v1.8.0 (beta)

Please note this is a beta release, which includes a rework of how parameters are handled (replacing old deprecated code, with modern JUCE recommendations). This has a number of benefits (listed below). However, while efforts have been made to ensure a smooth switch over for current projects hosting older versions of the plugins, it is possible that some existing parameter settings, automation data, or DAW parameter linking, will no longer be correct. If you notice something is wrong, try removing and re-adding the plugin. If the issue persists, please report it via the GitHub "Issues" tab :)

SPARTA release, version 1.8.0, which contains:

Pre-built VST plug-ins for:

• MacOS* (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Pre-built LV2 plug-ins for:

• MacOS* (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Pre-built VST3 plug-ins for:

• MacOS* (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

*Note MacOS users will need to go to "System Settings -> Privacy & Security" and click "Open Anyway" to open the installer.

If you would like to learn more about the plug-ins included in the SPARTA installer, then check out the companion website :)

Changes

• Replaced deprecated parameter handling code with a modern JUCE parameter manager, resulting in:
  • improved automation behaviour (such as the ability to also write automation data),
  • double clicking on most parameter sliders will set them to their default value,
  • units are now shown in parameter labels,
  • better syncing between JUCE GUI and the default UI
  • greater flexibility and compatibility moving forward
• Added a workaround so that 128 channel plugins will no longer crash in MaxMSP (thank you @mdedwards).
• The sparta_6DoFconv plugin is now compiled and released with SAF_NETCDF enabled (MacOS and Windows), allowing much larger SOFA files to be loaded (thank you @orchidas, @TeodorsKerimovs, @ahihi)
• The sparta_beamformer, sparta_ambiENC, and sparta_rotator plugins no longer incur a "frame size" of latency (thank you Tomasetti, M., Farina, A. and Turchet, L).
• Various bug fixes (thank you @ollpu, @TroikaTronix, @Afrodo2829, @Greaseball0815, @mspanc, @tom-rod, @axisprojectproductions, @alpianon, @hectorC).
• Minor improvements to the look and design of the plugin GUIs.

v1.7.1

SPARTA release, version 1.7.1, which contains:

Pre-built VST plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Pre-built LV2 plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Pre-built VST3 plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Some comments regarding the different plug-in versions and using channel counts beyond 64 (as tested in REAPER v7.09):

• Note that only the SPARTA plugins (i.e., those with the sparta_ prefix) were bumped up to 128 channels.
• VST - these versions show up as supporting only up to 64 channels (listed as e.g. VST: sparta_ambiBIN (AALTO) (64ch) in the FX window). However, they do actually work up to 128 channels.
• LV2 - these show up as supporting 128 channels (e.g., LV2: sparta_ambiBIN (AALTO) (128ch)), and they do actually work up to 128 channels. However, the plugins are not able to warn you (in the top right corner of the window) if you have an insufficient number of input/output channels for the current configuration. Therefore, you yourself need to be careful and ensure that there are a sufficient number of channels for the current plugin configuration.
• VST3 - these show up as supporting 128 channels (e.g., VST3: sparta_ambiBIN (AALTO) (128ch)). However, they are actually unpredictable and will only work up to whatever channel layout they feel like doing. They usually cap out at either 24 or 64 channels. In general, VST3 is still not a suitable format for these kind of multi-channel plugins. We therefore recommend that you instead use the VST (or LV2) versions, if possible.

If you would like to learn more about the plug-ins included in the SPARTA installer, then you can visit this companion website :)

Changes

• Added LV2 versions for also MacOS and Windows.
• Improved channel layout behaviour for more plugins (although, please refer to the notes above).
• Reverted changes made to sparta_ambiBIN. It will now sound the same as it did pre-v1.7.0.

v1.7.0

SPARTA release, version 1.7.0

This release contains pre-built VST2 plug-ins (recommended) for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

And pre-built VST3 plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link
• Note: these VST3 versions may have issues with certain channel layouts in some hosts. If you encounter these issues, then switch back to the VST2 versions.

And pre-built LV2 plug-ins for:

• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Note: these LV2 versions may have issues with certain channel layouts in some hosts. If you encounter these issues, then switch back to the VST2 versions.

This release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, HADES renderer, HO-SIRR app, CroPaC-Binaural plug-in, and the UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in. You can learn more about these plug-ins on this website :)

Changes

• Added support for up to 128 channels (or up to 10th order) input/output for many of the plugins
• Improvements to the 6DoF convolver plugin (thank you @MarcoBin)
• Various bug fixes and improvements here and there

v1.6.2

SPARTA release, version 1.6.2

This release contains pre-built VST2 plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link (recommended)
• MacOS (10.13+, x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

And pre-built VST3 plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link (note: these versions may have issues with certain channel layouts in some hosts)

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, HADES renderer, HO-SIRR app, CroPaC-Binaural plug-in, and the UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in. You can learn more about these plug-ins on this website :)

Changes

• Added experimental VST3 versions for ARM/x86 MacOS users
• Added Eigenmike64 preset to Array2SH
• Bug fixes

v1.6.1

SPARTA release, version 1.6.1

This release contains pre-built plug-ins for:

• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link (recommended)
• MacOS (10.13+, x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, HADES renderer, HO-SIRR app, CroPaC-Binaural plug-in, and the UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in. Learn more about all of the included plug-ins from here.

Changes

• Bug fixes (thank you @mtmccrea @jpecquais @Wenkang-Liu @SDX-LV)

v1.6.0

SPARTA release, version 1.6.0

This release contains pre-built plug-ins for:

• MacOS (10.13+, x86-64) - Download Link (recommended for Intel CPUs)
• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, HADES renderer, HO-SIRR app, CroPaC-Binaural plug-in, and the UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in. Learn more about all of the included plug-ins from here.

Changes

• Added hades_renderer (thank you @jananifernandez)
• Added sparta_binauraliserNF plug-in (thank you @mtmccrea and @SebastianJiroSchlecht)
• Added sparta_6dofconv plug-in (thank you @rapolasd @nmkahlen and @thomas-mckenzie)
• Overhauled the Ambient rendering for the compass_binaural, compass_binauralVR, and compass_decoder plug-ins (thank you @polarch)
• A number of bug fixes and optimisations (thank you @Andertve @jpecquais @muziker)

v1.5.2

SPARTA release, version 1.5.2

This release contains pre-built plug-ins for:

• MacOS (10.13+, x86-64) - Download Link (recommended for Intel CPUs)
• MacOS (11.0+, ARM & x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, the HO-SIRR app, the CroPaC-Binaural plug-in, and the UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in. Learn more about all of the included plug-ins from here.

Changes

• Added compass_6dof plug-in (thank you @polarch @thomas-mckenzie)
• Added UltrasonicSuperHearing plug-in (thank you @RaiGon84 VillePulkki)
• Minor bug fixes and optimisations all round

v1.5.1

SPARTA release, version 1.5.1

This release contains pre-built plug-ins for:

• MacOS (10.13+, x86-64) - Download Link
• Linux (x86-64) - Download Link
• Windows (x86-64) - Download Link

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, the HO-SIRR app, and the CroPaC-Binaural plug-in. Learn more about all of the included plug-ins from here.

Changes

• Many optimisations for the internal signal processing (especially for the compass plug-ins)
• Some improvements for compass_upmixer (increased internal spatial grid density) (thank you @mtmccrea)
• Some bug fixes and minor improvements all round

v1.5.0

SPARTA release, version 1.5.0 (previously released: 2021/04/22)

This release contains pre-built plug-ins for: MacOS (10.13+, x86-64), Linux (x86-64), and Windows (x86-64).

Note that this release also includes the COMPASS plug-in suite, HO-DirAC suite, the HO-SIRR app, and the CroPaC-Binaural plug-in. Learn more about all of the included plug-ins from here.

The binaries/installers may be downloaded from here:
http://research.spa.aalto.fi/projects/sparta_vsts/download

Previous versions may be downloaded from here:
http://research.spa.aalto.fi/projects/sparta_vsts/download/Archive