iZotope Launches Photon Stem Separation App
The standalone and ARA plugin uses GPU acceleration to split tracks into vocals, drums, bass and other instrumental elements.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Music — General
iZotope has released Photon, a standalone application and ARA plugin that uses GPU-accelerated stem separation. It is the first major collaborative product between iZotope and its parent company, Boris FX.
Why it matters
Stem separation tools let producers and engineers isolate individual elements of a finished mix, a capability that has become a competitive category. Photon enters a market that already includes Splitter AI and LANDR.
Boris FX acquired iZotope in July 2024, and Photon was released on November 7, 2026. The source does not provide benchmark results or pricing, so its separation quality against rivals such as Splitter AI and LANDR remains unverified.
The players
iZotope
iZotope is an audio software company known for its RX audio repair suite and Nectar vocal production tools.
Boris FX
Boris FX is a visual effects software company that acquired iZotope in July 2024.
The details
Photon separates tracks into vocals, drums, bass and other instrumental elements, and it can run as either a standalone app or an ARA plugin inside a DAW session. The tool also includes noise, hum and artifact reduction features, and it relies on GPU rather than CPU processing.
Timeline
July 2024: Boris FX acquires iZotope.
November 7, 2026: iZotope releases Photon.
Market Landscape
Photon enters a stem-separation market already served by commercial tools such as Splitter AI and LANDR. Its ARA integration places it alongside those competitors as producers increasingly expect in-DAW isolation of mix elements.
Producers and engineers can use Photon as a standalone app or load it as an ARA plugin inside a supported DAW session. The source does not state pricing or licensing terms, so access costs remain unconfirmed.
The takeaway
Producers evaluating stem-separation tools should compare separation quality and workflow fit, since specifications alone do not show how Photon performs against established options. Testing the ARA plugin within an existing session can reveal practical gains before committing to a purchase.
Further reading
For broader context on production software trends, see Music — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EDM Sauce.
