Harpex

PLUG-IN OR PLAYER?

The plug-in is a component which can be used with a digital audio workstation and is intended as a tool for content producers who use B-format as part of their workflow. The player is a stand-alone application which can process and play B-format sound files directly to your sound card in stereo or surround.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Daniel Courville: The Harpex-B is the best 1st order B-Format decoder for tetrahedral microphones (SoundField, Core Sound, DIY), even if you're only working in stereo.

Giuseppe Silvi: yes the mic [SoundField ST-450] is wonderful! i only pushed rec! harpex is the best ambisonic tool I have ever used

Stéphane Blanchardon: The only "real" comparison I made was between Harpex plug and Surroundzone plug : it's like night and day ! I HONESTLY didn't know that the SPS200 could product such great results !

Trond Lossius: I am really impressed with the decoding abilities of Harpex, it is producing way better spatial definition than the software decoding plugin that comes with the SoundField microphone itself.

FEATURES

	Plug-in	Player
Coincident stereo output
Non-coincident stereo output
Hi-res surround output
Non-coincident surround output
LFE channel management
Shelf filters
Direct/reverberant ratio
Per-channel delay
3D decoding
Custom stereo configuration
Custom surround configuration
Soundfield rotation
Dominance control
Shotgun mode
Binaural output
Automation
DAW integration
Higher-order ambisonic output

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS^*

*) Applies to 48 kHz sample rate.

Compatible hosts^*

	Windows			Mac OS X
	VST	RTAS		VST	RTAS	AU
Ardour
Audio Mulch
AudioFinder
Cubase
Digital Performer 6
LMMS
Logic Pro
Max/MSP
Nuendo
Plogue Bidule
Premiere Pro
Pro Tools
Pyramix
Reaper
TwistedWave
Wavelab

*) List is not exhaustive. Unless otherwise noted, the list applies to the current versions of each program. 32 and 64 bit versions are are available for VST and AU on Windows and Mac OS X. 32 bit versions are available for RTAS for Windows and Mac OS X.

Plug-in licensing

It is necessary to register with a name and email address to download the plug-in. Each plug-in is associated with a license number. The license number is part of the download link, which will be sent to you by email. This license number is also imprinted in the plug-in along with the name of the licensee at the time it is downloaded.

Trial period

During the trial period, the plug-in contacts a license server each time it is loaded, in order to verify that the trial period has not expired. A network connection is therefore necessary during the trial period. If you choose to purchase the plug-in, you may activate up to two computers at a time.

Activation

The activation process itself requires a network connection. Once a computer is activated, it will not contact the license server anymore, and therefore does not require a network connection. If you upgrade or reinstall the plug-in, it will need to be reactivated the next time you use it. Reactivation does not affect your activation counter. Different flavors of the plug-in (32 bit, 64 bit, RTAS, VST etc) may also require separate activation, which will not affect your activation counter as long as they are installed on the same computer.

Transfer

After activating two computers, you may transfer one of the activations to a third computer. To do this, install the plug-in on the new computer. The first time you use it, you will be given the option of deactivating one of the previously activated computers. The first transfer may take place any time. Subsequent transfers are limited to one per year.

Upgrading / re-installation

To upgrade or download additional copies of the plug-in, use the same download link as the first time, i.e. do not register again, since your activations are linked to the license number, which appears in the download link. Whenever you download, you get a fresh copy of the latest available version.

New features in version 1.2 build 130, released 2 September 2011:

• Improved CPU usage, allowing higher sampling frequency, more simultaneous instances of Harpex-B and more simultaneous instances of other plugins.
• 64 bit versions, allowing smoother integration with 64 bit hosts on Windows and OS X.
• Higher-order ambisonic output, opening for new workflows involving 2nd and 3rd order ambisonic stems (plugin only).
• Numerical readout of shotgun angles and directivities, allowing for easier configuration of 3D loudspeaker layouts.
• Per-channel delay, allowing for improved surround decoding with more stable frontal localization and distance compensation in irregular arrays.
• Option for turning the shelf filters off, useful in conjunction with per-channel delay, irregular loudspeaker arrays and also when decoding for large venues.
• Improved soundfield rotation user interface. Allows for precise rotation around one axis at a time.
• 3D loudspeaker decoding now also available in the player.
• The player now supports multichannel output through the RME fireface line of soundcards in ASIO mode and also allows the use of channels other than 1-8 in soundcards with more than 8 channels.

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Harpex-B, note the following differences which may affect projects containing saved parameter settings:

• There are now 5 output modes instead of 4. Make sure that the correct output mode is selected.
• The LFE channel is now at the same level as the other channels. If you use LFE in your project, make sure to reduce its level by 10 dB using the level fader in Harpex-B. This is done automatically in new projects.

New features in version 1.2 build 131, released 19 December 2011:

• Corrected default surround channel layout in Audio Unit and RTAS versions of the plug-in.

Download plugin

Download player

© 2011 Harpex Ltd