Refined Audiometrics Laboratory releases System 1200

Refined Audiometrics Laboratory has released System 1200, a "light" version of their Systems 2000 and 5000, suitable for use on personal computers as a VST plugin (Windows, Mac OS X and Receptor). It restores lost hearing for musical listening for those who have blown their ears or otherwise lost some (or a lot of) hearing acuity. Corrections are handled in stereo at 44.1 kHz sample rates, with 50 overlapping Bark bands and 4-fold temporal overlap processing, to push inter-modulation distortion products more than 80 dB below the signal levels. Corrections are updated at approximately 1 kHz rate.

A sophisticated physics and hearing physiology model computes the corrections needed at every instant and in every Bark band so that the listener regains "Golden Ear" abilities. Hearing corrections can be dialed in from standard audiology measurements, or by using the proprietary single-slider VTuning, which suffices for most listeners.

The product is intended for use in a VST host program where this plugin will be the last processing step before reaching the headphones or speakers. A headphone crossover is included as a switchable option that simulates cross-channel head-shadowing and transit delay to relieve the headphone listener of excessive stereo separation from mixes intended for playback on speaker systems.

System 1200 is available as a VST plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X and costs $1500 (plus shipping). It is compatible with Receptor.