sonible smart:comp

AI-powered tools
They may one day take our jobs, but for now let’s
welcome our new robot overlords with an appraisal of
their DSP and machine-learned talents
Algonaut Atlas $99
This AI-powered, browser-led sampler is a boon for those
looking to find their own drum samples in a flash, splaying its
in-built library (and your folders) on a ‘map’ display, with
‘landmasses’ representing types of hit (kick, snare, hi-hats and
the rest). You get a 4x4 pad grid, swappable for 1x8, 2x8, 8x8
and Launchpad configurations, and there are basic sample
editing functions per pad. Just enough for most quick drum
sketches. There are handy MIDI files included for playing your
kits, too. Load your own sample folder into Atlas and have it
detect what’s going on from there. Plus, since your drum types
are detected and laid out, you can simply click New Kit to get
an inspirational starting point for a new set of sounds. Atlas is
inspirational without going overboard on features, though a
larger set of built-in sounds and the ability to load multiple
‘Maps’ (ie, sample folders) at once would be nice.
FM
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MUST HAVE!
algonaut.tech
VERDICT 9.1
iZotope
Neutron 3
Advanced
$399
The pack leader in AI
(well, machine learning),
iZotope have gone deeper
than ever with Neutron v3,
thanks to what used to be
called Track Assistant and
is now dubbed Mix
Assistant. This listens to
the tracks in your DAW
and then offers both the
ability to trim the levels of
all of them (‘Balance
Assistant’) and/or insert
several of its onboard
processors on your current
channel (Track Enhance).
Both processes take the
lead from AI with the aim
of getting you the best
starting points for mixing.
Neutron is a great
mixing package, with
some best-in-class effects
tools helping it do its
thing, plus way more tools
to help you mix better
included. But the AI-
related processes may
actually be Neutron’s
weakest feature. Balance
Assistant, from our
experience, can be
heavy-handed, and Track
Enhance is a decent
starting-point-generator
but certainly not the
be-all/end-all in mixing
intelligence. Though it’s
an AI-powered plugin,
we’d primarily recommend
this for its mixing setup.
izotope.com
VERDICT 7.5
Reviews | Xxxxxxxxx
96
FM
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ROUND-UP
FMU349.rev_roundup.indd 96 04/09/2019 16:48