The Future of Mastering - iZotope Ozone 9 - How to Utilize the New Functions

Evolution of the Interface

This upgrade is found in all versions of Ozone 9.

By dragging the right hand corner, you can change the window size.
Optimize to a window size that works best for your display or work flow.

The equalizer spectrum has seen some improvements as well, with a more smooth and easy-to-see display.
In addition, the “Tonal Balance Control (Advanced only)” graphics have become smoother as well.

Tonal Balance Control – Video Access (Japanese)

Addition of “Vintage Mode” to the AI Mastering Assistant

This addition can be found in Standard/Advanced.

The characteristic AI mastering “Master Assistant” now has a new “Vintage Mode”.
It recreates that tasteful analog sound and to expand on your mastering sound capabilities.

Master Assistant will make adjustments primarily with vintage effects.
We tried applying it to electronic and EDM styles, and we’re surprised when we ended up getting some great sounding results.
Be sure to try this out in your own productions!

Control Specific Track Volumes from a Stereo Mix Using “Master Rebalance”

This function is found in Advanced.
This function gives you real-time volume control of vocal/bass/drum (rhythm) sounds in your stereo mix track.
This can be used in situations such as:
You only have a bounced mix file without individual tracks,
you don’t want to go back into your mixing session to make adjustments,
or you have samples that you want to balance to fit into your track.

It works using incredibly simple controls.
Add “Master Rebalance” as an effect, and just raise/lower the “Gain” after selecting the type of track you want to control.
It uses detailed analysis to analyze the track and change the volume of the selected sound.

The “Gain” can be automated as well.
This allows you to create dramatic expressions in your song and more.

How to Use Automation in Your DAW

Low End Optimization with “Low End Focus”

This function can be found in Advanced.
You can optimize and edit the “low end” of your track which is crucial in modern music.

Editing this frequency range usually requires you to do so in louder volume settings, and may be difficult depending on your living situations.
“Low End Focus” utilizes it’s internal equalizer and compression to make optimal edits to your low end.

• Choose from “Punchy/Smooth” sound characteristics
• Contrast : Raise above the middle to increase low-end clarity. Lower it to moderate and create a more subtle low end
• Gain : Controls the low end volume
• Listen : Allow you to hear just the low-end sounds that are being effected

Drag on the bars to the left/right to filter the frequencies and find the best range to edit.
For example, you can “narrow down to edit primarily the kick sound” or “avoid effecting the kick and focus on editing the bass”.

Turning on the “S” button yields the same effect as using “Listen”, allowing you to monitor just the sounds that are being effected.

Using the Frequency Characteristics of a Reference Track with “Match EQ”

This function can be found in Standard/Advanced.

This tool analyzes the frequency spectrum of a reference track, and allows you to apply it’s characteristics to your track.

Open up “Match EQ” and click the “Capture” button.
After doing so, play the area of your reference track that you want to analyze to begin the analysis.

When the frequency spectrum is settled down, click the “Stop” button and stop the playback.

As seen the analyzed frequencies will be displayed in orange.

Next, click the “Capture” button on the right and play the song that you want to master.
After the frequencies settle down, click the “Stop” button and stop the playback.

This completes the preparation.

Use “FINE TUNE” to determine how much of the frequency characteristics are applied.

• Smoothing : Determines the detail of the applied EQ curves.
  The higher the amount, the more general the EQ curves.
• Amount : Determines how strong (amount) the reference track’s frequency characteristics are applied to the track you are mastering.

Like the “Low End Focus” mentioned earlier, you can narrow down the frequencies that are effected.
For example, you can narrow down just the mid-range frequencies to clear up the mid-range tracks, apply it to just the low end to help separate the sounds, and much much more.

The Newly Added Mode for Imager and NKS Compatibility

A new Mode has been added to “Imager”, allowing for more detailed and nuanced control when spread sounds.

In addition, this latest version is now compatible with the “NKS format” of Native Instruments midi keyboards.

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With the ability to create high quality sounds with simple and easy controls, the latest edition of Ozone proves to be an innovative mastering tool for the new age.

Though there are 3 grades of this product available, we highly recommend the “Advanced” version to get the most out of the new tools found in Ozone 9.
There is a free trial that gives you full access to the functions found in Advanced so definitely download it and try it out to experience the quality and detail of this plugin yourself!

Purchase here