I N T R O D U C T I O N

FAQ

M U L T I C H A N N E L S

CONTROLS

STEREO

CONDITIONS

HOSTS

TUTORIALS

"SURROUND"

OCTOPHONY

16 / 18 2D

17.1 & 22.2

OTHERS

MISCS

O S X

M U L T I C H A N N E L S

Spatialisation

Processings

Instruments

  The main, or even the only important point about the AcousModules series is multiphony. Even today, there is a very small number of developers that is fond enough of sound spatialization to have a real choice for this kind of plugins.

  But why so many versions?
Because in direct sound projection (when there is no modification of the signal to simulate speakers that do not exist) there are infinite manners of arranging of the loudspeakers in relation to listeners, and not less infinite manners of controlling the spactial masses of the sounds inside these speakers arrangements (OK, “infinite”, I exaggerate perhaps a little…).

  Thus, the number of channels currently managed by these plugins goes from the 5 or 6 channels of “surround” systems up to 32, and are sometimes specialized to a fix speakers standard, or can be used with free numbers and positions of speakers.
  In order to help to find what corresponds to you needs, I have organized them into categories according to the number of audio ouputs they support : “surround” up to 7.1, “octophony”, 16 and 18 channels in a 2D arrangement, the 17.1 and 22.2 extended surround standards, and of course "the others". In addition to the spatialization ones, there is also generally some effects, instruments and tools...

   Lastly, I repeat it once again : all multichannel AcousModules function in “discreet channels” mode, i.e. without any reduction of information algorithm or simulation (Ambisonic coding, Prologic matrix, HRTF “3D sound” etc). That means that in general you need at least the same number of loudspeakers as the number of audio channels, and that your hosts must also allow the connections of multiple inputs/outputs simultaneously.
   See below.

"Spacialization" plugins (spacial masses)

M U L T I T R A C K   s o f t w a r e s   w i t h   M U L T I C H A N N E L   B U S S E S

  These plugins need multichannel connections that Reaper (64), Podium (32), Nuendo (12), Cubase SX (6) and Premiere Pro (6) can support (plus Digital Performer -12- and Logic Pro -8- in OS X only).
  In these four DAWs, the plugins can be used as inserts in an audio track or an instrument output track, asuming that they have the correct number of channels.
For example, in Nuendo :

The track is set as "8.0 Music", i.e. it can support audio files that have 1 to 8 channels and that the bus has 8 inputs / outputs.
Thus you can insert plugins that also have up to 8 inputs / outputs (if they have more, they are simply ignored).
The track output is set to a eight channels bus corresponding to eight outputs of the audio card (as set in the VST Connexions pannel.

Here an OctoSpatM (2 inputs / 8 outputs) is placed as insert on this track.
It will be able to send the content of a stereo file to the eight outputs.

Notes : ProtoolsTDM (8) can also be used like this if you have a VST / RTAS warper like FXPansion's.

M U L T I T R A C K  softwares  with  S T E R E O   B U S S E S  

  These plugins can also be used in Tracktion, within the "Racks Filters" or in EnerfyXT.
The technique is more complicated and does not allow to use multichannel audio files as inputs, see in the Tutoriels.

  Samplitude and Sequoia are differents and less usable because the plugins cannot be inserted on regular audio tracks but only in special busses.

A U D I O    F I L E S   E D I T O R S

  They are finally more and more to support multichannel audio files : SoundForge (32), Wavosaur (16), Acoustica Premium (8), Nero WaveEditor (8), AVS AudioEditor (8), Apple Soundbooth (6), and also Amadeus Pro, Twisted Waves,   WaveEditor in OS X.
  Except Soundforge and WaveEditor that allow non destructive editing and plugins automations, the methode is generally always the same : select a plugin, listen / set the parameters, apply the effect.
  In general, if a plugin has more inputs/outputs than needed, the other channels are simply ignored. Although some host refuse to load them...

M O D U L A R    S O F T W A R E S

   EnergyXT, Audiomulch, Bidule, Console, Synthedit, MaizeStudio, Max/Msp, PureData, Usine, VSTHost + Aodix and in a certain manner Tracktion (inside the Rack Filters).
   In all these softwares, the audio connections are totally free : you have only to drag wires from outputs to inputs, between plugins and the physical inputs / ouputs of your sound card.
   For example, in EnergyXT (stereo wires) :

The plugin receives a stereo input, and its 12 outputs are directly connected to the audio outputs of the software.
(It receives also MIDI datas from the blue wire).

It is simple, fast and powerful...

 S T E R E O    U S E

This doesn't have any meaning for spatialization plugins, but you can use them as powerfull dynamic routers...
 

Effects Plugins (audio processing)

   The use is exactly the same than with the previous ones...

Stereo use.
   It can be interesting and is esay to do in modular softwares with mixing the plugins outputs, for example in Audiomulch :

It is not so easy to do in multitrack softwares, except in Tracktion within the "Rack Filters".

Instruments Plugins (synthsizers, samplers)

Dans les LOGICIELS MULTIPISTES : multiples sorties mono ou stéréo

   Actuellement, en plus des logiciels cités dans la catégorie spatialisation, Sonar, Acid, Live, Logic Pro / Audio, sont également compatibles avec la majorité des AcousModules instruments.
   Chaque sortie, mono ou stéréo, doit être envoyée vers un bus correspondant à une sortie ou une paire de sorties de l'interface audio.
Dans Nuendo :

Chaque paires de sorties du SpatSynth (8 canaux) est envoyée vers un bus stéréo.
Dans ce logiciel, on aurait pu également les envoyer vers des sous-ensembles d'un mus multicanal.

Dans ce cas, il est impossible de traiter l'ensemble des sorties par un plugin multicanal.
(Logic utilise une technique différente pour récupérer les sorties séparées dans les Auxiliaires).

I n    t h e    M O D U L A R    s o f t w a r e s    a n d    i n   P O D I U M   /  T R A C K T I O N

   Comme pour les plugins de spatialisation, les logiciels modulaires n'imposent aucune contrainte aux connexions.
Il est donc possible de traiter l'ensemble des sorties par des plugins d'effets multicanaux, ou par toute combinaison de plugins stéréo / multi.
   Les affectations aux sorties physiques se font donc de la même manière.

L'ensemble du signal octophonique du SpatSynth 8 est traité par la SpatVerb 88.

  Podium, grâce a sa structure de bus complètement multicanal et les configurations de "Device Mapping" définissables, est le seul logiciel multipiste à permettre l'envoi de toutes les sorties d'un instrument sur un seul bus multicanal, sans avoir à utiliser d'autres connexions. Il permet alors le même genre de traitements parallèles que les logiciels modulaires. 
En ce qui concerne Tracktion, ses "Rack Filters" se comportent comme des mini environnements modulaires.

U t i l i s a t i o n   s t é r é o

A défaut d'être intéressante, elle est possible dans les conditions suivantes :
- soit vous mixez les différentes sorties du plugin sur le bus stéréo de l'hôte. Dans Bidule :

- soit vous utilisez les modules de spatialisation intégrés de manière à envoyer l'ensemble du signal sur les sorties 1 & 2 uniquement. Par exemple :

 
Le plugin multi devient alors un plugin stéréo...
 

- soit vous utilisez le MultiToTwo spécialement réalisé à cette intention...