iZotope Ozone 12: Game-Changing Mastering Features Explained
Mastering has always been one of the most intimidating steps in music production.
With Ozone 12, iZotope introduces powerful new tools that make it easier than ever to achieve professional, polished masters from your home studio. Let’s explore the features that set Ozone 12 apart.
Custom Mastering Assistant
Ozone’s AI-driven Mastering Assistant now offers two modes: the classic Auto Master and a new Custom option.
This lets you select genre-based targets like Rock, Pop, or Indie, while customizing which modules are included in your mastering chain. It’s the perfect balance of AI guidance and user control.
Bass Control Module
Low end can make or break a mix. The new Bass Control module helps you balance punch and sustain with visual feedback from an oscilloscope.
Controls like Punch, Sustain Power, and Peak Control give you precise command over kick and bass clarity. You can even add harmonic character with the Dirty/Clean option.
Stem EQ for Stem Mastering
Sometimes you wish you could tweak just the vocals, snare, or bass without going back to the mix session.
Ozone 12 makes that possible with Stem EQ. It allows you to EQ and adjust the volume of vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments independently, right in the mastering stage. This adds flexibility when clients deliver limited mixes.
Unlimiter Module
Over-compression is a common mastering nightmare. Unlimiter brings back lost transients and dynamics, acting almost like an “undo” button for over-limited tracks. It works transparently and can rescue mixes that would otherwise be unusable.
IRC5 Maximizer
Loudness wars aside, sometimes you need to push your master hard.
The new IRC5 limiting mode lets you achieve louder masters with fewer artifacts. Even at -6 LUFS, the results are clean, punchy, and musical, without stacking multiple plugins.
Final Thoughts
With Ozone 12, iZotope continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in mastering.
Between intelligent AI features and hands-on control, this update gives home studio producers a real edge.
➜ Want to hear Ozone 12 in action?
I walk through all these features step by step in my video, so you can hear exactly how they impact a real mix.