Gear of the Year 2015 – Best Software Effect/Utility: iZotope Ozone 6

The winner of our highly contested software effect/utility category is a truly remarkable product that gives the producer a unprecedented level of sonic control. It’s iZotope’s Ozone 6…

Best Software Effect/Utility – iZotope Ozone 6

Details
Price: £149 (Ozone 6), £599.03 (Ozone 6 Advanced), £209 (upgrade from 5 Adv to 6 Adv)
Contact: +44(0) 1837 55200
Web: www.timespace.com

This is another super-crowded category, as ‘software effect and utility’ can cover a varied range of products. We also allowed for any release, including freeware to be eligible, so there were many titles vying for the award.

iZotope is one of the biggest companies in music and post production and continues to break ground with yearly updates to Ozone and RX, not to mention its rather fine Iris synth.

Ozone concentrates on the job of mastering and can now do it in standalone mode (with the ability to host other VST and AU plug-ins), so you’re no longer tied to working inside a DAW. The software has six slots available in which to drag, drop and rearrange modules, which include EQ, Post EQ, Dynamics, Stereo Imager, Exciter, and Maximizer.

Reviewer Alex Holmes said: “Ozone 6 is an incredibly well crafted piece of software that sounds great and is now even easier to use. It is still the most intuitive piece of software for mastering your tracks at home and now has a great new GUI and a crisper sound, and also works well as a standalone version.

If you’re new to mastering or to Ozone, then we have no hesitation in recommending Ozone 6 to get you started.”

Here’s Joel Heatley accepting the award from our editor Andy Jones

Be sure to read the complete list of winners in the current issue of MusicTech Magazine and check back tomorrow for another winner…