Combing a bunch of tools to help get your mixes across the line, Neutron 5 is the latest from the world of iZotope.
The Neutron 5 from iZotope is an all-in-one mixing suite, featuring 11 powerful plugins that are packed with innovative tools and a streamlined workflow- the ultimate for those looking to enhance their mix. One of iZotope’s more accessible bundles in their impressive catalogue, Neutron 5 is clearly geared towards a broad range of musicians of all skill sets, from budding bedroom producers to professionals alike, thanks to its clean interface and accessibility.
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The suite now includes 10 component plugins that can be used to sculpt sound individually, with three of these being new additions (Clipper, Density and Phase), as well as a “Mothership” which combines elements from the other 10 into one interface.
The first of the three new modules is the Clipper, which is essentially a soft clipping peak limiter, designed to add power and presence while taming peaks and reclaiming headroom in the overall mix. Offering flexibility and control, soft clipping can be applied across separate bands, and even in mid/side and transient/sustain modes.
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The second new plug in is Density—a “surgical” upward compressor that can be used to smooth out dynamics. How Density differs from a standard compressor is that instead of attenuating signal as it goes above a certain threshold, it will actually lift quieter parts as they fall below it. This is a great tool for things like lead vocals, where the dynamic range may be inconsistent, and parts are getting lost in the mix, the upwards compression transparently boosts the signal in parts that may fall below it. It also works well on other instruments that need more life and clarity; it too is available in the mid/side mode and can be split into three frequency bands for more precision.
Phase issues can be a real killer when it comes to your mix, but with the third new plugin, you can quickly take it from something that feels hollow, to something with a lot of impact. Neutron’s “Phase Learn” feature can align two separate signals, stopping them from destructively interfering with one another. By simply clicking the learn button, it will analyse your audio, providing a solution without affecting the sound of the instrument or vocal too much. The rotation feature recovers headroom by correcting waveforms that are asymmetrical in seconds, and situated just below it, the delay knob adjusts phase positioning by moving audio forward or backwards accordingly. By plugging in a side chain of the channel you’re trying to align, Neutron 5 will apply the necessary amount of phase delay for you, to ensure they work cohesively with each other.
Additional new upgrades include improved metering, oversampling in the exciter, delta buttons in all modules and a sleek new design.
The Unmask module returns from Neutron 4, serving as a way to get competing elements in your mix out of each other’s way. Whether its fixing the clash between your bass and kick, or allowing vocal elements to shrine through, unmask from a track or bus in your DAW, and adjust levels to instantly fix muddy mixes.
The Sculptor module was previously only offered in the full version but is now offered in Elements, it’s an adaptive EQ that uses spectral shaping to enhance natural tones or completely transform them. Using targeted frequency curves based on the sonic profile of the instruments and vocals, it can be used alongside Neutron’s equaliser, or you can turn it off and use one without the other.
Neutron Mix Assistant
Another returning feature that deserves some attention is the Mix Assistant. By simply loading the plugin onto a track of your choice, the AI-powered Mix Assistant will then analyse your sound. From here, you will get a complete custom signal chain for your audio, that you can then tweak to your liking with professional instrument profiles, and macro controls that are very easy to function. If you’ve got some references that you want to use, you can upload any stems or multi tracks you have on your computer directly into Neutron 5, or alternatively, take advantage of iZotope’s Audiolens plugin.
Audiolens is a free desktop software that makes track referencing a breeze by analysing audio from any streaming platform or audio source on your computer, removing the need for countless wav and mp3 files, as it captures the audio source and it pairs directly with Neutron 5 inside your DAW. Let’s say you’re listening to a song on Spotify with the tonal balance or dynamics that you want for the song you’re working on, just hit the capture button inside Audiolens, and it will begin analysing certain characteristics in the audio stream. Audiolens doesn’t actually record any of the audio, but rather collects information about things like equalisation, loudness and stereo width. Once it’s done, it can be named and saved to then be opened in Neutron 5, where the Mix Assistant will analyse the references and adjust the processing chain accordingly, to bring your EQ curves closer to the original source. You’ll then be able to control the tone with eq and sculpt options, dynamics with compression, and add saturation, distortion and even control the width all in the one screen.
Neutron 5 is an amazing software option for a range of musicians, boasting an impressive, diverse range of tools- there’s something for everyone in here.
Keen to try iZotope Neutron 5 and the Mix Assistant yourself? Keep reading and try or buy at iZotope here.
