Auricula Software has released five Audio Unit "Ear Training" plug-ins that aim to make you a better listener.

Recording engineers need highly developed and specialized listening skills. Typically, these skills are acquired through years of practice, often with the assistance of one or more mentors. With so much music being self-recorded, self-produced, or created outside the mainstream, the traditional path to 'golden ears' may be a rocky road or not available at all for many now involved in this process.

Auricula Software's five "Ear Training" plug-ins - Helix, Helix Pro, Incus, Malleus, and Stapes - improve your ability to hear processing like EQ, filters, delay, gain changes, alterations to the stereo field and much more. This is done through a 'quiz' mechanism. The plug-in automatically makes some change to your sound - you are then given a chance to listen critically - then you respond with what you think the correct answer is. You are then shown the right answer and a running score is kept. You make each exercise as easy as you need to and increase the level of difficulty as you progress, all the way to insanely difficult if you are so inclined.

The plug-ins work in a 'demo' mode, but to have access to all the available features the plug-ins must be purchased and authorized. They cost just $1.99 each to use through the end of the calendar year. All 5 plug-ins can be purchased in a 'bundle' for $8.99.

All plug-ins are available in the Audio Unit (AU) format and require Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5.