Getting Started - Neutron 4 Help Documentation

Welcome to Neutron 4! If you have never used an iZotope product or want to know more about Neutron, then this is the right chapter for you. The topics include: Download Product Portal to get started with Neutron 4. You can follow the directions on the Product Portal download page to: register new products, download,

Overview

Welcome to Neutron 4! If you have never used an iZotope product or want to know more about Neutron, then this is the right chapter for you. The topics include:

Product Portal

Download Product Portal to get started with Neutron 4. You can follow the directions on the Product Portal download page to: register new products, download, install, and authorize existing products, as well as access trials/demos or expansion content.

Authorizing Neutron

The first time you open a Neutron 4 plug-in, the Authorization window will appear.

  • Selecting Sign In will open the Product Portal if this application is installed on your computer. If Product Portal is not installed you will be brought to the web page to download Product Portal.
  • Selecting Manual Authorization will open the manual Authorization window:

The Authorization window allows you to:

  • TRIAL: Select the Continue in Trial option to continue a Trial period evaluation prior to purchasing.
  • DEMO: Continue evaluating the product with Demo limitations (after the 10 day Trial period ends).
  • AUTHORIZE: Authorize the product with a serial number.

Trial Mode

Trial mode allows you to evaluate Neutron 4 over a 10 day trial period. The trial period begins when you first open Neutron 4 plug-ins in a DAW/NLE. The Authorization window will display the number of days remaining in your trial period. Click the Continue button to exit the Authorization window.

Demo Mode

After your 10 day trial period expires, you have the option to operate Neutron 4 in Demo mode. To continue evaluating Neutron 4 in demo mode, click the Demo button.

Demo Mode Limitations

All controls and user interaction will be disabled in Neutron 4 plugins while in Demo mode. However, playback and automation will remain intact so your existing sessions are not negatively affected.

Authorization Methods

To disable Trial or Demo mode, you must authorize the product with a valid serial number. We offer three authorization methods for Neutron 4:

  • Online Authorization: Authorize Neutron 4 on a computer online.
  • Offline Authorization: Authorize Neutron 4 on a computer offline.
  • iLok Authorization: Authorize Neutron 4 using iLok.

Help with authorization

The Neutron 4 Detailed view is divided into four main areas as seen in the image below:

Neutron 4 interface labeled

  • Global Header: The global header area provides access to: the IPC plug-in name editor, Mix Assistant, the Preset Manager, Undo History, Zero Latency, Options, and Help.
  • Signal Chain: The Signal Chain allows you to add or remove modules and adjust the processing order of modules included in the chain. The Signal Chain area is exclusive to the Neutron 4 mothership plug-in, Neutron 4 component plug-ins do not include the Signal Chain because they only include one processing module. See the Signal Chain section for more information.
  • I/O Panel: The Input/Output (I/O) panel area includes: global I/O gain controls, I/O metering, channel operations controls, and global bypass. See the I/O Panel section for more information.
  • Module Interface: The module panel area includes all controls and meters associated with a specific processing module.
  • Learn more: I/O panel & Global Header controls

    Visit the General Controls chapter to learn more about the I/O panel and global header controls.

    The Neutron 4 Assistant View is divided into three main areas as seen in the image below:

    Neutron 4 Assistant view labeled

  • Intent Controls: The Intent Controls provide broad control over tonal, dynamics, character, and width processing in Neutron 4. These are intelligently set when you access the Assistant for the first time in Neutron 4.
  • Target Library: The Target Library lists all available targets that Neutron 4 uses to generate an intelligent starting point for input audio. These are organized by instrument type and provide a Custom Folder for user-generated targets.
  • Metering: The metering in the Assistant View shows you input audio against the frequency balance of the currently selected reference Target or Reference file.
  • Learn more: Neutron 4 Assistant

    You can learn more about working with the Neutron 4 Assistant in the Assistant chapter.

    Signal Flow

    The following diagram represents the signal flow in the Neutron plug-in.

    Signal Flow Diagram

  • Input Gain
  • Signal Chain (Mothership plug-in only)
  • Output Gain
  • Limiter (Mothership plug-in only)
  • Working with the Signal Chain

    You can add, remove, and reorder modules in the Signal Chain area of the Neutron 4 mothership plug-in. By default, the Neutron 4 Signal Chain includes the Equalizer module.

    Learn more: Signal Chain

    For more information about working with the Signal Chain, visit the General Controls chapter.

    Working with Neutron Plug-ins

    Throughout this manual, the terms “Mothership” and “Component” are used to describe plug-ins included with Neutron 4.

    • Mothership plug-in:
      • Refers to the main Neutron 4 plug-in.
      • Offers multiple processing modules in a single plug-in instance.
    • Component plug-in:
      • Refers to the plug-in equivalent of any individual module included in the Neutron Mothership plug-in. i.e. Compressor, Equalizer, etc…
      • Offers focused control over an individual processing module.
      • When working with a single processing module, component plug-ins can be used as resource-friendly alternatives to the mothership plug-in.

    Mothership and Component Plug-in Feature Differences

    Some features included in the Neutron 4 mothership plug-in are not available in the Neutron 4 component plug-ins. Differences include:

    • The Limiter is only available in the Neutron mothership plug-in.
    • The global Zero Latency mode option is not available in the Sculptor component plug-in.
    • The global Zero Latency mode option is not available in the Unmask component plug-in.
    • The Assistant Pre-EQ static matching capabilities are not available in the Sculptor component plug-in.
    • The Assistant View (which includes the Target Library, Tonal Balance Curve meter, Intent Controls) is not available in the Neutron component plug-ins.

    Component Plug-in and Module Comparison

    The following table outlines if a given Neutron component plug-in is also included as a module within the Neutron mothership plug-in.

    FeatureComponent Plug-InModule
    Unmask
    Compressor
    Equalizer
    Exciter
    Gate
    Sculptor
    Transient Shaper
    Tonal Balance Control 2X
    Visual MixerX
    RelayX

    Workflow Suggestions

    There are a number of different ways to approach working with Neutron plug-ins. We’ve included some workflow suggestions you can use if you aren’t sure where to start. These workflows are merely suggestions and any workflow is valid if it works for you.

    Using the Assistant

    The Neutron 4 mothership plug-in and Neutron 4 Visual Mixer plug-in offer intelligent assistive features aimed at helping you find a starting point for your track or entire mix based on an analysis of your audio.

    Use the Assistant to build a starting point for an individual track. You can access the Assistant by inserting the Neutron 4 mothership plug-in on a track and clicking the Assistant button to the left of the Presets button in the global header area.

    More Info: Mix Assistant

    See the Assistant chapter for more information about working with the Assistant.

    Using Presets

    Neutron 4 plug-ins include a built in preset manager with a wide variety of factory presets to get you started. Open the Preset Manager by clicking the Presets button in the global header area of any Neutron 4 plug-in (except for Visual Mixer). Load a preset by selecting it in the preset manager window or quickly try out different global presets by clicking the left and right arrow buttons directly to the right of the Presets button in the global header area.

    More Info: Preset Manager

    Learn more about working with the Neutron Preset Manager in the Presets chapter.

    Module Presets in the Neutron Mothership Plug-in

    The Neutron mothership plug-in includes a global preset manager and a module preset manager. You can load presets that apply to a single module by clicking the Preset button in the module’s Signal Chain selector.

    Working with IPC

    Wouldn’t it be cool if all of the iZotope products that you owned talked to each other? Well, it’s a dream come true! With iZotope’s Inter Plug-in Communication (IPC) technology, different iZotope plug-in instances on separate tracks can send data back and forth to each other.

    Neutron 4 includes the following IPC functionality:

    • The Masking Meter feature, included in the Equalizer module, uses IPC technology to highlight masking occurring between tracks with IPC compatible plug-ins. See the Masking Meter chapter for more information.
    • The Assistant feature included in the Visual Mixer plug-in uses IPC technology to provide a starting point for your mix by grouping and adjusting levels of IPC compatible plug-ins in your session. See the Assistant chapter for more information.

    Neutron 4.0.2

    ncG1vNJzZmirY2Ourq3ZqKWar6NjsLC5jqKxqKyfpbKlu9ano6iZlKh8pbvCrGannaWpv7C6k2icp2eXmsG1tc2gZKyskafBprCOoqWdnahjtbW5yw%3D%3D

     Share!