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Audio Hertz has announced the release of Mk.pre, a new plugin that delivers the legendary sound of the 424 MkI preamp stage. Reimagined as a plugin, it gives you rich, colorful cleans, gritty overdrive, and blown-out fuzz. This is the tone that defined 90s lo-fi and now drives today’s indie guitar scene.

Promising a versatile tone that spans everything from subtle colouration to “fuzzed-out destruction”, Mk.pre is a simple but effective plugin that features just two main controls for Gain and Output (linked via the Auto-Gain button) and Input and Mix controls in the top bar.

“It is not a tape sim or a generic saturator. It’s the 424 preamp in all its imperfect glory,” reads a statement from Audio Hertz. “Colourful, raw, and one of a kind. Legendary for its raw, mid-forward guitar crunch. But the same preamp character also elevates bass, drums, synths, and more. Whatever you run through it, Mk.pre injects grit, color, and energy.”

“Before Mk.pre, the only way to get this tone was by chasing down old hardware or buying boutique pedals,” says Audio Hertz. “Some of those pedals run over $250 and still miss the mark. Mk.pre delivers the unmistakable 424 tone instantly, without the hassle or the price tag.”

Mk.pre is available now for macOS and Windows in VST3/AU/AAX formats.

The plugin is currently priced at only $19 thanks to an introductory discount that ends on Friday 19th September. After that, it’ll set you back $39. There’s also a free trial available.

Find out more on Audio Hertz website.

iZotope Ozone 12 adds new machine learning modules and a more musician-friendly AI assistant ‘Unlocking the impossible without compromising on creative control’.

US developer iZotope first introduced its machine learning-powered ‘assistant’ feature to its Ozone and Neutron applications all the way back in 2017. This smart analysis feature works by analysing your incoming audio and suggesting a mixing or mastering preset specifically designed to suit the source material.

This assistant tech is one of the key areas to receive an upgrade in the latest version of iZotope’s Ozone mastering suite. In Ozone 12, the Master Assistant will still suggest settings, but now allows for more creative guidance from the user. The new interface now has options to specify modules, dictate LUFS targets and select from a variety of genre presets, allowing you to shape the Assistant’s suggestions around your specific tastes and intentions.

According to iZotope, Master Assistant is intended to ‘guide, not decide’ and is designed to “assist and inspire artists, unlocking the impossible without compromising on creative control.”

There’s more to Ozone 12 than just the Master Assistant though. The update also introduces a trio of new modules to work with.

The first of these is Stem EQ, which makes use of stem separation algorithms in order to individually EQ the vocal, bass, drum and instrument elements of a stereo audio file. Next up is Bass Control, which uses machine learning to intelligently refine and control low-end frequencies.

The final new module is another machine learning-powered tool named Unlimiter. This is designed to restore transients and dynamic range to overly compressed audio files.

Ozone 12 also adds a new IRC 5 mode to its Maximizer module, which iZotope claims “delivers outstanding loudness and clarity without the usual tradeoffs like pumping or distortion.”

Ozone 12 is out now in three tiers – Elements, Standard and Advanced – which contain varying assortments of modules and are priced at £55/$55, £209/$219 and £479/$499 respectively. You can compare the different versions at iZotope website.

The latest version of Ozone is also available as part of iZotope’s Music Production Suite, which also includes iZotope’s Neutron, Nectar and RX applications, the Catalyst Series effects, Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig, and more. That bundle is priced at £769/$799.

Head to the iZotope site for more info and to try a free demo.

Waves Audio has released a new version (V15) of all SuperRack products – SuperRack SoundGrid, SuperRack Performer, and SuperRack LiveBox – adding full support for immersive audio mixing.

All SuperRack systems now feature 5.1.4, 7.1.4, and 9.1.4 immersive channel configurations, enabling powerful new workflows for immersive live broadcast and live concert environments.

As part of this update, the Waves Immersive Wrapper plugin is now compatible with all SuperRack products. This way, all Waves mono plugins can now be transformed into immersive processors within SuperRack: simply insert Immersive Wrapper on any SuperRack slot, load any Waves mono plugin inside Immersive Wrapper, and mix immersive live audio with Waves plugins in real time.

Immersive Wrapper is now also bundled with SuperRack LiveBox, making LiveBox the one-stop solution for immersive mixing in live broadcast and live concert settings.

New in SuperRack V15:

• 5.1.4, 7.1.4, and 9.1.4 configurations added to SuperRack SoundGrid, Performer, and LiveBox.

• The Immersive Wrapper plugin is now supported in all SuperRack products, allowing you to turn any Waves mono plugin in your SuperRack sessions into an immersive processor. Immersive Wrapper is now also bundled with SuperRack LiveBox.

• Immersive-ready VST3 plugins, including plugins by other (non-Waves) manufacturers, are now directly supported in SuperRack Performer and SuperRack LiveBox.

• Other new features in all SuperRack products:

• Easy plugin search with a brand-new plugin search menu.

• Support on Intel Core Ultra computers (scroll down to see important notes).

See SuperRack V15 release notes for full details.