Nectar 4 by Izotope! Should you Upgrade?

[@MaPa60]

Very good review of this new version. I can't say this one is for me, but it's great that they keep pushing for new innovations.

[@MatthewDuminy]

Thanks for the review. Didnt Nectar 3's ALM do the same thing as the auto leveler? So the benefit is really that it's a separate module and can intelligently keep the noises down.

[@templatemusic]

oooh ok so the backer thing, they've put a bit of vocalsynth2 in there. The product demo on their yt page made it out as if it auto-generated some wild amazing vocal harmonies.. Thanks for the review Matty!

[@SoundSignals]

The other thing you get with nectar 4 is you get all the modules as seperate plugins

[@mixedbymatty]

Yes! That’s right. Forgot to mention. A nice feature add for sure.

[@samsonlovesyou]

And that's just dandy for autoleveler if you want to process the vocals for yourself without manual riding.

[@Meekismwisdom]

The backer feature made me interested but now I am hearing it it sounds like different forms of formant . Still cool . I like this AI tech with Nectar 3

[@jaybeebabyStudios]

the upgrade is definitely worth it. the Audio leveling feature alone is worth it.

[@Reggi_Sample]

You had vocal rider already and you know it 😂

[@jaybeebabyStudios]

For sure 😂 however this one is more transparent…

[@Reggi_Sample]

@@jaybeebabyStudios fair game I’ve not put it through its paces yet

[@400_billion_suns]

13:14 Every time I’ve used Nectar 3’s vocal assistant, it has always ended up with that same presence-lifting curve on EQ2. I never investigated deeper to prove it, but it seems like it might just be a canned curve that it applies on EQ2 any time you run the assistant, rather than a customized module. Interesting to see how different it is in 4.

[@templatemusic]

Yeah nectar 3 definitely just applied the same eq curve, I tried it with 2 different singers with 2 different mics and it just did the same thing

[@maneatingseas]

Thanks for illustrating perfectly well what this upgrade brings to the plate!

[@thenewreal]

One correction: you said several times that the auto-level module is a new feature in Nectar 4, but I have Nectar 3 Standard and it also has auto-level. The version in Nectar 3 is not as sophisticated or adjustable, but it works really well with voices. As it is, I generally use 2 features in Nectar 3: one is ALM, the other is the compressor. I have at least 20 compressor plug-ins to choose from, but the Nectar 3 compressor in Solid State mode is one of my favorites. You also failed to mention that ALM is NOT available in any version of Nectar 4 except the Advanced version. So, if someone upgrades from Nectar 3 Standard to Nectar 4 Standard, they will actually lose ALM. That will come as quite a shock to a lot of people. To upgrade from Nectar 3 Standard to Nectar 4 Advanced costs around $200, and all I would gain is some adjustability in the auto-level module. If I need more adjustability there I can use my Vocal Rider. As you can imagine, I chose to stay with Nectar 3.

[@skeletonmodel]

Thanks for the great review. I always upgrade the complete suite in a loyalty offer, but realized I don't think I have ever used this. Or Neutron for that matter. It's very tempting, but don't think I should

[@biggerthanhiphop7641]

The best all in one vocal plug-in is nuro xvox .. That thing is amazing .. Real basic and powerful

[@theaustindude]

I think they upgrade price is a bit steep at $149USD

[@markjhermanson]

yeah, waiting until end of year, I did my upgrades last year, and then suddenly they slammed prices ridiculous

[@Black2Production]

yeah to high..... all upgrades are to high for customers...

[@bobbydolan]

The word loyaltynshouldnt be here. These upgrade prices are a gouge. I'm disappointed in this company's greed..

[@wadecottingham]

Yes too high

[@forevercoold]

​@@markjhermanson what? Explain plese

[@YouGuys-ux5sm]

I have 4 Advanced. I find it tough to get the Backer voices sound well. In Izotopes demo with Mr. Manchester it sounds perfect. Impressive. I am in favour of more tutorials on this.

[@mainsailsound983]

you sure that key detection was correct?

[@ZimCrusher]

So if you were doing voice over work, would you go with RX10 or Nectar 4? RX has the ability to jump to a word, and edit takes together, but nectar have breath and noise reduction. Not sure why they didn't put them all in one box.

[@Somedei]

sounds way robotic still for thirds and stuff like a voicelive 2 when compared, but the voicelive is kicking ass still and that is from 2011

[@mixedbymatty]

I feel like when it’s blended it would sound fine.

[@Nayah9]

- The "Auto-Level" module in Nectar 4 is already present in Nectar 3 (it's the yellow "ALM" button on the right side of the window). The only thing they added to it was the "Tame Noises" section. - The "Voices" module also exists in Nectar 3, it's just called "Harmony". - Basically all they added to Nectar 4 was the AI that can copy the vocal profile of a song and the fake backup singers. €127.30 to upgrade from Nectar 3. Yay...

[@markjhermanson]

well, I am a shitty singer, but damn those back up singers make me look freddie Mercury

[@bobbydolan]

The fact that most of the "new" stuff is already in Nectar 3 makes this even of an Izotope rip off.

[@Nayah9]

@@markjhermanson I'd take a shitty singer that's been subtly pitch-corrected over a fake AI voice any day. That doesn't matter though. What matters is that the cost of upgrading is way too high for what's being added.

[@wolfhard2420]

If you really want to hear a good evaluation of what the harmony vocals can do, go over to the Izotope video. It is not only octaves and thirds, dude. You can get very realistic harmony vocals that work a capella as shown in that video. Fairly amazing if you ask me. You cannot hear that if you only present octave and unison. But I know, for that you have to know a little music, not only technical stuff

[@Jarde-kl3uv]

Which video are you referring to?

[@400_billion_suns]

As best I can tell (I have Nectar 4), the demo in Izotope’s video is quite misleading. I think they have several pre-recorded harmony tracks (with different melodies) that are each running an instance of Nectar to change the sound of the voices on those tracks. But as for the different melodies we’re hearing on those harmonized tracks, Nectar is not doing that. I’d love to be wrong, though.

[@mixedbymatty]

I agree 10000%. When I saw their demo video I was like NO Fing Way that software made those harmonies. And what I don't like is the fact that all the comments are about how good it sounds. That bummed me out to see that to be honest.

[@gopolarisstudio]

Yeah that sounds like it wouldn't make harmonies because then what the hell is Vocal Synth 2 for?

[@YungstarProd]

@@400_billion_sunsthe voices module is different from the backer module.

[@forevercoold]

3:35 you didn't set the key of the song at a little section in the left probably thats why it sounds funny

[@vxd]

Why use this instead of little alterboy or duplicating the track and lowering the key?

[@m.a.d.talented4664]

Versatility

[@carlosp.1846]

great review

[@briankingart]

Dead on! Thx Matty Brighter is not better if you are a baritone vocalist though.

[@hallongview]

The blend issue sounds more like a bug to me

[@mahavpm]

Great review - thanks.

[@Librarising1618]

The reason you thought Nectar 3 sounded better was likely loudness bias. We are inclined, neurologically/psychologically, to perceive something that’s louder as sounding “better”

[@mixedbymatty]

Yes. It was louder and brighter

[@baselinesweb]

Sadly, I think iZotope is moving in the wrong direction for me. Sticking with Nectar 3 - same goes for the Ozone offering. Interface is nice, but not a big enough reason to update. I turn the Nectar3 reverb off and use UAD spak hitsville reverb. Much better. It's the same for the compressor tools in Nectar.

[@JeffyG]

Interesting. Can you explain? I also have a good investment in my Apollo and UAD plugins. I was skeptical of these multi-one-button tools from Izotope, but bought Nectar 3, and Ozone 10 (now 11). I’ve always used a variety of plugins in my vocal chain, and for all the usual tracks. Just curious about the direction you’re going.

[@JeffyG]

Great video, awesome comparison, exactly what I was looking for! Quick questions: I have Nectar 3 Plus, you demo Nectar 4 ‘Advanced’. My upgrade offers are to Nectar 4 ‘Standard’ - or - ‘Advanced’. What the diff? Also, in practice, I want the Nectar enhancements on separate tracks. Might bus the EQ, Comp, Pitch, Desser results to one track, bus the harmonies to a separate track. Are there any features in Nectar 4 to redirecting output to a bus or separate track? [I wanna keep my source vocal with standard vocal chain plugins as is for comparison]

[@baselinesweb]

@@JeffyG Don't get me wrong I love Nectar 3 and still use it. I don't use the reverb because it is too sensitive and doesn't sound right to me. I don't use the Nectar correction tools because I have Melodyne. The Nectar compression is fine, but I always back it off because it seems the learning routines put a lot of it on. When I first heard the hitsville reverb on a vocal, I was sold immediately (especially with the Grapevine setting) I throw it on another buss and push some of the vocal towards it. The UAD compression (1176) and the Studer tape also get me to what I want quickly. I think that Nectar 4 adds stuff I don't need and just changes the interface around. Not enough of a magnet for me to buy.

[@JeffyG]

good points@@baselinesweb

[@heymikeriley]

Great recap, very helpful!

[@vloggingpractice8077]

Hi Matty, great video as always! I have Presonus studio One 3,5 version on Windows and I tried to use your mix template. Template unfortunately don't work on my PC. What am I missing here?

[@Knoxvilletim]

After adding voices, I can't figure out how to delete a voice. Any pointers? Thanks!

[@mixedbymatty]

On the left there is a X next to the solo. :)

[@lavinchi6709]

Thank you🎉superior programm

[@forevercoold]

Damn i just purchased necter 's previous version... how do i crossgrade?

[@akounamatata2251]

Which one is better nectar 4 or neutron 4 or sonible?

[@YungstarProd]

Different methods and slightly different tools. Nectar is exclusively for vocals.

[@BartekEVH]

Hi, Which version of Pro Tools are you using here? I have an older one and I'm afraid if it will work. Regards :)

[@ddsrecords]

I’m sold 👌 Thank you 🙏

[@raiidkerbage8187]

nectar 3 comes with a relay plug in, does 4 do the same? anyone. cheers

[@mixedbymatty]

Yes It works with relay as well.

[@raiidkerbage8187]

cheers, thanks for clearing that up.:-)@@mixedbymatty

[@albertoflacoa]

Hello. How about CPU usage on M1?)

[@mixedbymatty]

It’s about the same as nectar 3

[@peterhughes8699]

Well I've had Nectar 3 for years and never use it. Obviously no veiwers can hear any tone differences on youtube but can clearly hear I'd never use the new backer as tested in this video. That sounded like a nasaly autotune robot - which is what it is. The vocals used by Matty in this video all sounded unnatural and terrible imo

[@drany7]

Hi . Hopefully I can get a reply here . I’ve just got the standard version. I have a good recording of a vocal before the plugin, but it’s very quiet on the input and output meter unless I turn it right up , but then it’s into the red . And it doesn’t sound anywhere near as good as all these demos . Help !

[@bobbydolan]

The word loyalty shouldnt be here. These upgrade prices are a gouge. I'm disappointed in this company's greed..

[@Blueberrystop]

❤

[@evieruth01]

Waves subs cancelled now , this is ace and all I need with xvox for shaping 🎉

[@forevercoold]

Fr

[@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY]

Izotope had to respond quickly to the "white" noise Nuro Audio's XVox has been making through NA's stellar KZbin marketing point-of-sales with this version IMHO.

[@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY]

However, I like XVox for the PERFECT In-The-Box Analog vocals, but Nectar 2-4 are great for background vocal harmonies IJS

[@russell_szabados]

I'm fine with Nectar 2, thank you. And no thank you to the iZotope team for killing off Alloy in favor of plugins whose marketing alone makes me cringe. I'm a capitalist, I understand cashing out. But Native Instruments? Really?

[@jloiben12]

Crap. I think I have to upgrade now

[@Reggi_Sample]

I think voices sounds horrible 😂