List of Ambisonic software
This is a list of currently maintained or legacy Ambisonic software tools.
Currently maintained Ambisonic software
This list is by definition incomplete. Please contribute.
free/open source
Name |
Description |
Author |
Platform |
License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FOA/HOA ambisonic decoder and binaural renderer on the web |
Web Audio API (Web Browser) |
Apache 2 |
||
Two-band decoder with near-field compensation, up to 3rd order periphonic |
JACK (Linux, OSX) |
GPL2 |
||
Comprehensive set of Ambisonic panners, rotators and utility plugins from first to third order |
LADSPA |
GPL2 |
||
A-to-B-format converter for tetrahedral microphones, particularly the TetraMic |
JACK (Linux, OSX) |
GPL2 |
||
A flexible real-time matrix convolution engine with some Ambi-friendly extras, good for reverb and Matrix encoding experiments |
JACK (Linux, OSX) |
GPL2 |
||
Multichannel digital peak limiter suitable for mastering HOA files |
JACK (Linux, OSX) |
mixed |
||
Algorithmic reverb engine with B-format output |
JACK (Linux, OSX) |
GPL2 |
||
A swept-sine measurement and impulse response deconvolution tool, useful for creating IR reverbs and speaker calibration |
Linux, OSX |
GPL2 |
||
The Ambisonic Toolkit, for SuperCollider3 and Cockos REAPER (through JS Plugins), includes panners, decoders, and morphing tools such as dominance. First-order |
SC3 (Linux, OSX, Win) |
GPL |
||
A higher-order Ambisonics library with applications |
Max, Pd, VST |
GPL |
||
Csound opcode for third-order Ambisonic panning and a companion decoder |
Csound |
LGPL |
||
MATLAB/GNU Octave toolbox for designing Ambisonic Decoders. Supports a number of design techniques including mode-matching, AllRAD, and uniform energy. Works to arbitrary orders and with all commonly used normalization and channel order conventions. Produces decoders as FAUST programs that can be compiled to plugins for a variety of hosts, as well as AmbDec and ambiX configuration files. |
any supported by FAUST |
AGPL |
||
Mixer and decoder for higher-order Ambisonics, including binaural rendering |
Pd |
GPL |
||
A renderer for horizontal-only HOA, wave field synthesis and binaural |
Linux, OSX |
GPL3 |
||
A MATLAB/GNU Octave/Python toolbox to simulate soundfields including near-field-compensated HOA |
Linux, OSX, Win |
GPL3 |
||
A set of externals for MaxMSP for Ambisonics surround sound processing and source-control in three dimensions |
Max (Win, OSX) |
LGPL |
||
Ambisonic utilities up to 5th order, including higher order "warp" (aka dominance) using a t-design approach, and adaptors for different HOA formats |
VST (Win, OSX), Linux (LV2) |
GPL2 |
||
Easy-to-install ports of Fons Adriaensen's software |
VST OSX |
GPL2 |
||
The Ambisonic Toolkit as JSFX plugins for REAPER, includes panners, decoders, and morphing tools such as dominance. First-order |
Reaper (OSX, Win) |
LGPL |
||
A Matlab/Octave library implementing a very comprehensive set of sound field operations and decoding schemes, for arbitrary orders. |
MATLAB/GNU Octave |
|||
Virtual microphones to convert B-format to 5.1 or stereo |
VST (Win, OSX) |
GPL2 |
||
Decoder generation toolkit for irregular layouts, can output AmbDec configuration files |
Scaini, Davide |
Python |
GPL2+ |
|
Ambisonic plug-ins up to 7th order including encoders, room simulation and dynamics processing. |
VST (Win, OSX, Linux) |
GPL3 |
proprietary/closed source
Name |
Description |
Author |
Platform |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
B-format panner and converter plugin; converts mono, stereo and surround to first-order B-format; compatible with Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, REAPER. Includes AmbiX-to-FuMa, FuMa-to-AmbiX converters. |
Waves Audio |
Win, OSX |
USD 299 |
|
First-order B-format to binaural plugin (Nx Ambisonics component); compatible with multiple DAWs; allows monitoring of first-order B-format on stereo headphones. |
Waves Audio |
Win, OSX |
USD 99 |
|
Combo of B360 Ambisonics Encoder and Nx Virtual Mix Room plugins |
Waves Audio |
Win, OSX |
USD 399 |
|
B-format panner and B-format to binaural converter |
AAX OSX |
EUR 249 ex tax |
||
B-format to binaural converter |
VST AU AAX (Win, OSX) |
EUR 189 |
||
OpenAL-compatible game sound engine, player and studio tools including a first to fourth order decoder |
Win, OSX |
GBP 30-599 |
||
Game sound engine software development kit |
Win, OSX |
GBP 949 |
||
Various packs of third order plugins including panners, converters, visualizers, manipulators, reverbs, upmixers and decoders. Video and Virtual Reality support is integrated. |
VST (Win, OSX) |
free - GBP 399 |
||
A first-order B-format binaural and virtual mic renderer/player for Android which can use your phone's sensors or an external Bluetooth sensor for head tracking. Includes 52 selectable HRTF sets from the IRCAM Listen library |
Android 4.x |
USD 4.51 |
||
A comprehensive suite of panners, converters and utility plugins from first to fifth order |
VST, AU (OSX) |
free |
||
Parametric first-order decoder and higher-order upmixer |
VST, AAX, AU (Win, OSX) |
EUR 498 |
||
UHJ, binaural, virtual mic, and transcoding tools |
VST (Win, OSX) |
free |
||
First-order B-format to 7.1 and stereo converter |
TDM, RTAS, VST (Win, OSX) |
free |
||
A- to B-format converter for Twilring720 recorder. B-format audio(with 360 video) playback and export |
Win, OSX, |
Free |
||
Decoders, panners and 3D steerable reverbs for first to forth order including optimised decoders for the ITU 775 5 speaker array |
VST (Win, OSX) |
free |
||
A- to B-format converter for the CoreSound TetraMic and other tetrahedral microphones |
VST (Win, OSX) |
free |
||
External library for real-time sound spatialization: HOA of unlimited order, mostly all common HOA formats, Near-Field Compensated HOA, Spherical Microphone Array (SMA) encoding and processing, HOA to binaural conversion, transcoding, etc. |
Max (Win, OSX) |
EUR 140 |
||
Game Audio middleware solution. Currently uses B-Format Furse-Malham/FuMa ordering. |
Win, OSX, |
Free or paid license |
||
A proprietary A- to B-format converter for use with the Sennheiser Ambeo mic. Can export FuMa or AmbiX with rotation. |
Sennheiser |
VST, AU, AAX (Win, OSX) |
Free |
|
Higher order ambisonic mixing tools for popular DAWs supporting 360 degree videos and VR headsets |
VST AAX (Win, OSX) |
Free |
||
Converts the ZYLIA ZM-1 microphone multi-channel recordings into FOA and HOA with Fuma/Ambix channel configuration and optional rotation. |
Win, OSX, Linux |
Bundled with ZYLIA PRO Set |
Legacy Ambisonic software
For the purpose of this page, "legacy" means no updates in the last 5 years. It does not imply the software is non-functional, although it may not work as advertised on recent operating systems and DAW hosts.
free/open source
Name |
Description |
Author |
Platform |
License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Collection contains first- and second-order panners, simple decoders and some B-format utility plugins |
LADSPA |
GPL2 |
||
VST plugin implementing an Ambisonic panner with first, second or third order capabilities plus a first reflections generator, also capable of first, second or third order operation |
Windows, OSX |
GPL2 |
||
Very early (2000) and, unfortunately, incomplete extension to Kare Skolander's Snack audio toolkit |
Windows, Unix |
proprietary/closed source
Name |
Description |
Author |
Platform |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
first-order decoders, panners, B-format mixer |
Creamware Pulsar |
unknown |
||
Collection of first- to third-order Encoders, Decoders, Zoom (up to 2nd), and a binaural renderer |
Plogue Bidule (Win/OSX) |
free |
||
First-order Ambisonic file player |
Win |
free |
||
First- and second-order decoder with variable order weighting |
VST (Win, OSX) |
USD 99-399 |
||
First- and third-order encoders, virtual microphones, and zoom |
VST (Win, Mac OS 9) |
free |
||
Very early VST Panner and Decoder (first order) |
VST |
free |
||
Third-order 2D/3D encoders, decoders, rotator, granulator |
Max |
free |