Now you can see in a wink in which recording format the sounds you're browsing on Surround Library are !

How does it work? Simple, each recording format (say B-Format, Double-M/S, MMAD, or IRT) has its own waverform color, so you can see instantly in what format the sound has been recorded in.

Here's how we did it.

We're still in the process of converting pictures, so some of them could still be in the "ancient" format.

Schoeps has just released a new version of its Double M/S decoder plugin, the Double M/S Tool BF.

The SCHOEPS "Double M/S Tool BF (beta)" plug-in enables customized, intuitive decoding of the three signals of the Double M/S system.

• - developed in collaboration with Illusonic GmbH using Illusonic algorithms
• - adds new features to the simple Double MS Tool: rotate, focus, ambience manipulation
• - decodes the three Double M/S signals to a 5.0 mix
• - available for free
• - requires a multi-channel software host

More informations here.

Download the plugin (AU/VST/RTAS for OS X and Windows).

As many picture editors asked us for this functionality, we have just integrated an easy way to directly download audio samples, both in MPEG1-layer3 (stereo MP3) and HE-AACv2 (5.1 surround M4A) for every sounds in the library.

It can't be easier now, just click (or alt-click to force download) on the appropriate button, either "GET MP3" or "GET M4A", to download the sample. Now editors can check our sounds directly in their timeline to see and hear if the sound fits the purpose.
Afterward, simply make a search with the 7 digits in front of the audio sample filename (for example FN00001) or Description (present in the id3 tags) and voila, the sound is here, ready to be purchased.

We are still working on adding the M4A 5.1 surround samples for most of the sounds, and fine tuning the design of the buttons with nice icons, so stay tuned.

Sorry for the little downtime, and for some glitches that appeared recently, but we have proceed with the dev team to a major upgrade of the website.

Nothing spectacular in the visible area, but most of the functions behind the hood have been reworked, and most of the previous bugs have been resolved.

Enjoy the new platform, and let us know if you encounter anything unusual (specifically concerning the Wishlist, the Forum, and the Account sections).

Finally, the talentuous Svein Berge released its wonderful plugin (AU/VST/RTAS for OS X and Windows) to decode B-Format ambisonic sounds that SurLib offers : Harpex-B.

The B-format for spatial audio was invented by Michael Gerzon and others in the 1970s as part of the ambisonic system of spatial sound recording and reproduction. The format consists of four channels, W, X, Y and Z, where W records the pressure at a point in space while the others record the cartesian components of the pressure gradient at the same point. The mathematical simplicity and physical significance of the B-format has ensured its survival as a topic of research, providing a steady trickle of commercial products for all these years.

It is possible to design microphone systems that closely approximate the ideal, physical definition. The most common design is one comprising four separate capsules packed closely together, pointing in different directions. The outputs of these capsules can be encoded into B-format. A number of software tools are also available to create virtual sound scenes in B-format.

At Surround Library, we just LOVE this plugin, which sounds great considering the first order of our ambisonic sounds! Have a try to its standalone Player release, and let us know what you think with our demo sounds!

More informations here.

Download the plugin (AU/VST/RTAS for OS X and Windows).

Download the free Player.