iZotope Iris 2

4.5 (78)

3 Critic Reviews

12 Reviews

Find out who is using iZotope Iris 2

18 wishlisted

202 saved

Page last updated Feb 07, 2026

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Description

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Highly capable virtual instrument.

Create sounds that have never been heard before and and discover sounds you've never heard. Play sounds that exist in nature but never before with this level of clarity and effective emulation. An inspiring sample-based synthesizer, Iris 2 is immediately playable-combining the power of a sampler, the flexibility of a modular synth, and the fun of spectral filtering.

Get started fast by selecting from hundreds of expertly crafted Bass, Keys, Leads, Pads, and Rhythmic patches. Then customize or build your own patches with an 11 GB factory library of intriguing audio samples, a modern modulation system, classic filters, evocative effects, and more. Explore a new world of musical possibilities with Iris 2.

Iris is an innovative, sample-based synthesizer that empowers you to create musical sounds like never before. Start by layering up to four distinctive audio samples, then use the spectrogram display and selection tools to spotlight the most interesting spectral characteristics.

Still hungry for more? Add attitude, dimension, and depth to your creation by applying iZotopeÊ¼s world-class effects: chorus, reverb, delay, distortions, ïlters, and more. Or modulate more than one hundred parameters through a simple, single-click-and-drop assignment system.

Product specs

Plugin Format	VST, AU, AAX
Operating Systems	Mac, Windows

Videos

Add video

iZotope, Inc.

Introducing Iris 2 from iZotope: The World is Your Instrument

iZotope, Inc.

iZotope Iris 2 Sample Synth - Overview

Plugin Boutique

iZotope IRIS 2 - Exclusive First Look

sonicstate

Izotope Iris 2 | Demo & Review

Venus Theory

iZotope Iris 2 | Sample Based Synth

Pyramind

Introduction to iZotope Iris 2 (+ Audio Examples)

Pro Audio Files

The king of soundscapes is back! (iZotope Iris 2)

S1gns Of L1fe

Making Techno With Izotope Iris 2!

343 Labs

Reviews

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PROS

Unique Photoshop-like interface for sound manipulation
Ability to layer up to four different samples
Ideal for creating ambient and drone sounds
Extensive library with personal and shared samples
Inspiring presets that spark creative ideas
Spectral filtering offers deep sound design possibilities
Fast and intuitive for quick sound creation
Great value for price, especially during sales
Allows for unique sound creation from unusual samples
Free giveaways enhance accessibility

CONS

Discontinued product limits future updates and support
High CPU usage can be demanding on systems
Slow to load in Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about iZotope Iris 2.

Features and functionality

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Iris 2 is favored for its unique visual sampling tool that allows users to select precise parts of audio files for creative manipulation.
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Iris 2 is noted for being a significant CPU hog, especially on systems with 8GB RAM, with performance issues even on 16GB setups.
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The distinct EQ painting feature in Iris 2 is highly valued for sound design but is difficult to replicate in other DAWs.
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Software and compatibility

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Some users experience issues with iLok activation, reporting a switch to USB dongle requirements after iZotope discontinued Iris 2.
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Nesting Iris 2 within a multi-instrument in Studio One can eliminate performance issues, enhancing workflow efficiency.
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Lowering Studio One's dropout protection from high to medium or low can resolve iZotope plugin issues like stutters and lag.
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Users report that Iris 2 runs poorly on M1 Macs, causing crashes, while it performs well on Windows 10 machines.
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Users have successfully created Iris-like functionality in Bitwig using the Poly Grid, providing a viable alternative for M1 Mac users.
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Comparisons

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Image-Line's Harmor is suggested as a similar alternative, functioning as an additive synth with different capabilities.
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Pigments is noted as a potential alternative with some similar features, though specifics on its spectral capabilities compared to Iris 2 are unconfirmed.
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Bitwig's sampler can be configured to mimic Iris 2's capabilities, offering granular synthesis and modulation options.
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Use cases and applications

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Owners frequently use Iris 2 as a sampler, particularly for its distinct ability to visually edit and manipulate external audio files.
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Iris 2's ability to draw audio sections for spectral mapping is unmatched, with Omnisphere lacking immediate drag-and-drop sample functionality.
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Ableton's integration allows users to map Iris 2's sample library directly into its sampler, enhancing workflow and creative possibilities.
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Other

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Factory sample libraries for Iris 2 can still be found in the iZotope Product Portal, contrary to some users' difficulties in locating them.
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User experience

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Windows users face specific lag issues when switching between Iris 2 and other VST instruments, a problem absent on macOS.
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Critic Reviews

iZotope Iris 2

soundonsound.com

iZotope Iris 2 builds on its predecessor's strengths with an enhanced user interface and expanded modulation options, making it a worthy upgrade for sound designers. The inclusion of more factory patches and sample content, now in WAV format, adds to its appeal. However, it still lacks time-stretching capabilities and features the same basic painting tools, which might disappoint some users. While it can be CPU-intensive, Iris 2 excels in creating ambient soundscapes and otherworldly effects, offering great value for those interested in textural synthesis.

positive

Full Review

iZotope Iris 2 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

iZotope Iris 2 impresses with its enhanced synth-like capabilities and a user-friendly interface, offering an extensive preset library and robust modulation options. The synth's redesign provides a powerful tool for sound design, with a focus on usability and playability. While it includes a hefty sample library and improved effects, users should note the significant CPU demand. Despite this, Iris 2 stands out as a top-tier virtual instrument, praised for its versatility and sound quality, making it a strong choice for musicians looking to expand their sonic palette.

positive

Full Review

iZotope Iris 2 Synthesizer Review – Synthtopia

synthtopia.com

iZotope Iris 2 is a synth with a fascinating concept and solid implementation, offering unique sound design capabilities. However, its stock library falls flat, with unimaginative presets that detract from its overall potential. While some users appreciate its creative possibilities, others are turned off by the lackluster sample quality, indicating a mixed reception.

neutral

Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 12 Reviews and 78 Ratings

5 star

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1 star

rossmotus

565

over 3 years ago

Awesome

Izotope Iris 2, sample-based synthesizer software with drawing approach. In my modest opinion, it's one of the most creative and underrated music instrument as synth-software. It works as plugin and standalone, based to 4 samples, loaded from the large library expanded with your personal custom samples and shared libraries of them too. Multi effects bank, envelopes, and more. User interface show the wave of the selected samples and it's possible to edit it manipulating the sound with a graphic approach, using a sort of Photoshop toolset! Fundamental tool for my purposes, in particular for ambient/drone sounds. Sadly, in this days iZotope has declared Iris 2 as discontinued (with others fantastic tools like Trash 2 and Break Tweaker too). Sorry for my bad english.

Roles:

Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Dark ambient Electro-industrial

taka_kazuki

129

almost 5 years ago

Another Masterpiece

When it come to iZotope Plugins, you know things are gonna get serious!

Very surprised that iZotope partnered up with Plugin Boutique to give this out for free last November 2020. As a company who does mostly effect plugin, I didn't have much expectation while trying it. But I was so wrong with it after playing around for a week.

I was mostly impressed that I'm able to layer up to 4 different samples which is a plus side because I wont need to used other plugin which save up some CPU power. Again another masterpiece from iZotope!

Roles:

Keyboardist Music Producer DJ

xaqary

5455

almost 9 years ago

Flash sales...

Been curious about Iris 2 for a while so when it went on sale for only $49 bucks I kind of had to jump in. Haven't had it long yet but I started tweaking around and it's already clear this one is going to be a ton of fun. Zero buyers remorse thus far.

I do have to dig deeper before adding a comprehensive review. That might take a lil' bit since I really haven't been using any soft synths even my DAW much lately. Been all hardware and saving all of my songs in those pieces of hardware. Soon I will be ready to dump everything into Ableton for further processing and I imagine that's when I'll start digging in to Iris 2 and the like.

That said, it's already clear that this will get a lot of use. Likely more than most of my soft synths with a few exceptions.

It's intuitive, it's fun, fast, and it so far is killer for sound design – the latter being a big favorite here. Lots of control & fast for creating your own sounds.

john_withers

815

over 7 years ago

Fascinating concept

Bought this cause I love Izotope and this looked interesting. It has a sampler, synth and spectral filtering in a very interesting interface using 4 samples slots and you can use tools like in photoshop to paint your sound out from...hard to explain but its cool and can lead to some very unique sounds.

kidzzmusic

146

over 5 years ago

[deleted]

jimmarchi1

41003

5 years ago over 5 years ago

okay okay, back in november 2020? but it IS november 2020, are you from the future?

meow0rd13

over 11 years ago

Amazing!

Honestly my favorite VST to use. It can make such unique sounds out of the weirdest samples! It's very cpu heavy though so be ready for that.

foggysunday

104

almost 8 years ago

Amazing soundscapes which feel surprisingly natural.

Having this is like owning a paintbrush which can paint beautiful or mysterious worlds: with sound This truly opens gates to accessible, but amazing creation of natural pads and deep audial atmospheres.

parkergregs

over 4 years ago

Very useful for synths or a sampler.

My first time flipping through the presets inspired many of the signature sounds I use in all my production.

Roles:

Keyboardist Music Producer DJ

Genres:

Electronic

carbinax

1097

over 7 years ago

Combines painting with synthesis

Haven't had it that long, but I love the potential of this thing. It allows you to spectrally mask parts of whatever you feed it, or augment it. Very powerful potential.

Roles:

Keyboardist Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Techno Electronica

mark_digital

117

over 8 years ago

Isis

Really cool name. And so it was on sale so I bought it and it comes with so many samples and sounds but is a bit of a CPU hog isn't it? I mean takes awhile to load in the DAW doesn't it? But for the sale price I couldn't beat it, could I?

Artist usage

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Mike Shinoda

Singer, Guitarist

Linkin Park

Verified via YouTube

At 14:45, he uses this

Virtual Riot

Music Producer, DJ

Verified via YouTube

In his livestream from May 8, 2015, Virtual Riot demonstrates the use of the iZotope Iris 2 plugin in his music production process.

George Daniel

Drummer, Composer

The 1975

Verified via Izotope

Are there any tracks where iZotope made an appearance on this new record?

Yes! Iris has made a few appearances for ambient sounds. It’s in the title track “I Like it When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It”, along with Stutter Edit on the vocals.

Arca

Music Producer

Verified via The FADER

In an interview with Fader, Arca gives a live presentation to the interviewee of how she produces music. This is her experience: "One afternoon, in something of a music journalist’s dream, she boots up her computer with the intention of giving me a live demonstration of her composition process. Using another program, called iZotope Iris, she takes the sound of a lawnmower, cuts a random geometric shape out of a graph of its composite frequencies, outputs a new sound that sounds like a choir of cooing lemmings.

umru

Music Producer

Verified via YouTube

Starts talking about it at 28:32

"This bass sound is just like a layer that I made with iZotope Iris. I remember when I just got it. Basically iZotope stole a meme that I posted, and they posted it on their Twitter and to apologize they sent me all their plugins for free. That's when I got this and started messing around with it."