iZotope Ozone 4 promises better mastering

iZotope thinks that it's raised the mastering bar once again.
iZotope thinks that it's raised the mastering bar once again.

Zotope's Ozone has long been a favourite with musicians and producers who want all their mastering tools under one roof, but thanks to a version 4 update, it looks like it's now even more comprehensive.

For a start, iZotope has updated and expanded its algorithms, optimising them for low-latency DAW environments. New features, meanwhile, include an Intelligent Loudness Maximizer mode - this is said to enable the creation of full-sounding masters and to handle transients better than before - and Perfect Reconstruction crossovers. These promise to combine analog character with digital clarity.

Also on the menu is mid/side processing, True Envelope dynamics processing and enhanced preset management. On a more general note, the interface has been made easier to use.

Ozone 4 is cross-platform and supports the VST, Audio Units, DirectX, MAS and RTAS plug-in formats. You can expect it to ship in January for $249.

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.