VST AmbiDecoder Panel

The VST AmbiDecoder plug-in converts Ambisonics audio for playback on headphones or stereo and multi-channel speaker setups. It is used automatically in the Control Room Phones and Control Room Main channels, and can also be used as an insert plug-in for mixing Ambisonics channels.

Input Format > Output Format

Shows the audio formats of the input and output signals.

Output

Allows you to select between Headphones mode for binaural playback via headphones or Speakers mode for playback via a stereo speaker setup.

HRTF Mode

Allows you to set the head-related transfer function (HRTF) mode for binaural playback. This option is only available in Headphones mode.

The following HRTF modes are available:

  • Standard mode uses the standard HRTF algorithm of Nuendo.

  • Facebook mode uses the HRTF algorithm that is used for VR video playback at facebook.com.

    The availability of this mode depends on the Ambisonics order of the Main Mix bus.

  • YouTube mode uses the HRTF algorithm that is used for VR video playback at youtube.com.

    The availability of this mode depends on the Ambisonics order of the Main Mix bus.

  • SOFA mode allows you to use an HRTF saved in SOFA file format.

    This mode is only available if you have loaded a SOFA file. To select a SOFA file, click the triangle on the right of the SOFA button.

  • IMMERSE mode allows you to use HRTF profiles with the IMMERSE with VST AmbiDecoder application.

    To select an IMMERSE profile or check for profile updates, click the triangle on the right of the IMMERSE button.

    This mode requires a valid license of IMMERSE with VST AmbiDecoder. For details on how to get a license and use the application, visit steinberg.net.

Note

The HRTF settings are only available if VST AmbiDecoder is used in the Phones channel of the Control Room and if the binaural Headphones output mode is selected.

Head Tracking

If this button is activated, VST AmbiDecoder receives head-tracking data from the Head Tracking window. If this button is deactivated, you can use the Yaw, Pitch, and Roll controls on the VST AmbiDecoder panel for setting the rotation angles.

Yaw

Sets the yaw rotation angle.

Pitch

Sets the pitch rotation angle.

Roll

Sets the roll rotation angle.

Head-Locked Signal

Sets the gain of the head-locked signal that is sent into the side-chain input of VST AmbiDecoder.

Front Focus

Activates/Deactivates the emphasis of a defined sector of the Ambisonics sphere.

Off-Focus

Sets the attenuation of sound that is located out of the Front Focus sector.

Size

Sets the Front Focus angle, that is, the sector of the Ambisonics sphere that is not attenuated by the amount of the Off-Focus value.

Follow Head

If this option is activated, Front Focus follows the settings in the Head Tracking section above. This allows you, for example, to emphasize the sound that comes from the viewing direction when using a VR controller with head-tracking.

If deactivated, you can control Azimuth and Elevation manually. This allows you, for example, to re-balance the sound field of premixed Ambisonics audio.

Azimuth

Sets the azimuth angle of the Front Focus range. This parameter is only available if Follow Head is deactivated.

Elevation

Sets the elevation angle of the Front Focus range. This parameter is only available if Follow Head is deactivated.