Sincere Apology To Ozone 4

[donsolo]

Originally Posted by lerone

I think most mastering engineers could knock out a stellar sounding album with Ozone or Tracks, providing the conversion, louspeakers, amp, room ect was tip top. Its not quite the same as hardware, I know, but truly professional results can be achieved with the know how.

Spoken for Truth.

[jamescater]

Originally Posted by engmix

version 4 is excellent. although, i think the high end eq is not refined enough.

I agree the analog eq is not quite right for the master bus, it just doesn't give that sparkle that you want when manipulating the high end.

However i have used it quite a lot on kick and bass, I love th 0.1Hz accuracy which can be really usefu for getting that final gel between kick/bass which is sometimes elusive with other more granular eq's (eg Waves REQ 6)

I use the DX plugin on my host and move the setting with the cntrl/arrow keys which move between hidden 0.1db and 0.1 hz settings which can be a real godsend in the final tweaking stages of mixing, it's a bit of a pain because there is no visual feedback for the ctrl/arow changes, but they do exist.

Try the analog eq on kick/bass you may be surprised

[357mag]

Originally Posted by camerondye

They are completely different deals....

The compressor is a multi-band compressor able to set up to 4 different compression settings for up to 4 different areas of the sound spectrum. You can also run the compression in Mid/Side mode for some more options on a stereo track.

The limiter chops off the top off in order to get the volume up and also includes the dither, the max volume point, the character of the limiter and DC Offset.

It's definitely a good thing they are separate because I rarely use the MB compressor and love the Loudness Maximizer/Dither.
cam

I don't know man. A Compressor adds punch which is perceived as loudness. If the Limiter does the same thing then I interpret them as doing the same thing in the end.

Now you say the Loudness Maximizer is really the Limiter...

A Compressor with a ratio of 10:1 or greater is essentially acting as a Limiter.

What is the difference between an apple and an apple and an apple?

None.

[Alexey Lukin]

Most compressors are manipulating with RMS (average) signal levels, while peak limiters are specifically limiting peak levels of the signal to prevent over-modulation and clipping. More details: "Maximizers".

[Waltz Mastering]

Originally Posted by 357mag

What is the difference between an apple and an apple and an apple?

* There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples that are grown all over the world.

Each variety of apple has a slightly different flavour -- Who knew?

[357mag]

Originally Posted by Waltz Mastering

* There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples that are grown all over the world.

Each variety of apple has a slightly different flavour -- Who knew?

You know what I meant. I'm not talking about varieties. An apple is an apple. An apple is not a chair for instance.

[357mag]

Originally Posted by Alexey Lukin

Most compressors are manipulating with RMS (average) signal levels, while peak limiters are specifically limiting peak levels of the signal to prevent over-modulation and clipping. More details: "Maximizers".

So use a compressor when you want to increase punch and losing dynamic range is not a worry.

And use a limiter when you want to increase punch but keep as much of the dynamic range as possible.

Am I close here?

[Alexey Lukin]

Limiters are usually designed to keep the "perceived" dynamic range intact, but to decrease the "technical" dynamic range. Compressors are reducing both of these ranges.

[357mag]

Originally Posted by Alexey Lukin

Limiters are usually designed to keep the "perceived" dynamic range intact, but to decrease the "technical" dynamic range. Compressors are reducing both of these ranges.

I think what you are saying is...

Perceived range... the dynamic range our ears tell us is there.

Technical range... the dynamic range that is technically or electronically there.

[sanddigger1]

Originally Posted by 357mag

A Compressor with a ratio of 10:1 or greater is essentially acting as a Limiter.

A compressor with a 10:1 or 20:1 ratio is not brickwall, in addition to the other differences.
The Ozone limiter allows to set a ceiling with a 0.01dB accuracy (even if display shows only 0.1 increments) and the signal will actually be limited at this level, try this with a compressor...

"essentialy acting as a limiter" doesnt mean "exactly acting as this limiter"...

[camerondye]

If I asked people their favorite compressor and their favorite limiter...I can say over 90% would say different pieces/programs for each. That in itself says to me that they are different things for different reasons. Why does a piece like a Neve 2254/33609 have a comp followed by a limiter?...because comps and limiters are for separate jobs. Compressors make the quietest hits closer in volume to the loudest hits, limiters make sure the loudest hits don't go over a certain volume. Your favorite will be decided by how it is done...punch, warmth...etc.

Of course a limiter is a compressor and a compressor can be a limiter, but they are for different jobs.
cam

[lerone]

Originally Posted by 357mag

You know what I meant. I'm not talking about varieties. An apple is an apple. An apple is not a chair for instance.

True, but they do sound very different from one another and are used for tackling different jobs.

[lerone]

Originally Posted by lerone

True, but they do sound very different from one another and are used for tackling different jobs.

Sorry, I did'nt read the above post...what he said.

[Ol' Betsey]

Has anyone else had any problems with iZotope support before?

I've sent Support 3 emails and I haven't heard a single word back from them.

I'd really like to upgrade but I keep getting an 'invalid coupon' notice when I try to pay.

They were incredibly prompt when I had a question about transferring a license.

Hmmm....

R.

[camerondye]

I remember something about invalid coupon also, have you tried to upgrade in a while...I thought that was an issue that they resolved already.
cam

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally Posted by camerondye

I remember something about invalid coupon also, have you tried to upgrade in a while...I thought that was an issue that they resolved already.
cam

Yep, Just tried again today.

It's the unanswered support emails that are pissing me off though.

I mean c'mon guys I WANT to give you my money!

R.

[camerondye]

Here's there phone number for phone support:

M-Audio's Customer Support Team is available 12 hours a day, between 7:00AM and 7:00PM Pacific Standard Time at (626) 633-9055


Also try this address as opposed to the online thingy:
support@izotope.com

I've only had the one issue with the invalid coupon and they were back to me within a day so keep trying.
cam

[Ol' Betsey]

Thanks to a fellow GS that's affiliated with Ozone this got sorted out straight away.

Thanks fella's,

R.

P.S. Am really lovin' the Limiter as suggested!

[E-Irizarry]

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Mea Culpa! I bad-mouthed Izotope's Ozone 4, when it was MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE that couldn't work the magic in it.....the program is worth every penny even if you are only using ONE of the many dozen of amazing voices it has!!!! Sorry guys, I LOVE THIS THING and can't say enough good things about it!!!!!!

Sea su culpa, tonto. Te estoy bromeando! jajaajajaa! Pero en serio, Intelligente II is a great configuration mode on this DX/VST tool.

I use this with Elephant 3.3 and Spectra Q and Spectra PHY to get a sick ass Master bus.

[E-Irizarry]

Originally Posted by camerondye

They are completely different deals....

The compressor is a multi-band compressor able to set up to 4 different compression settings for up to 4 different areas of the sound spectrum. You can also run the compression in Mid/Side mode for some more options on a stereo track.

The limiter chops off the top off in order to get the volume up and also includes the dither, the max volume point, the character of the limiter and DC Offset.

It's definitely a good thing they are separate because I rarely use the MB compressor and love the Loudness Maximizer/Dither.
cam

Ozone 4 M/S Compressor is better than O3´s but it´s not to say that O3´s was bad neither.

I let Antares Filter 3 band filter and Waves C4 take care of the multicompressor rounding shapely compression sounds in the chain game.

[camerondye]

Originally Posted by Ol' Betsey

Thanks to a fellow GS that's affiliated with Ozone this got sorted out straight away.

Thanks fella's,

R.

P.S. Am really lovin' the Limiter as suggested!

That's whats great about gearslutz, they don't want to see an unresolved problem on a thread...that's bad juju. Ozone 4's limiter and dither is great and I think all the other functions actually are decent now too. I think you could use any of the functions in certain situations as well as anything. Great bang for the buck for the casual mastering job...
cam

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally Posted by camerondye

That's whats great about gearslutz, they don't want to see an unresolved problem on a thread...that's bad juju.

Yeah I'm not one to go about spreading bad blood that's why asked if anyone had had any issues with Izotope before I got all cranky.

I actually fired off an email to the address you provided (as opposed to the support tickets) and in the meantime a guy from iZotope (outside of support) sent me a PM and said he would pass it on and before you know it I had an email from Brian @ Support and we were rolling.

Nice and friendly contact as well.

Happy customer here.

Now if only I afford RX I'd be on that as well!

Thanks again guys,

R.

[deft_bonz]

Originally Posted by masterizer

I agree that the Mastering Engineer is essential but, a majority of the people that use ozone consider it to be the "mastering" step. What do the presets say? "mastering" "cd-master" "hot master" ect. Alot of people that buy ozone for "mastering" don't even know what mastering is, they don't tweak it and just scroll through presets. Personally I dislike the eq because it has an fft, if your eyes are making better judgments than your ears, its time to find a new field.

I'm not a ME at all, but I do make my (electronic dance) songs loud and punchy with Ozone. This I call Mastering, maybe it's wrong.

I also don't like presets, but for an amateur like me, they can be a very good starting point. Meanwhile my results are good enough for the dance floors.

But I really wonder if you really tried Ozone and tried to get a good result out of it, without having prejudices (that's hard for us all I know).




To all: Can you tell me how you hear the different limiter modes?

[Ol' Betsey]

Originally Posted by deft_bonz

I'm not a ME at all, but I do make my (electronic dance) songs loud and punchy with Ozone. This I call Mastering, maybe it's wrong.
I also don't like presets, but for an amateur like me, they can be a very good starting point. Meanwhile my results are good enough for the dance floors.

The irony of all this is that was I doing a little 'mastering' on a couple of acoustic songs I had done for a radio session (for free MP3's giveaways, MySpace etc) and the girl that sang with me said "Wow, I should have let YOU master my last album".

And she's been releasing albums on a major for the last 10 years.

The thing is, I would never dream of mastering my own album, let alone someone else's, but in the hand of amateurs like us Ozone is a great piece of kit to get you into a more presentable ballpark without spending money you don't have on a level of mastering you might not always need.

It's a pretty hefty piece of software in the hands of the knowing though.

I think it's up to each individual artist, engineer, producer to be honest with themselves and their clients/audiences as to whether each project deserves a more professional hand at the controls or if they're gonna do the 'Oh yeah, I can master this for cheap as well..."

R.