Ambisonic monitoring
aXMonitor turns your Ambisonic scene into binaural for immersive headphone monitoring, with stereo decoding when you need a conventional two-channel output.
a1 · a3 · aX / VST3 & AAX
aXMONITORFROM AMBISONICS TO YOUR EARS.
Make the sound field audible
Decode your Ambisonic production for immersive listening over ordinary headphones.
Load HRTFs in the SOFA format to tailor binaural rendering to your own listening experience.
Decode first-order Ambisonics to conventional stereo or UHJ Super Stereo when a two-channel output is what you need.
The other half of Ambisonics
Ambisonics describes a sound field. aXMonitor converts that sound field into something you can actually hear, whether you are monitoring immersively on headphones or creating a stereo output.
Binaural decoding supports Ambisonic signals up to tenth order with aXMonitor aX, while the plugin automatically adapts its processing to the order of the signal you feed it.
A closer look
From personalised headphone rendering to two-channel playback, aXMonitor gives you several ways to translate an Ambisonic sound field into a listening format.
01 / Binaural monitoring
Decode your Ambisonic scene to binaural and monitor its direction and spatial character through headphones.
The built-in binaural rendering uses HRTFs generated from Google’s Resonance Audio data, giving you a ready-to-use monitoring path without additional setup.
02 / Custom HRTFs
Load your own HRTFs using the SOFA file format and use them for binaural decoding instead of the built-in set.
Because our ears and heads are different, personalised HRTFs can give you a binaural presentation better matched to the way you localise sound.
03 / Stereo decoding
Convert first-order Ambisonics to UHJ Super Stereo or use cardioid stereo decoding for conventional left and right loudspeaker playback.
UHJ can be processed using either FIR or IIR filters and can create a spacious presentation that extends beyond a conventional stereo image.
04 / Automatic order detection
aXMonitor automatically matches its processing to the Ambisonic order of the incoming signal, so there is no need to select the input order manually.
Lower-order material therefore uses only the processing it needs, helping to avoid unnecessary CPU use.
Monitoring options
Decode the Ambisonic sound field to a two-channel binaural signal for immersive headphone listening.
Load HRTF data from a compatible SOFA file for personalised binaural rendering.
Decode first-order Ambisonics to a spacious two-channel UHJ signal for stereo playback.
Choose between FIR and IIR implementations when using the UHJ stereo decoder.
Decode first-order Ambisonics using virtual left- and right-facing cardioid microphones for conventional stereo playback.
Adjust the final listening level at the output of the plugin.
Ambisonics in. Listening formats out.
aXMonitor sits at the monitoring or output end of your Ambisonic workflow, translating the encoded sound field into binaural or stereo.
Input uses AmbiX (ACN/SN3D) Ambisonics. Binaural decoding supports the maximum Ambisonic order available in your version, while first-order signals can also be decoded to UHJ or cardioid stereo.
Match the plugin to your session.
First order uses 4 input channels, third order uses 16, and tenth order uses 121. Your DAW must support the track width and plugin routing required by the Ambisonic order you are monitoring.
a1 handles first order; a3 handles up to third order; aX handles up to tenth order for binaural decoding. Test the trial in your intended DAW and session before purchasing.
Find your fit
The same monitoring 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 aXMonitor 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 |
| Sample rates | 44.1 · 48 · 88.2 · 96 · 192 kHz |
| Input | AmbiX (ACN/SN3D) Ambisonics |
| Output | Binaural UHJ Super Stereo (first order) Cardioid stereo (first order) |
| Ambisonic versions | a1: first order (4 channels) a3: up to third order (16 channels) aX: up to tenth order (121 channels) |
| Custom HRTF | SOFA file support |
| Host routing | Track width and plugin routing must support the chosen Ambisonic order. |
A little more detail
You need an Ambisonic decoder of some kind. Ambisonic signals are an encoded representation of a sound field and are not intended to be listened to directly. aXMonitor provides binaural decoding for headphones and stereo decoding for first-order material.
Yes. aXMonitor supports HRTFs stored in the SOFA format, allowing you to replace the built-in binaural HRTFs with a compatible custom set.
Yes, with first-order Ambisonics. aXMonitor provides both UHJ Super Stereo and cardioid stereo decoding for two-channel loudspeaker playback.
No. aXMonitor automatically detects and matches its processing to the order of the incoming Ambisonic signal, helping it use only the processing required for that signal.
Match the version to your source material and the channel count supported by your DAW. a1 handles first order, a3 handles up to third order, and aX handles up to tenth order for binaural decoding 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 binaural and stereo monitoring with a 15-day free trial of aXMonitor.
