Track talk

While pre-determined algorithms form the foundation of many of today’s most perceptive mixing plugins, often their capabilities can be expanded by the learning engendered by new data. An interesting example of an adaptive, selfrefining algorithm can be found in iZotope’s Neutron 3. The company’s premiere mixing suite features a gamut of algorithms designed to continually refine what they suggest to the user. The Mix Assistant also uses ‘Inter-plugin Communication’ to speak to other iZotope plugins being used on other tracks in a mix, to understand what they’re specifically doing to the respective frequencies and tones of those channels. This helps Neutron 3 take the reins and intelligently adjust each track’s levels, bringing focus to the sounds that should be foregrounded and hiding those that need to recede into the mix. This idea of decision-making based on ever-changing data is also key to the versatility of Audiomodern’s PlayBeat 3. Its always-listening AI brain scrutinises your samples (and typical beat-building approach) to aid it in offering up variations and ideas based on your personal approach.