iZotope released an updated version of Vinyl, a freeware audio degradation effect in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats for DAW software on PC and Mac.
Vinyl is iZotope’s old-school freeware lo-fi effect. It emulates the quirks of an old turntable, including the pitch imperfections, hiss, noise, hum. It works like any other audio effect in your DAW and applies the vinyl simulation to the audio signal in real-time.
Another neat feature in Vinyl is the “spin down” effect (also known as the “tape stop” effect), which simulates the graduate pitch drop as the record slows down to a halt. Despite being painfully overused by now, this effect undeniably works as the final touch right before a big drop. Just don’t go overboard with it.
The thing about Vinyl, though, is that it’s been around for well over a decade (the Release Notes page on iZotope’s website dates back to 2006 for v1.72). The plugin was still fully functional on modern-day PCs thanks to timely maintenance updates issued by iZotope, but the user interface certainly needed a facelift. That grey front panel was a dead giveaway that Vinyl was released in the Windows XP era.
The old iZotope Vinyl design was fine, but it looked dated.
Thankfully, the team at iZotope felt that a GUI overhaul was needed and delivered it in this brand new version of Vinyl.
So, what’s new in iZotope Vinyl v1.90?
The most notable improvement is the new user interface design. Vinyl now features the same minimal look as iZotope’s flagship plugins like Nektar and Ozone. It also looks similar to the recently released Vocal Doubler and Ozone Imager, both of which are freeware.
The updated iZotope Vinyl plugin looks and feels modern.
The new version of Vinyl also comes with an updated control layout, which is, in my opinion, more intuitive than the original. The user can now quickly apply the presets (the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, etc.) by clicking one of the top row buttons instead of rotating a dial. The pitch controls are placed at the bottom, and the audio degradation controls for dust and crackle simulation are located on the right.
Strangely, it seems that the new GUI isn’t freely resizable. It may scale automatically depending on the screen resolution, but I couldn’t find a way to manually resize the interface.
It’s worth noting that the new GUI design isn’t everything that the updated Vinyl has to offer. The plugin now also features a Lo-fi control, which applies bitcrushing to the signal. This isn’t something a real turntable would do, but it’s a useful sound design option nonetheless.
Finally, keep in mind that the support for 32-bit plugin hosts was deprecated. iZotope Vinyl will only work in 64-bit digital audio workstations on PC and Mac. iZotope also deprecates support for older versions of Windows (Windows 7 and older) and macOS (versions 10.12.x and older).
iZotope Holiday Bundle Sale
On a related note, you can now get a no-brainer 95% OFF deal on the iZotope Holiday Bundle at Plugin Boutique. Get the iZotope Elements plugins, iZotope Iris 2 synthesizer, iZotope Trash 2 + Expansions, and more software by Exponential Audio.
iZotope Holiday Bundle is priced at $59.99 and the value of the included software is $1,105.90 if purchased separately.
iZotope Vinyl Download
To download your free copy of iZotope Vinyl, visit the product page linked below and click the Free Update button. Log in to your iZotope user account or register a new one.
After logging in, you will instantly receive a serial number that should be entered, along with your account info, when launching the plugin for the first time. Before activation, Vinyl will work in a 10-day trial mode.
More info: iZotope Vinyl (42.2 MB download size, EXE installer, 64-bit VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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11 Comments
Brenny C
onThis update is awesome! Vinyl is a plugin classic; the new modern GUI and added lo-fi effect just make this even better. A completely unexpected but very welcome gift just in time for the holidays! Thank you, iZotope and BPB!
Masked tiger
onfinally the new gui is stunning its a ton better than the old one … cool update izotope
Ike
onIn what way is it better? Sure, the user interface looks cleaner, but has the sound improved in any way?
Roman
onLol, he specifically said that the interface got better, and nothing about the sound.
Tomislav Zlatic
onThere’s a new “Lo-fi” mode which is essentially a bitcrusher.
Tomislav Zlatic
onI agree!
Wally C
onI prefer the previous “analog-like” GUI over the new cartoon network one.
Jeppespelar
onMe too! Many of these kinds of “new modern interface” looks kinda cheap to me? But perhaps the new gui improves workflow or ux? The old sliders sometimes felt wierdly finicky to me? The scaling of them perhaps?
Nakura
onI personally like the old GUI more.
Raven
onThing is, that slight 3dness when shading is used in an interface really trumps these flat and “fatiquing” interfaces. I get the cleanliness, but dont throw away “ergonomics”. win10, ableton, fl20, so fatiquing with edges and borders of everything blending into each other. A little bevel and shadow goes a loooong way to make windows tangible and pop off each other . So do “glowing LED” effects, shadows, buttons that pop instead of squares and circles that fill.
Texture is not so important but can also be effective to increase the separation between plugins and elements.
No brainer! so why must we make all elements so “flat” and unnatural? Cause it looks cool? it sure does no mistake! Looks like something out of sci-fi films…….but it handles like plastic shit!
How much more exciting and action packed FL11 looks are now compared to 12… the more time passes, the more it becomes obvious! The elements on the mixer were so well defined and a pleasure to click and use. The fonts were racy and techy. Now the mixer is dull and flat with static icons where popping and glowing buttons use to be.
Same with Win7, vibrant, intuitive, pretty VS win10. corporate, monotonous, dull.
A balance between completely vector flat, and some 3d edges and shadows on borders and buttons, with glowing lights and digital displays would be nice. You know something for humans.
Poofox
onAgreed! Sure the skeuomorphic interfaces were getting too bombastic and filling the screen with useless eye candy, but this current minimalist trend threw the baby out with the bathwater.
Gimme subtle shadows, 2.5D controls and transparency fx, but brushed metal, wooden side panels and rack-inspired GUI bolts can die forever…