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APL VIRTUOSO v2

The Ultimate Binaural Translator for Mixing on Headphones

Transform your headphones into a world-class studio.

VIRTUOSO v2 – Plugins

APL VIRTUOSO is a cutting-edge binaural audio renderer that virtualises stereo or immersive loudspeaker setups and listening rooms for headphone listening, offering an unprecedented level of tonal and spatial fidelity, with highly accurate translation to real loudspeakers. The plugin version allows you to monitor your mix in a DAW environment and export the output as a binaural master.

What’s New in v2 Plugins

  • Headphone equalisation text profile loading.
  • 10-band parametric EQ for customising headphone equalisation profiles.
  • Interactive 3D View: You can now solo/mute each loudspeaker directly on the View tab and rotate the viewing angle.
  • Two new HRTF sets (D and E) based on B&K HATS and GRAS KEMAR HRIRs.
  • Supports headtracking with Audeze Maxwell headphones.
Also available as Standalone App and Bundle
  • The WAV/ADM player is included only in the Standalone and Bundle version.

Existing users can upgrade to v2 for free. Download it from My Account.

Get 60% off!
Ends Dec 2nd.

Original price was: $199.00.Current price is: $79.00. exc. VAT

    A 14-day free trial of Virtuoso v2 is available for download. You will need an iLok account to activate the trial. Download links for both MacOS and Windows versions will be sent to your email. Please note that delivery may take between a few minutes and up to 20 minutes, depending on your email server. If you haven’t received it after that time, please check your spam folder.

    Includes macOS and Windows installers.
    Current version: v2.0.0, updated 5 Oct 2024.

    Educational Discount Programme

    Special discounts are available for students and faculty. See details here.

    KEY BENEFITS:

    • Realistic virtual immersive mix/listening rooms, which can be customised acoustically for your own or other rooms.
    • Effective externalisation and accurate localisation of virtual loudspeakers – essential for making correct mix decisions on headphones.
    • Superb tonal naturalness –  as if you’re listening to premium loudspeakers in a perfectly tuned room.
    • Highly accurate translation to real loudspeakers.
    • Less headphone listening fatigue.

    MAIN FEATURES:

    • AAX, AU and VST3.
    • 53 loudspeaker configurations from mono to 26 channels, including all popular immersive audio formats, e.g. ITU-R, Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, MPEG-H and regular arrays for Ambisonics).
    • Seven presets of scientifically tuned virtual rooms.
    • Customisable acoustic parameters.
    • Built-in HRTFs and custom SOFA file loading.
    • Head tracking (OSC and manual).
    • Routing matrix with solo, mute and level controls.
    • Downmix options.
    • Headphone compensation EQ (100 models + Custom filter .txt file loading).
    • 10-band parametric EQ for headphone compensation and general tonal balancing.
    • Loudspeaker on-axis response modelling EQ (11 models).

    Experts say

    Virtual loudspeaker setups for binaural listening

    VIRTUOSO supports 53 input configurations with up to 26 channels, covering all popular loudspeaker formats from mono to 3D, including ITU-R, Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, MPEG-H, NHK, and various standard arrays ideal for Ambisonics (e.g., Quad, Cube, Octagonal, and the Lebedev grid). VIRTUOSO lets you precisely localise sound images around you, as if they’re being reproduced by real loudspeakers positioned at a distance, rather than inside your head. Even without an extensive speaker setup, you can embark on your immersive audio journey with just a pair of headphones and VIRTUOSO.

    Virtual room presets

    VIRTUOSO offers seven virtual listening room presets, scientifically designed using ASPEN™’s 3D geometric acoustic simulation and finely tuned by expert sound engineers. These rooms provide a highly realistic and natural sound experience without introducing any tonal coloration. In the VIRTUOSO environments, you can trust that what you’re hearing on headphones will translate accurately to real loudspeakers in similar settings, thanks to VIRTUOSO’s precise imaging. If you face acoustic challenges in your studio, simply transport yourself into APL’s ITU-R BS.1116-compliant reference listening room in VIRTUOSO, making critical mix decisions easier and more confidently.

    Customisable virtual room acoustics

    The room presets provide excellent starting points. However, depending on the acoustic conditions of your physical environment, you may need to customise the acoustic characteristics of the virtual room to maximise the sense of immersion. VIRTUOSO gives you full control over important acoustic parameters, including room dimensions, room damping, reverb time, reverb liveliness, listening distance, and overall ambience level. Note that VIRTUOSO does not use conventional stereo reverb; instead, it renders three-dimensional early reflections and diffuse reverb signals based on the defined room dimensions and acoustic characteristics.

    Built-in and custom HRTFs

    VIRTUOSO not only provides five carefully selected and finely tuned built-in HRTFs, but also supports the import of custom HRTFs in SOFA (Spatially Oriented Format for Acoustics).

    Head tracking

    The auto and manual sound field rotation provide smooth, low-latency head tracking. Four message formats are supported: APL, Audeze (for Maxwell), IEM and Nxosc (for Waves NX).

    Routing and downmix matrix

    Each loudspeaker configuration has its own standard channel order. However, with the routing matrix, it is possible to flexibly assign any input signal to any virtual loudspeaker within the selected loudspeaker configuration. You can also solo, mute, or adjust the level of each virtual loudspeaker. The routing matrix also allows for passive downmixing. Various downmix algorithms are provided as presets in the Settings tab. For a given input configuration, one or more downmix configurations can be selected (e.g., Atmos 7.1.4 to Atmos 5.1.2, ITU 7.1, or 5.1), with variable downmix gain for each loudspeaker signal. This feature is useful for checking how your 3D mix translates to a smaller number of loudspeakers.

    Headphone compensation (HPC) EQ and loudspeaker (SPK) EQ

    For the most accurate presentation of head-related transfer function (HRTF) in binaural audio rendering, it is often necessary to make the frequency response of the headphones perceptually flat. To achieve this, VIRTUOSO currently provides HPC EQ filters for 98 popular headphone models and allows you to load a custom headphone EQ .wav file (e.g., from the popular AutoEQ library). Additionally, SPK EQ filters model the on-axis frequency responses of 11 popular loudspeaker models. These EQs enable you to select virtual loudspeakers with different spectral balances for monitoring purposes and can also be used to add a unique tonal color to your binaural mix. More headphone and loudspeaker EQs will be added in future updates.

    10-band parametric EQ

    Once you select or load the EQ profile for your headphone model in HPC EQ, you can customise it to suit your preferences using the 10-band parametric equaliser. This gives you complete control over the tonal balance of the output signals, ensuring that you can make accurate mix decisions.

    Examples of immersive and stereo recordings binauralised using VIRTUOSO

      Please use headphones.

    Below is a Samply playlist of Virtuoso binaural samples. For streaming quality, you can select between 48kHz/24bits Lossless (recommended) and Adaptive in the Audio Controls at the bottom of the player, depending on your internet bandwidth.

    See the credits and technical details of these tracks.

    Authorisation Method

    PACE iLok (dongle gen. 2 or 3 or machine-base)

    Formats

    AAX
    VST3
    AU
    Standalone macOS Application
    Standalone Windows Application

    Operating Systems

    Apple macOS 10.14 through 12.6.2

    Microsoft Windows 10 and 11

    Mac Requirements

    Apple M1, M2 and M3

    Intel 64-bit CPU with SSE3 (minimum Core i5 at 2 GHz)
    – We recommend using a Mac from at least 2015. Core 2 Duo is not supported.

    PC Requirements

    Intel 64-bit or compatible CPU with SSE3 instruction set (minimum Core i5 at 2 GHz)
    – We recommend using a PC from at least 2016.

    Memory

    4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended.

    DAW

    We tested on the following DAWS:
    Pro Tools 2023.3
    Reaper 7
    Logic Pro 10.7
    Nuendo 12
    Cubase 12
    Studio One 6
    Pyramix 14
    Sequoia Pro 16
    Samplitude Pro X7
    Audition CC
    Ableton Live 12

    * JRiver is currently not supported.

    Sample Rates

    44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz

    VIRTUOSO V2 New Feature Demo

    Sollevante – Dolby Atmos mix binauralised using VIRTUOSO v2

    Quick Demonstration of APL VIRTUOSO

    Using VIRTUOSO with Dolby Atmos “Internal” Renderer in Pro Tools

    This video demonstrates how to use APL VIRTUOSO to binaurally monitor 7.1.4 output from Dolby Atmos Internal Renderer in Pro Tools. Use headphones for a binaural demo at the end.

    Using VIRTUOSO with Dolby Atmos External Renderer

    This video demonstrates how to use APL VIRTUOSO to binaurally monitor 7.1.4 output from Dolby Atmos External Renderer. Use headphones for a binaural demo at the end.

    Head-Tracked Binaural Atmos 9.1.6 in VR with VIRTUOSO

    Sam Hocking explores Atmos 9.1.6 playback using VIRTUOSO alongside the Supperware headtracker within a VR desktop setup. Achieving an ambiance level that matches the virtual cinema acoustics delivers a highly realistic and impactful externalisation.

    Next-Level Binaural Rendering: Virtuoso Received an Update!

    Michael G Wagner introduces new features of Virtuoso v1.1.0 and demonstrates Dolby Atmos Renderer (7.1.4) + VIRTUOSO (binaural) + Bridgehead (Headtracking) on Windows via Dante VIA (ASIO).

    Bob Katz’s demonstration of VIRTUOSO

    The legendary mastering engineer and author Bob Katz gave a talk and demo on Binaural Translation of Immersive Music using Virtuoso on February 7th, 2023, as part of AES San Francisco’s Audio Education Series.

    Headtracked binaural with VIRTUOSO

    Dr Michael G Wagner of Drexel University thinks that VIRTUOSO and Bridgehead headtracker are a killer combination for delivering a truly immersive binaural listening experience.

    Virtuoso review by Production Expert

    Click below to read.

    Testimonials from Experts

    I thought I was listening to my speakers! Virtuoso fooled me. Amazing recreation. We finally have a convincing tool for binaural translation…I absolutely recommend Virtuoso for mixing engineers who do not have a good listening room.

    Bob Katz
    Mastering and mixing engineer, Author
    APL’s Virtuoso Binaural Renderer is simply astounding. I was able to arrive at settings where listening over headphones in my studio is eerily similar to listening over my immersive speaker layout. Virtuoso gives me confidence that I can make decisions on headphones and not be disappointed when I get back to my studio.
    Mark Willsher
    Score mixer & Music editor

    Virtuoso has been absolutely invaluable to me mixing my last batch of EPs for Dolby Atmos. I don’t have an Atmos setup, so I used Virtuoso for monitoring while I was creating the mix on my home setup, then checked the final tweaks mixes on a friend’s setup. I actually changed very little from the Virtuoso mixes.

    Peter Chilvers
    Composer, musician and engineer
    Virtuoso is the best binaural monitoring tool I’ve used. The records that I have mixed using Virtuoso have translated exceptionally well to speakers and radio, while the score I mixed translated flawlessly to the dub stage.
    Michael Patterson
    Mixer/Producer
    Virtuoso is an unprecedented solution to the challenge of finding reliable, accurate software-based binaural monitoring for working on spatial mixes when away from the studio. APL have made it very straightforward to model a familiar space or experiment with new environments. Highly recommended.
    Emre Ramazanoglu
    Mixer/Producer/Songwriter
    We used APL Virtuoso for approval playbacks on Halo Season 2. We found Virtuoso to have the most convincing immersive/spatial rendering of any plugins we had tested. You truly feel as though the sound is moving around you.
    Matthew Chan
    Re-recording mixer

    Virtuoso is the most realistic binaural renderer I have used and I am happy to have found a reliable tool I can turn to that accurately translates immersive room environments over headphones. I recommend every engineer include it as part of their immersive mixing workflow.

    Christal Jerez
    Mixing and mastering engineer
    Virtuoso is phenomenal. The imaging of multichannel mixes on headphones is truly immersive. The translation of  Atmos on headphones literally had me check that the monitors weren’t on a few times. I also used it in conjunction with some delays and verbs to create textures and atmospheres that turned out great. I love it.
    Dror Mohar
    Sound designer/Re-recording mixer

    Never before have I heard such amazing binaural detail from behind and above. I was blown away by how moving an object around my head was translating binaurally on headphones. Mixing through Virtuoso really does give the impression of mixing through speakers in a room.

    Mark Gittins
    Broadcast mix engineer

    As a mastering engineer I have found Virtuoso invaluable in allowing me to recreate the conditions in my control room when I am on the move. The accuracy with which Virtuoso replicates my room is uncanny – on several occasions I have been fooled into thinking I had left my monitors on. All my listening on headphones goes through Virtuoso now.

    Sam Proctor
    Mastering engineer
    Virtuoso is the first binaural monitoring tool that I found to reproduce the nuances and immersive sensory fields of high-resolution audio masters I produced. I wholeheartedly welcome the release of Virtuoso.
    Mick Sawaguchi
    High-resolution recording engineer/producer

    Virtuoso produces a convincing and trustworthy binaural 3D sound experience, empowering the artist to continue working on their spatial audio materials outside the studio. The many virtual space parameters also allow creative exploration of binaural mastering to bring forth qualities in the source.

    Natasha Barrett
    Electroacoustic and acusmatic music composer

    Virtuoso is a top class binauralizer! I’m very impressed by the degree of externalization and the naturalness of the virtual room sound. Virtuoso makes my recordings sound like convincing dummy head recordings – that’s very impressive!

    Lasse Nipkow
    3D audio recording/mixing engineer

    Virtuoso is a game changer for my binaural adventures. Finally I have a reliable immersive monitoring setup to go, and all I have to think about is making music for it.

    Hans-Martin Buff
    Recording and mixing engineer/producer

    Virtuoso is the first binaural software I used which replicates speaker monitoring close to a real speaker setup. It’s not only very accurate in terms of localization and frequency response, but also very musical-sounding.

    Felix Krückels
    Tonmeister/Professor of broadcast production

    Virtuoso provides an unprecedented level of accuracy in spatialisation while preserving the naturalness and integrity of the source. It’s an integral part of my immersive audio workflow.

    Katia Sochaczewska
    Immersive sound designer/producer

    What a special binaural experience! I had to take off my headphones and make sure the speakers were off. With Virtuoso, I can see myself genuinely being able to create music in spatial audio with accuracy and confidence.

    Justin Gray
    Mastering and mixing engineer

    Finally, a binauralizer that I can trust! With Virtuoso, I feel more confident in my mixing of immersive audio using headphones. I am impressed by its ability to create enveloping and externalised sounds without compromising the punch and clarity.

    Martin Rieger
    3D sound designer

    User Manual

    The user manual can be accessed by clicking the i button in the top right corner of the plugin/app.

    Or click here to download the user manual.

    Loudspeaker Layouts

    The list of loudspeaker layouts currently supported by Virtuoso can be accessed by clicking the i button in the top right corner of the plugin/app.

    Or click here to download the list of loudspeaker layouts.

    FAQs

    Click here to find answers to frequently asked questions.

    Contact Us

    If you have any questions, please email us at support@apl-hud.com

    If you found a bug, please report it here.