HEDD Audio has announced a new plug-in to complement their range of monitors. This free AAX Native, VST and AU plug-in corrects frequency and phase response in HEDD monitors by using the native processing available in a host computer rather than using DSP built into the monitors themselves.

Not A Room Correction System

This isn't a room correction system in the same way as Genelec's GLM software/hardware system, the Trinnov hardware, Dirac Live software with MiniDSP hardware, or Sonarworks software only solutions. What Lineariser does is to flatten out the known frequency response of HEDD monitors. as measured by HEDD, as you can see in the video showing the anechoic chamber used for the testing, and also to address rotations in the phase response inherent to any conventional, multi driver speaker and make the response of the speaker linear in terms of frequency and phase response.

Shouldn't The Processing Be Built In To The Speaker?

Arguably the processing should be built in to the speaker, even the most uncompromising (read "expensive") loudspeaker has inherent frequency and phase issues and if these are consistent between examples of the same model then DSP hardware built in to the speaker is the best solution - right?

Well that depends on your definition of "best". While built in DSP is the most transparent solution in terms of user experience, using a plug-in running on a host computer does offer some tangible benefits:

• Cost - DSP hardware adds to the cost of a speaker
• Flexibility - Development work and updates are easier for software than DSP firmware
• Power - A host computer is always going to be much more powerful than DSP hardware
• Reduced AD/DA conversion - If running analogue inputs, on board DSP involves extra stages of conversion.
• Convenient control of Latency vs Phase response - While software control of DSP is possible, the Lineariser offers very accessible control over processing as linear phase processes always introduce latency.

I think this is a smart move on the part of HEDD. Here on Pro Tools Expert we've discussed the relative inflexibility of DSP hardware many times and many manufacturers are embracing the power, ubiquity and low cost of Intel hardware either by developing native-only AAX plug-ins or companies such as DiGiGrid who offer a DSP-like workflow using standard Intel processors in their hardware. Is there any other area of hardware which might benefit from an approach like this?

Visit the HEDD website for more information.