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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444 |
I bought some EZmix + EZmix 2 + Lead Vocals.
Just trying out Izotope Nectar 2 + Alloy 2.
Whilst not a million away from each other, Izotope seems more refined and smoother, more studio sound like whereas the EZmix does sound a tad harsh by comparison.
Any thoughts on these programs?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,022
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,022 |
I am a big - Izotope Nectar 2 user and I love it and recommend it. Great sound and flexibility. Don't know the other one.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605 |
I use Izotope Ozone for mastering. Alloy is their product that allows Ozone-like control but with low CPU impact, so it can be used on each track for mixing.
I haven't used the other products, but I use Alloy and Ozone all the time. Essential.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444 |
Toontrack who make EZmix make presets with little control. Simply select a preset and go. Tend not to get many presets per pack.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,946
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,946 |
I have Ozone and would not want to give it up for anything. It's one of my 2 main "go-to" plugs. It's in the master buss of every song and even occasionally it gets used in a track.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,869
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,869 |
Hi Paul,
I have EZMix but I rarely use it now. I got it, tried it, and was disappointed in the fact that you have little control over it. There is little you can do with just two knobs! BUT I did take notice of what effects were used then used Sonar's effects to duplicate them so as I learning tool it was invaluable for me.
I have no experience with Izotope Ozone or Alloy but it looks like something that I might want to investigate.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,641 |
You'll want to investigate Ozone. And demo it .. but not before accepting you will end up buying it. 
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,138
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,138 |
I'm using Nectar 2 and Ozone 5. A few of the seasoned folks here recommended Ozone and boy were they right. I have much to learn about fine tuning those plugins, but they made a huge positive difference just with the presets.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 58
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 58 |
I use Ozone 5 Advanced in all my tracks, and in all my final mastering tracks. (Each song in a CD gets its own mastering stereo track)
Walt
Yamaha Montage 6 Roland J80, D50, Integra 7, BK-7m, FR-8X, 1967 Fender Jaguar, Fender Strat, Fender 1965 Twin Reverb reissue, Selmer Trumpet, Akai EWI, Studio One 4 My WEB Site: www.gontowski.com/music
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,948
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,948 |
yeah, I bought Ozone/Nectar/Alloy around this time last year. I have not used Alloy a ton but Nectar gets used on every vocal track and Ozone on every mix as the last step! And the presets on these programs are so good you may find yourself rarely tweaking beyond a preset!
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,946
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,946 |
You'll want to investigate Ozone. And demo it .. but not before accepting you will end up buying it. Yes, you can download a demo version that will run fully functional for 10 days. But, before you DL it... be sure you have the funds needed to buy it. Once you try it, you're gonna wanna buy it. Ozone 3 & 4... the ones I have, all have 6 different modules in them. You can turn the various modules on or off as needed. And trust me, there are more than 2 knobs in the modules so customizing the module parameters is a given. They start you off with a bunch of presets..... several for nearly each situation or instrument you may be using as well as mastering presets. Each one can be tweeked and saved with new names.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,207
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,207 |
I just moved from Ozone 5 to 6 and find it hugely more intuitive and easier to modify modules than 5. I'm no longer using presets and am creating the master program for each song on the fly.
Necter 2 is worth the price for the reverb module alone which is an EMT 140 plate emulation. Way beyond vocals this is a great reverb for general use. One of the finest reverbs in recording history the EMT has been used as the only reverb on some great albums.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 444 |
Thanks guys. I'm trying it out all three Isotope programs. My mixing is trial n error to be honest. I know so little. I think my mixes are 'ok' but they lack the dynamic sparkle.
The other day I added Ozone to my Master channel and was quite impressed with the improved sound. I have about a week left and can see myself buying the bundle. However I have so many presets with Studio One, EZMIX2 and now Isotope that it's a challenge what to not use?
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