3 intelligent mixing solutions

iZotope RX 9

iZotope are relatively old hands when it comes to making use of AI and machine learning. You can find variations on these ideas present in Ozone’s Mastering Assistant or the smart features of Neoverb. RX is probably the company’s most powerful deployment of modern tech though. This audio restoration tool uses machine learning to offer smart suggestions on how to clean up and improve audio. It works remarkably well too (see our review of the latest version on p76). It’s thanks to this tech that RX keeps getting more and more effective, making it a must for studio, TV and other audio editing applications.

Focusrite The Collective FAST Plugins

Focusrite’s recently-launched range of plugins are powered by tech from AI-specialists Sonible, whose Smart series of mixing tools could warrant inclusion in this list too. The reason we’ve opted for Focusrite’s take, however, is that these tools are an excellent example of how – despite sounding complex – ‘intelligent’ features can actually help to make mixing tools far simpler and more userfriendly. The four plugins in the range, focusing on EQ, compression, reverb and spectral ducking, each use their AI tools to help apply contextspecific presets that can gently steer even total beginners toward the right settings for the job.

Hit’n’Mix RipX

RipX is divided into two versions – DeepRemix and DeepAudio. The former of these promises the ability to split a fully mixed and mastered audio file down into individual instrument stems. Does it always work perfectly? No. But it’s still remarkably impressive, particularly when it comes to working with simple ‘band’ material (classic rock and pop tracks, for example). Its functionality relies on machine learning to intelligently identify different elements within an audio file. The pricier DeepRemix does the same, but adds some impressive editing tools too. We particularly like the ability to isolate and edit ‘noise’ elements.