PDF Manual - Plugin Alliance

IntroductionMusic emphasizing techniqueOne of the Vitalizer’s main features is the unmasking of overlappingsounds. The way it works is, in principle, opposite to the waycompression formats (MP3, etc.) do: instead of deleting allegedlyunnecessary information, it enhances it. In order to do that, theVitalizer takes into account the perception of a frequency in relationto its volume. By shifting louder frequencies slightly in time,softer and formerly overlapping sounds are “unmasked” andmade audible. The audible effect of unmasking could be describedin general terms as more clarity and depth in a mix. Lows soundmore powerful and better defined, mids more focused and differentiatedand highs more vivid and brilliant. It can be used onindividual channels to emphasize the sound character of instrumentsor vocals. The clarity and definition achieved guarantee anadequately perceptible presence in the mix.Another characteristic of the Vitalizer’s sound optimization processis the adaptation of the sound spectrum to the non-linearsensitivity of human hearing. This phenomenon was audiometricallyproved in the 1930’s thanks to the equal loudness contours,also known as the Fletcher-Munson curves after their discoverers.According to these curves, the human ear is most sensitive to midfrequencies, i.e. to the frequency range of speech. As a result, frequenciesbelow 200 Hz and above 6000 Hz need reinforcementin order to achieve a well-balanced auditory impression – frequenciesbetween 6 kHz and approximately 11 kHz are perceivedas being 5 dB softer, for example. The Vitalizer uses the equalloudnesscontours to balance the frequency spectrum accordingto human hearing, which in turn improves loudness. As a result,individual elements of a mix can sound more present without anactual increase in level. At the same time, the sum signal also benefitsfrom the Vitalizer processing since it can achieve the sameloudness with less sound pressure level.6 Vitalizer ® Analog Code ® Plug-in