IRCAM HEAR Binaural Encoding Tool

Description

IRCAM HEAR Binaural Encoding Tool

The IRCAM Tools products express the result of over twenty years of fundamental research within the realms of music related digital signal processing. First out, we present a series of products evolved from two major fields of technology, Acoustic & Cognitive Spaces, and Sound Analysis & Synthesis.Flux:: Sound and Picture Development in collaboration with IRCAM proudly presents the forthcoming IRCAM Tools product range.HEar – Binaural Encoding ToolHEar provides faithful reproduction of a stereo or surround mix with a pair of conventional stereo headphones. It relies on proven technology to model the various phenomena that occur when playing back audio material through a loudspeaker system.This allows monitoring a full surround mix in situations when a surround-capable environment is not available or practical. Another typical use of HEar is doing precise checking of a mix, which is convenient with headphones as these provide a ‘surgical’ and very detailed, microscope-like rendering of the audio. HEar can also prove very useful in a project studio context, and whenever noise isolation is a concern, as it helps achieving a more realistic sound environment.Binaural technologyBinaural technology encompasses methods for recording, processing, synthesizing and reproducing sound that are specifically designed to preserve tridimensional localisation properties.In order to mimic the impression of a sound originating from a given incidence, it is sufficient to filter a mono signal, which on its own lacks any kind of spatial information, with both left and right HRTF filters. This constitutes the foundation of binaural synthesis.Please note that the resulting signal is only meant to be listened to with headphones, and isn’t designed for a conventional stereo loudspeaker setup.Processing SpecificationsVirtual headThis plugin relies on HRTF fi lter measurements made using a KEMAR (Knowles Electronics Manikin For Acoustic Research) dummy head and torso simulation. This type of manikin was conceived during the 1970’s for conducting acoustics experiments using a model with anthropometric dimensions equivalent to that of an average human listener.Virtual speakersThe audio input is routed internally to virtual speakers, through a routing matrix. These represent the emulated loudpseaker setup configuration.HEar provideUp to 8 channels Input/Output.64-bits internal floating point processing.Sampling rate up to 384 kHz DXD (Pyramix DSP based).Sampling rate up to 384 kHz for native (AU/RTAS/VST).CompatibilityAll major native formats are supported.Windows – XP, Vista, 7 all in both 32 and 64 bits.VST (2.4)RTAS*Mac OS X – 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 in 32 bits.VST (2.4)AURTAS**The RTAS version requires ProTools 7 or later.