iZotope Unveils Photon, GPU-Powered Stem Separation Tool

iZotope has released Photon, a standalone application and ARA plugin that marks the first major collaborative project between the audio software company and its parent, Boris FX. The tool combines GPU-accelerated stem separation with integrated audio restoration features designed for producers working with layered arrangements and unconventional audio sources.

Dual-Format Workflow Integration

Photon functions both as a standalone application and as an Audio Random Access plugin, allowing producers to process audio independently or directly within their DAW sessions. The GPU-powered architecture delivers real-time stem separation—isolating vocals, drums, bass, and other instrumental elements—without the processing overhead typical of CPU-dependent alternatives.

The software also includes audio cleanup tools for reducing noise, hum, and artifacts from vinyl, tape, and lo-fi samples. For producers working on remixes or processing field recordings, the dual format offers flexibility across different stages of the production workflow.

Boris FX Acquisition Bears First Fruit

Boris FX acquired iZotope in July 2024, a move that initially surprised the production community given Boris FX's background in visual effects. Photon represents the first tangible product of that partnership, leveraging Boris FX's experience optimizing complex algorithms for real-time performance—expertise developed in visual effects rendering that translates to audio DSP challenges.

The GPU acceleration at the core of Photon reflects this cross-disciplinary collaboration, applying computational efficiency techniques from the visual effects domain to audio processing workflows.

Position in the Stem Separation Market

The stem separation market has grown rapidly over the past two years, with competitors including Splitter AI and LANDR investing in similar technology. iZotope differentiates Photon through its dual format and integrated audio restoration capabilities, bundling stem separation with cleanup features that typically require separate professional-grade plugins.

Photon is available now. Producers already using iZotope's RX or Nectar tools will find the software integrates into existing workflows alongside those products.