Has anyone tried AstoundSound for HD 4D "binaural" audio on their Mac or PC?

I just downloaded the 30-day free trial for AstoundSound, and I think it's amazing so I wanted to share it with the Head-fi community. It evidently falls under the "Professional MP3 Mixer Software" category, and puts you in a room inside your headphones complete with directional surround cues. This is more than Dolby headphone technology all grown up, it's a real evolutionary step forward. There are versions for both Mac and Windows computers, and it not only works with iTunes but it also works with iTunes > PureMusic on my Mac which means I have to buy it ;^). I like the fact that it is easy to toggle on and off so you can easily A/B the effect. You can also easily change the intensity of the effect, and choose between music, movie and game surround modes.

The price to buy a single license is between $20 and $40, depending upon how soon into the 30-day free trial you buy it, and whether you want the 2-year "backup insurance" policy. So far it sounds great with live music and I will buy it for sure. Besides giving you more immersion into the music with headphones, it really widens the "sweet spot" with a two-speaker system:

"AstoundSound™ uses 4D sound technology software built on over a decade of research and development into how the human brain perceives sound. In a similar way to what Hi-definition did for visual experiences, 4D audio immerses listeners in a 360-degree, realistic sound experience that addresses azimuth, elevation, distance and movement over time. In other words, a 4D listening experience creates the sense of movement in a 3D listening environment.

• Maintains the integrity and realistic tonal characteristics of the original recorded audio when processed.
• Achieves a 4D experience from as few as 2 output channels, stereo speakers or headphones, yet is compatible with multi-channel presentation formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS.

• Requires no specialized hardware.
• Adds elevation cues from 90-degrees above to 90-degrees below the listening position for a spherical soundscape.

• Puts the listener in the center of the sound.
• Address azimuth, elevation, distance and movement over time.
• Can move sound sources anywhere within a spherical soundscape in real-time.

  one of many testimonials from the pro audio sector:

  "This is pretty amazing technology. With only 2 speakers (or headphones) the audio field is dramatically expanded. It makes a pan pot go to "11"! I'm very impressed that it doesn't make music sound gimmicky like surround does – it just opens up the palette for placement. When available, the Pro-tools plug-in will rock. Once you compare a mix with, and then without, it's almost like going back to mono. This could also really benefit home theater users who don't want to deal with rear speaker placement and wires. Wow.""

  http://www.astoundsound.net/technology.php

  edit: I have no connection to this, I just wanted to share a great upgrade.

I'm starting to prefer the effect at it's lowest setting, intensity level 1 (out of three levels). I find that the tonality is the least affected at this setting but you still get a nice surround effect. Listening to the new binaural Chesky release ATM; the AstoundSound effect seems to be less pronounced with binaural recordings.

I really liked AstoundSound at first out of my LCD-2 but more so on some songs than others. I think the effect breaks down if the music isn't recorded well, it just seems to amplify the distortion. But on well-recorded music I do like it. Vocals can be hit or miss but where I am really liking it is for solo instrumental performances. I really liked listening to George Winston's piano renditions of Doors music (Night Divides the Day, excellent) with AstoundSound; it felt like I am at a live chamber concert. To me it makes the music more immersive, but I understand that it isn't for everybody. I am looking forward to trying it with movies, that should be interesting as it supposedly is compatible with the cinema surround cues.

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Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

Thanks, I'l check it out.

So...? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrQ 

As a fun plug-in it's ok.

Yeah, that's what it is, fun. Not so much for critical listening but I think it is nice to have this available.

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Originally Posted by WarriorAnt 

Is these also an AU For use with something like Logic?  I'm gearing up for a long session of composing and mixing this summer and I'd like to experiment inside a DAW for my compositions with something like this.

There is a quote in one of the testimonials that I read, "I'm very impressed that it doesn't make music sound gimmicky like surround does – it just opens up the palette for placement. When available, the Pro-tools plug-in will rock. Once you compare a mix with, and then without, it's almost like going back to mono."

Don't know if that helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br777 

Hmm, Isone Pro is Windows-only unfortunately (I may give it a try though, as I dual-boot), but what I find interesting is how little CPU/OS power it uses; it still runs on Windows 98! Whoops, I dual-boot into Windows 7 and it's not ported to that yet, so no Isone Pro after all. I have a Vista laptop but I don't use it for music much.

"OS: Windows Vista/XP/2000/98

• Requirements: No special requirements"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br777 

^ yeah i have win7 and it works fine.  i use it as a vst plugin via foobar.  maybe there are other ways to use it that dont work? i dunno.

Good to know that Isone Pro will work with Windows 7 at least under certain circumstances. 

Just spelling it out because it didn't come up in a Google search yesterday but it probably will now