iZotope has today launched Stutter Edit 2, their latest plug-in collaboration with Grammy-nominated composer and electronic musician Brian Transeau (BT). In this extended article, we look at the new features introduced in Stutter Edit 2 with an exclusive review and we share what we think about Stutter Edt 2 from iZotope.
What iZotope Say About Stutter Edit 2
Stutter Edit 2 creates the famous “stutter” editing effect with one button, slicing audio into small fragments and sequencing the pieces into razor-sharp rhythmic effects, recreating techniques that previously took hours to perfect by hand. In addition to these trademark stutter effects, performers and producers can be creative with a multitude of rhythmic gestures to build tension and create dynamics, both in live performances and studio arrangements.
One-button Access
With the new AUTO mode, you can easily try out sounds in your mix and fire off gestures without requiring any routing. Or, easily connect a MIDI controller via an online help system that detects your DAW and provides step by step setup instructions. Get inspired with professionally designed presets that give you cinematic rises, exciting transitions, and club-ready filter sweeps out of the box, ready to be added to your productions. However you want to start your journey into Stutter Edit 2, you’ll be up and running and making sounds quickly.
Movement In The Mix
An upgraded Distort module, new Comb, Chorus, and Limiter modules, and a new Reverb module from BT’s personal collection join a suite of 11 effects that offer everything from lo-fi ear-candy to attention-grabbing tape stops. Every knob and slider in Stutter Edit 2 can move in time with your session using the new Curve Editor, letting you draw in the motion of your effects without needing to use your DAW’s automation. Choose your range with the blue sliders, pick a premade curve (or draw your own), and playback to hear your creation.
Make Stutters, Breaks And Cuts
Put Stutter Edit 2 on your tracks with rhythmic gestures, sweeping filters, glitchy effects, or everything at once. Access dozens of unique gestures through custom banks, each with their own rhythmic flavour ready-made to deliver inspiration quickly. Chop up your samples to the beat, or just shred them into pitched, synthy oblivion with the Stutter and Buffer controls. Get simple. Go deep. Try different gestures, and create your own!
Stutter Edit 2 Feature Summary
Stutter Engine enables…
Create instant rhythmic patterns out of any sound.
Trap your hi-hat.
Make your vocals skip and jump.
Turn percussion into pitch.
Make an instant dubstep breakdown.
*Improved* An easier setup with AUTO mode for auditioning sounds in a mix with hassle-free with one button. Or hook up a MIDI controller with step-by-step in-app help that detects a DAW.
*New* Curve Editor affects any setting in Stutter Edit 2, letting you make sweeping filters, pumping reverbs, and blends of lo-fi energy. Drill into any setting to edit the curve in detail, or choose from 12 premade curves for instant inspiration.
*New* effects modules: get the creative juices flowing with deeper controls and more options for motion and chaos. Stutter Edit 2 adds new Comb and Chorus modules, along with a full-featured Reverb and two-band Distort module.
*New* Banks and gestures designed by BT deliver a wealth of effects, ideas, and sounds. Saved banks auto-map to your MIDI key keyboard, giving you dozens of gestures at your fingertips.
*New* UI experienceoffers a logical workflow, with a new dedicated output section, easier Stutter controls, and a flexible system for saving banks and gestures.
BT is widely recognized for pioneering the "stutter edit" as a musical technique. He originally designed iZotope’s Stutter Edit software to help automate his painstaking process for breaking audio into impossibly small fragments and using them for new sound synthesis. BT told us…
“Stutter Edit 2 is unique in that it offers world-class effects and complex rhythmic parameter sequencing in a form that is playable by anyone. We are excited for this updated version to launch as its predecessor has already found its way into the studios of some of the greatest sound designers and artists, and the effect can be heard all over blockbuster films, hit songs, commercials and trailers.”
iZotope co-founder and CEO Mark Ethier adds…
"With the first version of Stutter Edit, our collaboration with BT influenced music makers across every genre of music. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with BT and launch the next chapter of this pioneering product."
What iZotope Say About BT
With a career spanning nearly 25 years – BT is credited as a pioneer of the Trance and IDM genres and is recognised as the creator of the Stutter Edit technique, holds patents and trademarks, and a Guinness Book of world records award for the most edits in a recorded piece of music….ever.
BT has written, produced, and remixed artists like Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones, Tiesto. Depeche Mode, Armin Van Buuren, Sting, NSYNC, Blake Lewis, The Roots, Madonna, Britney Spears, and more. His full-length records are essential buys for any electronic music fan’s record collection.
He has created a slew of plugins that are heard on the radio and in films every day. Stutter Edit has been used on everything from Star Wars and Stranger Things to #1 Country records. His latest plugins Phobos and BreakTweaker can be heard in upcoming films and productions galore.
BT is also a classically trained symphonic composer, arranger, and orchestrator. He has composed a full score for films such as the Oscar-winning Monster starring Charlize Theron, The Fast and the Furious, and recently Solace starring Anthony Hopkins and the Amazon television show Electric Dreams. He also composed all of the music for the Tomorrowland section of Shanghai Disneyland.
What We Say About Stutter Edit 2 From iZotope
Stutter Edit 2 is the newly updated version of the plug-in created in partnership with electronic music pioneer, BT. Users of the previous version of Stutter Edit will immediately notice a change to the UI layout. Previously a lot of the controls were horizontal, these have now been moved to a vertical layout.
The new layout makes the plug-in much easier to use, creating a more enjoyable user experience. As a sound designer, rather than a musician, the previous interface was very clearly designed to be used for music. While that's still the case, I found this version to feel more suitable for sound design purposes as well.
Stutter Edit 2 creates patterns called gestures to create various effects by taking samples of the audio passing through it. These are controlled with a MIDI keyboard, or alternatively, the plug-in can be set to auto mode, and the gestures are trigged when you start playback in you DAW.
There is a gesture bank, where you can store your own settings, or load one of the many gesture banks that have been designed by iZotope and BT, which can be a great place to get started if you're new to the plug-in. These are listed under several categories, and each gesture is mapped to a different note on your MIDI keyboard.
There are several sections of the plug-in, each with several controls. A lot of the parameters for these can be edited in the Time Variant Modulator (TVM), where a curve representing the length of the gesture can be edited to any shape you wish. There are several curve presets which can be used, or you can create your own. The first control is for the stutter itself, where the length of notes used in the stutter can be varied, as well as its speed. There are several pre-designed curves which can be selected and edited, either to a time grid, or moved freely. The size of the audio sample can be adjusted in the buffer, and there are various other controls, such as panning which can be used to alter the sound.
After the stutter section, there is a multi-effect section with various built-in effects which can be used to further alter the sound being stuttered. These are:
Phaser
Lowpass
Tapestop
Highpass
Delay
Distort
Lo-fi
Chorus
Comb
Reverb
Flanger
Effects can be moved in the chain, changing the order of the processing; however, the delay always has to be the last effect.
Some of these are very simple with only one control, such as Tape Stop, whereas some of the effects, such as reverb, have multiple controls. A lot of the controls within each effect can be modified with the TVM, again with predefined curves, or something entirely created yourself.
What We Think About Stutter Edit 2 From iZotope
Having used Stutter Edit 2 over the past week, I've found the interface incredibly intuitive, and something that lends itself to experimenting with the settings, and creating new sounds. As a sound source, I've been using white and pink noise, as well as some ambiences from my sound effects library.
Although this plug-in is clearly created with musicians in mind, it certainly works well when being used for creative sound design, and if you're looking for synthetic/robotic type-sounds, this could be a fantastic tool in your arsenal.
Generally, the type of productions I work on call for a more subtle, realistic type of sound design. The good news is that I found by playing with the settings, more subtle and organic sounds can be created, but still with life and energy which set them apart. Sometimes the sound from a gesture is very rhythmic, and it reads the tempo from your host DAW and locks to that. However, with some tweaking of the settings, it's possible to get away from that type of sound.
There is a demo version available, which I suggest you download and try for yourself so you can see how it fits into your workflow and see what can be created with it. Even if it's not something you think suits the style of your work, I'd still suggest trying it, as you may be pleasantly surprised!
Price And Availability
Stutter Edit 2 is now available from the iZotope webstore and select retailers priced at $199.
Stutter Edit 2 will also be available Rent-to-Own through Splice.
Existing iZotope customers should log in their iZotope account for details on upgrade and loyalty pricing.
Owners of the previous version Stutter Edit can find their upgrade coupons in their iZotope account.