O3A Manipulators
The O3A Manipulator plugins allow changes to be made to the content of third order ambisonic (O3A) streams.
A variety of manipulations are included, from simple changes to the level of sound in particular directions, through to directional compression, manipulations to move sounds around in space and equalization that can be "painted" on to the audio scene. The library also includes some specialised panner plugins, tools to split up the scene into sections for separate processing, and some other features.
These are VST2 or AAX plugins for macOS (10.14 to 13.5) or Windows (10 or 11, 64bit Intel). They can be hosted in some Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) that can handle tracks with sufficiently high channel counts. Options include Reaper, Pro Tools (Ultimate or Studio), Pyramix and Max/MSP. These plugins use the SN3D higher order ambisonic (HOA) convention, at third order, which needs 16 channels. The exact channel counts needed for individual plugins are listed below in the Plugins section. Not all plugins are supported in AAX.
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These manipulators can be used to make changes to a 3D mix. The mix needs to be a O3A 3D mix, which you might have put together by panning (for instance using the O3A Core plugins), or by upmixing from surround formats like 5.1 using the O3A Upmixer plugins.
After the mix has been altered, you can make further changes, or convert it to a surround mix (for instance back to 5.1) using decoders in the O3A Core, O3A Decoding plugin libraries, or Rapture3D Advanced's AAX or VST2 plugins.
Moving Sounds Around
The O3A Move plugin lets you pull sounds towards a particular point, or push them away. You can collapse the entire mix to a single direction and then smoothly expand it out all around you.
You can also use this plugin to move sounds relative to the horizontal plane, to tune the amount of height in the mix. (You have to think about things like that when working in 3D!)
Zooming the Scene
The O3A Zoom plugin lets you move the whole 3D scene around in space, for instance to bring a thunderstorm in from the far distance, or walk forwards in a concert hall.
Directional Level Changes
The O3A Directional Mask lets you increase or decrease the sound level in a particular direction. You can use this to boost a particular instrument in the mix, or reduce an audience cough.
The O3A Spatial Mask is even more sophisticated, letting you "paint" the level modifications that you want on to the O3A mix.
Compressor
The O3A Compressor reduces the dynamic range of a mix. It has a unique "Directivity" control which allows the compression to be applied uniformly across the mix, or independently in different directions.
Equalizers
There are three equalizers included. Two are fairly conventional (a classic parametric EQ and a 31-band 1/3 octave EQ) except that they are applied to the entire O3A mix. The third works like the O3A Spatial Mask, so you can paint the directions in which the EQ is applied, for instance to pick out a particular singer.
More...
There's more! Check the plugin list for more detail.
Soundfield Modification
O3A Compressor
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin reduces the dynamic range of a O3A mix. Its directivity control allows different directions to be compressed together or separately.
O3A Diffuser
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin smudges 3D O3A mixes in time and space to increase their diffuseness.
It can also be used to place a mono sound into a O3A mix without a definite direction.
O3A Low/High Pass Filter
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin applies a low or high pass Butterworth filter to an entire O3A scene.
O3A Zoom
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin allows an entire O3A scene to be moved around, for instance to give the impression of entering a space.
O3A Zoom XYZ
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin allows an entire O3A scene to be moved around. This plugin is essentially the same as O3A Zoom, except it exposes X, Y and Z automation parameters rather than Azimuth, Elevation and Distance.
O3A Directional Emphasis
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin emphasises sounds in a particular direction in a 3D O3A mix using an algorithm also used in Rapture3D.
O3A Directional Mask
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin emphasises or de-emphasises sounds in a particular direction in a 3D O3A mix using simple controls.
O3A Order Amplifier
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin allows gains to be applied to each ambisonic order in a 3D mix.
O3A Reflection
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin moves all sounds in a 3D O3A soundfield from one side to another.
O3A Screen Resizer
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin warps a O3A scene which matches a screen image to compensate for a change in screen size.
O3A Spatial Mask
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin allows level changes to be painted onto the audio scene.
O3A Spotlight
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin keeps sounds in the "beam" of the spotlight and makes others disappear.
O3A Parametric Equalizer
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin applies a simple parametric equalizer to an entire 3D O3A mix.
O3A Graphic Equalizer
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin applies a 31-band 1/3-octave graphic equalizer to an entire 3D O3A mix.
O3A Spatial Equalizer
I/O: 16 in, 16 out
This plugin paints a 31-band 1/3-octave graphic equalizer onto a 3D O3A mix.
Panners
O3A Panner LS XYZ
I/O: 1 in, 16 out
This 3D panner simulates large sources and distance. This plugin is essentially the same as the O3A Panner LS, except it exposes X, Y and Z automation parameters rather than Azimuth, Elevation and Distance.
O3A Line
I/O: 1 in, 16 out
This plugin converts mono to third order ambisonics (O3A), spreading sound out in a line.
"A-Format" Support
O3A B->A20 Converter
I/O: 16 in, 20 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin converts from 16 channel O3A B-Format to a 20 channel "A-Format".
O3A A20->B Converter
I/O: 20 in, 16 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin converts from 20 channel "A-Format" to 16 channel O3A B-Format.
Split and Join
O3A Spatial Mask Split
I/O: 16 in, 32 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin allows an audio scene to be separated into two, by painting.
O3A Spotlight Split
I/O: 16 in, 32 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin splits directions into two separate 3D O3A mixes that can be reassembled with O3A Join.
O3A Swap
I/O: 32 in, 32 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin swaps O3A streams that have been 'split' by other plugins.
O3A Join
I/O: 32 in, 16 out
AAX: not supported
This plugin reassembles "Split" audio (e.g. from O3A Spatial Mask Split or O3A Spotlight Split) into a single 3D O3A mix.
Technical Requirements
Please check everything is okay here before purchasing software.Operating System
Supported versions of Microsoft Windows are 10 or 11, 64bit Intel.
Supported versions of Apple macOS are 10.14 to 13.5, 64bit Intel or Apple Silicon.
VST Host
The VST plugins require a VST 2 host with shell plugin support.
These plugins do not work with all VST 2 hosts. One reason for this is that the O3A plugins need large numbers of channels on their input or output busses. Check the individual plugins for the channel counts they need, but all of the O3A plugins need at least 16 channels on each track, and some need more. Also, at the time of writing VST 2 shell plugins are not supported in Nuendo or Cubase.
AAX Host
The AAX plugins require Pro Tools Ultimate or Studio.
Due to channel and stem restrictions, not all plugins are supported in AAX. Please see the plugin descriptions for details.
PC Hardware
Please check your PC meets the following requirements:
- Intel Core i5 CPU or better, or Apple Silicon.
- 200MB of free disk space.
Permissions
You'll need administrator permissions while installing on Windows. The software probably won't install properly using a "restricted" account.
Internet Connection Required
This software requires an Internet Connection for license activation and verification.
Successful license verification isn't required every time you use the software, but it is needed during installation and needs to succeed once every couple of weeks to keep the license fresh.
The license can be "revoked" to remove it from one machine so it can be moved on to another. You should also do this if you're updating your system in case the machine appears to have changed identity.