The new Unmask Module discovers and fixes masking issues for you by making space between two competing tracks, balancing bass and kick, or allowing vocals to poke out from your mix. With the new Target Library, you can dynamically match the tone of your track to a sample or stem.
Neutron 4 also brings back a slice of the fan-favourite iZotope plug-in, Trash, allowing users to add anything from gentle saturation to extreme distortion and destruction.
Rounding out the improvements, a Visual Mixer and Relay function help plugins talk to each other. Tonal Balance Control 2 helps track your levels as you mix.
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The new features in Neutron 4 include:
- Improved Mix Assistant: New Assistant View, evolved from Neutron's original Track Assistant.
- Match references in real-time: New Target Library to dynamically match a track's tone to a sample or stem.
- Make space: The new Unmask Module in Neutron 4 discovers and fixes masking issues for you between tracks.
- Distort with Trash: With iZotope Trash now in Neutron 4, you can distort or destroy your audio in the Exciter Module.
- Punch me harder: The new Punch Mode in the Compressor helps you control and visualize the attack portion of your transients.
- A new tone: Neutron’s Exciter comes with the new Tone Slider, allowing you to emphasise low or high-frequency content. The Tame button preserves dynamic expression as you increase distortion or dial up effects.
- Sidechain metering in the Compressor Module: Visualize your dynamics with the new Oscilloscope View in Neutron’s Compressor.
All plugins included with Neutron 4 are now Apple M1 native silicon compatible.
Our View
The purists and traditionalists will say that AI can never replace a good mixing engineer using his ears and manual correction. This may be true but in our view anything to help musicians sound better should be welcomed. Effectively, we see the Mixing Assistant as a better starting point than default settings or fixed presets.
The inclusion of distortion modules from the well regarded iZotope Trash plugin adds more options, and the Unmask Module is a useful addition.
In full transparency, I have been using Neutron since version 3, and found it easy to use and comprehensive to throw on individual tracks and buses during mixing for EQ and compression mainly.
We reserve our judgment on the new features in Neutron 4, and whether the upgrade is worth the price, until we have had the chance to review it.
It's worth noting that iZotope merged the Neutron 3 Standard and Advanced versions into one. That will disappoint Neutron 3 Advanced users and make them think twice about upgrading. Advanced users spent $399 on their purchase, and now are asked to spend the same $149 to upgrade than Neutron 3 Standard users, who paid only $249.
For new users, or with other older Neutron version, this may be a worthwhile upgrade, in particular if you follow our hot hack on how to legally buy Neutron 4 for $178. That is 40% less than the $299 introductory price. In any case, we recommend you use the 10 day free trial first.
Pricing
iZotope Neutron 4 Price:
- Full Price: $399
- Introductory Price: $299 (from 2 to 30 June 2022) at iZotope, Plugin Boutique*, Reverb*, $269 at Thomann*
- Crossgrade Price from any paid iZotope product: $149 at iZotope, Plugin Boutique*, Reverb*, $134 at Thomann*
- Upgrade Price from any Neutron Standard or Advanced: $149 at iZotope, Plugin Boutique*, Reverb*, $134 at Thomann*
- Education Price: $199 at iZotope, $179 at Thomann*
- Trial Version: A 10 day free trial is available
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Demos
Videos
What's new in Neutron 4
How to use the Punch Mode in Neutron 4
How to use Trash in Neutron 4
How to use the Unmask Module in Neutron 4
How to use the Mix Assistant in Neutron 4
