aXMonitor is an ambisonic monitoring plugin that decodes up to tenth-order ambisonic scenes to binaural for headphone listening, supports custom SOFA HRTFs, and offers UHJ or stereo outputs for loudspeaker distribution.
Purpose and Core Functionality
aXMonitor serves as an ambisonic monitoring decoder designed for immersive audio production. It accepts ambisonic signals from first to tenth order and converts them to binaural output for headphone monitoring, providing a way to evaluate surround mixes without physical speaker arrays. The plugin automatically detects the ambisonic order of the input signal, optimizing CPU usage when working with lower-order material.
For traditional loudspeaker delivery, the plugin can decode first-order signals to stereo, offering a practical path for distributing immersive content in conventional formats. This dual capability makes it a flexible tool for sound designers and music producers who need both immersive and stereo monitoring options in a single plugin.
Key Capabilities
A notable feature is support for the SOFA format, allowing users to load custom head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for personalized binaural rendering. This enhances the accuracy of spatial perception, which is critical for critical monitoring and mixing decisions. The default binaural decoding uses HRTFs generated from Google’s Resonance Audio, a widely used reference in spatial audio.
In addition to binaural output, aXMonitor offers UHJ ‘Super Stereo’ encoding, which produces a two-channel representation of the ambisonic scene. This UHJ encode can be performed using either FIR or IIR filters, giving users control over the filter characteristics. This output is useful for archiving or broadcasting immersive audio in a stereo-compatible format while retaining a sense of spatial depth.
Workflow Integration
In a production workflow, aXMonitor can be inserted on an ambisonic track or bus within a DAW. With the plugin enabled, the user can switch between binaural monitoring for headphone use and UHJ or standard stereo output for DAW routing or export. The automatic order detection streamlines the setup, eliminating manual configuration when changing between ambisonic sources.
For higher-order ambisonics, the plugin can process up to tenth order, but this is currently limited to DAWs that support 128-channel tracks, such as Reaper 7+. Other DAWs have lower limits: Pro Tools Ultimate supports up to seventh order, and Cubase is limited to third order. Users working in these environments must consider this constraint when planning their ambisonic sessions.
Practical Applications
aXMonitor is suitable for sound designers and music producers who need accurate spatial monitoring during ambisonic mixing. With headphones, the binaural output provides a portable, consistent monitoring environment, while the custom HRTF support allows for tailoring the response to individual listeners. The UHJ output offers a way to create stereo-compatible versions of immersive mixes for clients or distribution.
For educational settings or small studios without full speaker arrays, this plugin enables students and creators to experience spatial audio production with minimal hardware. The ability to decode first-order to stereo also means that material originally intended for immersive systems can be repurposed for conventional playback, broadening the reach of the content.
Key features
- Decodes ambisonic signals from first to tenth order to binaural
- SOFA format custom HRTF loading
- UHJ Super Stereo output with FIR or IIR filters
- Cardioid stereo decoding for mic pairs
- Automatic ambisonic order detection
- Gain control for final output level
Best for
Sound designers and music producers working with ambisonic audio who need flexible monitoring on headphones or stereo systems. It is particularly useful in headphones-only environments, for verifying mixes in controllable conditions, and for creating stereo-compatible deliverables when full loudspeaker arrays are unavailable.