Podcast Tutorial Series - Episode 8 - Alternative Plugins

Final video in the series (unless I come up with some changes at some point)  Thank you for watching!

This is an update to my review of the Ozone series.  To see the initial review, please follow this link:

http://www.scorecastonline.com/2014/12/20/review-ozone-6-izotope/

One thing that I can tell you is that since I purchased Ozone 3, which now seems so basic by comparison, it is very rare for me to send any music out without running it through Ozone first.  Usually, if I do, it is more likely to be sound design or something for a quick demo.  Anything that is going to be final audio or an audition piece goes through Ozone first.  Period.  I work with Ozone and RX (another huge program for cleaning audio) nearly every single day in my studio and can’t imagine living without them.

As a side note, Ozone Elements can be a great way to get your feet wet in the world of mastering.  Personally, if you are serious about it, just go for the full version.  It is worth it in the long run. 

New Modules:

These modules have a different look than the others.  They have a crème and gray background that give them a warmer look and let you know immediately you are looking at screens different than what you are used to seeing, if you are a previous user.  You can still setup a chain of up to 6, including plugins not in Ozone.

Vintage EQ (Advanced Only) – Mid/Side or Stereo options as well as low and high boost and cut.  Individual settings are available for Low, Low Mid, Mid, High-Mid, High Boost and High Cut, giving you great dynamic control in shaping your master.

Vintage Tape – I am especially excited to see this addition as I use tape warmers quite a bit in my music, especially in my Mental Sauna series.  Input Drive, Bias (at either 15 or 30 ips) Harmonics and separate Low and High Emphasis settings (with graphic examples showing the extremes).

Vintage Compressor (Advanced Only) – Same view as Vintage Limiter.  Options for mid and side.  Detection Filter. 1) -40000 Hz and -400 Hz (Left and right only), 2) 800 Hz to 9000 Hz and -8 Db to +8 dB, 3) 4000 Hz to 12000 Hz and -8 Db to +8 dB.  Threshold 0 to -60 dB.  Ratio, Aspect and Release.  Modes include Sharp, Balanced and Smooth.  There is also a slider for Gain Make Up (manual or auto).

Vintage Limiter - This is very easy and simple to use with straight forward settings.  View the waveform in two different settings (upper left of screen) Choose between Analog, Tube or Modern.  Set your Floor and ceiling between -20db and 0db.  Decide how much character you want it to have (slow is 10, fast is 0). 

Additions to Previous Modules:

Main Interface (Advanced Only) – A button was added for Codecs where you can set the bit rate from 96 to 320 kps.  MP3, AAC.  Solo Codec Artifacts Preview.  This allows you to preview what your audio will sound like in different formats so you can prevent signal loss in your final.  Each type of coding can make different changes so it is extremely beneficial to be able to prevent that.

*** Make sure to bypass this in your final export ***

It also appears they have expended the export selection from just WAV to also include AIFF, MP3 and AAC.  You can also now add metadata to your track upon export.  That means I no longer have to go back into Sonar, open my track and export it again JUST to add the metadata.  Great, time saving addition.

Dynamics – Added an Adaptive Release mode.  This allows you to automate your release times, which gives you a lot more freedom and control over your sound.

Maximizer – IRC IV (Intelligent Release Control) has been added to the selections.  This has been designed to prevent distortion while allowing you to maximize your volume.  IRC I is the basic model.  It will work quickly with transients and slowly to bass sounds where IRC II focuses more on clarity.  IRC III would be great for EDM and anything that really pumps.  IRC IV builds on III but preserves the detail and less on transients.  Each of these have their own character so play around and see what each can do to your audio.  I don’t like to define things to specifically because it may limit creativity and experimentation.     

There are also additional stock presets to get you started.  These can be great for rush demos and various things but, personally, I find I use them as a foundation and make little tweaks and save as new presets.  Keep in mind that the majority of music I compose is for relaxation and I also do a lot of horror music so my settings and needs may be quite different from what others need.

Additional Notes:

Don’t think of these modules as limited to use in Ozone.  I have often used an EQ or a compressor on an individual track as well.  I can see adding Vintage tape to my master bus or even an individual track if it sounds too cold and digital.

Downside:

I would love to be able to expand this to full screen however, like many tools on our business the user is unable to change the size of the GUI.  I can understand if it causes issues with the performance but, otherwise it would be nice to be able to stretch or shrink it since people sue different resolutions based on their setups.  I don’t know the specifics with Ozone but it seems all the iZotope products I have work in the same manner.

Overall, there are some great additions and certainly a reason to upgrade from previous versions.  If you are stubborn and stayed on Ozone 3, don’t make the mistake I made.  Get the new version ASAP!

Honest Reviews: Eargasm Earplugs

Attending the NAMM show this year started with a benefit before I even arrived.  The lovely folks at Eargasm were giving away 100 pairs of earplugs and I was lucky enough to secure one of them.  Here are my thoughts:

First off, let’s talk about the name.  Genius, right?  Couple that with delightful, light blue packaging and you have a winning marketing campaign.  The packaging is indeed sturdy and classy.  A padded cardboard box hosts the product.  I have to remember that the customer experience will be a little different as I did not check them out prior.  I did not go to a website to check them out, order online or in a store.  I walked up to their booth and presented a QR code.

I was asked if I wanted clear or blue earplugs.  My initial thought was that it would be hard to find a clear earplug that was dropped on the floor so I went with blue.  I headed off to lunch and opened the box outside the show.  The earplugs come in tiny Ziplock bags, which are hell to open.  Again, not knowing how they worked, I saw two pairs of ear plugs.  One clear and one blue.  I was a bit put off, wondering why I was given a choice.  As it turned out, it was a large pair and a small pair and there were only filters in the large.  I would have to remove the filter and put it in the smaller plugs if the large ones did not fit, which they didn’t.  The small plugs, however, fit like a dream, despite the thick rubber.  Here begs the question, if I am paying for two pairs of earplugs, why do I only get one that I can use, one that does nothing without the filters and no spare?

Included is a solid container that attaches to your keychain.  This thing is like a small safe and I trust it won’t open by itself like other earplugs I have tried.

The sound:  Let’s get to the most important thing, shall we?  How well do they work?  Once I switched the filters to the smaller plugs (not the easiest thing in the world to do but not too difficult either), I immediately noticed a huge amount of noise reduction.  Of course, you would expect this.  In this case, however, there was a higher clarity instead of just a noise reduction with a muffled effect.  For the first time, I could actually hear conversations without having to take one of the plugs out.  The really is the most important function, after all.  I can go to concerts, loud events such as NAMM and even walk the Vegas Strip in comfort and protecting one of the most vital parts of my body.  Thank you, Eargasm!!!

Overall, I think the packaging could benefit with some tweaks.  Maybe if they change out the bag (or just carefully cut it open), change the sizes to include two small or two large sets of earplugs to double the value for the consumer.  $30 a set isn’t a lot to ask, especially for this quality, but having a spare pair instead of a pair I can’t use would be nice.  Plus, if the filters are in the wrong size pair, you have to switch them right away before you can do anything with them.  On the plus side, the noise reduction, comfort and the fact I can hold a conversation while keeping my ears protected is a dream!

Give them a try!  For more information:  https://eargasmearplugs.com/products/eargasm-high-fidelity-earplugs