Polarflex Plug-in

Plug-in for RTAS, VST, VST3, AU

Features

  • Based on the SCHOEPS Polarflex technique that was presented for the first time in 1998
  • Create new polar patterns and sound characteristics unachievable through other methods
  • Tune the sound after/while recording
  • A Polarflex recording setup consists of the Polarflex microphone A2P CCM and the Polarflex Plug-in

Description

How the plug-in works

With the Polarflex plug-in it is possible to intelligently mix two capsules such that a totally new pattern with its own unique sound is created.

Now, what happens in the plug-in? The Polarflex plug-in mixes two capsules (Omni and Fig-8) in three different frequency bands such that the level and the frequency response of the diffuse sound and with that the directivity of the microphone is altered. The plug-in automatically maintains the overall level at all frequencies which means that every possible setting leads...

How the plug-in works

With the Polarflex plug-in it is possible to intelligently mix two capsules such that a totally new pattern with its own unique sound is created.

Now, what happens in the plug-in? The Polarflex plug-in mixes two capsules (Omni and Fig-8) in three different frequency bands such that the level and the frequency response of the diffuse sound and with that the directivity of the microphone is altered. The plug-in automatically maintains the overall level at all frequencies which means that every possible setting leads to a potentially useful result. This is computed similarly to a panning knob: The larger the portion of the omni is in the mix, the smaller the portion of the Fig-8/cardioid is.

Examples

  • When the line is in top position, only the omni is mixed in the output
  • When the line is in the middle, the result will be a cardioid, being the exact sum of an Omni and a Fig-8 microphone.
  • When you choose a wide cardioid at low frequencies, a cardioid at middle frequencies and a hypercardioid at high frequencies, the result will be similar to a large membrane capsule
  • Try switching between different settings in Stereo Mode: by altering the mixing ratio, the correlation of the recorded diffuse sound field is varied at the same time. This offers a powerful mean to vary the room sound of your stereo microphone.

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Practice

The plug-in is very simple to use

Using the plug-in very intuitive. On the left side of the plug-in window, you can monitor your input signals. Use the gain knobs for adjusting their levels. Optionally check the EQ check-box for making up the inherent low-frequency loss of the Fig-8.

In the main window, the thick line with the three buttons denotes the mixing ratio between your Omni (top) and Fig-8/cardioid capsule (bottom) throughout the whole frequency range. You can move and alter the line by pulling the three buttons up/down as well as left/right.

You can listen to the result in real-time.

Sample Player

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S. Rachmaninow, 2nd piano concerto, Excerpt from the 2nd movement
Soloist: William Youn
Conductor: Gerrit Prießnitz
Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie Herford
Recording: Oliver Curdt

S. Prokofiev: Excerpt from Alexandre Nevsky
Orchestre National d'Ile de France, Direction Yoel Levi
Recorded live at Salle Pleyel, Paris, October 18th, 2011
Recording : Michel Pierre

Downloads

Polarflex plug-in: installation guide

User guides, manuals

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Polarflex Plug-in (Win32)

Version 1.1 (VST3, VST, RTAS) plug-in for Microsoft Windows (32 bit). Automatically installs all formats into the default plug-in folders. Installs the VST version to Steinberg/vstplugins in the "Program Files" folder. Includes quick guide.

Polarflex

en
Polarflex Plug-in (Win64)

Version 1.1 (VST3, VST) Plug-in for Microsoft Windows (64 bit). Automatically installs all formats into the default plug-in folders. Installs the VST version to Steinberg/vstplugins in the "Program Files" folder. Includes quick guide.

Polarflex

en
Polarflex Plug-in (Mac)

Version 1.2b (VST3, VST, RTAS, AU) plug-in for Mac OS 10.5 or newer. Automatically installs the selected plug-ins into the default system plug-in folders. Includes quick guide. History: Version 1.1 first release Version 1.2 compatible to MOTU Digital Performer Version 1.2b some bug-fixes

Polarflex

en
Polarflex

Description of the Polarflex technique and the Polarflex plug-in

Product sheets

en