iZotope Iris

3.5 (9)

2 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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iZotope Iris 2

4.5 (78)

Find out who is using iZotope Iris

13 wishlisted

37 saved

Page last updated Mar 03, 2026

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Description

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Unleash your creativity with the iZotope Iris, a revolutionary tool in the world of synth plugins that redefines sound design with its advanced spectral processing. Moving beyond traditional sample-based synthesizers, Iris empowers musicians and sound designers to sculpt sounds from the ground up with unmatched precision. Utilizing iZotope's acclaimed spectral processing technology, you can isolate and manipulate unique elements of any sound sample, opening a world of possibilities for creating entirely new sonic textures. Whether it's combining the delicate whispers of wind with the rhythmic pulse of a beating heart or crafting an ethereal soundscape from everyday noise, Iris offers a seamless blend of creativity and technology.

At its core, Iris is equipped with a comprehensive 4GB sample library that includes everything from ambient nature sounds to gritty industrial noises, along with 500 presets crafted by top sound designers. The intuitive interface allows you to manipulate up to three samples simultaneously, giving you the freedom to blend and layer sounds with ease. The inclusion of Radius RT pitch-shifting ensures your samples maintain their timing integrity, even with dramatic pitch changes. Add a suboscillator for depth, and explore a range of built-in effects like delays and reverbs to add dimension to your creations. Perfect for both seasoned producers and beginners, Iris is your gateway to a new realm of sound possibilities.

Key Features:

Sample-based virtual synthesizer plug-in
Spectral processing for isolating and manipulating sound components
Support for layering up to three samples
Radius RT real-time pitch shifting
Includes a 4GB sample library and 500 presets
Add a suboscillator for enhanced sound richness
Built-in effects like distortions, delays, and reverbs

Videos

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iZotope, Inc.

Talking Sound Design with Sencit Music: iZotope Iris™

iZotope, Inc.

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about iZotope Iris.

Software and compatibility

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iZotope Iris 2 struggles with CPU efficiency, crashing frequently on Mac systems, even with 16GB RAM, making it less suitable for demanding projects.
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Users need to download the iZotope Product Portal for installation, which requires account creation, highlighting a potential setup step for new users.
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Comparisons

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Users find Bitwig's sampler and Ableton's features like Emit can replicate Iris 2's unique sound design capabilities, though they miss the direct EQ painting feature.
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Despite its rich features, some users prefer Native Instruments due to familiarity and price considerations, suggesting alternative sound design avenues.
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Use cases and applications

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Bitwig's polygrid allows for creative setups similar to Iris 2, with custom controls for sample playback, grain modulation, and more, offering new sound design possibilities.
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Described as a "witches' cauldron of samplers," it's ideal for crafting complex, hybrid sounds using diverse audio sources like bird calls and Moog waveforms.
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Features and functionality

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Iris 2's EQ spectrum editing remains a standout feature, with its ability to paint-select frequencies, pitch shift, and time-stretch being particularly valued for sound design.
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Iris 2 allows loading up to four samples, enabling intricate sound layering and spectral editing for unique instrument creation.
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Includes a substantial 11GB sound library, offering a wide array of sonic possibilities right out of the box.
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User experience

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Some users highlight Ableton's flexibility in mapping parameters and performance-centric design, offering a smoother workflow compared to Logic Pro for electronic music production.
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3.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 9 Ratings

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blueminds

209

over 11 years ago

Just got iris 2, great for making weird ass noises

Seems like one of those plugin synths that you could loose days playing with

milesmaldonado

124

over 11 years ago

Seems interesting

Will need to use more to really know

Artist usage

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Brian Eno

Singer, Keyboardist

Roxy Music

Verified via DIE WELT

In a video featured by DIE WELT, Brian Eno is shown using the iZotope Iris synth plugin, highlighting its role in his creative process.

Oneohtrix Point Never

Music Producer

Ford & Lopatin

Verified via MusicRadar

"I like a lot of iZotope stuff for processing. Their EQs are great, but their spectral sampling synth, Iris, is really good too, so props to them for that."

Alessandro Cortini

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Nine Inch Nails

Verified via Izotope

"One of the most interesting and creative ways to play and modify samples and recordings. It turns everything into an instrument."

Moderat

Music Producer

Verified via XLR8R

"There's this plug-in called iZotope Iris, and we used it all over the record [to create] these weird, old-school-sounding little vocal samples. [The vocals were all recorded] live, and then I put them into the sampler and they instantly sounded kind of crusty and old, which we really liked."

Mr. Bill

Music Producer

Verified via Photo

Mr. Bill lists iZotope Iris among the plugins he uses, in this interview.

Sega Bodega

Music Producer, DJ

Verified via YouTube

In this Twitch stream Sega Bodega uses Izotope Iris to turn voice samples and foley into synths.

Morcheeba

Music Producer

Verified via Time+Space

Paul said in interview that he liked Iris

In a recent interview with Computer Music magazine you rated iZotope´s Iris as one of your favourite music software tools, what is it about the ´visual instrument´ that you like so much?

I like it because it´s fun to use and yields unique results pretty quickly. I also love the fact that all this modern software can detect pitch pretty accurately which helps a DJ with limited skills like myself.