Flux IRCAM Tools Software
Digital Download

Flux, in collaboration with IRCAM, proudly announces IRCAM Tools Software.  The IRCAM Tools products express the result of over twenty years of fundamental research within the realms of music related digital signal processing. IRCAM Tools is a series of products evolved from two major fields of technology, Acoustic & Cognitive Spaces, and Sound Analysis & Synthesis.

Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces
The research and development activity carried out by the Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces Team (formerly Room Acoustics Team) concentrates on the analysis, reproduction and synthesis of spatially considered sound environments.  In other words, the localization of sound in space, and the specific acoustical characteristics of a room or of an environment.

The reproduction and synthesis of a sound environment depends on both techniques of signal processing, controlling the manner sound is diffusing from the speakers, and on physical/perceptive models of the spatial properties of the room's sound sources.

Sound Analysis and Synthesis
The sound analysis/synthesis team at IRCAM conducts research and development in the area of sound analysis, transformation and synthesis. The objective of the research on sound transformation is to provide signal transformation algorithms that allow modifying of sound characteristics such as pitch, timbre (spectral envelope) and duration (stretching/compression), using perceptual and intuitive controls.

The advanced sound transformation algorithms also provide independent controls for other perceptual sound characteristics; level of sinusoidal, noise and transient signal components. The voice transformation is controlled by high-level concepts such as age and gender, as well as by fine-tuning of the formant structure and the prosody.  The results of the research activities, implemented as signal processing libraries and applications, provide efficient and extraordinary high quality transformations of music and vocal signals.

The software implementation has been used and refined in the context of composition and real time sound transformation at IRCAM, and the voice transformation algorithms have already been used, with success, in international and French cinema productions.  (Farinelli, Vatel, Tirésia, Les amours d'Astrée et Céladon).  The music and voice signal manipulation technology will be available as three innovative transformation and cross-synthesis (TRAX) plug-ins.

The IRCAM Tools bundle contains the following plug-ins:
•SPAT
•VERB
•TRAX Transformer
•TRAX Cross Synthesis
•TRAX Source Filter

SPAT - Room Acoustics Simulation and Localisation

With more than a decade of research performed by the Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces Team at IRCAM, being at the forefront of scientific and technological innovations, the SPAT is the most advanced and sophisticated tool for room acoustics simulation and localisation ever designed, managing both spatialisation (source localisation) and room acoustic simulation in a truly consistent and visually logical way.  SPAT introduce state of the art techniques for room acoustics simulation utilizing advanced perceptive models, concealing the complexity behind the actual algorithms, allowing for intuitive and accommodating user interaction capabilities.  Designed for surround and multi-channel use, SPAT presents the option to setup the output arrangements providing a variety of stereo and surround configurations, including subwoofer configuration. With eight input and output channels available in SPAT, configurations up to 7.1 and 8.0 are feasible.

VERB - Room Acoustics and Reverberation

VERB is an algorithmic room acoustics and reverberation processor. It has a modular construction, employing a recursive filtering reverb engine, reproducing and synthesizing the specific acoustical characteristics of any spatial sound environment.  Following a decade of intense research by the Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces Team at IRCAM, the IRCAM VERB introduce state of the art techniques for room acoustics simulation utilising advanced perceptive models, concealing the complexity behind the actual reverb algorithms and allowing for a flexible and intuitive experience for the user.  The IRCAM VERB provides eight input and output channels, presenting the option for reverberation processing in multi-channel and surround formats. A built in Input/Output (I/O) routing matrix provides instant flexibility when setting up the I/O in relation to the physical audio monitoring in the control room.

TRAX Transformer - Real-time Voice and Sonic Modeling Processor


TRAX Transformer is based on an augmented phase vocoder technology, and a cutting edge transformation algorithm, allowing for manipulating characteristic properties of a voice such as gender, age and breath, and on any other sound; expression, formant and pitch.  These voice transformation algorithms have already been used, with great success, in international and French cinema productions. (Farinelli, Vatel, Tirésia, Les amours d'Astrée and Céladon).

TRAX Cross Synthesis - Spectral Envelope Morphing Processor


TRAX Cross Synthesis utilizes a phase vocoder (the amplitude and the frequency/phase spectra), to morph the spectral characteristics of two sounds. The amplitude and frequency/phase spectra can be blended continuously and since the features that are used here are strongly nonlinear, the sound morphing is nonlinear as well, offering a way to create a wide range of new exciting and unusual sound effects.

TRAX Source/Filter - Enhanced Sound Filtering Processor


TRAX Source Filter is based on a signal model decomposing the signal into a time envelope describing the energy/loudness contour of the sound, and a spectral envelope describing the spectral colour of the sound timbre. The energy contour and the spectral colour of the source sound, can be continuously blended with the spectral colour and energy contour of an arbitrary filtrating sound, allowing transformation that extend well beyond the more common source filter morphing effect.

Flux IRCAM Tools System Requirements:
-Windows XP/X64, Vista, Vista 64, or Windows 7
-Mac Tiger or Leopard (Universal Binary)
-All Flux plug-ins support AU, RTAS* and VST compatible hosts for both Mac and PC.
-Ilok key required

Compatible Applications:
-Acid Pro
-AudioDesk
-Audition
-Bidule
-Cubase
-Digital Performer
-D-SHOW
-FinalCut
-FL Studio
-GarageBand
-Kore
-Live
-Logic Pro
-LogicExpress
-Luna
-Max/MSP
-Nuendo
-Peak
-Protools HD
-ProTools LE
-Pyramix
-Reaper
-Sadie
-Samplitude
-Sequoia
-Sonar
-Sound Forge
-Tracktion
-Vegas
-WaveLab

*RTAS (ProTools 7 or later required)

IRCAM
IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music) in Paris, France, is one of the world’s leading public research institutes within the fields of musical expression, musical research, sound, and acoustics.  In the realms of music, sound, and acoustics, IRCAM is at the forefront of scientific and technological innovations and several concepts in electronic music and audio processing have emerged there.  Founded by Pierre Boulez, IRCAM is an institute under the aegis of the Centre Pompidou and the French Ministry of Culture.

Flux
Flux Sound and Picture Development, Orleans, France, is a company focused on the creation of intuitive and technically innovative software tools for the post-production and audio mastering industry.  The company has a history as contractors for Merging technologies and has been deeply involved, and responsible for the development of a range of Merging’s audio and video software products for many years.