14 DAY TRIAL // As Izotope has already got us used to completely new and interesting products, it's now time for me to present you another gadget. The Ozone MP is a Winamp plugin that, from now on, will dramatically change the way you listen to your favorite music. Able to radically change the way your music sounds, Ozone MP is at the same time a software which is quite easy to use.
A little bit of knowledge on basic technical aspects is welcome, but even those who haven't gotten even a faint idea on what compression means will learn in just minutes the first steps. Ozone MP responds very accurately and very quickly also; in just a few instants, you will hear the results of tweaking the sliders and if what you've just done is good or not.
The main idea is that Ozone MP can be a very welcome helping hand, especially when the user wants to listen to some tracks that lack a good mastering, or when specific EQ or amping is desired.
The GUI
Those who know at least one software produced by Izotope know what to expect: simplicity, excellent - if not perfect - graphic design, very easy to read content, whether we're speaking of generic information, slider bars or other elements. The dark background is just perfect for the bright green, teal and red essential elements to stand out and "poke" your eyes.
Levels are easy to control, because the Ozone MP has the classic analog LED-style VU-meters analyzing both input and output levels. Below these meters there are also digital-style panels showing the dB count.
The three modules are easily accessible and, inside each of them, information and tweaking is highly intuitive. Amounts are shown in both visual form of quantity bars and numeric form right next to the action-place.
The creators of Ozone MP have done a very good job remaining inside the design-line they've established. Why? Because it is very very good. As a matter of fact, I guess Izotope has one of the sleekest and most easy-to-use graphical user interfaces among producers.
The works
Ozone MP features 3 distinctive modules with special functions in each of them: Valve EQ, Room Simulation and Tube Amplifier. Whether one needs the warmth of a valve-type EQ, the smooth compression of tube-devices or needs a room modulator to get a more thumping sound, everything is there.
The Valve EQ features the same paragraphic EQ editable sine with endless capabilities from tight and accurate frequency selection to broad band selection, cut and boost. The fiery red sine is visible "even from the next room" and it shows the graph response in a very precise way.
The trained eye knows in a matter of instants what is happening with the sound source and what's to be done. No matter what you do, or how bad the EQ sounds: with just one click, you can reset the sine to a default plate that allows you to start once more editing the master EQ curve.
The Room Simulator also features the already-classical stereo field display and 5 handy controls besides the dry/wet mix slider: room size, room width, damping, cutoff and a very cool speaker widening meant to help you achieve a "broader and fatter sound".
According to your settings, both sound and graph change instantly. Whether you rely on hearing only or are a bit more advanced and that graph gives you additional information, you'll know what to do and if this module helps you get a better sound for the specific track.
The Tube Amplification has Bass Compression, Tube Limiter and Tube Saturation, each allowing you to bend the sound upon your wish or need. The compression module sports the same highly-efficient squeeze as other Izotope products. Correctly-tweak the buttons and you'll get a blasting deep bass, with perfectly-controlled dynamics. All controls are available such as threshold, gain, cutoff and ratio. Just use them!
The Tube Saturation must be used carefully, or else annoying distortion will occur. Anyway, the warmth of an all-tube amp is very well simulated; plus the cutoff slider lets you choose where the saturation should begin.
The same preset-library is present, allowing you to manage the settings you have bundled, and even more: each preset can be easily assigned to a certain track for which it has been customized, allowing you to "embed" Izotope Ozone MP settings for playback on your PC, virtually using this plugin without any human intervention.
You might not believe it, but Ozone MP comes loaded with presets, ranging from Ace of Base to ZZ Top. Therefore, it's just up to you to make music sound the way you really like.
The good
It makes better-sounding music. It's a highly customizable program technically fit for every music-playing device, from a stage before the gig to a laptop with headphones. Almost infinitely versatile in what concerns the possibilities to alter the final sound of your music.
The bad
25 USD may seem a bit expensive for a Winamp plugin. As for the rest, it's a non-bad-features piece of code, in my opinion.
The truth
The best sound-concerning plugin developed so far for Winamp. If you want to take Winamp to a perfection-level listening experience, you should seriously consider getting your copy of Ozone MP.
