The SPARTA Ambisonic Suite
A Step-by-Step Workflow Guide
The SPARTA Workflow Tutorial
Working with SPARTA plugins relies on a three-step pipeline: Encode (input), Manipulate (process), and Decode (output). Here is how to route your audio.
Step 1: Encoding (Getting Audio In)
You cannot manipulate standard audio in 3D space until it is encoded into a spherical format called "B-format."
- Create a multi-channel track in your DAW that matches your desired Ambisonic order (e.g., 4 channels for 1st-order, 16 channels for 3rd-order).
- For Mono/Stereo files: Insert AmbiENC on the track. Route your audio into the plugin and use the graphical panner to position the sound in the 3D sphere.
- For Ambisonic Microphones: Insert Array2SH. If you recorded with a spatial mic (like the Sennheiser Ambeo), select your mic model from the presets. This converts the raw microphone capsules into standard B-format.
Step 2: Manipulation (Shaping the 3D Space)
Once your audio is successfully encoded into B-format, you can manipulate the entire soundfield.
- Rotator: Insert this plugin to spin, tilt, or tumble the entire 3D soundscape. Essential for aligning your audio mix with 360-degree video.
- Beamformer: Use this to isolate specific sounds. Point the plugin's "virtual microphone" at the exact direction of the sound you want to extract.
- PowerMap: Insert this visualizer at the end of your processing chain to see a real-time heat map of where your sounds are located in the sphere.
Step 3: Decoding (Getting Audio Out)
You cannot listen to raw B-format audio—it will sound like a garbled mess. You must decode it to match your physical playback system.
- Place a decoder plugin at the very end of your master track or output bus.
- AmbiBIN: Use this if you are monitoring on standard headphones. It converts the 3D soundfield into a binaural stereo signal, tricking your ears into hearing spatial depth.
- AmbiDEC: Use this if you are routing the audio to physical studio speakers. Select your specific speaker layout (like 5.1 surround or a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos layout) in the plugin settings.
SPARTA Plugin Directory
Here is a straightforward breakdown of every plugin in the SPARTA suite so you know exactly which tool to grab for your mix.
| Plugin | Category | Quick Usage Guide |
|---|---|---|
| AmbiBIN | Decoder | Put on your master bus to listen to Ambisonics on standard headphones. |
| AmbiDEC | Decoder | Use on your master bus to map the 3D soundfield to physical studio speakers. |
| AmbiDRC | Processor | Insert to compress the dynamics of your B-format signal without ruining the spatial phase. |
| AmbiENC | Encoder | Insert on standard tracks to pan and encode them into the 3D soundfield. |
| AmbiRoomSim | Processor | Use to simulate realistic room reflections and echoes for your 3D sources. |
| Array2SH | Encoder | Insert on raw microphone array tracks to convert them to usable B-format Ambisonics. |
| Beamformer | Processor | Use to isolate and extract a specific directional audio beam from the 3D mix. |
| Binauraliser | Panner | Insert to pan mono/stereo sources directly to headphones (bypassing B-format entirely). |
| BinauraliserNF | Panner | Identical to the standard Binauraliser, but adds realistic proximity effects for near-field sounds. |
| Decorrelator | Processor | Use to artificially widen and separate mono signals before you pan them. |
| DirASS | Visualizer | Insert to visualize the sound energy and direction in your mix. |
| MatrixConv | Processor | Advanced tool: load custom impulse responses to create spatial routing matrices. |
| MultiConv | Processor | Insert to apply standard convolution reverb across multiple channels simultaneously. |
| Panner | Panner | Route any channel count to any speaker setup using standard VBAP panning. |
| PitchShifter | Processor | Insert to change the pitch of the 3D audio without breaking the spatial imaging. |
| PowerMap | Visualizer | Use as a real-time visual heat map of where your sounds are coming from. |
| Rotator | Processor | Automate the yaw, pitch, and roll dials to spin your entire 3D mix. |
| SLDoA | Visualizer | Insert to see a detailed, frequency-dependent map of sound directions. |
| Spreader | Processor |
Use to widen a highly localized, pinpoint sound source across a larger spatial area. |
Important Note: Ensure all plugins in your chain use the exact same channel order and normalization (SPARTA defaults to ACN/SN3D). If you accidentally mix and match channel orders, your 3D spatial image will collapse!