Sound Particles has released Space Controller. The plug-in/app combo turns your phone into an intuitive panning device for immersive audio and surround mixing. Simply point your phone to where you want the sound to go. Not a bad idea at all! Sound Particles Space Controller Space Controller isn’t the first innovative panning tool from Sound Particles. Earlier this year, the developer released Brightness Panner, a frequency-dependent motion effect. With Space Controller, they’ve now shifted their focus to an intuitive panning solution for Ambisonics and any kind of immersive 3D audio mixing. As Sound Particles rightfully points out, knobs and even joysticks don’t always feel intuitive when you’re panning audio in three dimensions. So they’ve turned to the motion-sensing technology of any modern smartphone to create a panning system that puts you in control of what’s going on. Space Controller is a combination of a plug-in for your DAW and a mobile app for your smartphone. The plug-in supports stereo, multichannel and immersive formats, including 5.1, 7.1, HOA and Dolby Atmos. You can choose from two panning modes: cube and sphere. Cube is a more traditional box-shaped setup, while Sphere mode is perfect for Ambisonics, VR and other sphere-related workflows, Sound Particles says. Sound Particles Space Controller Sound Particles Space Controller Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options The plug-in offers loads of settings to control the input and output signals. You can define the size (width) of each source, place sources independently using four different modes, and lock individual parameters as coordinates or angles. For visualization, you can choose between top and rear views, so you always have a clear picture of where the sound is being placed. The app connects to the plug-in via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (the latter only works in the Studio version of Space Controller). Once connected, all you need to do is point your phone and the sounds will magically follow. You can even connect multiple mobile devices to control multiple sources at once. If you’re looking for a more intuitive approach to 3D panning, you should probably give Space Controller a try. Using your phone to send sound sources flying across the room certainly beats fiddling with a bunch of joysticks, doesn’t it? Price and compatibility Space Controller is available in two versions, both of which are now available at an introductory discount. The Standard version, which supports Bluetooth and can handle Stereo, Binaural, FOA and 5.1 formats, is now available for USD 79 at Plugin Boutique* (regular price: USD 99). Space Controller Studio adds Wi-Fi and supports a huge variety of formats up to 22.2 and Ambisonics 6th order. This version is now on sale at Plugin Boutique for USD 319* (regular price: USD 399). The plug-in requires macOS 10.12 or higher or Windows 10 or higher. It comes in AAX Native, AU, AUv3, VST and VST3 formats. The Space Controller App is available for iOS and Android in the App Store and Play Store. |
