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iZotope
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Alloy 2
User manual
112 pgs4.3 Mb0
Table of contents
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iZotope Alloy 2 User manual

iZotope Alloy 2
Help Documentation
Table of Contents
Authorization .......................................................................................................... 1
What is Alloy? ....................................................................................................... 11
New Features in Alloy 2 .......................................................................................... 15
Getting Started ..................................................................................................... 17
Alloy Modules .......................................................................................................... 18
Overview Panel ..................................................................................................... 18
EQ .................................................................................................................... 18
Transient Shaper ................................................................................................ 19
Exciter .............................................................................................................. 19
Dynamics .......................................................................................................... 20
De-Esser ........................................................................................................... 21
Limiter .............................................................................................................. 21
Standard Module Controls ....................................................................................... 23
Using Multi-band Modules ....................................................................................... 25
Equalizer .............................................................................................................. 27
Transient Shaper ................................................................................................... 32
Visuals .............................................................................................................. 32
Additional Metering and Controls .......................................................................... 33
Exciter ................................................................................................................. 35
Dynamics ............................................................................................................. 38
De-Esser .............................................................................................................. 48
Limiter ................................................................................................................. 51
Spectrum Analyzer ................................................................................................ 55
Dynamics Meters ................................................................................................... 56
Input and Output Meters ........................................................................................ 60
Module Input/Output Meters ................................................................................ 62
Graph and Sidechain ................................................................................................ 63
Setting the Order of the Modules ............................................................................. 63
Parallel Processing ................................................................................................. 64
Routing Sidechain Signals ....................................................................................... 65
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Table of Contents
Setting the Order of the Modules ................................................................................ 67
Preset System ......................................................................................................... 68
Preset Manager ..................................................................................................... 68
Selecting Presets ................................................................................................... 71
Adding and Removing Presets ................................................................................. 73
Changing Where Presets Are Stored ......................................................................... 75
Module Preset System ............................................................................................ 77
Migrating Presets from Alloy 1 ................................................................................. 79
General Functions .................................................................................................... 80
Input and Output Gain ........................................................................................... 80
Module Input/Output Meters ................................................................................ 81
Zero Latency......................................................................................................... 82
Undo and History Comparisons................................................................................ 83
Gain when Bypassed Function ................................................................................. 84
Buffer Size Viewer ................................................................................................. 85
Options ................................................................................................................... 86
General Options .................................................................................................... 86
Spectrum Options .................................................................................................. 89
I/O Options .......................................................................................................... 91
EQ Options ........................................................................................................... 93
Transient Shaper Options ....................................................................................... 95
Exciter Options ...................................................................................................... 96
De-Esser Options ................................................................................................... 97
Dynamics Options .................................................................................................. 98
Limiter Options ..................................................................................................... 99
CPU Optimization ................................................................................................ 100
Automation ......................................................................................................... 101
Shortcut Keys and Mouse Support ......................................................................... 103
iZotope Customer Support .................................................................................... 107
iii

Introduction

Authorization

Each purchased copy of Alloy 2 contains a unique serial number printed on the installer DVD sleeve. If Alloy 2 has been downloaded directly from iZotope or another re-seller the serial number will be e-mailed along with the link to download the product. The serial number should resemble:
SN-ALLOY2-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Launching the Authorization Wizard
The first time you open Alloy 2, the Authorization Wizard will appear. You can choose to either authorize Alloy or use it in Trial mode for evaluation purposes. Please use your supplied Alloy 2 serial number to fully authorize your product.
Trial vs. Demo Mode
For the first 10 days after installation, Alloy will run in Trial mode, which offers full functionality. After 10 days, Alloy will revert to Demo mode. In Demo mode, Alloy will intermittently mute audio output.
Authorizing Your Copy of Alloy 2 Online
After opening Alloy 2 and launching the Authorization Wizard, the following steps will complete the authorization process online:
1. First, click on 'Authorize'.
2. Next, enter the serial number in all capital letters as it it shown on your DVD sleeve or e­mailed to you.
SN-ALLOY2-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
3. You must also enter your name and a valid e-mail address.
Note: Clicking the 'Advanced' button reveals a set of options that allow you to store your Alloy authorization on a portable hard drive or flash drive. Click here for more information on these options.
Make note of the e-mail address you use to authorize your license. Your license and iZotope account will be linked directly to this e-mail address.
4. When you have confirmed that your serial number and e-mail information is accurate, click once more on 'Authorize'.
5. Lastly, click on 'Submit' in order to send your authorization message to the iZotope servers.
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Introduction
If the authorization is accepted, click on the 'Finish' button to complete the authorization.
Authorizing Your Copy of Alloy 2 Offline
Some customers choose to keep their audio workstations offline, and a simple offline authorization option has been included. After opening Alloy 2 and launching the Authorization Wizard, the following steps will complete the authorization process offline:
1. When first prompted to authorize Alloy 2, click on 'Authorize'
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
2. Next, click on the option for 'Offline Authorization' at the bottom of the authorization window, select "Authorize with iZotope challenge/response" and click next.
3. You will be given a unique Challenge Code that is specific to your computer only. Write down or make a copy of the exact Challenge Code. It will look like this:
IZ-ALLOY2-XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX
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Introduction
4. Next, using a system with internet access, login to your customer account at the iZotope website.
http://www.izotope.com/store/account.asp
5. Click the 'Activate Software with a Serial Number' button, enter your full serial number and click 'Submit'.
6. Select the 'Challenge/Response' option and click on 'Submit'.
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j
7. Read the License Agreement and click "Agree" if you find it agreeable.
8. Now enter your full Challenge Code copied in step 3.
9. After submitting your Challenge Code, you will receive a unique authorization file named 'iZotope_Alloy_2_XXXXX.izotopelicense.xml' that you then need to copy to your offline computer.
10. Once the authorization file is copied over to your offline computer using a network, hard drive or USB stick, click the 'Choose File...' button in your authorization wizard.
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Introduction
11. Navigate and select the authorization file and click 'Next' to authorize your machine.
12. You should now receive a message that your authorization has been successful and may click Finish to begin using Alloy 2.
iLok Support
Alloy 2 does support iLok. Our plug-ins will be able to detect iLok keys and assets if you already use iLok and PACE software on your system. If you don't already have PACE or iLok, we will not install any PACE or iLok software to your system, and iLok authorizations will be
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
unavailable.
Authorizing Alloy with iLok
1. When first prompted to authorize Alloy 2, click on 'Authorize'
2. Next, enter the serial number in all capital letters as it it shown on your DVD sleeve or e­mailed to you.
SN-ALLOY2-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
3. You must also enter your name and a valid e-mail address.
Make note of the e-mail address you use to authorize your license. Your license and iZotope account will be linked directly to this e-mail address.
4. Select 'Use iLok Authorization' and enter your iLok ID.
5. When you have confirmed that all your information is accurate, click once more on 'Authorize'.
6. Lastly, click on 'Submit' in order to send your authorization message to the iZotope servers.
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Introduction
7. You will now be instructed to log in to your iLok account and transfer your Alloy 2 license to your iLok.
8. When you have completed this step and have your iLok connected to the computer on which you want to use Alloy, click 'Next'.
9. You should now receive a message that your authorization has been successful and may click Finish to begin using Alloy 2.
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
Help
We have created an online article to help with common questions about our authorization system.
Removing Your Current Authorization
Use the authorization menu in Alloy's General Options panel to remove your current Alloy authorization.
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What is Alloy?

Introduction

A Complete Channel Strip

Alloy was designed to give you the essential mixing tools you need for every project in a self-contained interface. Alloy combines six key processors that let you precisely shape the sound of your tracks and busses. Smooth out vocals or slam your drum buss with a Dynamics section that combines the best characteristics of analog and digital compressors. Add body or take the edge off with an 8-band Paragraphic EQ. Take the bite out of harsh vocals and cymbals with a smooth, transparent De-Esser. Add tube and tape-like warmth, or even a little grit, with the Exciter. Give percussive sounds more snap or less “room” with the Transient Shaper module. And keep peaks under control, or pump up the volume, with the Limiter. Alloy gives you forward thinking features like a fully customizable signal chain, an adaptive Overview Window, dual compressors that work in parallel or series, and single­and multi-band side chaining complete with sidechain filters.
Key Features in Alloy
• Six essential tools: Equalizer, Exciter, Transient Shaper, Dynamics, De-Esser, and Limiter
• Analog-modeled digital processing algorithms
• Advanced multi-band sidechaining support
• Elegant, highly efficient user interface
• Extensive metering and spectrum analysis tools help you get better results
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• Over 150 new presets designed by professional engineers
• Integrated undo history with comparison tools
• User-definable signal routing
• Zero Latency operation mode
• Extensive automation support
• CPU-efficient and optimized for today’s low-latency DAW environments
• Supports sampling rates up to 192kHz
Highest Audio Quality
All modules within Alloy use highly optimized audio signal processing to achieve the highest resolution and sound quality possible. All of the modules in Alloy are designed to work together seamlessly. In addition, the sound quality and characteristics of each of the modules is tuned to complement the others, providing consistent and high quality results.
Alloy uses analog modeling to give each of the modules a smooth natural sound. For example, the Equalizer recreates the soft limiting exhibited by a vintage valve equalizer, while the Exciter mimics the "musically pleasing" harmonic saturation of vacuum tube components, tape, and other analog processors. Alloy’s compressor can deliver the smooth release characteristics of vintage optical compressors, or the more crisp sound of later FET compressors.
Powerful Audio and Visual Feedback
We wanted to provide visual feedback wherever possible. Your ears and your eyes can be a powerful combination and each processing module is complemented with useful spectrums, meters, graphs, and level histograms.
We also wanted to make it easy to keep track of changes you've made to your audio by providing extensive solo/bypass controls and histories with functions for A/B comparisons. The Alt-click function on the EQ is an example of this as well. Wherever possible, we wanted to give you ways to hear and see what you are doing.
Intuitive Design and Easy to Use
We've made Alloy 2 as easy to use and intuitive as possible by including a complete set of mixing tools in a single plug-in system, context sensitive help, and little things like mouse wheel support. There is a lot of power in Alloy 2, but in no time at all you'll be getting great results with ease. Whether you're a seasoned professional or you're simply looking to take your productions to the next level, Alloy 2 is your complete mixing solution.
Alloy's interface is made up of two distinct sections: a hardware "faceplate" which is viewable in all states of the plug-in and a "touchscreen" which adapts to the selected module you are working in. The "faceplate" portion of Alloy is always accessible and allows you to switch between the various modules within Alloy, access the Overview Panel, open the Global and Module preset menus, bypass the plug-in, as well as adjust input and output levels with the included meters.
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Introduction
The "touchscreen" portion of Alloy updates to feature the controls for the currently selected module. From the touchscreen you may access the various mini-spectrum window views for the selected module, switch between single and multi-band processing modes (available in the Transient Shaper, Exciter, and Dynamics modules), and access the standard module
controls which are viewable in all states of Alloy.
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
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Introduction

New Features in Alloy 2

If you're moving up from Alloy to Alloy 2, we thank you for your continued support! Here are some changes and new features that you'll find in Alloy 2!
New Intelligent Workflow
New Adaptive Overview Screen
The Overview Screen provides efficient control over the most accessed controls of every module within Alloy. The Overview screen's layout will adapt to feature only modules enabled at any given time.
Updated Interface
Alloy has been redesigned with a larger interface to make even more controls accessible in one window. For example, the Dynamics modules now feature "Show All Bands" modes, from which you can view and adjust all relevant settings for each band of every dynamics stage in a single window. These updates allow for a more seamless workflow when performing multi-band processing and streamline tasks that can be arduous in other plug­ins.
Module Presets
Alloy 2 has been updated with the added functionality to load and save presets for individual modules. You may apply settings to one module then mix and match presets from different modules to better address the needs of your mix.
Internal Meter Tap
Alloy 2 will now act as a Meter Tap within your session allowing it to send level data to Ozone 5 Advanced's Spectrogram. Place Alloy 2 on every track or bus in your session, name each instance of Alloy 2 accordingly and Ozone 5 Advanced's Spectrogram will allow you to easily view and highlight any track or bus in your session.
New Processing Innovations
Redesigned Exciter
The Exciter module features more natural sounding modes allowing you to add both subtle saturation as well as pronounced grit to your signal. An added post filter allows you to sculpt the frequencies output by the Exciter.
New Transient Shaper
The Transient Shaper module has been completely reworked to be better-sounding and easier to use. Additionally, the module features all new metering that highlights the ways the Transient Shaper affects your audio.
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
Added EQ Filters
Alloy's Equalizer features new filter shapes like flat and brickwall pass filters, vintage shelf and bell filters, as well as treble and bass Baxandall filters which are known for their gentle slope.
Unlinked Stereo Limiting
Alloy 2 now allows you to limit the left and right channels independently for more transparent limiting that doesn't narrow the stereo image.
Sidechain Filter
Alloy 2's Dynamics modules allow you to apply both a resonant high and low pass filter to your sidechain input signal giving you added control of what frequencies trigger the Dynamics modules' detection circuits.
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Introduction

Getting Started

Using Presets in Alloy 2
Alloy’s presets are designed to give you a quick starting point for your own projects.
Every track is different, so no single preset will always work for your audio. Knowing this, we have provided a wide range of presets that will help you determine a good starting point for your own material. By starting with a preset and adjusting the controls accessible from the Overview Panel, you'll be able to customize Alloy 2 to more closely fit the needs of your session. If you want more advanced control of any of Alloy’s modules, you can go deeper by clicking on any of the module selection buttons at the bottom of the interface to get to even more controls.
Presets can take you a long way, but learning how each of Alloy’s modules works is the key to getting the best results.
Setting Your Input Level
Setting the input level in Alloy can make a huge difference in how the Dynamics modules behave. Setting your input level is important when selecting presets as the presets will sound drastically different if your input level is too loud or quiet.
As a starting point try setting Alloy’s input level so that the input meter is peaking in the yellow area of the meter. It is OK if the input meter occasionally goes into the red when Alloy’s Limiter is enabled, it will keep the audio from clipping.
Choosing a Starting Point
Start by listening through several of Alloy’s presets. We’ve organized presets into categories that will let you search easily for presets for every purpose. Because every mix is different, we’ve aimed to give you a lot of starting points so that you can choose the best one for your project. When you’ve found one that sounds like it has what your track needs, you can start tweaking that preset to your liking.
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Alloy Modules

Overview Panel

The Overview Panel provides efficient control over the most accessed parameters of all of the modules within Alloy. The Overview Panel layout will adapt to feature only modules enabled at any given time.
Key Features
• Quickly view and adjust enabled modules
• Easily monitor all settings while you demo presets
• Adapts to single- and multi-band processing
The Overview Panel gives you instant access to the most relevant settings in every module within Alloy 2. Only enabled modules are displayed giving you a refined overview of which modules are processing at any given time. The following module controls are accessible in the Overview Panel:
EQ
Within the EQ section of the Overview Panel you have the ability to interact with all enabled nodes from the EQ module. The Equalizer section also features a spectrum analyzer. Learn more about interacting with these EQ nodes in the EQ Module section.
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Alloy Modules

Transient Shaper

The Overview Panel allows you to easily view and adjust the amount of transient shaping done within the module. Learn more about the settings described below in the Transient
Shaper Module section.
Attack and Sustain
Set the gain for both the attack and release portions of transients in your audio
Band Selection
Click on the band numbers below the attack and release sliders to view and adjust the settings for the corresponding crossover band when the module is in multi-band mode.
Linked Bands Control
Click on the link icon next to the band selection buttons to link all band controls. When the bands are in linked mode, the Attack and Release sliders will affect the settings of all bands proportionately.

Exciter

The Overview Panel allows you to instantly adjust the amount of saturation applied by the Exciter module. Learn more about the settings described below in the Exciter Module
section.
Drive
Set the amount of harmonic excitation applied by the Exciter
Mix
Control the mix of the Wet (processed) signal with the Dry (unprocessed) signal
Band Selection
Click on the band numbers below the Drive and Mix sliders to view and adjust the settings for the corresponding crossover band when the module is in multi-band mode.
Linked Bands Control
Click on the link icon next to the band selection buttons to link all band controls. When the bands are in linked mode, the Drive and Mix sliders will affect the settings of all bands proportionately.
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation

Dynamics

The Overview Panel allows you to instantly adjust the most commonly adjusted settings within the Dynamics modules. Learn more about the settings described below in the
Dynamics Module section.
Module Selection
Click on the Dynamics 1 and Dynamics 2 tabs to toggle between viewing and adjusting Alloy's two Dynamics modules.
Threshold Control
Control the threshold of both the compressor and gate stages of the Dynamics module while monitoring the level of the incoming audio and the amount of gain added or reduced by the dynamics process.
Sidechain Indicator
Indicates when the Dynamics modules are being triggered by a sidechain input.
Gain and Mix Controls
Set the amount of gain going into the Dynamics module and the mix between the wet dynamically processed signal and the dry unprocessed signal.
Compressor and Gate Controls
Instantly view and adjust the Ratio, Attack, and Release for both the Compressor and the Gate stages of the Dynamics modules.
Band Selection
Click on the band numbers below the Gain and Mix controls to view and adjust the settings for the corresponding crossover band when the module is in multi-band mode.
Linked Bands Control
Click on the link icon next to the band selection buttons to link all band controls. When the bands are in linked mode, the Dynamics controls will affect the settings of all bands proportionately.
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Alloy Modules

De-Esser

The Overview Panel allows you to instantly adjust the amount of de-essing applied by the De-Esser module. Learn more about the settings described below in the De-Esser Module
section.
Threshold Control
Control the threshold of the De-Esser while monitoring the level of the incoming audio and the amount of gain reduced by the de-essing process.
Mode
Set whether the De-Esser is operating in Broadband or Multi-band mode.
Attack and Release
Instantly view and adjust the Attack and Release times used by the De-Esser module.

Limiter

The Overview Panel allows you to instantly view and adjust the most relevant settings in the Limiter module. Learn more about the settings described below in the Limiter Module
section.
Threshold Control
Control the threshold of the Limiter while monitoring the level of the incoming audio and the amount of gain reduced by the limiting process.
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Mode
Set whether the Limiter is operating as a Hard or Soft limiter.
Margin
Adjust how much to boost the output signal after limiting.
Release
Instantly view and adjust the release time used by the Limiter module.
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Alloy Modules

Standard Module Controls

At the bottom of each of the module's touchscreen is a navigation bar that includes a set of buttons and controls. The function of these controls is the same regardless of which module you are using.
Reset Button: Resets the control to its default value . For most modules, this means setting the values of controls in the displayed module to zero or their default states.
History: Clicking on the History button brings up a window which shows a history of the operations that have been performed. You can undo a single operation or sequence of operations and assign setups to keyboard shortcuts for A/B/C/D listening comparisons.
Module Presets: Load and save presets for individual modules to mix and match different modules' settings to better address the specific needs of your mix. Launch each module's individual preset manager by clicking on the Module button under Presets in the bottom right corner of Alloy's faceplate.
Solo: Clicking the Solo button turns off (bypasses) all the modules except the one currently displayed. This allows you to audition the effect of one module without hearing the effect of the others. If you change screens by selecting a different module, the solo will be automatically turned off so that you can work immediately on the new screen and hear the effect (without worrying about whether a screen that isn't displayed is being solo'd).
Bypass: Clicking the Bypass button turns off the processing within the currently displayed module. This allows you to compare the sound with or without the processing of the currently displayed module. Unlike the Solo button, if you change screens by selecting a different module the bypass will still apply. This allows you to bypass more than one module.
Note: You can also bypass modules by clicking the Active light on the Alloy faceplate as shown below. You can solo a module by holding down the Alt key and clicking the Active light for the module you wish to solo.
Graph: The Graph button reveals the order in which Alloy processes audio through the main modules. Here is the default order of signal processing through Alloy's modules:
• Equalizer
Transient Shaper
•
Exciter
•
Dynamics
•
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• De-Esser
Limiter
•
Clicking on the Graph button also allows you to change the order of processing, and insert the spectrum at any point in the signal path. You could, for example, view the spectrum before the EQ or after the Dynamics but before the Limiter. By default, the spectrum is based on the final output signal (the readout is the signal after all processing).
Alloy’s Global and Module Input/Output Gain stages are fixed by design.
Options: Opens the Options screen which lets you customize the behavior of meters and set other properties.
(?): Opens the Help file to the specific page or topic that relates to the module you are currently in.
Slider Compare Feature: You can Shift+Click on any slider in Alloy to quickly A/B the changes that have been made to that slider. This works for all sliders on the touchscreen.
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Alloy Modules

Using Multi-band Modules

The Dynamics, Exciter, and Transient Shaper modules in Alloy can be configured as multi­band which allows you to apply processing to up to 3 bands individually. The ranges (or cutoffs) of these three bands are shown at the top of the multi-band modules with up to two vertical blue lines. You can adjust the cutoffs by dragging the cutoff lines to the left or right with the mouse.
Note: Having all modules operating in multi-band mode with the same crossover settings results in much better sound quality, as the multi-band filters are always aligned and in phase.
Bypass a Band You can bypass the processing for a specific band (or bands) by clicking on the box labeled "B" in the lower left corner of the band. This allows you to hear the audio within that band, but without any processing.
Solo a Band You can Solo a band by clicking on the box labeled "S" in the upper left corner of the band in the Crossover View. This allows you to adjust multi-band processing by hearing only the audio within the selected band.
Change the Number of Bands You can choose to split the audio into 1, 2, or 3 bands. For subtle compression or when working with solo instruments, less bands can sound smoother as there is less processing required for the audio. The other benefit is that less CPU is required when working with fewer bands. To add or remove bands, right-click (you can also control-click in OS X) on the mini-spectrum and select "Insert Band" or "Remove Band" as
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Alloy 2 Help Documentation
shown below:
Note: You may also adjust the number of crossover bands within each multi-band module's Options page.
Copy and Paste Settings Across Bands Using the same right-click menu, you can copy settings from one band and apply them (paste them) to another band. This is helpful, for example, for duplicating settings across bands in the multi-band dynamics module or copying your single band settings and pasting them across all bands within a modules multi­band mode.
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