Genelec originally unveiled the Aural ID software solution for headphones monitoring in 2019, following an intense development effort initiated in 2017, in joint-venture between Finnish HRTF modeling specialists IDA Audio, which Genelec meanwhile acquired.
The technology uses simple video footage supplied by the user via the free Aural ID Creator mobile app, allowing Genelec to analyze the way the user’s head, external ear and upper body affect and color the audio arriving from all directions to generate a Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF). Aural ID’s cloud-based calculation engine models the user’s own head and upper torso features to calculate this personal HRTF file - totally unique to every individual. To create this type of HRTF file would normally an extensive method of measurements in an anechoic or semi-anechoic environment. It is this information that enables precise rendering of audio in any direction within the Aural ID plug-in, which is available in VST, AAX and AU formats for easy integration into any DAW.
Aimed primarily at audio professionals working in music, film, broadcast, game audio design and academic research, Aural ID is unique in its ability to offer a comprehensive and personalized headphone experience unlike those relying on generic HRTFs, or those that work by approximation from a limited sample of HRTFs.
Furthermore, Aural ID delivers headphone listening with a natural sense of imaging that is modeled on in-room loudspeaker monitoring, enabling more reliable headphone mixing decisions. For mobile audio professionals who regularly work remotely in ad-hoc environments, being able to work with Aural ID and binaural rendering through headphones is a godsend.
New to the plug-in version of Aural ID is the ability to compensate for the sound coloration that any headphones will introduce. There are two modes for achieving this, the first and most accurate being a corrective EQ individually tailored for a library of specific headphone models within the plug-in, while a second mode offers a more generalized response that supports any professional headphone model.
The Aural ID plug-in also allows users of Genelec Smart Active Monitors to import calibration files directly from Genelec’s GLM loudspeaker manager software. This helps the user to closely replicate the performance of their in-room monitoring system, creating a complete Genelec monitoring ecosystem with a more natural and satisfying connection between personalized in-room and headphone monitoring.
This connection is further enhanced by the ability of the plug-in to create and store a virtual model of the user’s in-room monitoring set up, allowing the solo and mute of any virtual monitor in an intuitive way. Users can also perform fine adjustments of the virtual monitor spatial location, level alignment, listener orientation in azimuth and elevation, and total system equalization.
The Aural ID plug-in is available directly from the Genelec Cloud platform via a cloud-based subscription service, giving continuous access to the latest updates, future Aural ID features and immediate help desk access. Pricing options for both individuals and corporate/educational group licenses are available.
"While we firmly believe that in-room loudspeaker monitoring is unrivaled during the recording and mixing process, high quality headphones play an important role as a supplementary monitoring tool. Aural ID empowers headphone users by giving them the confidence to switch between monitors and headphones freely, delivering mixes that translate consistently to the outside world. We’re also proud that Aural ID technology achieves this in a totally sustainable way, requiring no hardware changes or using otherwise precious natural resources. We feel sure that audio professionals will warmly embrace the new features, usability and flexible purchasing models that the Aural ID plug-in now offers," states Siamäk Naghian, Genelec Managing Director.
www.genelec.com/aural-ID
