iZotope Iris 2 Combines Power Of Sampling With Modular Flexibility

izotope-iris-2

iZotope has released Iris 2, a sample-based synthesizer that they say combines ‘the power of a sampler, the flexibility of a modular synth, and the fun of spectral filtering’.

Highlights of the new version include:

  • Flexible new modulation system – Iris 2’s modulation system was rebuilt from the ground up. Now, over 100 parameters can be modulated—using up to five LFOs, five Envelopes, MIDI Expression Controllers, and Macro Controls—with a single-click-and-drop assignment system.
  • New patches – The Iris 2 Sound Library includes hundreds of new patches, plus an 11 GB sample library. The sample library includes reorganized and remastered samples from the original Iris+8 library, as well as 3 GB of brand new samples for Iris 2.
  • Sample pools that can load a sample and classic oscillator waveforms – Enjoy increased flexibility with four sample pools that allow you to load any sample. Additionally, dozens of classic analog oscillator waveforms (OSC WAVs) are now available in all four sample pools, accessible right from the empty spectrogram.
  • Redesigned interface and experience
  • Extensive visualizations and metering – Quickly identify the effects of your spectral filtering and processing. Every modulated parameter meters the effects of modulation in real time, and a version of the spectrum analyzer from Insight metering suite is included in the master section.
  • Enhanced effects and filters – including distortion and filters from Trash 2, a new delay, and modulatable controls of nearly every parameter within the Multi-mode Master Filter and four effects processors.

Here are the official intro videos for Iris 2:

iZotope Iris 2 is available now, for Windows and Mac (VST/AU/RTAS/AAX). It currently has an introductory price of US $199 (regularly $299) through December 11th, 2014. Upgrade pricing is also available. See the iZotope site for details.

29 thoughts on “iZotope Iris 2 Combines Power Of Sampling With Modular Flexibility

  1. I’ve been playing around with it for a little while, and it’s a genuine improvement over the original, which always felt a little hamstrung and fiddly (although I was usually able to wrangle some fantastic sounds out of it). Definitely looks a little like Massive now, but that’s not a bad thing—anyone who’s familiar with programming NI synths will feel pretty comfortable tweaking all the new parameters. If you used Iris frequently, I think it’s worth the upgrade for sure.

  2. Sorry to be a bit OT, but wouldn´t it have been great if iZotope had invested a bit more time to make all of their plugins compatible with the latest Mac OS? Stutter Edit was 250$ (plus libraries) and no word so far what´s up with it. The bad part is that it seems to work (when inserted already), but trying to open it crashes everything. This does not give me any trust in buying more from iZotope at the moment. The sure need to show that they care about existing customers.

    1. Actually, iZotope made a public announcement not long after Yosemite saying they’d immediately started work on a fix, that was due in a couple of weeks. I’m sure that will be coming out soon

    2. Upgrading your OS before official compatibility support has been announced for application software has always a bit of a minefield. If you rely on products such as Stutter Edit or any piece of software, then my advice is to not go with the rest of the sheep upgrading for the sake of it until you are sure that it actually works with the new OS. Or at least have a drive backup so you can revert to it.

  3. NO, no they don’t need to show anything. Stutter edit works fine. If you choose to upgrade your OS thats kinda on you. Now they risk losing customers if they don’t eventually support the new OS but really, as long as it continues to function on the OS i bought it on, I’m happy. If you upgrade then be patient. I would rather they keep improving current products then chase after OS’s that change every year. If your system works then just leave it alone. BTW don’t be that guy and take cheap shots like this, you sound like a tool. Write them and let them know how you feel. What are you trying to do here? Do you think shaming them will in anyway make them do something? And for that matter I’m talking about shaming any software developer. I see these kinds of post all the time and just shake my head. So don’t upgrade anymore juts to be on the latest and greatest and if you do don’t complain. Go out make some cool music and have fun. BTW i would be more leery of upgrading your OS than buying a plugin from iZotope.

    1. >BTW don’t be that guy and take cheap shots like this, you sound like a tool.

      So do you, actually. There are many legitimate reasons to upgrade an OS around it’s release. It’s not just a blind rush “to have the latests and greatest”. Developers need to realize their users don’t live in a vacuum anymore. The days of buying one machine to run a handful of applications are long, long gone for a majority of users. If you are one of those who has a functional installed solution with no need for upgrade, then don’t! But also don’t wave your finger at people who put market pressure back on developers to stay current with their changing needs.

  4. I like that it looks like Massive because the Massive modulation engine are in my opinion Amazing… One of my most used synths… And by the way the Massive Random Page is also on of the best with Absynths 😛

  5. Kind of helps if some “users” who complain about software not being updated, actually look to see if it has been updated? Stutter Edit Release Notes – Version 1.05 released November 20, 2014; •Fixed crash in all hosts/formats on OS X 10.10. •Fixed crash in AAX Windows when the system was low on memory.

    As to iZotope support; they have always been awesome for me going on a decade or so now. For example; I bought upgrade for Ozone from 4 to 5 but was sick last year and never got around to installing it or authorizing it. Well, now that I’m all better and getting back into music, I went to install Ozone 5, and they gave me license for Ozone 6 since the cost would have been same for me going from 4 to 6 as 5 to 6. How freakin cool was that? Awesome company.

    1. Christopher, I appreciate you pointing towards the update and it´s good to read that you have had a great experience. But to make a long story short: I have been looking on the 20th and there was no update available. That same day, tech support wrote by mail (after several mails forth and back) that they are unaware of any imminent update or beta. I take the blame for being ignorant when appropriate, but IMO there is nothing wrong in believing what the companies tech support tells me.

      1. Hi, TJ
        to be fair I would have had no idea either about the StutterEdit update (which I also own, btw, along with IRIS 1, and RX2) unless I had been in my account checking my iLok licenses, and also what the “long time customer coupon price” for upgrade to IRIS 2 would be ($99). Not sure why we’re not getting emails about updates … but I guess technically it’s not an “update” per se, and technically a fix for latest OSX, which many Mac manufacturers have had to address the past month (Sweetwater actually posts a nice “what has problems and what works with new OSX” after each new update…). I’m sticking with “Mavericks” on my music Mac, and not going to Yosemite unless there is some must-do reason, and so far there is none for me. But – on topic – still undecided on IRIS 2.

  6. All personal patches + all patches from third parties made for v1 are incompatible for IRIS 2. Hit hard for loyal users. The loss means short or long your sounds because you know that sooner or later turn off the light of the V1, shows that there is something they have not done well for a software with only 2 years of life and an update (negligible), for over a year. Release a Version 2 with some new parameter, a new routing and a new interface. That’s fine but decided that the easiest way to forget about those updates was loyal users. Not to mention the real issue of “11 gig”. The update has a barely justifiable price. For new users, congratulations. For the rest, I was able to enjoy IRIS 2, but he has a bucket of cold water. Now weighs a very negative about iZotope point. Without denying the good things about this company, I think they have totally wrong with the behavior shown us, the end user. Will they come back to do the same with Iris3? Pfff, they give me little trust now.

  7. Note to Synthhead : You do not need to approve my other comments because I reposted them using a proxy because I am fed-up of waiting for you to approve all of my sayings.

  8. Izotope knowledgebase says that Iris2 is a different instrument than Iris1 with a different sound and patches. I agree. Iris1 had many bizarro organic sounds, while the patches in the trial version of Iris2 are dominated by electronic waves that are processed so much that Iris2 sounds like a wavetable synth. The change is increased effects but with no improvement in the actual spectral sound selection tools. I will continue to use both versions and Iris1 will become a Vintage VST.

  9. Serum has replaced my need for Iris, I have iris 1 and once the spectral novelty wears off, it functions predominantly as a Rompler with a filter….probably why it now comes with a Rompler sized 11 gigs….it needs the content as it isn’t very good at synthesising sounds.

  10. I all but refuse to upgrade much of anything until its truly necessary. I don’t expect developers (who often have small staffs) to support everything forever, but being hosed when your OS is just two generations back SHOULD piss you off. That’s part of why I don’t buy an iPad, which seems to have a new model so often, its just a money sink. My very first softsynth auto-vaporized when the maker did not upgrade upon the appearance of a new Mac OS, which I’d just installed. Its undermined my willingness to buy much gear without very careful forethought. Its not just the money; its the hassle involved. I’m eyeing a new iMac, but I know I’d better be prepared to live with whatever I put into it within a year or so. The risk increases exponentially after that. I won’t slag anyone by name; Apple has treated me well overall and so have most of the third-party makers. Still, remember the old saw about buying the computer that ran the software you wanted the most in the Now? Well, here we are again. Welcome to Full-Circle Syndrome. I love my gear overall, but think critically in self-defense. Gear Lust talks; Function and Longevity walk.

  11. You know what… after watching the Sonic State video preview of IRIS 2, I decided to upgrade. Funnily enough they appear to have fixed the usability and “fiddly” things I didn’t much care for in IRIS 1, and used it rarely. By now adding waves from a great synth collection, as well as some much more interesting patches vs just time stretched noise (wow, slow down an oboe, B-F-D), it becomes a much better “usable” sound design “synth” for making interesting sounds with good core elements, loading in your own sample(s), and or slicing out bits from the library of waves. The interface does look better for my particular mindset; so I bought it. I won’t have time to play with it until the long Thanksgiving weekend, but so far, it looks pretty good to me. The Sonic State video sold it for me. Don’t know if I’d buy it at full price (well, I would not, to be honest). For the update price, it’s interesting enough for me to play with.

  12. I bought Iris 2 and love it! I use the standalone version as a sample manipulator and i am total confused why i cant save the manipulated sample as a sample file… Stupid!

    I have to resample my sound internal into audacity. Thats very silent and totally uncomfortable.
    Please update with sample export!!!

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