AudioMatrix is a channel routing utility plugin from Sound Particles that re-routes any input to any output with gain and polarity controls, supporting mono up to 64 channels for immersive and surround formats.
Purpose and Core Function
AudioMatrix is designed to simplify channel routing for audio professionals working in post-production, music, or broadcast. It acts as a central utility that connects any input channel to any output channel, with precise gain adjustment and polarity inversion on each connection. The plugin aims to eliminate complex manual routing, making format conversions and channel management straightforward.
By providing a visual matrix, you can quickly see and edit the signal flow, boosting or reducing levels as needed. The gain controls allow fine adjustments, from subtle level changes to full boosts, ensuring each routed signal fits the mix. Polarity inversion is available per connection, which is essential for phase alignment in various scenarios.
Key Capabilities and Formats
AudioMatrix supports a wide range of channel formats, from mono up to 64 channels, accommodating any config in between, including standard surround setups like 5.1, 7.1, and immersive formats like 9.1.6. This flexibility means you can take a mix in one format and translate it to another without losing control over individual channels.
The plugin includes built-in functions for Mid-Side (MS) conversion, allowing you to create MS matrices with a few clicks and switch between stereo and MS. It also offers a ‘Big Mono’ feature that collapses immersive audio into a single mono output, where you can control the contribution of each original channel. A mirror function flips left and right channels, useful for stereo or 7.1.2.
Workflow Enhancements
AudioMatrix streamlines common tasks like channel/LFE control, letting you mute or change the gain of individual channels independently. For example, you can reduce the surround level, adjust the LFE, or route other channels into the subwoofer. This is helpful for cleaning up a mix or for bass management when no dedicated system is available.
The plugin also facilitates format changes, such as converting 5.1 Film to 5.1 SMPTE by reordering channels. Speaker array management becomes easier: if you have 5.1 material in a 7.1 studio, you can route the surround channels to both side and rear speakers at proper levels to avoid a silent rear. Fold-downs from 7.1 to 5.1 or stereo are also supported, which is useful for game sound design.
Practical Applications
Typical uses include preparing mixes for different delivery formats, such as translating an immersive mix to a standard surround format for a client. It is also effective for aligning subwoofers by inverting polarity or routing bass to the sub. The ‘bring to center’ function helps isolate a clicking noise by moving a panned track to the center speaker for surgical editing.
AudioMatrix is suitable for film, TV, and game audio professionals who need reliable and quick channel routing. It simplifies complex tasks like MS conversion and fold-downs, saving time and reducing errors. Whether you are working with music, dialogue, or sound effects, the plugin’s utility makes it a versatile tool in any surround or immersive audio workflow.
Key features
- Unlimited routing matrix from any input to any output
- Gain and polarity controls per routing connection
- Supports mono to 64 channels, any output format
- Mid-Side conversion and Big Mono creation
- Mirror left/right channels, channel/LFE mute and gain
- Speaker array management and fold-downs
- Send any channel to subwoofer with independent levels
Best for
AudioMatrix is best for sound professionals who frequently deal with surround or immersive formats, needing fast and accurate channel routing, format conversion, and MS processing. It is ideal for post-production studios, game audio designers, and mixing engineers who require precise control over channel assignments and polarity without complex external routing.