Master Perfection Suite

BIAS has announced that its Master Perfection Suite--an ensemble of six professional audio processing plug-ins--will ship in March for AU, DirectX, RTAS, and VST host applications on Mac OS X as well as Windows XP. The suite includes Repli-Q (spectral matching), PitchCraft (pitch correction/manipulation), Reveal (analysis), Sqweez-3 and -5 (multi-band dynamic processing), SuperFreq (parametric EQ), and GateEx (gate/expander). The Master Perfection Suite, which is currently bundled with the Peak Pro XT Edition ($1,200) will be available separately in March of 2006 for $600, and $400 for the academic edition. Upgrades are free to the Master Perfection Suite with AU, DirectX, RTAS, and VST host compatibility for all Peak Pro XT customers (system requirements were unavailable).

Repli-Q

Repli-Q's primary function is to match the spectral characteristics of one source to another target signal. By learning the spectral profiles of the source and target signal, Repli-Q allows users to manipulate the degree of matching and smoothing. Additionally, EQ profiles can be easily edited, allowing greater customization and flexibility.

Repli-Q also offers the ability to improve an improperly equalized track, and users can rely on Repli-Q to assist with mastering for different delivery targets. With a stereo mix equalized for delivery in a compressed file format such as MP4 (AAC), Repli-Q can help repurpose it for CD or DVD and can also help ensure equally optimized playback in multiple listening environments.

Other applications include voice-over matching where an original take recorded in one environment and an overdub recorded in a different environment need to match. Repli-Q employs a linear phase equalization algorithm to ensure optimum results, while a gain compensation feature compensates for loudness variations through equalization. A soft clip button offers limiting to avoid signal clipping.

Sqweez-3 and Sqweez-5

The Master Perfection Suite includes two multi-band compressor/limiter/expander plug-ins--Sqweez-3 (3 band) and Sqweez-5 (5 band). As with Repli-Q, both Sqweez-3 and Sqweez-5 integrate new linear phase equalization algorithms from BIAS, and both offer graphic per-band viewing/editing of threshold as well as EQ. Each band may be soloed and/or bypassed individually, and a convenient "auto gain" button compensates for loudness variations due to compression. Additionally, a variable "digital ceiling" slider controls the clipping headroom of the integrated soft clip function.

PitchCraft

PitchCraft is a real-time pitch correction/transposition plug-in that also offers the ability to manipulate the signal to achieve creative effects. Sound enthusiasts can rely on PitchCraft to fix out-of-tune vocals or other single voice instruments easily and with minimal artifacts using a new pitch-shifting algorithm.

PitchCraft's user interface offers intuitive controls with a graph that displays the original pitch over time against the corrected signal. Tuning, scale, and key can be tailored for specific needs. Users can directly enter custom scales or via a MIDI controller keyboard, and a tuning meter helps provide feedback during parameter adjustment. Transposition can be made independently of correction, and the application includes an independent formant shifting slider.

Using a combination of transposition and pitch correction by scale type, users can create harmony parts from a single melody line, and independent formant shifting is offered to transform voice genders with or without pitch shifting. Users can obtain other combinations of controls to achieve humorous, eerie, and supernatural effects.

Reveal

Reveal combines seven tools in a single plug-in interface--Oscilloscope, Peak and RMS Power History, Spectrogram, Pan Power, Spectral Analysis, Lissajous Phase Scope, and Peak and RMS Level Meters. An "all" view displays every tool in a single window. Users can select any tool as desired via a tab style interface, or simply click on a tool to expand its view. Users can also enable or disable individual tools as desired, and the software includes a global freeze display feature.

GateEx

GateEx is a new Gate/Expander plug-in featuring waveform and graph displays, as well as a suite of advanced parameter controls. GateEx effectively removes signals below an assignable threshold while the integrated downward expander helps reduce residual unwanted content. GateEx is designed for anything from gating snare drum hits or areas of near silence between vocal or instrument passages.

by MacNN Staff