Mastersounds ISO4 Isolator Review | Beatsource Tech

[@dwayneholt376]

Gary Stewart, whose full name was Gary Stewart Robowski, was my best friend. I gave him his very first Bozak and Urei mixers. I even helped him get his first client, which was a club called, Maxims in Manhattan. Richard Long never made an isolator. He only used 3 way crossovers. They were made for him by RANE. Gary started GSA Audio with Austin Derek, who was a light man at Studio 54. I was a DJ at Studio 54 from 1982 to 1984, and I used one of those 3 way crossovers there.

[@barbaroja.mp3]

I met Gary many moon ago and the was such a friendly soul and so eager to share knowledge. He spent quality time whilst he was tuning Vertigo were he did an installation and that's how I learn to properly use a rotary and isolators. And you're right, he also included modded/special E&S isolators on later installation alongside crossovers. Nowadays is rare to see crossovers in the DJ booth because not all DJs can be that careful or knowledgeable about the soundsystem. Crossovers gives you more impact over the soudsystem which in the wrong hands, can blow speakers and ears.

[@daynniteism]

Hi Dwayne, I’ve been hoping to get in touch with you. You’re not on Facebook, are you? This is Andrew, from Australia, I played a few 45s at Bowery Electric one night in 2019 and we got talking…

[@U2BROTHR]

I now own this beautiful piece of kit. I have it run through the master insert on my Xone 96. The sound and cut off frequencies are glorious to the overall mix. I also own the Mastersounds FX unit too. The summation of these three pieces of kit make my home studio sound absolutely sublime.

[@cloudbullets]

I have a Xone 23 so it’s nice to know that it works well with A&H gear. Thank you for sharing

[@johngoldsworthy7135]

How do you connect both the iso and FX unit to your mixer at the same time?

[@barbaroja.mp3]

The Vestax isolators are based from US designs as they sent various japanse DJs to research them. Among those, Ko Kimura, who was also part of the R series of rotary mixers. The R3 is such a hidden gem. And those were among the first in Japan, later Dope Real and others poped up from what was relayed to me. Dope Real is sadly closed but an icon still present at many booths across Japan and worldwide.

[@crud118]

Been a long time watcher and I really appreciate you using the same songs for every gear test for comparison. I understand it’s mainly a copyright thing but it’s great for reference

[@ro55ker]

This is a class product… another glowing report for Ryan at Mastersounds. They continue to absolutely knock it out the park. 👏🏼

[@contrast-recordings]

Mojaxx thank for sharing your valuable insights about Djing in the 70's and 80's. I love your channel

[@OatyReading]

I'm a fan of a bypass switch on an iso, it's very handy for getting everything back to 0 on the 1!

[@Technofetishconcept]

Be aware there is a 'plop' when you push that button.

[@djwoody249]

Amazing as always. Been waiting for you to review the new Mastersounds v2 mixers before I pull the trigger and buy one. Looking forward to it.

[@tonybrown9132]

I would suspect the isolator would like a lot of late sixties early seventies sound and products firstly showed itself in the reggae sound systems of Jamaica…. There was a direct line from there to the early mobile sound systems in New York and so the use and sounds of Jamaica transported itself to New York and London etc quite easily

[@jackaljyve]

I’ve been trying to read more about this topic and cool tips?

[@DJsalsoul]

First of all thank you for the review. I am a rotary mixer geek! Do you still have that Bozak isolator? Buzzy Beck is the engineer for Bozak. Buzzy and Gary were partners a short time. Buzzy who is still with us, lives in Pennsylvania. Buzzy & Gary Stewart designed the first isolator for the Bozak Stereo Mixer Pre-Amplifier. I believe they were two different designs. Also I have in my possession one of the last CMA10-2 DLBozak Mixer, that Larry Levan performed on in New York City. On a Richard Long Soundsystem. I had the good fortune of playing on a Richard Long Soundsystem......Amazing!

[@amosluyk]

What the world needs right now is a small transformer/tube warmer to go after the mixer to give that little bit of warmth to digital sources. Seems like a no brainer to me... Kinda like the Neve transformer on the new Alpha Theta mixer's output.

[@randylev]

Freevox did one a few years ago.

[@fugitivephilo]

The question I have is how to route this properly... If you route from the dj mixer master outs, it doesn't include the booth outs (and understandably, you need to hear what you're doing in the booth..). So with something like a Px5 or Xone 96, should the Iso be routed like an effect (on the master), perhaps using a splitter (if using another effect)? And to complicate things, if using the Insert for the Iso, how can one route this to include the Mastersounds FX? Can you put it in an Insert chain with the Mastersounds FX? Anyone done this? (I asked Mastersounds this, via email and their KZbin channel vid for the Iso, but never received a reply...)

[@djLovelyTime]

I've had the Bozure ISO201 for a few years but I really hate the side mounted connections on a horizontally aligned unit; as well as only offering RCA connections. MC Solutions went down the same tired route with their isolator, which was a shame as the anodised finish and colours made them beautiful units. I think Mastersounds have done a great job here, putting the connections at the top, which allows the potential to hide the cables away behind your booth AND you've got balanced connections for mixers which have 1/4 jack insert paths; like my Xone 96. I think I'll be grabbing one soon!

[@mcaudiosolutions9945]

Thanks for your kind words but we have already a TRS balanced and a Booth option with a seperate volume as well!We use this design because we want to have the isolator in front of the mixer as this one is designed mostly for touring installation and we also offer brackets for this reason too..also we can offer a vertical type of the isolator as a special request :)

[@carltonbacot5375]

I currently own the master sounds radius with the effects and also the four valve after hearing the recent news at Master sounds. I immediately bought the isolator personally I am an isolator junkie, not like Joe but as we say, I like to play the music. Isolator is the final piece of the puzzle for the four valve mixer. I went from I love it to. I adore it..

[@tonybrown9132]

Ps I used to use the Rane AC 23 3, 4 and 5 way crossway in the Nineties to shape and cut frequencies when playing my sound systems

[@VictorKibalchich]

You should have a look at the Amp Freqq software. Software version of a reggae soundsystem pre amp, with 4 band kill switches, parametric and graphic eq, reverb, tape echo, dub siren and sampler. Its an amazing bit of software.

[@TheAndred1]

I think this is ideal for what I need. I have one turntable, a phono stage that goes into my studio monitors . I'm looking for the cleanest sound and I think this will do the trick without getting into mixers, amps etc .High end sound without complications . This little device will give me the sound control i desire . Brilliant

[@jgcamil]

I wished Ryan & Co included that on the Valve MK2 as they did with the radius.

[@donaldchilnerjr175]

Is this video master out?i was wondering how it would work on a rotary rane empath flex loop

[@REIGNTRANSPORTATION]

make a review of teile elektronik TEIL3 B& 3 Band isolator

[@spaceiswater6539]

I just cant get my head round this what is it for exactly, as in why would you use one?

[@champipy]

A simple "high pass filter" with adjustable "Q" would be better.

[@djLovelyTime]

I'd also love to see them do this in the future. The filter on their FX unit is sublime, it's a shame the effects themselves are bit of a disappointment. I ended up returning mine due to the filter and reverb tails being quite underwhelming for the price. The Iso4 with a master filter would be truly perfect.

[@MadelnMachines]

Those isolator pots look way too close to the edge on the radius mk2. They look like they're falling off the mixer. Did iit bother you?

[@VictorKibalchich]

very similar to the sort of controls reggae soundsystem pre amps have

[@DJDREXTV]

This like a go rack?

[@mikedubz5576]

Sorry to ruin it for everyone but MC solution has the better iso out there because it sounds as good and Even better that a dope real. And the internal well that is leaps better.

[@pihenhenripi4430]

Need a bypass !!!!!!!

[@rayrvidal4199]

His is a quick game changer in the reggae scene. This has been there for years. It’s called a pre- amp . And if you had fun with them little 4 rotary isolator … just check them out on KZbin. You will be amazed. .

[@dedondigital]

12db per octave. meh!

[@mikedubz5576]

24 db per octave is a must. And higher db boost to say the least.

[@sparxx2000]

I don't get the necessary of this product... or is this a puristic, minimalistic thing for audiophiles? Can't imagine enough interest in such a device for most of DJ community... 🤷‍♂️

[@djLovelyTime]

And yet some of the very best DJs in the world use them all of the time on rotary mixers or as standalone units. Louie Vega, DJ Harvey and as Mojaxx pointed out, Joe Claussell.

[@laurinjoelschafhausen]

I don't need anything besides a volume pot and a master isolator. With an external unit, I can use most DJ mixers. Has nothing to do with high-end or anything, I just control the music with an isolator in a way that is not possible with a channel eq.

[@djLovelyTime]

@@laurinjoelschafhausen It's the way forward. Some of these guys (Artwork being one) are using isolators between turntables or CDJs and a mixer and leaving the EQs alone.

[@sparxx2000]

@@djLovelyTime In my opinion it's still a niche product... same as the whole rotary/analog thing. Belongs to collectors/enthusiasts in their livingroom and not in a modern, professional DJ Booth...

[@sparxx2000]

@@djstuc No, I mean over 95% of the clubs that use standard equipment of the main brands.