User Manual

Mastering Modules
OZONE 7 | MASTERING MODULES
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IRC III
Allows for the most aggressive limiting by using an advanced psychoacoustic model to intelligently
determine the speed of limiting that can be done to the incoming signal, before producing distortion
that is detectable to the human ear.
The IRC III mode is very CPU-intensive, and produces a high latency, especially at higher sampling
rates. You may find that at sampling rates greater than 48 kHz you are unable to use Intelligent III
mode in real-time.
The IRC modes provide intelligent release control (the release time is automatically varied depending
on the audio material). However, when the Maximizer is set to IRC III mode you may also choose
between four dierent character “styles,” which will help you manage the limiter’s final sound by
constraining its release behavior.
To achieve the best results, start with the style set to balanced, then try the various styles to see which
best suits your mix. The style choices include:
• Clipping: This is the most aggressive style setting of IRC III and may be used if you wish to
slightly colorize your mix with distortion or achieve the highest degree of loudness with the
greatest risk of clipping.
• Crisp: This setting aggressively constrains the limiter’s release behavior and will favor distortion
over any pumping.
• Balanced: This setting constrains the release behavior of the limiter in a generally transparent
way and should be suitable for most material.
• Pumping: This is the least aggressive style setting for IRC III and does not constrain the limiter’s
release behavior. It can tend toward a slower release behavior and may result in pumping. This
is the “legacy” setting and is the behavior used in Ozone version 5.01 and earlier.
IRC IV
This mode builds upon our existing IRC technology by shaping the spectrum to further reduce
pumping and distortion. As the signal goes farther over the threshold, the IRC IV algorithm limits
frequency bands that contribute most to these peaks. This reduces intermodulation between dierent
signal components. For example, given vocals and drums, this algorithm can be more selective about
limiting the transients from the drums, without causing the vocals to duck as much. When no limiting is
necessary, the spectrum will be unaltered. While a typical multiband limiter has only a few bands, set
using crossovers, Ozone’s IRC IV algorithm uses dozens of psychoacoustically spaced bands in order
to react to any type of audio.
To achieve the best results, try the various styles to see which best suits your mix. The style choices
include:
• Classic: This setting provides general enhancement of the overall mix with a sound more
reminiscent of Ozone’s earlier limiting algorithms which are still being used by professionals
today.
• Modern: This style also provides general enhancement and life to your mix but with greater
detail and clarity than the Classic style.
• Transient: This style is optimized for maximum preservation of all transients resulting in a highly
detailed overall sound that may benefit some mixes needing added clarity.