Ozone 5 Plugin Free Download Download all the best free VST exciter, maximizer, and enhancer plug-ins. Harmonic coloration and phatt sounding loudness maximizers. Normal or fast mode, and a VU-meter. Just stick this maximizer / harmonic exciter plugin at the very end of your effect chain of your mix and hear the difference in sound quality! Ozone’s Exciter offers up to four bands of configurable saturation. Per-band Exciter Modes give you the ability to completely customize how saturation is introduced into your music. Component Harmonic Exciter Plug-in. If you are using Ozone 5 Advanced you will also have the ability to instantiate Ozone 5's Harmonic Exciter module as an individual component plug-in. Ozone 5 Advanced includes component plug-ins for all six of Ozone's modules complete with all the same features as the module within Ozone. Jul 04, 2014 iZotope Ozone 5 Audio Plug-in iZotope’s complete mastering system in a single integrated plug-in includes eight essential mastering tools to make your recordings sound their very best. The process of mastering ranges from correcting mistakes made in the mix to preparing a recording for target listening environments.

• IZotope Ozone Advanced 5.0 Zotope's complete mastering system in a single integrated plug-in includes eight essential mastering tools: Maximizer, Equalizer, Multiband Dynamics, Multiband Stereo Imaging, Post Equalizer, Multiband Harmonic Exciter, Reverb, and Dithering.
• Oct 29, 2020 Another comprehensive suite, Ozone 8 by iZotope is worth checking out for many reasons. First off, its popularity rests on a new intelligent signal processing, spectral shaping, and efficient tonal balance control features. Secondly, as the smartest version of Ozone ever, it features twelve essential mastering processors.
• IZotope – Ozone Advanced 5.04 VST, VST3, RTAS, AAX WIN.OSX x86 x64 iZotope’s complete mastering system in a single integrated plug-in includes eight essential mastering tools: Maximizer, Equalizer, Multiband Dynamics, Multiband Stereo Imaging, Post Equalizer, Multiband Harmonic Exciter, Reverb, and Dithering.

Harmonic exciters can give a sparkle or shine to the upper frequencies of a mix. They can also be used in mid and even low frequencies to add a boost or presence. Add warmth, sparkle and shine with four separate bands of excitation. Like other multiband modules in Ozone, the multiband harmonic excitation is based by default on the four bands set in the multiband section.

Key Features Free dither vst.

•Choose from tube or tape-modeled saturation with adjustable mix controls for each band

•Unique multiband time offset controls for tightening and adding attack to bass and kick

•Mid/side processing lets you add color to different parts of the soundstage separately

• New Saturation meter highlights affected frequencies and a post filter to sculpt the frequency output of the exciter

Ozone Advanced Exclusives:

•New Triode modes simulate the analog warmth of the 12AX7 amplifier tube

Note: Each band has its own sliders to control the amount of harmonic excitation and the mix of the excited signal with the original signal.

Exciter Modes:

Retro:Retro mode is based on characteristics of transistors with a slowly decaying row of odd harmonics.

Tape:Tape modeling can be recognized as a brighter sound due to the odd harmonics found in tape saturation models.

Tube:Tube modeling is characterized by its clear 'tonal' excitation with an emphasis on dynamic or transient attacks.

Warm:The Warm exciter mode is similar to Tube, but is unique because it generates only even harmonics that decay quickly.

Triode: Triode mode is modeled after a circuit using a 12AX7 vacuum tube. Triode mode uses one half of the tube for a subtler overdrive than Dual Triode mode.

Dual Triode: Like Triode mode, the Dual Triode mode models a circuit using a 12AX7 tube, but uses the entire tube, introducing more pronounced overdrive with a slightly warmer tone.

Exciter Controls

Amount:Controls the amount of the harmonic excitation for the selected band.

Mix:Allows you to control the mix of the excited signal with the original mix.

Delay:Setting the delay for a band offsets this band relative to the other frequencies. To learn how and why this works as an exciter, refer to our online mastering guide.

In general, try offsetting the delay for a low band (<150 Hz or so) by about 1 msec. The low band will get tighter, but probably lower in perceived volume. Because it is tighter in time, though, you can usually compress or increase the gain of that band in the multiband dynamics module to get 'punch' without a ringing or 'flabby' sound.

Like controls on other screens, you can use arrow keys to adjust a selected slider, or the wheel of a wheel mouse, or double-click on the numeric label and directly enter a value with the keyboard. You can reset a slider by double clicking on it.

Oversampling:Utilizes more processing power to increase quality (CPU intensive).

Mini-Spectrum Window

The meter at the top of the module defaults to a display of the signal spectrum. However, with a selection on the left it may also display the Saturation Meter.

Saturation meter:displays the spectrum of the incoming signal, but additionally highlights particular frequencies being affected by the exciter and features the post filter curve. The spectrum is drawn in solid green while the frequencies being affected by the exciter are shaded in black. The post filter is an adjustable high shelf filter on the saturation meter that allows you to adjust the frequency output of the exciter module.

Mid-Side Support

Stereo/Mid-side: This button allows you to switch between 'stereo' processing or 'mid-side' processing. When 'stereo' is selected, the Ozone module will perform basic stereo signal processing. When 'mid-side' is selected, all mid-side features become available.

Colors

To make it easier to distinguish between Mid and Side modes, the interface highlights have designated colors. Mid mode is presented as orange, and Side mode is presented as dark blue.

Example using Mid-Side Processing in Ozone's Harmonic Exciter

Mid-Side processing allows you to separate a specific frequency range into its Mid and Side components and apply processing separately to the Mid (center) channel, or the Sides of your mix.

For example, using the Side channel in the Harmonic Exciter module (blue), try selecting the upper frequency bands for your mix. By increasing the amount sliders for the upper frequencies you will be applying the exciter to the extreme edges of your mix only and leaving the Mid (center) channel as-is.

To learn more about Ozone Mid-Side Processing controls, click here..

Component Harmonic Exciter Plug-in

If you are using Ozone 5 Advanced you will also have the ability to instantiate Ozone 5's Harmonic Exciter module as an individual component plug-in. Ozone 5 Advanced includes component plug-ins for all six of Ozone's modules complete with all the same features as the module within Ozone. Any module presets saved within Ozone will open within the component plug-ins' module preset system.

Want to add some well needed brilliance and presence to your mix? Top vst plugins for bands.

Or maybe you want to make things a little more gritty, or add some perceived clarity.

An harmonic exciter plug-in, when used right, will do that for you. So in this plugin guide, we’ll go over a few of the best exciter plugins to give your mix that special brilliance.

Quick answer: iZotope Ozone Suite’s Exciter offers the best that money can buy.

This is followed by The Abbey Road Studios Brilliance Pack by Softube.

The lowest price? Take a look at Valve Exciter by AudioThing.

The rest of this guide will explore these plugins for closely, and name a couple others to boot.

Let’s take a closer look 🙂

Table of Contents

• Exciter Plug-in Buying Guide

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Exciter Plug-in Buying Guide

What is an Exciter?

An exciter is a hardware device or software plug-in that enhances an audio signal via any number of processes. Among the methods typically used by exciter circuits are dynamic equalization and phase manipulation.

Some devices also use high frequency harmonic synthesis, while others incorporate harmonic distortion into the signal.

Exciters are also often referred to as harmonic exciters or aural exciters.

The earliest exciters were hardware devices with tube circuitry. Most modern hardware exciters utilize digital signal processing (DSP) in emulating early analog/tube exciters. But they now also come in plug-in form for use in a software-based audio production environment.

What are Exciters Used For?

If the above definition went over your head, don’t worry about it…

… what’s more important is what an exciter plugin can do for you, and why you should use it when necessary.

Some useful applications in live and studio settings:

• Restoring the ‘brightness’ or high frequency content of analog tape recordings
• Brightening up old tape or vinyl recordings (eg. by digitizing vinyl using a turntable) by simulating spectral content
• Enhancing the output of media players, both hardware and software
• Enhancing the signal of electric guitars or other instruments

Features to Look For in an Exciter Plug-in

A good amount of control is always nice to have in a plug-in, and it is especially important for exciters.

With sufficient control over the amount of the harmonic excitation and the mix between the “excited” and original signals (like the wet/dry mix of a reverb plugin), you will be better able to brighten up your audio without undue harshness or brittleness.

Some of the more fully featured exciter plug-ins come with several configurable modes. This is also a good thing to have, as different modes tend to affect the signal in different ways.

Some plug-ins even have models of tube circuitry or specific hardware exciters, giving you a good range of options with which to treat audio signals.

How to Choose the Best Exciter Plug-in

At the end of the day, what matters most is the sound.

While transparency and neutrality are always good qualities in audio processing tools, there are instances where a bit of grit or character is just the thing to get the perfect mix.

Although you should definitely consider the availability of controls and features when choosing an exciter plug-in, it is equally important that you choose one based on how much you like its basic tone.

The Best Exciter Plug-in Software

iZotope Exciter

Part of the hugely-popular Ozone mastering suite, iZotope’s Exciter packs a whole lot of features and functionalities in a cool and very customizable interface.

The exciter circuitry adds a lot of character and brilliance to audio with its multiple saturation modes. Along with the triode and dual triode options, there are also tube, retro, and tape modes that sound just as good as their analog counterparts.

If you have been disappointed with the sterile and brittle quality imparted by many exciter plug-ins, the iZotope Exciter definitely deserves a close look.

Specs and useful features

• Four configurable saturation bands
• Triode and dual-triode modes
• “Retro”, “tape”, “warm”, and “tube” settings
• Multiband and mid/side processing
• Saturation spectrum display
• Post filter for sculpting frequency output
• Peak saturation

User impressions

Many users laude the Exciter’s ability to enable sounds to cut through the mix without the need to increase the gain. The plug-in also gets praise for its flexibility, which is attributed to the ability to specify algorithms for each of the four saturation bands.

Bottom-line

The iZotope Exciter is one of the most fully featured exciter plug-ins available today. It does cost a lot more than other exciters, but only because it is part of a comprehensive suite of audio tools that perform a lot more functions as well. Offering a high degree of user customization and a modern, intuitive interface, it could very well handle all your audio exciter needs.

Demonstration

Softube Abbey Road Brilliance Pack

This is inspired by the revolutionary mix tools used in the legendary studio of the same name. The Abbey Road Studios Brilliance Pack is a set of three specialized equalizers that work well on individual tracks, stems, and even entire mixes.

Focusing primarily on the high frequencies, the suite is comprised of two RS127s (one with and without built-in transformer), and the RS135. With these three distinct-sounding EQs, mix engineers have a broad range of tools to liven up even the dullest tracks.

Specs and useful features

• Three treble equalizers modeled from Abbey Road original hardware units
• RS127 – Up to 10 dB of boost or cut at 2.1, 3.5 and 10 kHz
• RS127 – Adds transformer to original RS127 circuit
• RS135 – Fixed boost at 8 kHz
• Low CPU usage

User impressions

Many user reviews of the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack cite the absolutely beautiful sounds that this suite produce, a sentiment that I also share. A common thread is the ability to enhance source audio and make it sweeter, without introducing any harsh qualities to the signal.

Most users tend to use these plug-ins for processing vocal tracks, although they have been used to great effect on individual instruments and stems with plenty of high frequency content as well.

Criticisms of the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack typically revolve around the relative lack of control over certain parameter settings.

Bottom-line

The Abbey Road Brilliance Pack is a great set of exciter plug-ins that covers most any conceivable studio applications. While the somewhat unusual workflow may take some getting used to, there is no denying its ‘magic.’ Even with its somewhat steep price tag, the Brilliance Pack has a really unique sound that many salivate over, and considerable functionality in a versatile package.

Demonstration

Valve Exciter by AudioThing

Also modeling tube circuitry is the Valve Exciter by AudioThing, which is billed as a “Harmonic Enhancer plug-in”.

The exciter section has a series of filters that have been tuned meticulously by hand, allowing you to sweep the crucial center frequencies with absolute control. The valve section itself gives you all the rich analog flavors you could need to add subtle brilliance to your tracks.

It even has a bias control for the tube section, so you can hone in on the precise frequencies you want.

Specs and useful features

• Bass and treble with Harmonics sweep
• Valve emulation with drive control
• Low CPU usage
• Preset system with randomizer control

User impressions

Like many other exciter plug-ins, the Valve Exciter has garnered praise for its ability to improve clarity and enhance brightness when used subtly. The key to its effective use is proper gain staging, as the input is especially sensitive to signal levels. Some users have in fact mentioned difficulty in fine tuning the levels, although this was effectively dealt with after familiarization with the controls.

Vst Plugin Izotope Ozone 5 Exciter 220

You learn about gain staging from or article on understanding gain structure.

More problematic was the idiosyncratic valve response, which seemed to be a highly subjective quality. While some users had no problem with the compression artifacts produced by the plug-in, others felt that these effects made the plug-in unusable for critical applications

Bottom-line

The Valve Exciter is a pretty flexible exciter plug-in that has an attractive price tag. However, the compression artifacts induced is very much an acquired taste. Few users will likely settle on this as their sole exciter plug-in, although it may have some use for ‘character’ sounds. Those looking for more transparency would probably be better off considering other options.

Demonstration

Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

The name “Aphex” should be familiar to anyone who has worked extensively in pro audio. With the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter, the venerable tube-driven circuitry now has an equivalent in software form. The software version closely models the sound, vibe, and even appearance of the original, with a bunch of features that would make it fit right into any modern studio. It even comes with an analog section that allows you to dial in just the right amount of grit to individual tracks, stems, and entire mixes.

Specs and useful features

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• Modeled after tube-powered original
• Enhances brightness, depth, and vibrancy
• Increases presence without increasing levels
• Suitable for vocals and instruments
• Mix and AX modes
• Useable as insert or send
• Mono and stereo capability
• 24bit/192kHz resolution

User impressions

One of the most common praises about the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter is its ability to liven up a mix when used sparingly. Although this implies that it is easy to overuse the plug-in to the detriment of the sound, it is easy enough to simply add as much of the effect as needed to improve the source audio without ‘overcooking’ it.

Some users also appreciated the high-end ‘grit’ that it added to the signal, while others praised its ability to make muffled vocal tracks clearer and more intelligible.

Bottom-line

The Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter carries with it the formidable Aphex pedigree, but more discriminating users might bemoan the lack of classic features and reduced flexibility. Those looking for more functionality than that which their native EQs provide might have some use for this. Otherwise, there are better options for the money, particularly for master buss usage.

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Demonstration

Waves OneKnob Brighter

The Waves OneKnob Brighter is about as simple as exciters come.

This little plugin offers only a single control knob, and packs a surprising amount of functionality in a simple and straightforward package.

Of course, the sound is what matters the most, and you may find that the OneKnob Brighter works perfectly on the mid-high frequencies of your guitar and vocal tracks, making them cut through the mix without being too shrill or overbearing.

Specs and useful features

• Full range of mix processing
• All-in-one sound-shaping capability
• Mono, stereo, and mono-stereo capability
• Single-parameter interface
• Suitable for studio and live applications

User impressions

For many users, the Waves OneKnob Brighter is about as easy to use as they come. Adding brightness to the mid-high frequency range of audio signals, it helps tracks cut through the mix without the need for extensive tweaking.

If you are happy with the sound that the OneKnob Brighter gives to your audio, this could be a pretty cool exciter plug-in for your needs. However, some users feel that it understandably provides limited functionality in the context of a full mix, and that the price warrants more control.

Bottom-line

The Waves OneKnob Brighter could be sufficient for your needs, if you like the base sound and don’t have a need for more intensive tonal shaping. For most users however, the single control can be too restricting, and the price might make it seem like less of a bargain.

Demonstration

Final thoughts – Which to Get?

The clear winner in this roundup is the iZotope Exciter. It has a level of control that no other exciter plug-ins can come close to, this one combines rich sound with modern features and functionalities that deliver outstanding results every time.

It comes as part of the Ozone suite of mastering plug-ins, which might give it an unfair advantage over the other standalone exciters in this roundup. Nevertheless, there is no denying the control and precision that the iZotope Exciter offers, and it would be just as impressive even when judged on its own merits.

Speaking of impressive, the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack packs quite a solid punch as well. Vintage flavors are the stocks-in-trade of this trio of exciter plug-ins, but it can more than hold its own with other more modern-oriented offerings.

If you like the rich, brilliant flavors heard on countless classic recordings since the 1960s, the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack will make a great addition to your set of studio tools.

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The Waves OneKnob Brighter might seem like a bit of a one-trick pony to some, but it’s pretty hard to beat if simplicity is high on your list of priorities.

Vst Plugin Izotope Ozone 5 Exciterer Download

As for the Valve Exciter by AudioThing and the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter, these could very well find a place in your studio toolbox. Keep in mind though that the artifacts they impart to the sound at more extreme settings might make them better suited to more specialized tasks or as alternatives to your more transparent exciter plug-ins.