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Product	Spectra'phy
Developer	Crysonic
Primary Type	Dynamics (Compressor / Limiter)
Price (MSRP)	$59.95

Plug-in Formats

Effect(s)

Operating System Availability

Operating System	Latest Version	Download	Is it Available?
	1.0	Demo / Trial
	N/A	-

Miscellaneous Information

Copy Protection	None
Average User Rating

Known to work

Spectra'phy is a "mastering grade" look-ahead brickwall limiter that utilizes the principals of mechanical physics for audio processing. The method employed allows the mastering engineer to achieve maximum perceived "loudness" transparently without ever getting overshoots (Digital-overs) with minimum audible distortion. The characteristics of the final audio can quickly be adjusted to taste with only two rotary-dials. The drive / color dial component also allows the addition of analog saturation when "running hot", this can be disabled if not required.

Crysonic claims that what makes Spectra'phy's process unique is the "novel" approach used for its dynamic signal analysis. Internally Spectra'phy utilizes a special physics engine to accurately simulate multiple response signals to maximize the perceived signal volume and to also "brick wall" upper limit to peak set levels. Final response curve is computed on the analysis of multiple simulations each having different characteristics that are driven mainly by incoming transient signals concurrently. This approach apparently tends to produce a more natural sound, almost completely eliminating the risk of introducing audible nonlinear distortion.

Main features:

Physics based Peak Limiting.
Maximum transparent loudness.
Look-ahead Brickwall limiting with no overshoots (Digital-overs).
Variable Limiter mode (Analog / Physical - Digital / Current).
Elasticity - Limiter Transient (Peak) response strength / Speed.
Saturation / Drive Dial.
VST Automation for all parameters.
Gain reduction and RMS meters.
64-bit internal precision.
24bit/96Khz audio support.
Optimized custom DSP code.
Suitable for Mastering, Mixing and Tracking.

All KVR Audio news items relating to Spectra'phy.

Crysonic releases Spectra'Phy LE for Mac OS X and Windows	7th August 2007
Crysonic launches CryBASS and CryVintage Bundles	25th July 2007
Crysonic launches CryEverything bundle; 50% Discount Offer; Imminent support for Mac OS X and Windows native	28th June 2007
Crysonic launches three Group Buys	5th March 2007
Crysonic releases Spectra'phy v1.0	14th August 2006

User Reviews by KVR Members for Spectra'phy.

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By xsys
On 15th July 2009
Version: 1.0

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xsys

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GUI

Sound

Features

Docs

Presets

Support

VFM

Stability

Note: KVR has a problem with allowing members to edit their reviews apparently, so I have signed on as another member (xsys) to correct my mistake (the first review). That review was written after several days of reviewing many different limiters, and was unwarranted.

Since I originally posted such a scathing review, I thought I would re-investigate this product, and try to find something positive to write about it. It does have a simple interface, and it takes a minimum amount of tweaking to get it to work. In fact, just slap it on a bus and its already limiting. It does consistently handle your peaks, and that can be useful.

The ease of use is definitely a positive aspect of this product, and I can add that the addition of the tube distortion emulation with coloring is also interesting. It did seem to do something, and there were moments in the material when the coloring did sound slightly better than the un-colored material, but I don’t know if I would tie the sound to tube emulation exactly. The other unique features (like “physics” algorithms) are new to any software of this nature, and it is difficult to tell what it is doing. The “Virtual Spring” effect evidently refers to (just guessing here) string theory (i.e. the most basic element is a springy string), but does this give the author leeway for making a “physics” connection? I don’t really know, but it is certainly welcome if it does something (or develops into something). I did see some alteration of the resulting waveform when adjusting these parameters, so it may be doing what it says.

The documentation is very sparse, but you don’t need any to start using it. However, it would be nice to have some detailed explanation regarding the physics and how we are supposed to optimize the use of this new feature. There are no presets, but again, it is very simple to use. The support response was a little slow, but they did respond within 24 hours (they are in Australia). That is fine in my book. During my testing, I did experience a computer hard freeze while I was adjusting one of the knobs, but this may have been unrelated (and did not repeat). Otherwise, it appeared to be stable, and it provided functionality that had some use…even if it was for the sole purpose of brick-walling audio peaks. I question whether this product is really doing proper peak reduction that can be trusted as a “Master” limiter in a professional setting. I am not a professional audio engineer, but it seems like it can be trusted to use as a simple brick-wall limiter at the end of the plugin chain.

Is that worth money? It is difficult to say that this is worth the asking price…there are a lot of free plugins that do brickwall limiting. It would also be unfair to say it is worthless. I would like to see a few more controls (simple input and output gain controls would be nice), and a detailed explanation of what the “physics” means to me in terms of mastering my audio. Maybe a few before-and-after audio files on the website would be helpful, demonstrating exactly what is unique about this product that justifies the price.

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