Izotope Rx 5 Features

Restoration & Post-production Processing Software [Mac OS & Windows]
  1. The Mixing module in iZotope RX provides specific control over both left and right signal and balance levels. This simple operation can be used to downmix stereo material into mono, invert waveforms, transcode left/right stereo into mid/side, subtract a center channel, and much more.
  2. Oct 28, 2015 Matt shows you how to harness the power of RX 5 to counteract hum, buzz, AC noise, unwanted mouth sounds, clipped audio and all kinds of audio artifacts that musicians must deal with every day.

It seems that along with Christmas, another regular annual event we can rely upon is a new version of iZotope’s RX Audio Editor software. Incorporating an ever-expanding collection of sophisticated tools for repairing, restoring and enhancing audio files, RX has now reached version 5, with both standard and Advanced editions available.

  • Computer / Software >Audio Editors

New in RX5 is an Instant Process option that can really help to speed up repetitive tasks.

The latest version of iZotope’s best-selling restoration software adds powerful new modules, as well as a Post Production Suite bundle aimed at film and TV applications.

It seems that along with Christmas, another regular annual event we can rely upon is a new version of iZotope’s RX Audio Editor software. Incorporating an ever-expanding collection of sophisticated tools for repairing, restoring and enhancing audio files, RX has now reached version 5, with both standard and Advanced editions available. The company have also released a new flagship product called the RX Post Production Suite; as the name implies, this not only includes RX5, but also the Insight metering system, RX Loudness Control and RX Final Mix products as well. The idea is to provide a full suite of tools that cover all aspects of audio post-production including audio repair, mixing and final delivery.

Insight

I reviewed the impressive Insight audio analysis and metering plug-in (v1.01) in the March 2013 issue of Sound On Sound, so will cover it only briefly here. Insight is included in the Advanced version of RX5 as well as the Post Production Suite and, in brief, provides a customisable loudness and true-peak meter, with support for channel formats up to 5.1 and presets for the international BS.1770 loudness standard variations. It also includes stereo and surround-sound ‘sound stage’ displays, spectrum analysers, and both 2D and 3D spectrogram modes. The display window can also be customised to show or hide the different display options as may be required for different applications or preferences.

The latest version is 1.04, but the only significant changes compared with the version I reviewed, apart from a few small bug-fixes, are to the supported platforms and plug-in formats. For example, Insight now supports Mac OS 10.11 and Windows 10, with host support for Pro Tools 12.3, while DirectX support has been dropped.

RX Loudness Control

RX Loudness Control works as an offline AAX AudioSuite plug-in in Avid’s Media Composer and Pro Tools (v10 to 12), or as an Audio Extension for Adobe’s Premiere Pro. Its functionality is derived in part from the loudness-normalisation algorithms within Insight and the Loudness Modules in RX4/5, but it also has features that go beyond the capabilities of both. In essence, the loudness parameters needed to comply with a particular programme delivery specification — such as the integrated loudness target level and maximum true peak value — are dialled into RX Loudness Control, after which the programme mix (in any format from mono to 5.1) is then rendered through RX Loudness Control.

The audio is analysed (faster than real time) and any transgressions are then displayed to allow the user to manually amend the mix to resolve any detected issues. Alternatively, the audio material can be corrected automatically and transparently through the plug-in’s built-in compression and peak-limiting tools.

RX Final Mix

Designed to simplify and speed up the task of mixing audio, the RX Final Mix plug-in combines automatic dynamic EQ and true-peak limiting tools and is aimed primarily at video editors and for use in TV and film audio post-production. The plug-in can be employed on stems or the final mix bus, supports all surround formats up to 7.1, and is designed to help control and blend multiple mix stems.

Final Mix incorporates dynamic EQ that is optimised to increase the intelligibility of dialogue.

The dynamic EQ is particularly useful in helping to maximise speech intelligibility through intelligent un-masking: pushing down any parts of the mix spectrum that might obscure important speech frequencies, moment by moment. It is equipped with six parametric bands, plus high- and low-pass filters, any of which can be set manually or for automatic programme-dependent operation. The latter has both compression and expansion options with user-adjustable thresholds set independently per band. Different parts of the audio spectrum can therefore be attenuated or emphasised and, when skillfully applied, this provides improved dialogue clarity by reducing any masking elements from background music and effects. It can also increase the dynamic impact of special effects, for example by raising the low-frequency region during explosions, and the like.

Moving on to the limiter feature, this can be optimised either for transparency or low latency, with three different sound-character options (clear, smooth or thick), and the ballistics are intelligently programme-dependent. The true-peak limit threshold is adjustable, and a separate gain slider allows the average volume to be increased by up to 20dB, if required.

The other main element of Final Mix is a simple-to-use limiter.

RX5 Advanced Audio Editor

The core RX audio restoration package is already such a powerful and versatile system that it might seem there is little room for practical improvement with each new generation. However, the Advanced version of RX5 included with the RX Post Production Suite manages to squeeze in a number of new workflow enhancements, better default settings, and closer integration with Avid’s Pro Tools — and even a few new processing modules, too!

The dedicated De-Plosive module is a new addition to RX5 Advanced.

The headline feature for the Advanced version of RX5 is a brand new De-Plosive module, which, as its name implies, is designed to remove distracting plosive sounds from dialogue tracks. This is claimed to be an “industry first” (although CEDAR came up with their DeThump algorithm over 15 years ago...). Another all-new module for RX5 Advanced is the versatile Signal Generator, which can create a variety of precise test tones with different wave-shape options, filtered noise, profanity bleeps, and so on. The Leveler and Ambience Match modules from RX4, which are only available in the Advanced version, have also been updated and improved. The Leveler module analyses a dialogue or vocal track and works out an intelligent clip-gain envelope to de-breath, de-ess and generally smooth out the voice level, while the Ambience Match plug-in automatically constructs a consistent background ambience track from whatever ambience already exists, which is particularly useful when rebuilding heavily edited dialogue or working with ADR tracks.

A welcome addition to RX5 Advanced is the new Signal Generator module.

Both the Standard and Advanced versions of RX5 benefit from a new Instant Process tool button, which has been added to the bottom of the main audio display window. This is a semi-automatic version of the Spectral Repair module, and it works much like the ‘magic eraser’ tools found in photo-editing programs. If the Instant Process button is pressed, a problem sound element can be highlighted with the usual shape selection tools, and instantly attenuated, de-clicked, faded or replaced (as pre-selected in a configuration box). This feature provides a much quicker means of removing lots of clicks, for example, and really speeds up repetitive tasks.

Another new module provided in both versions of RX5 is a greatly improved EQ module, now called Corrective EQ. This features six separate parametric bands, plus configurable high- and low-pass filters (with four slope options). The module can also be switched between ‘analogue’ or ‘digital’ modes, with usefully different filter characteristics. A new Module Chain facility is also provided in both versions, and this allows any number of different RX5 modules to be loaded in a specific order, configured, and then operated automatically in sequence with a single click to perform complex audio processing tasks in a single pass.

Now rechristened Corrective EQ, RX5’s equaliser has been considerably improved.

There are a number of other worthy enhancements to this latest version of RX, starting with a subtly improved toolbar layout, with bigger icons and more obvious navigation and zoom controls. Retina screen support has been added for Macs, giving sharper text and graphics. And when working with long audio files, the Marker and Region search facilities have been improved to make finding required sections quicker and easier. Over 60 new ‘problem-oriented’ presets have been provided for the various modules, too.The Module Chain feature allows multiple RX processes to be combined into a single macro.

Impressions

Izotope Rx 5 Features 2017

I’ve been an enthusiastic user of iZotope’s RX for a very long time now, and find it an extremely capable audio restoration platform — although it takes some persistence and diligence to properly understand and master its sophisticated processing tools. RX5’s new De-Plosive module is a very welcome addition to the already quite comprehensive suite of tools, and it is highly effective. I also like the improved Corrective EQ module very much, while the new Instant Process feature is handy for simple repetitive spectral fixes. Another useful new facility for more complex repetitive work is the Module Chain, which allows a string of processes to be performed in one click. Experiments with the Ambience Match and Leveller modules showed them to be easy to use and very effective, too, and I can see them becoming popular in audio post-production for film and TV.

Moving beyond RX5 Audio Editor, the full-featured RX Post Production Suite is a very useful collection of tools for the film and TV post-production, world where loudness normalisation is now a crucial element. The Insight metering and Loudness Control plug-ins make it very straightforward to conform with the appropriate loudness standards, either while mixing or to correct pre-recorded material. The Final Mix plug-in is the only element of the suite that was entirely new to me, but I was impressed with the capabilities of its dynamic equalisation and limiter processes — although such powerful tools require great care, as they can wreck a mix more easily than improve one!

Alternatives

CEDAR’s Cambridge Suite offers a similarly comprehensive collection of audio restoration tools that are more advanced and easier to use, but at a much higher price and less oriented towards film and TV post-production.

Izotope rx 5 features list

Pros

  • Loudness normalisation made easy with Insight’s metering and Loudness Control’s analytical and corrective facilities.
  • Mix enhancement through RX Final Mix dynamic EQ and limiting tools.
  • New De-Plosive processing module.
  • Greatly improved Corrective EQ module.
  • Module Chain and Instant Process features speed up repetitive tasks.
Izotope

Cons

Izotope Rx 5 Features 1

  • Tools this sophisticated and capable will never be cheap!

Summary

A comprehensively equipped package of audio management, restoration and enhancement tools, now incorporating a Post Production Suite aimed at the film and TV market.

information

Post Production Suite £1029; RX5 Advanced £815; RX5 £239. Prices include VAT.

Time + Space +44 (0)1837 55200

Post Production Suite $1499; RX5 Advanced $1199; RX5 $349.

Introducing RX Elements

Izotope

RX Elements is the perfect introduction to the world of audio repair, offering essential tools to remove noise, clipping, clicks, and other problems that plague small studios. Get four of our best repair tools, a standalone audio editor, and the brand new Repair Assistant at an affordable price. If you're just getting started in the world of home recording or need a quick fix for problematic production audio, RX Elements is your go-to solution.

New to version 7 is the game-changing Repair Assistant, an intelligent helper that can detect and repair noise, clipping, clicks, and more, letting you solve common audio issues faster than ever.

Perfect for home musicians and podcasters on a budget

  • Includes standalone audio editor with spectral editing
  • Get instant audio repair solutions with Repair Assistant
  • Remove unwanted background noise with Voice De-noise plug-in
  • Eliminate clicks and pops with De-click plug-in
  • Remove buzz and grounding issues with De-hum plug-in
  • Fix clipped audio takes with De-clip plug-in

Izotope Rx 5 Features List

Standalone editor with intelligent processing

More than a plug-in suite, RX Elements also gives you a standalone editor that offers beautiful, informative visualization, intelligent repair with machine learning, and a compliment of useful audio tools. Using the brand new Repair Assistant, RX Elements analyzes your audio and automatically detects noise, clicks, pops, and more. It can even offer you different processing suggestions and lets you audition results in real time at different intensity levels. For those looking to dive deeper, you get access to four powerful audio repair processors, along with other utilities such as fade, gain, stereo, and phase controls, as well as VST and AU plug-in support.

Industry leading repair tools for small studios

Get four of our most essential tools for fixing problems that would otherwise ruin a recording. Reduce background room noise, amp hiss, and other ambient issues with Voice De-noise, fix distortion caused by clipping at your mic preamp with De-clip, take out ground hum and other tonal noise with De-hum, and handle clicks, pops, and other artifacts with De-click. With RX Elements, high quality production audio is now within your reach.

RX Elements: Features

Repair Assistant NEW

Representing the latest advances in iZotope's assistive audio technology, Repair Assistant is a game-changing intelligent audio repair tool that can detect noise, clipping, clicks, and more. Solve common audio issues faster than ever, simply by selecting the type of material (music, dialogue, other) and letting RX Elements analyze the audio. Repair Assistant then offers its processing suggestion at three different intensities (light, medium, or aggressive) to help give you the best result. Review and audition different suggestions, hit render, and let RX Elements do the rest for you!

RX Audio Editor standalone application

Visually identify audio problems with the spectrogram view then use familiar image editing tools to fix the issue.

Voice De-noise

Finely tuned for vocals and dialogue, reduce unwanted steady state or evolving background noise like refrigerator hum, air conditioning noise, and amp hiss.

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De-clip

Repair digital and analog clipping artifacts to restore distorted audio.

De-click

Clean up vinyl clicks, mouth noise, and soften up clicky bass guitars with the new low latency De-click algorithm.

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De-hum

Remove ground loop hum and line noise.

Overview video:

Solve Common Audio Issues with Repair Assistant in RX 7: