MusicRadar Verdict
Feature-wise, RX 11 isn’t a leap forward, but it’s all-round easier and more effective, and remains a go-to for efficient audio.
Pros
- +
Repair Assistant makes basic adjusting audio quick and straightforward.
- +
Dialogue Isolate is impressive and versatile.
- +
Music Rebalance is simple and largely effective.
Cons
- -
Advanced version is priced for pro users only.
- -
Results are impressive but still not perfect every time.
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iZotope RX 11 Advanced: What is it?
The buzz around AI and machine learning can seem hyperbolic at times, but in the audio realm the place where the benefits of these technologies are undoubtedly most evident are in deep audio editors and restoration tools. By this, we mean things such as stem separation tools – which are now starting to be integrated into DAWs like Logic and FL Studio – and tools that let users manipulate discrete elements of otherwise mixed audio files. The sorts of things that would have seemed impossibly futuristic just a few years ago.
In this field, iZotope’s RX is arguably the best-known player, and it’s an application that has come on in leaps and bounds over the past decade.
iZotope RX 11 Advanced: Performance and verdict
RX is a spectral editing tool widely used in post-production as well as music and sound design. It presents audio as a spectrogram and then offers a variety of image-editing style tools that allow users to select elements of the frequency spectrum, which can then be altered using modules broken down into Repair, Utility and Measurement categories.
A number of RX’s individual tools can be used with a DAW as distinct plugins, and the standalone application can send audio back-and-forth to a DAW, either using the included RX Connect app or new ARA workflow, which currently works with Logic, Pro Tools and Studio One.
Silent heroes
As is often the case with tools of this kind, much of the improvements are hard to see at first. While there are improvements to the UI, much of the interesting stuff is going on behind the scenes with the tech powering Dialogue Isolate and Music Rebalance.
The former of these, which is now available in the more affordable Standard version of RX, uses new machine learning algorithms for faster processing. The results are often incredibly impressive, with its ability to pick out and clean up voice recordings from messy and low quality recordings. The new version adds the ability to remove reverb from a recording, along with 4-band processing for more precise control. Whether trying to fix dodgy mic audio or for sampling from any number of sources, there are plenty of cases where this could be handy in a musical capacity.
The same goes for Music Rebalance, which is RX’s take on the increasingly prevalent stem separation format, and splits audio into the standard Vocals, Bass, Drums, Other categories. Unlike Logic or FL Studio, which provide these as audio exports, the focus here is more on mixing than remixing, but it works well.
Repair shop
The most useful of the new and revamped features is the Repair Assistant, a machine learning-powered helper available in all versions that offers a useful suggested starting point for improving audio, which can then be fine-tuned with deeper controls.
The full Advanced version of RX is priced at a somewhat eye-watering level, although many tools will likely be only essential for professional post production users. Now that more features have come down into the more-affordable Standard version, that feels like a well-balanced package for music makers and freelance producers/musicians who might not rely on RX to the same extent.
MusicRadar verdict: Feature-wise, RX 11 isn’t a leap forward, but it’s all-round easier and more effective, and remains a go-to for efficient audio.
iZotope RX 11 Advanced: The web says
"While RX 11 Standard might suffice for music production, the Advanced version is as vital as food and water for professionals working in post-production and restoration."
MIX
iZotope RX 11 Advanced: Hands-on demos
iZotope, Inc.
Production Expert
White Sea Studio
White Noise Studio
iZotope RX 11 Advanced: Specifications
- KEY FEATURES: Formats: Standalone, AU, AAX, AAX Audiosuite, VST3, AU ARA, VST3 ARA, AAX ARA. Versions: Advanced £1,149, Standard £389, Elements £95.
- CONTACT: iZotope
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