Har-Bal Promises to Turn Anyone Into a Mastering Engineer
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(Click for a close-up) |
August 19, 2003
Har-Bal International - a joint venture
between TAQUIS (Australia) and HDQTRZ Digital Studios (US) - announced Har-Bal (Harmonic Balancer), a new mastering
equalization system for Windows systems (95,98,ME, NT, 2000 or XP) that
processes mixed track sound files.
The software is composed of two parts: a spectrum analysis engine and a
high-resolution linear phase digital filter to perform the EQ'ing. Har-Bal analyzes
a recording, which gives a measure of the average and peak spectrum content
(displayed graphically) from which any user can easily judge the spectral
balance. Next, the software allows you to
design a matching digital filter. The spectrum measurement provides you with an
indication of any problems in the recording.
Har-Bal International claims that their software address a class of frequencies that have proven
to be troublesome to the human body - those frequencies felt in the body, i.e., low
frequencies, with high amplitudes and throbbing, pulsing envelopes, that can make
listeners sick to their stomach.
For an undetermined period of time, a restricted version of Har-Bal can be
downloaded at www.har-bal.com. You will no longer need to test your
mastered CD in cars, boom boxes, walkmans, etc, according to the company. The software uses an
8192-point linear phase FIR filter whose characteristics are designed to
match and compensate for the average spectrum as closely as possible.
Har-Bal International is currently working on a plug-in version for
individual tracks. For more information, visit their web site at www.har-bal.com. | 
