iZotope Neutron could be the 'smart' plugin that helps you to create better-sounding mixes

It turns out that iZotope's free Neutrino plugin was merely a sonic hors d'oeuvre to whet your appetite ahead of the company's new main mixing course, a far more comprehensive product known as Neutron.

Again, this is based on spectral technology, and includes what the company is calling "industry-first" 'smart' features that are designed to make the mixing process easier.

The most eye-catching of these is Track Assistant, which analyses your track and automatically detects the instruments within it. It then recommends where EQ nodes should be placed and suggests optimal settings for other modules.

iZotope stresses that, ultimately, you still have to make the mixing decisions yourself, but Track Assistant may give you some good starting points and save you time.

There's also the Masking Meter, which is designed to let you visually identify frequency clashes between instruments so that you can make the necessary adjustments.

Neutron will be released in standard and advanced editions on 5 October for PC and Mac, initially at the '20% off' discount prices of €189/$199 and €270/$299 respectively. Find out more on the iZotope website.

iZotope Neutron features

  • Automatically detect different instruments and then apply the spectral shaping technology to provide subtle clarity and balance to each track.
  • Get recommendations for optimal starting points using Track Assistant, including EQ nodes, compressor thresholds, saturation types, and more.
  • Carve out sonic space with the revolutionary Masking Meter to help each instrument sit better in the mix.
  • Create the perfect mix with five essential mixing processors integrated into one CPU-efficient channel strip.
  • Surround Support [Advanced Only] for audio post professionals that need to enhance the audio for picture experience.
  • Individual plugins [Advanced Only] available for the Equalizer, Compressor, Transient Shaper, and Exciter
Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.