Monitorizer v. Waves new Nx virtual mix room

Has anyone using Monitorizer tried Waves Nx virtual mix room plugin?  
 
There are three videos on this page:
http://www.waves.com/plugins/nx#introducing-nx-virtual-mix-room
 
 

Although partially correct, but mostly incorrect, you can as I do just turn that head tracking part off and leave it off, then it is and acts as you would expect.
 
As far as comparison goes, the Waves NX is leaps and bounds better, there is no comparison.

Hi
 
Purchased this a few weeks ago and use it all the time now with headphones.
Virtual head movements a bit of a gimmick though, have that turned off!
 
Cheers

I have NX and have been using it on and off. Previously I used Toneboosters' Isone Pro, which is also quite nice and flexible. However NX seemed more realistic, so even though it's a bit less flexible I decided to grab it at the intro price. I just checked it against Monitorizer and I think it's considerably more subtle and realistic, but I haven't really tweaked Monitorizer so I don't want to speak against it - might work well for some. The head-tracking thing in NX is kind of amazing and as Craig says, probably has some interesting applications, but as others say it's a bit gimmicky and it's hard to see how it is likely to significantly improve mixing in the traditional sense. I wish there were a mix knob on it, as it's either on or off and on feels a bit heavy-handed to me. But the crossfeed, head modelling stuff and room sound of NX is really quite convincing. 

Just to be clear, the intention of the Monitorizer was never to "compete" with products that are more ambitious, cost a hundred dollars and up, and are intended to model specific speakers or environments. It was designed to provide a reality test of what a mix will sound like over speakers in this age where mixing over headphones is commonplace, either due to being in a mobile situation or having picky neighbors or family members. As the eZine says...
 
There’s a difference between listening on headphones and listening on monitor speakers. Although mixing on headphones is great for catching details and immersing yourself in the music, the sometimes artificially wide stereo and unnatural perspective with effects can lead to mixes that don’t translate as well over speakers. With so many people using headphones for mixing because that’s ultimately how the music will be heard (as well as to avoid angry neighbors!), it helps to do a quick “reality check” on what music will sound like when played over speakers.
 
While not as sophisticated as some products that try to emulate a complete room environment down to the last detail, the Monitorizer is based on the same principles:
 

• Feed a little left channel into the right channel, and feed a little right channel into the left channel.
• Delay the additional feeds by 1-2 ms to emulate that the right speaker signal hitting your left ear is delayed slightly compared to when it hits your right ear, and the left speaker signal hitting your right ear is delayed slightly compared to when it hits your left ear.
• Add in some very subtle reflections to be more like a "room."
• Reduce the highs of the additional feeds just a tiny bit because your head is in the way and attenuates the highs.

 
The Monitorizer simply translates the above theory into practice. This effect can be as subtle as you want, based on how you adjust the controls. If your goal is to emulate what a mix will sound like over laptop speakers, a TV in your living room, studio monitors in a control room, etc. you need a modeling-based device like the VRM box.  

I just bought NX.  I haven't exactly put any time into it yet but I listened quickly to a track I'm working on.  My first impression is "whatever" but I'm very willing to say I haven't used it properly.  ...just happy I got it before it went off sale... 

Head tracking isn't just for VR either. Normally with a HRTF solution it is like you bolted a speaker assembly to your head. The soundfield moves with your head, which is unnatrual. Proper head tracking can make it sound like the speakers are sat in one spot. If it is good enough, it can fool you in to thinking it is real. The Realiser A8 properly calibrated is more or less impossible to distinguish form the system is was calibrated on. Of course it is $3000, needs $1000 headphones to work really well, and needs a good speaker setup to be calibrated on.

Thank you all for this great discussion.  I am a sucker for an interesting/cool plugin, and I need to put a governor on my impulse buying.  Sonar Platinum (which comes with useful FX like Craig's monitorizer) has so many tools included I'll likely never use them all in my lifetime.  I'd be better off simplifying my mixing process and sticking with fewer tools...the ones I already have in Sonar.  Waves Nx (like Monitorizer) piqued my interest since I have to work in headphones a lot.  The intro price seems reasonable but I don't want to buy a gimmick if it's not going to perform as well (or noticeably  better) than Monitorizer.  While I'm not exactly new at audio production, it's a hobby so I don't get to spend as much time on it as I'd like. Forums like this help me make better decisions about all sorts of things...including software purchases.  I value your input.  Thanks again.

Anderton
 
It does a lot more than the Monitorizer, so the question becomes whether you need the extra capabilities, or whether a basic, no-frills option will take care of you. I think you can demo Waves plug-ins for a limited period of time...that's the best way to know if it provides functionality you want/need.

 
Waves demos are fully functional for 7 days and then seem to helpfully disappear themselves when that's over, so you're not left with a non-functioning plugin to clear from your directories (of which I have far too many). You pretty much have to install and use their Waves Central software to set them up, but it's relatively painless. 
 

My priority is what will help create songs faster and more transparently. SONAR has pretty much everything you need for editing and mixing but ultimately it's the creative impulse that has value; no one cares what EQ you used on the kick drum. 

 
Hmmm. Couldn't agree more with the first part, of course, but I've found that there are lots of people around, particularly on music gear and software forums, who care a great deal about what EQ or compressor you might have used, and are prepared to judge you as a person based on it, but likely don't give a rat's posterior about (and certainly won't waste their time listening to) your music. So it goes... 

Anderton
I should have said no listener cares what EQ you put on your kick drum 

Bingo!

pwalpwal

subtlearts

Anderton
I should have said no listener cares what EQ you put on your kick drum 

Bingo!

just so long as it's more than ten layered kick drums ;-)

Well if you're going to do ten, according to the Law of Spinal Tap you must do eleven.