Halo Upmix with 3D Immersive Extension by NUGEN Audio upmixer plugin interface

Halo Upmix with 3D Immersive Extension: Stereo-to-Surround Upmixer by NUGEN Audio Free Download

Halo Upmix with 3D Immersive Extension is a stereo-to-surround upmixing plugin from NUGEN Audio that expands stereo material into 3.1 through 7.1 channel layouts, with an optional 3D extension for Dolby Atmos and Auro 3D beds.

VST3VST2AUAAXRTASWindowsmacOS32-bit only

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

Halo Upmix is designed for producers and post engineers who need to extend stereo material into a surround field. It analyzes the original stereo audio to locate positional cues and extend the panorama, aiming to keep the character of the source intact. The optional 3D Immersive Extension adds Dolby Atmos bed track (7.1.2), Auro 3D (7.1.4) and Ambisonic outputs. The plugin is offered in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS formats on Windows and macOS.

Best for

TV archive upmixing
Stereo to 5.1 conversion
Film score upmixing
Synth and FX surround
Dolby Atmos bed creation
VR audio ambisonics

Developer: NUGEN Audio
Category: Stereo Width
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Coherent spatial upmix that preserves the original source character
Upmix options including LCR, 3.1, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1, 7.0 and 7.1
Neural network dialog extraction with switchable centre channel management
'Exact' downmix mode with in-place audition
Spatial analysis view showing energy distribution across the panorama
Low frequency energy control and direct upmix parameter control
Optional 3D Immersive Extension for Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D and Ambisonic output

03In depth

How the Upmix Works and What It Preserves

NUGEN Audio says Halo uses real-time analysis of the original stereo material to identify and extract locational cues, then extends the panorama from them. The developer states that the algorithms add no artificial reverb, chorus or delays.

An 'Exact' downmix mode with in-place audition is included for situations where the relationship between the original, upmixed and downmixed versions has to be maintained, such as TV repurposing. Low frequency energy control and direct control over upmix parameters give you adjustment over the result.

A spatial analysis view shows the energy distribution of the upmixed panorama, and color can indicate the speaker source for audio in each position, including phantom versus hard center predominance.

Workflows for Television, Film and Sound Design

Halo includes centre channel management with switchable dialog extraction, using neural network dialog isolation. The developer positions it for TV archive enhancement for 5.1 broadcast, stereo-to-surround upmixing with a hard center, and repurposing original stereo for cinematic release.

For film and sound design, the plugin can upmix stems, groups, synths, stereo effects and effects returns, and supports upmixing to 7.1 cinematic sound stages. The optional 3D Immersive Extension is needed for Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 bed output, Auro 3D and Ambisonic (AmbiX) output at 1st, 2nd and 3rd order for VR applications.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	NUGEN Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Stereo Width
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, RTAS
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	32-bit only
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Halo Upmix support?

Halo Upmix is listed in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS formats. The developer notes that RTAS is available as a 32-bit version only, and that the other formats are offered in both 64-bit and 32-bit versions.

Which operating systems can run Halo Upmix?

The plugin is listed for Windows (64-bit, Vista or above, 512 MB RAM) and macOS (OS X 10.7.x, 512 MB RAM).

What do I need to use Halo Upmix?

Halo Upmix requires a surround-compatible plug-in host supporting 5.1 or 7.1 channel layouts, such as Pro Tools HD. Use with a host that lacks surround routing will not produce surround output.