Tag: utility

Dead Robot has released DR Solo v1, a free utility plugin for monitoring stereo, mid, and side channels. It is available for Windows and macOS in VST2, VST3, and AU formats.

A Simple Tool for Mid and Side Checking

DR Solo v1 is a plugin built for one specific job: making mid and side monitoring easier. It uses a simple 3-button layout for switching between stereo, mid, and side channel listening modes.

That may sound basic, but tools like this can be genuinely useful on a master bus, especially when checking mix balance, stereo width, and mono information. It can also help when referencing other tracks and trying to hear how their center and side content are distributed.

Side Monitoring With a Practical Twist

One detail that stands out is the option to play the side channel back in mono, which makes isolated side information easier to judge, since hard-panned side content can otherwise sound a bit strange or distracting when monitored on its own.

As a result, DR Solo v1 looks like a small but practical utility for engineers and producers who want a quicker way to inspect stereo information without setting up a more complex routing chain.

Features

• Free mid and side monitoring plugin
• 3-button interface for stereo, mid, and side soloing
• Side channel can be monitored in mono
• Useful for master bus checking and reference listening
• Also useful for creative channel isolation

Plugin Formats

DR Solo v1 is available in VST3 and VST2 formats for Windows and macOS, plus AU for macOS. It requires macOS 10.13 or later and Windows 10 or later.

Free Download

DR Solo v1 is available as a free download from Dead Robot’s Gumroad.

PSP Audioware has released PSP stereoAnalyser2, a free metering plugin that provides a clear picture of your stereo image and level structure. Whether you’re tracking, mixing, or putting the final touches on a master, it gives fast, reliable feedback so you can make confident decisions without the second‑guessing phase, width, or balance.

Stereo Insight, At A Glance

At the core is a responsive goniometer (X‑Y scope) for visualizing stereo width, phase, and polarity in real time. Peak and RMS meters keep overall loudness in check, while a correlation meter helps you assess mono compatibility at a glance. There’s also a balance meter to show left/right energy distribution, plus frequency‑limited monitoring so you can focus on just the lows or highs when you need to troubleshoot. Zoomable scopes and nonlinear display shaping make it easy to read the data quickly.

If you’re tightening low‑end, checking for phasey wide pads, or making sure a vocal sits center, stereoAnalyser2 is a practical tool to keep on the master bus, or on problem tracks, throughout the session.

Features

• Goniometer (X‑Y scope) for stereo width, phase, and polarity
• Digital Peak and RMS meters for precise level monitoring
• Correlation meter for mono compatibility checks
• Balance meter for left/right distribution
• Frequency‑limited monitoring with adjustable HP/LP filters
• Adjustable scope zoom and nonlinear display shaping
• Monitoring mode for auditioning the filtered band
• Resizable GUI, preset browser, A/B, and undo/redo
• 64‑bit internal processing; sample rates up to 384 kHz
• Formats: VST2, VST3, AU, AAX on Windows & macOS

Free Download

PSP stereoAnalyser2 metering plugin is available as a free download from the PSP Audioware website for Windows and macOS.

Sonatura Audio has introduced Superhet, a unique and experimental free plugin that brings the process of heterodyning into the digital audio workstation environment for the first time. Superhet opens the door to new sonic possibilities by utilizing a century-old concept in an entirely modern format.

Explore the Power of Heterodyning

Heterodyning, a technique first developed in 1901 by Reginald Fessenden to assist in receiving radio transmissions, involves the creation of two new frequencies by combining two input frequencies. Superhet applies this principle musically by taking any two pitch inputs and generating both their sum and difference, producing fresh, unexpected tones that can dramatically expand a producer’s sound palette.

For example, combining a 440Hz tone with a 643Hz tone results in two completely new frequencies: 1083Hz and 203Hz. The original tones disappear, leaving behind this newly generated harmonic content.

Designed for Experimental Sound Design

Superhet is not based on musical notes but rather on pure pitch. This pitch-based approach allows producers to explore uncharted musical territory, working outside of traditional scales and note values. The plugin includes a visual pitch display, letting users monitor all active frequencies in real time, and every parameter is fully automatable.

Other features include:

• Sum and Difference pitch generation
• Selectable waveforms for tone shaping
• Full ADSR amplitude control
• Pitch envelope for further modulation
• Visualizer for frequency monitoring

Superhet’s interface invites experimentation, encouraging producers to explore and create sounds that have never been heard before. Whether you’re composing ambient textures, designing effects, or crafting avant-garde pieces, this plugin offers a fresh approach to sound design.

Free Download

Superhet heterodyning plugin is available as a free plugin for macOS and Windows in VST3 and AU formats. You can download it now from the Sonatura Audio website.