iZotope today has released RX Post Production Suite 3, a bundle which includes two brand-new product updates, RX 7 Advanced and the long-awaited Insight 2, as well as Neutron 2 Advanced, RX Loudness Control, and bonus content from Pro Sound Effects and Groove3.
RX Post Production Suite 3
This updated collection provides solutions across the full spectrum of audio post production, from dialogue editing to mixing to delivery for film, TV, and other new media.
RX 7 Advanced
Check out our separate article on the features that iZotope has added to RX 7 Advanced.
What Is New In Insight 2
A lot has happened since iZotope launched Insight back in November 2012 including the implementation of loudness delivery specs including EBU R128 and ATSC A/85. Insight 2 has been completely overhauled and highlights include…
New Intelligibility Meter - iZotope has designed this to help users to get a clearer picture of how an audience will experience the dialogue. We understand that powerful DSP measures the intelligibility of dialogue compared to the rest of the mix to ensure that the dialogue level can be clearly heard in different listening environments.
A new look - They have completely overhauled the GUI so that Insight 2 matches the other iZotope products like RX 7 and Neutron 2. You can resize and customise the new user interface, which has been redesigned to be easier to read at a glance
Multichannel support - Along with RX 7 Advanced, Insight 2 now supports multi-channel formats up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2.
Global loudness standard support - Insight 2 supports loudness targets for latest standards including EBU R128, BS.1770-1, BS.1770-2/3/4, ATSC A/85, and OP-59.
What iZotope Say About RX Post Production Suite 3
What We Think About Insight 2 From iZotope
The New Look
The updating of the look of Insight with this update is very welcome. Insight was looking dated to say the least but as a trail blazer iZotope has the challenge of going first. They produced Insight back in 2012 when there were relatively few audio visualiser plug-ins, as Insight was, and is much more, than a metering plug-in making it long overdue a refresh.
iZotope has bought Insight 2 into line with their current products in the Post Production Suite like Neutron 2 Advanced and iZotope RX7. But as we come to expect with iZotope they have done more than just refresh it. they have also done some trailblazing with the introduction on an Intelligibility Meter, which is a first in audio metering.
New Intelligibility Meter
Being the first, brings it’s own challenges in that you have to set the style, and the standard, and iZotope has risen to that challenge with the Intelligibility meter in Insight 2. The top meter which doesn’t have a scale, rather target to aim for is very intuitive and it is interesting that the target moves, when you change the expected environment the consumer might be in when listening to the content. However the bottom 2 meters with a scale in phons, a throwback to the intelligibility measurement for sound reinforcement and emergency announcement systems are not clear. For me there is still some work to do but when you don’t have anything to go on, you have to start somewhere especially when trailblazing.
It is always going to be difficult, but that has never stopped iZotope’s ingenuity before and am sure they will continue to improve this new concept, which will be so helpful by giving us a measurement of intelligibility of our mixes, especially as more and more of the content we mix is being consumed in noisy and challenging locations, with playback systems that do not offer the best sound quality.
More Colour
Coming back to the GUI, it’s great to have colour in the meters both level and loudness in Insight 2, although it would be nice to be able to adjust the breakpoints between the colours, especially on the loudness meters.
More Presets But No Netflix Setting
There is a good selection of different delivery spec presets including regional variations like the UK DPP version of the EBU R128 spec. That said, it is a shame that they haven’t been able to respond to the new Netflix spec and add the dialog gating mode and Netflix presets with Dialog LRA. I am sure that they are working on it and let’s hope it will be added in a further update in the not too distant future.
Pros
A trailblazing Intelligibility Meter
A new look that matches the other iZotope products and is very comfortable to look at
Multi-channel support up to 7.1.2
Cons
Being able to adjust the colour breakpoints on the meters
No Netflix presets yet
What Else Is In iZotope’s Post Production Suite 3
As well as the two brand-new product updates, RX 7 Advanced and the long-awaited Insight 2, the Post Production Suite 3 Bundle includes…
Neutron 2 Advanced
Neutron 2 Advanced has been designed to help you achieve a clear, well-balanced mix with Neutron’s innovative new mixing and analysis tools. Control every aspect of your music, from the visual soundstage of your tracks to the tonal balance of your mix—all with iZotope’s digital signal processing. Neutron 2 Advanced also includes the new Tonal Balance Control, Masking Meter, Mix Tap, plus surround support and component plug-ins for the ultimate mixing experience.
RX Loudness Control
RX Loudness Control has been designed to ensure your mixes meet global broadcast loudness specifications. RX Loudness Control works faster than real-time to ensure your audio mixes are delivered within the appropriate loudness standards. You can analyse and render your mix to comply with any of the global loudness standards, then instantly create a .CSV loudness report.
Groove3 Video Training
iZotope also include a 1-year, all-access pass to online video tutorials from Groove3 that is tailored for beginners and professionals alike. As well as tutorial series on iZotope product like RX, Insight, and Neutron. you can also enhance your understanding of Pro Tools, Logic, Studio One as well as other audio software.
Pro Sound Effects
Also included in the Post Production Suite you get 50 download credits to the Pro Sound Effects Library. Each download comes with a 1-user, perpetual, royalty-free, commercial license for use in an unlimited number of productions. You can search, browse, preview, and download from over 175,000 professional sound effects.
iZotope Post Production Suite 3 Pricing And Availability
RX Post Production Suite 3, RX 7 Advanced, and Insight 2 are now available from iZotope and selected retailers.
They are all on sale now with introductory offers until October 31, 2018. Pricing details for new customers and upgrading customers. Owners of previous versions of RX, Insight, and RX Post Production Suite can find their upgrade coupons in their iZotope account.