FAQ

How many plug-ins are included in the QC3D suite?
The 3C3D plug-in suite comprises ten different plug-ins:

  • 5 input audio into Pro Tools
  • 3 output the final speaker feeds
  • 1 is used for headphone binauralized output
  • 1 is used for spatial sound effects

Do the QC3D plug-ins run on Pro Tools for Windows?
Not currently. They only run on Mac OS X.

Do these plug-ins work with Pro Tools Free?
Not currently. They only run on Pro Tools HD 11 or later.

Have the QC3D plug-ins been tested with the newest version of Pro Tools 12?
Not yet. If you are running the newest version of Pro Tools 12 and encounter any problems, please let us know on our 3D audio forum.

Who are these plug-ins intended for?
Broadcasters, content creators for VR, or anyone else who wants to create immersive soundscapes with scene-based audio.

Can audio created with these plug-ins be played on headphones without losing the 360 degree spatial qualities?
Yes.

How does scene-based audio differ from object based audio?
Scene-based audio uses “higher order ambisonics” to create sound scenes that are independent of specific loudspeaker layouts. This is in contrast to channel-based sound representations, where dedicated outputs are used for each loudspeaker.

What are the main benefits of using scene-based audio?

  • A single audio file created in the scene-based format can be optimally rendered on all playback systems.
  • It is a loudspeaker agnostic format that can be adapted to the local loudspeaker geometry and acoustic landscape to offer optimal immersive sound playback in any location.
  • Allows content creators to easily capture or create 3D sound scenes including proximity and depth components that would not be possible with legacy channel based formats.
  • This format is conducive for both live audio capture and for the creation of offline mixes.
  • Provides sound mixers with a new palette of tools including sound focus, crowd noise elimination and rotation of the sound field. As a result, this format is very well suited for applications such as virtual reality, where there is a need to rotate the sound field in real time to synchronize with a visual cue.

Where can I learn more about scene-based audio?
There is a good white paper on this topic here.

Does one of these plug-ins work with sources from soundfield mics?
Yes. The QC3dAmbiMic plug-in can take a classic 1st Order Ambisonics signal from a tetrahedral mic array such as a SoundField or Core Sound microphone.

Can the QC3D suite of plug-ins work with an Eigen mic?
Yes. The QC3dEigenMike plug-in can work with up to four different Eigen mics at once.

Do you have preconfigured session templates available for Pro Tools?
Yes. You can download project and mix templates. One is for simple projects and the other is for advanced projects.

What can I do to minimize audio drop-outs?
We recommend setting a H/W buffer size of 512 samples.

Why can’t I use the Solo feature when using some of these plug-ins?
To get around buss limitations in Pro Tools, we use a hidden buss for routing. This prevents the solo buttons from working on the Pro Tools Mix window. Use the mute buttons instead.