Ambisonic positioning
aXPanner turns mono and stereo sources into Ambisonics, giving you direct control over where they sit and how wide they feel in your sound field.
a1 · a3 · aX / VST3 & AAX
aXPANNERPLACE THE SOUND. BUILD THE SPACE.
Build your Ambisonic scene
Drag your source into position or set its azimuth and elevation precisely with the controls.
Control the angular distance between your left and right channels, from one position to a wider spatial image.
Switch between equirectangular and top-down views to position sounds from the perspective that makes sense to you.
From source to sound field
Feed aXPanner a mono or stereo signal, place it around the listener and output a ready-to-decode Ambisonic signal.
Choose first-, third- or tenth-order processing to match the spatial resolution and channel count your session needs.
A closer look
Work visually when you want speed, or numerically when you want exact positioning.
01 / Spatial position
Place mono or stereo sources by dragging their markers through the panning display. When precision matters, use the azimuth and elevation controls to position them down to the degree.
Azimuth controls the horizontal direction around the listener, while elevation moves the source above or below the horizontal plane.
02 / Stereo width
Control the angular distance between the left and right input channels. Bring them together at the same position or spread them apart to create a wider spatial image.
With a mono input, aXPanner creates two copies of the source and positions them with the selected width between them.
03 / Panning views
Choose an equirectangular azimuth-and-elevation display or switch to a top-down view when that gives you a clearer picture of the placement around the listener.
Both views control the same Ambisonic position, so you can work from whichever perspective feels more natural.
04 / Ambisonic order
Select the maximum Ambisonic order produced by aXPanner, from first order through to tenth order on the aX version.
Higher orders increase spatial resolution but also require more channels, so your available maximum depends on the routing supported by your DAW.
The full control set
Control the horizontal position of the source around the listener.
Move the source vertically, from below the listener through the horizontal plane to directly overhead.
Set the azimuthal separation between the left and right channels of a stereo source.
Choose the maximum Ambisonic output order supported by your version of aXPanner and your session.
Position the source using a complete azimuth-and-elevation view of the sound field.
Switch to a view looking down on the listener for intuitive horizontal positioning around the scene.
Mono or stereo in. Ambisonics out.
aXPanner encodes your source into AmbiX Ambisonics, ready to become part of a complete immersive mix.
Use a mono or stereo input and output AmbiX (ACN/SN3D) Ambisonics from first order up to the maximum order supported by your version.
Decode before you listen.
The output of aXPanner is an Ambisonic signal, not a speaker or headphone mix. Monitor it through a compatible Ambisonic decoder, such as aXMonitor.
First order uses 4 channels, third order uses 16, and tenth order uses 121. Your DAW must support the required track width and plugin routing.
Find your fit
The same panning workflow, with the Ambisonic order range your work needs.
* Maximum order depends on your DAW.
Formats & requirements
Your host needs internal routing that supports the required number of Ambisonic channels. Check your DAW’s current channel limits and test aXPanner in your intended session before purchasing.
| Plugin formats | AAX and VST3 |
|---|---|
| Mac | Intel or Apple Silicon (Universal Binary) macOS 10.13 or later · 4 GB RAM |
| Windows | 64-bit Windows 10 or later 4 GB RAM |
| Input | Mono or stereo |
| Output | AmbiX (ACN/SN3D) Ambisonics |
| Ambisonic versions | a1: first order (4 channels) a3: up to third order (16 channels) aX: up to tenth order (121 channels) |
| Host routing | Track width and plugin routing must support the chosen Ambisonic order. |
A little more detail
Yes. aXPanner accepts both mono and stereo input. With stereo material you can control the angular width between the two channels. With mono material, the width control creates two copies of the source and positions them with the selected separation.
Yes. aXPanner creates an Ambisonic signal, which must be decoded for headphones or your chosen loudspeaker layout. Use a compatible Ambisonic decoder such as aXMonitor when monitoring the result.
Match the version to the spatial resolution required by your project and the channel count supported by your DAW. a1 outputs first order, a3 supports up to third order, and aX supports up to tenth order in compatible hosts.
Yes. Download a trial from SSA Plugins and explore the full functionality for 15 days in your own workflow.
SSA Plugins offers an upgrade policy. Contact SSA Plugins through the current store for your upgrade options and voucher.
Explore the full capabilities of aXPanner with a 15-day free trial.
