Part 1 – Review, an Opinion, and Some Hard Truths About Mixing
What Is Finalist by Tim Exile?
Finalist is a minimalistic mix / finalisation plugin built in Native InstrumentsReaktor.
It’s not AI. It’s not a one-click “sound like a pro” solution.
And it definitely won’t fix a bad track.
What it does is give you a focused environment for shaping the final sound of your music — without drowning you in options.
Interface & Workflow
The first thing you notice is the interface:
- clean
- slick
- easy on the eyes
- one page
- no endless modules
Compared to tools like iZotope Neutron or Ozone, Finalist feels almost rebellious in how little it shows you.
And that’s the point.
You’re forced to:
- listen
- react
- commit
No endless knob-twisting.
No “just one more module”.
Speed & Decision-Making
Finalist is fast.
Not because it automates your taste, but because it:
- limits choices
- removes distractions
- encourages ear-based decisions
In practice, that means:
- quicker mixes
- fewer plugins
- less overthinking
It fits perfectly at the end of a stem-based workflow, where sound design and arrangement decisions are already locked.
The Reaktor Export Problem (Honest Criticism)
Here’s my main criticism:
I would really have liked Finalist to have its own export / record function.
Reaktor’s internal export workflow is, frankly, a bit fiddly.
Because of that, I’ve chosen to:
- run Finalist inside Cockos Reaper for fast, no-nonsense exports
- or sometimes directly inside Ableton Live
It works fine — but a built-in export option would make Finalist even stronger as a dedicated final-stage tool.
What Finalist Is Not
Let’s be clear:
- It’s not a mastering replacement for weak mixes
- It’s not AI
- It’s not magic
Finalist assumes you’ve already done the work.
Part 2 – Opinion: Mixing, Plugin FOMO and Why Listeners Don’t Care
Printing Stems Is Still Relevant
Printing stems isn’t nostalgia — it’s discipline.
When I print stems:
- the creative phase is over
- decisions are committed
- CPU and RAM are freed
- plugin temptation disappears
Yes, you can go back and fix things.
But you shouldn’t — unless there’s a real quality issue.
Otherwise, you’ll tweak forever.
Print it. Import it. Finish it.
Mixing Is a Different Mindset
Mixing is not creativity — it’s judgement.
Separating:
- sound design
- arrangement
- mixing
- finalising
…leads to better results.
Finalist works well because it supports this separation instead of blurring it.
Plugin Abuse and YouTube Damage
Let’s address the elephant in the studio.
A lot of plugin abuse comes from:
- YouTube tutorials
- “you need this plugin” marketing
- insecurity
- fear of not sounding professional
New producers are told they need endless tools.
They don’t.
Learn:
- EQ
- compression
- gain staging
I’ve been guilty myself.
I’ve stacked plugins because someone on YouTube said so.
Less is more still applies.
AI, One-Click Tools and Creative Ownership
AI is here. That’s fine.
But I want to be part of the process.
If making music becomes pushing a single button, I lose interest.
Finalist sits in a good place:
- assists
- doesn’t replace
- respects the producer
It helps finish music without removing responsibility.
The Truth: Listeners Don’t Care
Only producers care about plugins.
Listeners care about:
- beat
- mood
- atmosphere
- genre authenticity
Nobody asks what soft synth you used.
Nobody cares about your limiter.
If you capture the soul of the genre, you’ve won.
How you got there doesn’t matter.
Who Is Tim Exile?
Tim Exile is not a typical plugin developer.
He’s known for:
- experimental electronic music
- live performance systems
- pushing interaction and expression over polish
Some of his well-known tools and projects include:
- The Flow Machine (live generative performance system)
- custom Reaktor instruments focused on performance and improvisation
- experimental synthesis and audio manipulation tools
Finalist feels very much in line with that philosophy:
less control panels, more listening.
Similar Tools (Short & Honest)
- iZotope Neutron – great during arrangement and sound sculpting
- iZotope Ozone – powerful standalone finalisation tool
- Faster Master by Mixed In Key – fast, opinionated, commit-or-leave workflow
