#1 Mixing to Reference Tracks
Even though an experienced mixing engineer knows how to go about mixing to a reference, Neutron undoubtedly makes this much faster! Instead of searching for real-world sims and doing complicated frequency spectrum measurements and comparisons, Neutron’s reference track feature within Mix Assistant does the work in minutes.
#2 Don’t Waste Time Creating a Rough Mix
Many engineers take their first steps with a mix by setting faders and getting a rough mix. While this is pretty straightforward, it isn’t where the creative work gets done. Wouldn’t it be better to save all of your energy and creativity for the actual mix, instead? Perhaps if your a real pro, you’ll have an underling to make your rough mixes, but Neutron’s Mix Assistant can do a great job, more quickly for less pay 🙂
#3 Discover New Techniques
iZotope Neutron offers great tools for dynamic and sidechain EQ. Nectar (Neutron’s related software) offers Follow EQ which is amazing for notching out specific modes or resonant frequencies! Discovering the unmasking visualization is a great way to refine an already developed ear as well.
#4 Save Time with Sculptor Targets!
Sculptor IS basically a great mixing engineer. It contains a library of ‘target spectral curves’ that basically represent a huge variety of channel mixes for most instruments and tracks you’re likely to encounter. Sculptor is essentially a 32-band multiband compressor that has been trained to instantly apply the desired spectral characteristics over just about any audio material. You might have pro ears and pro skills, but Sculptor will get you most (if not all) the way there in seconds, rather than minutes (or hours). That is valuable power for any mixing engineer!
#5 Manage Convoluted A/B Snapshots
Snapshots in Neutron’s Visual Mixer makes it pretty darn easy to A/B different mixes. What it does excellently well, however, is showing you the panning and width and gain views for each track in the easy-to-digest Visual Mixer window. This view makes even a convoluted mix easier to evaluate creatively because patterns and trends in the mix become visual.
#6 Better Multiband Compression
The Dynamics module in Neutron will “Learn” how to place the multiband crossovers in your mix… just by listening to it! Many experienced producers and mixers recognize the unique power of using Multiband compression and it is a necessary piece of kit! The crossovers are critical to getting the most efficiency and precision out of your multiband compressor – using Neutron’s “Learn” feature makes setting crossovers easy, precise and watching them take shape may even provide insight to the trained eye!
#7 Loudness and Tonal Balance
The loudness wars continue and many producers are caught in the crosshairs – living and dying by loudness, rather than the true joy of a well balanced, dynamic track (the true art :). Tonal Balance is a powerful (and visual) tool that will help even the most seasoned home studio engineer make better informed decisions. For example, how is your bass dynamics limiting your loudness (or vice-versa)? Is the low-end over/under compressed? Tonal Balance’s crest factor (RMS vs Peak) meter provides a simple measurement that can dramatically simplify the process of keeping your mix balanced as you push for ever higher loudness.
