Genelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

System Operating Manual
The ultimate in personalised headphone monitoring

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ....................................................................................... 3
Quick Guide................................................................................................ 5
System Requirements ................................................................................ 6
Operating System Support ...................................................................... 6
Plug-in Formats....................................................................................... 6
How to Work with Your Subscription ........................................................... 7
Software License .................................................................................... 7
Need for Internet Connectivity ................................................................. 7
Changes to Your License ........................................................................ 7
Authorization .............................................................................................. 8
How authorization works ......................................................................... 8
Transferring Aural ID to an Offline Device ............................................... 8
Using Multiple Computers ....................................................................... 8
Changing to a New Computer ................................................................. 8
Introduction to Monitoring with Aural ID ...................................................... 9
Monitoring of Audio ................................................................................. 9
Monitoring Using Headphones ................................................................ 9
Who Uses Aural ID?.............................................................................. 10
Aural ID is Your Personal Tool .............................................................. 11
Aural ID Models How You Hear ............................................................ 11
Aural ID System Components ............................................................... 11
Steps to Get Your Aural ID .................................................................... 12
Aural ID | Creator .................................................................................. 13
Aural ID | Plug-in ................................................................................... 13
What Headphones to Use ..................................................................... 14
Personal Calibration of Aural ID | Plug-in .............................................. 15
Aural ID | Creator App in Detail ................................................................. 17
Installing the Creator App ...................................................................... 17
Steps Required ..................................................................................... 17
Creating Your Aural ID Profiles ............................................................. 17
Taking Photos of Your Ears .................................................................. 18
Capturing the Video .............................................................................. 19
Reviewing and Uploading the Photos and Video ................................... 21
Subscription Selection and Payment ..................................................... 21

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Aural ID | Plug-In Installation Steps .......................................................... 22
Steps Required ..................................................................................... 22
The Plug-in is a Headphone Renderer .................................................. 22
Installing on a Mac Computer ................................................................ 22
Installing on a Windows Computer ........................................................ 24
Uninstalling the Plug-in ......................................................................... 25
Location of Aural ID Data in Your Computer ......................................... 25
Aural ID | Plug-in Function Reference ....................................................... 26
Signal Flow ........................................................................................... 26
Main View ............................................................................................. 26
On/Off toggle switches .......................................................................... 27
Channel Assignment ............................................................................. 28
Location of Plug-in in the DAW signal chain .......................................... 29
Virtual Monitor Layout ........................................................................... 29
Load Aural ID ........................................................................................ 31
Aural ID Rendering Signal Flow and On/Off Switch ............................... 32
Headphone Selection ............................................................................ 32
Headphone Model in Drop-Down Menu ................................................ 33+HDGSKRQH0RGHOµ2WKHU¶ ..................................................................... 33
Equalizer and On/Off Control for Equalizer ........................................... 33
Import Filters from GLM ........................................................................ 35
Output Gain Control .............................................................................. 35
Import and Export ± Moving Aural ID Profile ......................................... 35
LFE Channel Controls ........................................................................... 35
Mute and Solo Keyboard Shortcuts for Virtual Monitors ........................ 36
Calibrating the Virtual Monitors ............................................................. 36
Calibrating Listener Look Direction........................................................ 38
Legend .................................................................................................. 39
Learn More ............................................................................................... 40
Monitoring of Audio ............................................................................... 40
Mechanisms for Localization of Sound .................................................. 40
Directional and Common Transfer Functions ........................................ 42
Headphone Monitoring .......................................................................... 42
Personal Calibration of the Aural ID Plug-in .......................................... 43

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Quick Guide

To get your personal Aural ID data
1. Install the Aural ID Creator app, and create you Genelec
Community account or log in to your existing Genelec account.
2. Use the Aural ID Creator app to record and upload the material for
the Aural ID plug-in.
3. Select a subscription and place your order.
Aural ID data is produced will appear on your account. This takes about twoworking days. Once you receive a notification that the Aural ID iscompleted, then:
4. Go to your Aural ID web shop account, then download and install
the Aural ID plug-in. Additional information on configuring different
DAWs is available in the section µDAW Configuration Guide¶.
5. Select the plug-in in a project within your DAW, open the plug-in, log
onto your account and select the Aural ID Profile. Then set up
channel assignments and calibrate the plug-In for your headphones.
Performing the calibration is essential for accurate monitoring using Aural
ID. To calibrate the Aural ID plug-in, take the following steps:x

Step 1: Select the virtual monitor layout you use and assign the
loudspeaker feeds in your DAW to the virtual monitors using thecross-switch window.

x

Step 2: Select the headphone type you use ± if you do not find your
KHDGSKRQHOLVWHGVHOHFWWKH³Other´option in the headphone list.

x

Step 3: While playing audio on your DAW, calibrate the locations
and levels for each virtual monitor one at the time, and calibrate thelistener direction for the whole playback system.

x

Step 4: Edit the user equalizer to match the sound colour to yourworkflow, or to match your loudspeaker-based monitoring system.

x

Step 5: Save your plug-in settings in the DAW project.

x

After a few days, re-calibrate the plug-in to obtain maximum
accuracy.

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System Requirements
Operating System Support
The Aural ID plug-in is available for both OS X and Windows. The plug-in
has been tested on Windows 10 (v.1903), OS X 10.14 (Mojave), OS X
10.15 (Catalina) and OS X 11.2 (Big Sur).
On other versions, functionality cannot be guaranteed.

Plug-in Formats
The plug-in is available in the following formats on different operating
systemsx

OS X: VST3, AU, Avid AAX.

x

Windows: VST3, Avid AAX.

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How to Work with Your Subscription
Software License
The Aural ID plug-in is a free download from the Genelec website. You
subscribe using your personal Aural ID Profile. With a subscription you can
use the Aural ID file for the subscription period. Monthly subscription
renews and is automatically billed once a month as long as yoursubscription is valid.
The Aural ID Profile stores your HRTF information and also carries
information about how long the subscription is valid.
An active subscription licenses you to use Aural ID. This includes:x

Calculation of your personal Aural ID HRTF.

x

License to install and use the Aural ID plug-in on your DAW.

x

Help and support services from Genelec.

x

Continued updates to the plug-in and other services.

Need for Internet Connectivity
After installation, select your Aural ID Profile within the plug-in. Selecting
your Profile loads it onto the DAW computer running the plug-in. You needan Internet connection for this.
After initial download, an Internet connection is needed at the start of thenext subscription period when updates to your license information happen.
The plug-in needs a connection to the Genelec Cloud in order to refresh its
validity period. Choosing a longer subscription period reduces thefrequency with which the plug-in must be connected to the Internet.

Changes to Your License
You can change from one license type to another. Your ongoing license
period is always used up first. The change to the new subscription takes
effect at the end of your current license period.

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Authorization
How authorization works
Using the Aural ID plug-in to access your Aural ID data via the Genelec
Cloud will download a file onto your hard drive. Your licensing information isstored in this local file along with your Aural ID data. Because of this, aseparate USB licensing dongle or similar hardware key is not needed forauthorization.
Each license is associated with one Aural ID Profile.
You can have several Aural ID Profiles on your account, but you will needseparate licenses for each of them.
After downloading the Aural ID plug-in onto your computer, your Internet
connection is no longer necessary while using the plug-in ± until the end ofyour subscription period. At that point, an Internet connection is neededagain so that your Aural ID plug-in can continue to operate.

Transferring Aural ID to an Offline Device
To use the Aural ID plug-in on a computer that is never connected to theInternet, download the Aural ID Profile onto a memory device such as a
USB stick, and transport it to your offline computer. To do this, use the
Plug-in Export feature and place the data onto the memory device. Install
the plug-in onto your offline computer first, then use the Import feature of
the plug-in to read in and activate the Profile there. At the end of thesubscription period, you must download and transfer a copy of the new
updated Aural ID file again to keep the offline computer working.

Using Multiple Computers
To use Aural ID on multiple computers, copy your Aural ID file to anothercomputer following the Transfer instructions above.

Changing to a New Computer
When your computer is replaced, open your account, download and install
the plug-in onto the new computer, then open your Aural ID file.
Alternatively, you can use the Transfer Aural ID method.

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Introduction to Monitoring with Aural ID
Aural ID offers you a completely personal and truthful headphonemonitoring experience.

Monitoring of Audio
Mixes use virtual sound images, which are created on the sound stage
between two or more loudspeakers.
When the sound presentation is created in a studio, level panning is the
typical method used for placing virtual sources. For stereo or multichannel
on-site recordings however, the microphone positioning tends to dictate theplacement. This acoustic space presentation can be delivered using
loudspeakers.
Experiences of the sound stage, virtual sound images, and acoustic space
are created by exploiting the mechanisms of human directional hearing.

Loudspeaker-based monitoring enables you to work with virtual sound images to create a sound stage.

Monitoring Using Headphones
Headphones are used for monitoring the details in a mix, since they canoffer excellent signal-to-noise ratio and isolation for noises, so low-level
audio becomes audible. They are also used for checking that a headphone
mix sounds good, since so much music these days is experienced throughheadphones.
Headphones deliver sound directly into your ears. This eliminates yourdirectional hearing, since head-related sound colour changes cannot occur.
For this reason, headphone sound seems to happen µinside¶ your head.
Aural ID computes how your head, external ear and upper body affectaudio arriving from a given direction. This effect is called the Head-Related
Transfer Function (HRTF) and is totally unique to you.

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Aural ID will enhance your headphone monitoring experience, by bringing
back the effects of your directional hearing. This recreates virtual soundimages µoutside¶ your head, and enables you to hear the sound stage
again, providing a sense of space and direction similar to that presented by
loudspeaker-based monitoring.

Loudspeakers offer a sound stage
with virtual sound sources

With standard headphone
listening, virtual sound sources
appear µinside¶ WKHOLVWHQHU¶VKHDG

Aural ID can recreate the correct
sense of imaging for headphone
listening

Who Uses Aural ID?
Aural ID is aimed primarily at audio professionals working in music, film,
broadcast, game audio design, and provides a headphone listening
experience that presents virtual loudspeakers without the effects of room
colouration, for maximum accuracy.
Aural ID enables mobility and flexibility, assisting the creative process bygiving a more natural sense of imaging and enabling mix decisions thanhave ever been possible before using headphones. Your workflow canbecome more flexible, switching between using headphones andloudspeaker-based monitoring. Aural ID can also be a useful tool for
remote collaboration.

Aural ID enables you to hear the sound stage similar to that delivered by loudspeaker-based monitoring.

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Aural ID is Your Personal Tool
Aural ID represents your unique hearing, as embedded in your personal
HRTF. This makes Aural ID your completely personal monitoring tool,
avoiding the widely-used but less accurate generic HRTFs.
Aural ID works slightly differently from loudspeaker monitors since in alistening room, several people can simultaneously hear the sound. Because
Aural ID provides a very personal way of hearing sound, you cannot passyour headphones to your friends or colleagues and expect them to get thesame presentation (unless they are identical twins with you).

Aural ID Models How You Hear
Aural ID models the way your head, external ears and upper body affectthe sounds that you hear around you. Your body colours audio differently
depending on the sound source direction and distance, and this effect istotally unique to every person (because we all have slightly different
shapes). This effect enables you to localize sound and is called the HeadRelated Transfer Function (HRTF).
This HRTF consists of two parts ± Common Factor and Directional Factor.
The Directional Factor creates the sense of where the audio source is. The
Common Factor plays a significant part in creating your personal
experience of the sound colour. When you listen to sound overheadphones, the Aural ID plug-in renders audio signals so that they appearµoutside¶ your head, arriving from the correct direction and having thecorrect presentation of sound colour. Achieving this usually requires
personal calibration.

Left and right ear Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) are captured individually by Aural ID.

Aural ID System Components
Aural ID is a complete system that supports you in acquiring and using yourpersonal HRTF in an easy way. The Aural ID system components include:x

Aural ID | Creator ± a mobile device app for capturing your personalhead and external ear shape data and placing an order for Aural ID.

x

Aural ID | Plug-in ± a DAW plug-in for rendering multichannel audio
presentations over headphones using your personal Aural ID
Profile.

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The Aural ID Profile contains your personal HRTF data andinformation about your subscription. The Profile is maintained in the
Genelec Cloud and is downloaded into your plug-in for use.

x

The Aural ID Manager is an area of the Genelec website where you
can manage your subscription.

Components of the Aural ID system: Creator and Manager enable handling of your Profile. Plug-in maintains your Profile
within the Genelec Cloud and enables rendering for headphones in your DAW.

Steps to Get Your Aural ID
The Aural ID plug-in is available via a subscription. This gives you
continuous access to the latest updates, future Aural ID features andimmediate help desk access.

The steps to getting you personal Aural ID.

Briefly, the steps to getting your personal Aural ID up and running are:x

Install the Aural ID Creator app.

x

Create your Genelec Community account, or log in to your existingaccount.

x

Use the Aural ID Creator app to record and upload the material for
the Aural ID ± this includes a video and two photographs.

x

Select your subscription and place your order.

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After this, Genelec will process your material to generate your Aural ID. The
Aural ID will then appear on your account. This takes about two working
days. Once you receive a notification that the Aural ID is completed, then:x

Go to your account and download the Aural ID plug-in.

xInstall the Aural ID plug-in.

xUsing the plug-in, log onto your account and select the Aural ID
Profile you want to use.

x

Follow the steps to calibrate your Aural ID Profile with yourheadphones.

The personal HRTF data can also be purchased as a SOFA file. The SOFA
file format is standard and frequently supported by third-party software, butplease note that SOFA file cannot be used with Aural ID plug-in, so only
consider this if you plan to use other binaural processors. SOFA is a fileformat for storing spatially oriented acoustic data like head-related transfer
functions (HRTFs) and binaural or spatial room impulse responses (BRIRs,
SRIRs). SOFA is specified in standard AES69-2015 by the AudioEngineering Society (AES).

Aural ID | Creator
The Creator app conveniently collects the data needed to create your Aural
ID data with your mobile phone. The app is available via the Apple andAndroid app stores. The app helps you take 360-degree video footage ofyourself, and take photos of your ears. This is the key information needed
to calculate your personal high-resolution HRTF.

The Aural ID Creator app collects your personal geometry and enables calculation of your Aural ID (HRTF) in the
Genelec Cloud in two steps ± two dimension photos of your ears, and a video around your head and shoulders.

Aural ID | Plug-in
The Aural ID Plug-in integrates your HRTF into your DAW and your work
process. The Aural ID plug-in renders audio to appear in any direction andcan create a virtual model of your loudspeaker layout.

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Data from the Creator app is processed in the Genelec Cloud to generate your Aural ID data containing your HRTF. This
HRTF is applied to audio via the Aural ID Plug-in, generating the virtual monitor layout and enabling headphone-based
monitoring.

The Aural ID Plug-in installs to your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
Using plug-in software avoids routing audio outside of the DAW, and offers
a user interface integrated to the DAW working process. The plug-in isavailable in VST, AAX and AU formats.
Although Aural ID is a plug-in, it is not an µeffect¶. It is your personalmonitoring system. You cannot use Aural ID plug-in processing to µSROLVK¶
the sound of your mix. Aural ID is intended as your personal monitoring
system for headphones, and should not be processed into an audio
recording.
The Aural ID Plug-in creates the layout of the virtual monitors according to
the channel layout you select, and assigns the input channels to the virtual
monitor feeds. It also remembers the virtual monitor layout and settings,
allowing a quick return to projects. You can adjust the virtual monitor
locations and level alignments. You can solo and mute virtual monitors in
an intuitive way, similar to working with any monitor system. The Aural ID
Plug-in also offers an equalizer for sound character adjustment, to suit yourpersonal working process.

What Headphones to Use
The Aural ID plug-in works with any high-quality professional headphones.
The Aural ID plug-in offers precise compensation of certain headphone
types, via the Headphone Type selection. This accurately addresses theunique characteristics of your specific type of headphones. When a specificheadphone type is selected from the library of models within the plug-in,
your full HRTF provides the highest accuracy for you for both audio
direction and sound colour. The full HRTF contains both the personal
Common Factor (also called Common Transfer Function) and the
Directional Factor (also called Directional Transfer Function) of the HRTF
specific to you.
If your headphone type is not available within the plug-in as an option to
select, you can always use the KHDGSKRQHW\SHµ2WKHU¶. Selecting thispreserves the natural sound character of your headphones while providing
the best effort to deliver directional information. This option does not apply
the general colouration component of your personal HRTF (called theGenelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

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Common Factor or Common Transfer Function) and therefore theheadphone characteristics will influence the sound more.

Personal Calibration of Aural ID | Plug-in
Although the Aural ID Plug-in works with any high-quality professional
headphones, all headphones have a slightly different frequency response
and characteristics.
Select the headphone type you use, or select µOther¶ for headphones thatare not listed.
Further calibrations steps are useful to ensure accurate presentation.
Briefly, the steps you should take are:x

Run a wideband test audio signal and listen to each virtual monitor
in solo mode, then adjust the azimuth and elevation for each virtual
monitor so that the location is correct. This depends on the
combination of your HRTF details with the headphones you use.

x

Working between virtual PRQLWRUVXVLQJµVROR¶mode, adjust the levelof all the monitors to be the same.

x

Listen to stereo and immersive recordings familiar to you, to double
check that the structure and presentation of the sound stage orspace is now correct.

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Go to the listener settings and evaluate the need to 'tilt¶ (using theelevation adjustment) or µturn¶ (using the azimuth direction
adjustment) the listening direction to improve the overall
presentation.

In order to match the Aural ID Plug-in presentation to your loudspeakerbased monitoring system sound and imaging, take the following steps:
xPlay familiar stereo and immersive material on your loudspeakerbased monitoring setup.

xCompare these to the Aural ID presentation of the same material.

x

Take time to analyse what you hear, and consider revisiting thecalibration steps of the individual virtual monitors.

x

Use the Equalizer function in the Aural ID Plug-in to match theoverall sound character of the plug-in presentation to yourloudspeaker-based system. Note that all the acoustic effects willaffect the results here, and the listening room acoustics will have agreat influence on your loudspeaker-based presentation, even inhigh quality rooms.

Detailed presentation of the calibration methods is provided in the sectionµLearn More about Aural ID¶ in this manual.

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Aural ID | Creator App in Detail
Installing the Creator App
The Aural ID Creator is a mobile application, available via Apple App Storeand Google Play. Look for µGenelec¶ and µAural ID Creator¶.

App icon of the Aural ID Creator application.

Steps Required
The Creator app enables you to order your personal Aural ID. The orderprocess includes these steps:x

Create a Genelec Community user profile in the Creator app. If you
already have a Genelec Community account, log in with youraccount credentials.

x

Take photos of your left and right ears using the app. Ask a friend tohelp here, and follow the app instructions.

xCapture a 360-degree video of your head and shoulders, including
detailed footage of both your ears. Again, ask a friend to help here,
but study the demo video first and then follow app instructions.

x

Upload the video and photos to the Genelec Cloud via the app.

x

Select and pay for your chosen subscription using the app.

In the following sections we discuss these steps in more detail.

Creating Your Aural ID Profiles
To create your Aural ID Profile, first sign in to your Genelec Community
account in the Creator app. ,I\RXGRQ¶WKDYHD*HQHOHF&RPPXQLW\account, you can create one directly from the Creator app (by pressing theRegister button) or you can create an account by visiting
https://community.genelec.com/

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Login screen of Aural ID Creator app.

After signing in to your GenHOHF&RPPXQLW\DFFRXQWSUHVV³1HZ2UGHU´WRstart creating your Aural ID profile. Please note that the Aural ID profilename you choose here cannot be changed later.

Taking Photos of Your Ears
After entering the name for your Aural ID profile, take photos of both ears
with a ruler placed in contact with the skin and placed either in front of, ornext to, the ear. The Creator app will turn on the mobile phone camera.
These photos are used to set the correct relationship between physicaldimensions and audio frequencies.
A graphic overlay showing the ear can be seen in the app. Match the sizeof the ear to the overlay graphic image by moving the camera close to theear. Take the photo when the ear is at the center of the camera view andmatching the overlay.

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Creator app screen for taking pictures of right and left ears.

If you already have these ear images in your mobile device photo gallery,
there is an option in the bottom right corner of the screen to select andupload these images.

Sample photos showing the location of the ruler next to your ears.

Capturing the Video
Next, use the Creator app to collect a 360-degree video around your head.
A demo video of the capture is available inside the app. We recommendthat you watch the demo video first as it demonstrates the steps required
and the correct method of capturing the video.
Before starting the video capture, work through the two-page checklist to
make sure you have the best chance of capturing a high-quality video.
Check all the points to continue to the video capture.

Creator app checklist for video capture. The check list has two pages.

After checking all the items, the app is ready for video capture. &OLFNµ6WDUWYLGHRFDSWXULQJ¶Genelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

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The Aural ID Creator app turns on the mobile device camera and light. A
graphical template appears at the centre of the screen. Click the camera
release button on your screen to start capturing video.
Once you start the capture, the graphic template starts to turn. Move yourmobile device so that the camera image matches the template image
position on the screen.
When the video capture starts, the camera starts moving to the right for the
person holding the camera.
The graphical template rotates 360 degrees. Keep the person being filmedaligned with the graphical template during the video capture.
When you reach the person¶VHDU, the template asks you to move close to
the ear slowly and smoothly.
When you are close to the ear, point the camera towards the ear
continuously, and move the camera smoothly so that the ear is seen fromall directions ± from the front, back, above and below. Do this twice. After
this, keep the camera aimed at the ear, and slowly move back until the
person is matched with the template again.
The template will guide you to continue moving around the person.
The other ear will be captured at close range in the same way as the firstear.
The template will then guide you to continue moving around the person.
After you have completed the full 360-degree video capture, and you arrive
again in front of the person, keep the camera still and end the capture bypressing the red button on the screen.

View for capturing the video in the Creator app. Note the graphical template of the person. The template will move
automatically.

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The video capturing process will take about 3 minutes. A bar on top of thescreen shows the planned progression of the video capture.
During the video capturing, text instructions and arrows appear on thescreen to explain the next step in the process and the direction of
movement or pointing of the camera.
If you have already captured this video and it is in the mobile device gallery
as a file, there is an option on the bottom right corner of the screen to selecta video file in the device library instead of shooting one.

Reviewing and Uploading the Photos and Video
After the video capture is completed, a summary page enables a review ofthe photos and the video.
Next, press the ³&RQILUPDQGUSORDG´EXWWRQWRVHQGWKHphotos and video
to the Genelec Cloud for processing. Progress of the upload is shown. Notethat uploading the video will take some time, since the video file is large.

Subscription Selection and Payment
After the upload, the app proceeds to the subscription selection andpayment.
Choose the subscription. The payment is made using the PayPal service.
Subscription will bill you automatically again at the start of every new
payment period.
Later, you can switch between subscriptions and make other changes.
When you make changes to your subscription, the changes come into
effect at the end of the current subscription period.

Subscription options in the Aural ID Creator app.

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Aural ID | Plug-In Installation Steps
Steps Required
The Aural ID Plug-In app enables you to use your personal Aural ID. The
following steps are needed to get you up and running:x

After you receive a message from Genelec that your Aural ID is now
ready for use, log in to your account via the Aural ID Manager
website.

x

Download and run the Aural ID Plug-In installer.

x

Create a project in your DAW and insert the Aural ID Plug-In.

x

Select your Aural ID in the plug-in. To do this, you need to log in to
the Genelec Cloud with your credentials.

x

Select the virtual monitor layout you want to use in the plug-in.

xSelect the specific headphone type you use ± if you do not find yourheadphones listed, select the µ2WKHU¶ setting.

x

Perform the personal calibration. Play audio on your DAW and edit
the location and level for every virtual monitor individually, andcalibrate the listener direction to make the complete presentation
accurate.

x

Edit the user equalizer to match the sound colour to yourexpectation, or your loudspeaker-based monitoring system.

x

Save your plug-in settings within the DAW project.

Now you are all set. After spending some days with the Aural ID Plug-In,
you may want to re-calibrate the plug-in to get the maximum accuracy.

The Plug-in is a Headphone Renderer
After you receive a message from Genelec saying that your Aural ID
production has been completed, download and install the Aural ID Plug-in
software into your DAW. The Aural ID Plug-in can be downloaded at youraccount page in the Aural ID webstore. The Aural ID Plug-in enables
smooth and efficient use of your Aural ID Profile for headphone rendering,
and works with Genelec Cloud based Aural ID subscriptions.

Installing on a Mac Computer
Open ³AuralIDPlug-in.pkg´ on your Mac, and this will open the installer
window shown below.

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Plug-in installer opening screen.

Click Continue.

Plug-in installer select screen.

The default location for the install is recommended. Click Install to start the
installation process.

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Installer success screen.

The plug-in has now been installed, and you can start using it.

Installing on a Windows Computer
To install the plug-in on Windows, download the Aural ID plug-in installer³AuralIDPlug-in-windows-installer.exe´ on your computer and run it.

Windows installer, showing the installation directory.

The suggested folder ³C:\Program Files\Common Files´ is the default
location for plug-ins on Windows machines.
Click Next.

Windows installer ready to start the installation.

Click Install to start the installation process.

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A VST3 plug-in ZLOOEHLQVWDOOHGLQWRWKHVXEIROGHU³\VST3´DQGWKH Avid
AAX type aaxplugin ZLOOEHLQVWDOOHGWRWKHVXEIROGHU³\Avid\Audio\PlugIns´$IWHUFRPSOHWLQJWKHinstallation, you can move the plug-in to anotherlocation if you prefer.

Windows installer screen 3.

Installation is now ready, and you can start using the plug-in.

Uninstalling the Plug-in
Windows. Go to ³Settings´ ± ³Apps and Features´. There, search for the
Aural ID Plug-in and click Uninstall. Follow instructions to complete
uninstallation.
Mac. Locate the Plug-in install folder on your hard drive. The folders fordifferent plug-in types are:x

AU: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/x

VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/xaaxplugin: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/

Go to this location and move the Plug-in to the Trash folder. With
aaxplugin LW¶VDOVRSRVVLEOHWRPRYHWKHplug-in to ³Plug-Ins(Unused)´folder.

Location of Aural ID Data in Your Computer
The file containing your Aural ID and licence data has the extension .aid.
Your Aural ID data is downloaded into your computer and stored into thefollowing location:x

Windows: C:\Users\yourusername\Documents\Genelec\AuralID\x

Mac: /Library/Application Support/Genelec

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Aural ID | Plug-in Function Reference
Signal Flow
The plug-in accepts audio channels from your DAW. The channels are
mapped to virtual monitors in the Routing Matrix. You select the virtual
monitor set in the Channel Format drop-down.
Aural ID rendering applies your personal HRTF to create the virtual
monitors. Virtual monitors can be calibrated using the plug-in controls.
When Aural ID rendering is bypassed, the first two channels provide theheadphone output.
The headphone equalizer can compensate for those headphone types thatare integrated into the plug-in¶VOLEUDU\. Using the known headphone types,
your HRTF determines the virtual monitor locations and sound colour.
When a headphone type is not in the plug-in¶V library, the directional HRTF
component is extracted and applied to generate the virtual monitors. The
headphone itself then determines the sound character.
The output sound colour can be further equalized with a six-band
parametric equalizer to suit your workflow, or to match for example aloudspeaker-based monitoring system.
The gain adjustment helps level matching, to enable transitioning between
headphone monitoring and loudspeaker-based monitoring.

Aural ID Plug-in signal flow.

Main View
In the following section, the controls in the plug-in graphical user interface
are described in detail.

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Aural ID Plug-in main view.

The main page of the Aural ID Plug-in contains the following functionalities.
These will be explained in more detail later in this document.
1.

Channel format ± shows the selected channel mapping.

2.
Channel assignment button ± adjusts the mapping of DAW channels
to the virtual monitors.
3.

Load Aural ID button ± loads your Aural ID Profile into the plug-in.

4.

Aural ID file name and on/off toggle switch.

5.

Aural ID import and export buttons.

6.

Headphone model selector.

7.

Listener equalizer and on/off toggle switch.

8.

Output gain control and on/off toggle switch.

9.

Remove all mutes and solos

10.

Listener orientation adjustments.

11.

Virtual speaker adjustments

12.

LFE-channel adjustments

On/Off toggle switches
The main window has power switch icons. The switch icon is colour coded± WKHJUHHQFRORXULQGLFDWHVWKHVZLWFKLVµRQ¶DQGWKHUHGFRORXULQGLFDWHVWKHVZLWFKLVµRII¶ Click on the switch icon to operate it.

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Channel Assignment
When you mix in DAW to directly create feed for monitoring loudspeaker,
the Aural ID Plug-in inputs these monitoring loudspeaker feed channels andoutputs a two-channel signal for headphone monitoring. This production
method is called channel-based audio, and this is the typical approach forstereo productions and any surround or immersive productions that do notuse object-based audio.

Using Aural ID Plug-in with a production generating the reproduction system loudspeaker feed siganls.

When you mix object-based audio in your DAW, you have a channel-based
audio bed, a large number of sound objects, and metadata to place, adjust,and move the sound objects around the listener. With these productions,
you use a renderer software that takes the objects with metadata and theaudio bed and combines these to generate the monitoring loudspeakerfeeds according to the loudspeaker layout selected in the renderer. Aural ID
Plug-in inputs the monitoring loudspeaker feeds from the renderer andoutputs a two-channel signal for headphone monitoring.

Using Aural ID Plug-in with an object-based audio production, generating the reproduction system loudspeaker feedsiganls in a renderer software from the sound objects in the DAW.

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Location of Plug-in in the DAW signal chain
The location where you set the plugin in the DAW signal flow is the location
where you have the complete audio presentation you want to monitor.

Aural ID Plug-in location in the DAW signal processing relative to the finalized audio output.

When you install the plug-in in the main output chain, you typically also
have other functions in this chain, such as limiters and other processing
functions. You want to hear all these effects correctly. Place the plug-in at
the last point, after all processing functions.
You may choose not to have the plug-in set on the main output because
your main output is typically the result of your work that you will deliver as
your product. Remember that the Aural ID plug-in is not an effect but amonitoring tool. Because of this, you may want to arrange the plug-in as aside-chain such that your main output remains not affected by the Aural ID
plug-in output.

Virtual Monitor Layout
The plug-in cannot know the monitor layout needed just looking at the DAWchannels as there can be any number of tracks in your project. The channel
format of the monitoring system is selected in the monitor layout dropdown, with options from mono to 7.1.4 immersive layout. The channel
assignment offers a list of popular monitor layouts.
In case you have an object-based production and you use a renderer
software, select the monitoring layout option that matches the speakerlayout option you have set in the renderer. In some cases, you may needadditional software to pipe renderer output channels to the plug-in inputs.
Please note that some audio output is available in the plug-in even when
the channel format is not correct. However, then some channels may not
be audible and the rendering of the virtual monitors is not as you expect.
Ensure you select the correct monitor layout that matches your DAW
project.

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Aural ID Plug-in channel assignment views ± channel system selector (left) and audio routing (right).

The µchannel assignment¶ button opens the audio routing window.
On the left side of the routing table, we see the input channels of the DAW
track where the plug-in has been assigned. The names you see in the left
column depend on the DAW.
The top row shows the virtual monitors created by the plug-in. The channel
system drop-down selection sets the number of the virtual monitors visible
RQWKHµRXWSXW¶OLQHDWWKHWRS.
During channel assignment, route the input channels to the monitoring
loudspeakers feeds. You route audio by highlighting an intersection of the
input and output (shown by a green mark). This stage simply establishes
the connection ± the signal gain is not yet set. Here, you ensure that each
loudspeaker feed is routed to a virtual monitor location it should use ± for
instance, the left loudspeaker feed is routed to the left virtual monitor, andso on.
Check that your channel assignments are correct. Solo each loudspeaker
feed in your DAW or in your immersive renderer, and observe on yourheadphones that the correct virtual monitor is playing.
Note that selecting a virtual monitor layout also assigns the directions ofthese virtual monitors to default values. During calibration you can adjust
the virtual monitors azimuth and elevation to be subjectively correct for yourloudspeaker layout.
If you need a monitor layout that is not included in the set of available
virtual monitor layouts, you can edit the layout definition file to create yourown layout and add it as a new selection. The virtual monitor layout options
DUHGHILQHGLQILOHµFKDQQHOBVHWXSVMVRQ¶ZKLFKLVORFDWHGLQWKHXVHUGRFXPHQWVIROGHUXQGHUWKHSDWKµ*HQHOHF$XUDO,'¶Modifications to this fileGenelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

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become available after you restart the plug-in. When you edit the JSON file,please make a backup copy first to avoid any possibility of losing theoriginal file.

Load Aural ID
This section allows you to select the Aural ID data that you use forrendering the virtual monitors. Load Aural ID button opens the load window.
The ³/RDGIURPZHE´EXWWRQRSHQVDVFUHHQfrom which a login to the
Genelec Cloud is required.

Aural ID load controls.

If you do not have your Aural ID, you can enter your order here to obtain it.
&OLFNWKHµ&UHDWH$XUDO,'¶EXWWRQ<RXZLOOQHHGWKH$XUDO,'&UHDWRUPRELOH
app and a little help from your friend to complete this step. The app can be
downloaded from the app store for either iOS and Android phones. Look for³*HQHOHF´DQG³$XUDO,'´If you already have your Aural ID but you have not started using yet, click
WKHµ/RDGIURPZHE¶button. This contacts your account in the Genelec
Cloud and moves your Aural ID into your computer.

Genelec Cloud login view.

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Login to your Genelec Cloud account.
After logging in, select the Aural ID Profile you want to download. Once
VHOHFWHGFOLFN³'RZQORDG$XUDO,'´The plug-in now downloads your Aural ID data into your computer. The
Aural ID is immediately active and is also stored on your hard drive.
In the future, \RXFDQXVHWKH³/RDGORFDOILOH´button to start using your
Aural ID file, so you do not have to visit the Genelec Cloud every time you
start the plug-in.

Select and download Aural ID view.

Aural ID Rendering Signal Flow and On/Off Switch
Next to the Aural ID file name, you will find the on/off switch icon to toggle
the HRTF rendering on and off.
When you turn off the Aural ID, rendering is bypassed. The matrix routing
and output equalizer are applied. In this mode the first two input channels
provide the output to the headphone. The remaining input channels are not
audible.
When you turn on the Aural ID, the plug-in processes all the incoming
channels according to the channel assignments and generates the virtual
monitors locations as defined by your calibration or the virtual monitor
layout selection. See the sections on µVirtual monitor layout¶ and µVirtual
monitor calibration¶ for more details.

Headphone Selection
This section allows you to select the headphone type that you use formonitoring.

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Headphone selection.

Headphone Model in Drop-Down Menu
Selecting a headphone model in the drop-down menu uses the Genelec
factory calibration available for a selection of professional monitoring
headphone models.
Visit the section µCalibrating the Virtual Monitors¶ after selecting theheadphone. Since there are individual differences between listeners andsmall variations in different units of the same headphone model, calibration
should always be performed after selecting the headphone model tooptimize the locations of all the virtual monitors, listener head direction andoverall sound character.

Headphone Model µOther¶
Use the option µ2WKHU¶when you cannot find your headphone in the libraryof available headphone types. Then, the headphones you use will create
the sound colour. The headphone characteristics may not exactly matchyour hearing, so when using this option, calibrate the locations of all thevirtual monitors, listener head direction and the overall sound character.

Equalizer and On/Off Control for Equalizer
ThHµ(TXDOL]HU¶button opens the user equalizer window. The equalizer canbe used for several purposes:xCalibrating for the headphone/user interaction.

x

Making the virtual sound character match the loudspeaker-based
monitoring system.

x

Achieving the sound character that is familiar to the user, and helps
accuracy of monitoring.

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The equalizer applies the same sound colour change to all the virtual
monitors.

Equalizer view showing parametric controls and import of GLM loudspeaker-based monitoring system room response.

The equalizer offers six parametric filters. These can be controlled using
the parameter values or by adjusting the filter graph itself. Three different
filter types are available: Peaking filter, High shelf filter or Low shelf filter.
Following controls are available in the filter graph:x

To adjust the frequency: Drag the filter marker left or rightx

To adjust the gain: Drag the filter marker up or downx

To adjust the Q value: Right click the marker, hold the right mousebutton down and move the mouse up or down.

x

To turn a filter on or off: Double-click on the filter marker.

You can also adjust each filter using the parameter field under the graphic.
You can use the plus and minus buttons, or you can write a specific value
into the numeric field. The fields are:x

Drop-down selection of the filter type.

x

Numeric fields: centre frequency, gain and Q-value.

Parametric filter controls.

Close the EQ window by clicking µOK¶ to save your edits. Click on theµCancel¶ button to discard your edits.

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Import Filters from GLM
The µ,PSRUWIURP*/0¶button imports monitoring loudspeaker systemfrequency responses from Genelec GLM calibration software. This can be
useful to guide you in setting the equalizer so that you can achieve a
consistent sound character between your virtual monitoring system andyour in-room Genelec Smart Active Monitoring setup.
The plug-in opens the default GLM setup folder location and lists all theavailable setups there. Clicking on the file name reveals a drop-down menu
where you can select the system calibration that you want to use.
&OLFNRQWKHµ6HOHFW¶EXWWRQWRVHOHFWone or more monitor loudspeaker
responses that you want to be combined and shown on the EQ window.
Check the monitors that you want included (this can be all of them if
required). When you check more than one, the combined response of all
the monitors is calculated and shown.
$IWHUPDNLQJWKHVHOHFWLRQFOLFNµ,PSRUW¶The imported frequency response appears as a dotted line in the EQ. Theµ6KRZURRPUHVSRQVH¶EXWWRQDFWLYDWHVDQGDOORZV\RXWRVKRZRUKLGHWKH
monitoring loudspeaker response.

Output Gain Control
This enables the gain of the plug-in output to be calibrated. The range isfrom -100 dB to +10 dB.
This control can be useful in matching the output level between yourheadphone-based virtual monitors and your loudspeaker-based monitoring
system, assuming the same DAW monitoring level setting.

Import and Export ± Moving Aural ID Profile
The Import and Export buttons allow you to move your Aural ID Profile.
The Export button exports the Aural ID Profile into a selected folder. Thiscan be for example a USB stick used for transferring the Profile to anothercomputer. You could also back up your Profile this way.
The Import button reads all the Aural ID Profile files from the selected folder
to a location where the plug-in can find them. This enables you to read inand start using Aural ID Profiles on another computer.

LFE Channel Controls
This provides settings for handling the LFE channel (when one is included)
within the currently selected monitor layout.

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LFE channel calibration settings.

You can mute and solo the LFE output and adjust its gain.
The LFE channel content does not get processed through the Aural ID
filters. It is distributed evenly to the left and right earphone output channels.
This resembles the typical behaviour of a subwoofer handling LFE in amonitoring room.

Mute and Solo Keyboard Shortcuts for Virtual Monitors
There are keyboard shortcuts to mute and solo virtual monitors:xµshift-click¶ mutes a virtual monitorxµcontrol-click¶ solos a virtual monitor

These keyboard shortcuts enable quick activation of mute or solo on
several virtual monitors ± for example when you want to selectively listen toa certain set of monitors working together.

Calibrating the Virtual Monitors
Your headphones interact with your personal hearing, and this modifies
how you hear the direction and colour of sound in the Aural ID rendering.
The virtual monitor locations may require calibration to the headphones you
use. This calibration can be performed individually for every virtual monitor.
Each virtual monitor has the following calibration controls:x

Azimuth control adjusts the position of the virtual monitor on thehorizontal plane, left to right. Setting 0 places the virtual monitor at
the front. Positive values move the monitor to the left. The -90
setting is directly to the right and +90 setting directly to the left, andGenelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

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both +180 and -180 settings place the monitor at the back. The
values of the monitor location are given in degrees.
x

Elevation control adjusts the position of the virtual monitor in thevertical direction. Positive values increase the height. The
adjustment range is +90 directly above to -90 directly below. The
values of the monitor location are given in degrees.

xGain control adjusts the level of the virtual monitor.

x

Mute button mutes the virtual monitor.

x

Solo button plays only this YLUWXDOPRQLWRU+RZHYHUDSSO\LQJµVROR¶
to several virtual monitors is possible and then only the soloed
monitors will play.

Note that when you are adjusting the virtual monitor with the control window
open, the controls on your main window are disabled. After you accept orcancel the setting for the virtual monitor and the window closes, thecontrols on the main window become active again.
Virtual monitors are presented as loudspeaker icons in hexagons. The
colour on the edges of the hexagon indicates the elevation setting of theloudspeaker. When you click on a virtual monitor, the setting window opens
as shown below.

Virtual monitor settings view, showing the monitor azimuth, elevation and gain adjustments.

Each virtual monitor can be adjusted up and down (elevation) and left to right (azimuth).

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Calibrating Listener Look Direction
The listener is represented by an orientation arrow in the middle of thevirtual monitor set.

The listener orientation control is in the middle of the monitor set.

Listener orientation controls adjust listener direction in azimuth (head turn) and elevation (head tilt).

By clicking the listener icon in the middle of the grid you open the settings
for the look direction. The default look direction is straight ahead (zeroazimuth and zero elevation).
You can adjust the azimuth and elevation to rotate and tilt the completemonitoring layout, thereby calibrating the correct virtual monitor layout
orientation. This setting depends on your personal listening preference andhow your headphones interact with your hearing.
When you adjust the azimuth, you will see the look direction arrow rotate.
When you adjust the elevation, you will see the colour of the arrow change.
Positive elevation values (i.e. when looking upwards) are indicated with ashift towards a blue colour. Negative elevation values (i.e. when looking
downwards) are indicated with a shift towards a brown colour.

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Note that when you are adjusting the virtual monitor with the control window
open, the controls on your main window are disabled. After you accept orcancel the setting for the virtual monitor and the window closes, thecontrols on the main window become active again.

LegendThe legend identifies the colour coding of the ear height layer and the top
layer virtual monitors. You can also find the plug-in version number in thebottom right corner of the main screen.

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Learn MoreMonitoring of Audio
When audio is recorded, edited and mixed, the result is typically monitored
using loudspeakers, but increasingly with headphones too. Monitoring
using loudspeakers is usually preferred because audio presentations can
traditionally only be designed reliably using loudspeaker reproduction.
Loudspeakers work together and they also interact with the room, to create
the experience of acoustic space and auditory images appearing in thepresentation.
Mixes frequently use virtual sound images. These are created on the soundstage between two or more loudspeakers. When sound presentation isdesigned in a studio, level panning is the typical method used for placing
virtual sources. With on-site stereo or multichannel recording, themicrophone technique and placement will dictate the acoustics of space.
This acoustic space presentation can be delivered using loudspeakers.
Experiences of sound stage, virtual sound images, and acoustic space are
created by exploiting the mechanisms of human directional hearing. When
we are listening to a loudspeaker, sound radiated by loudspeakers isreflected by the walls and surfaces in the room and arrives at the listenerwith a slight delay, and from different directions. This reflected sound iscalled µearly reflections¶. Early reflections contribute to experiencing both asensation of space and a sense of distance from the loudspeakers.
Two ears hear the same sounds but of course slightly differently. The brain
automatically combines these inputs, and this enhances the sense of
direction of sound. We also spontaneously turn our head slightly while wetry and locate sound. This enables us to understand how sound changes
when the head turns, and this partly unconscious process greatly enhances
our ability to localize sound.

Mechanisms for Localization of Sound
We localize sound using:x

Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) ± sound colour changes
and interaural time delay depend on the direction of sound arrivaland frequency, and this describes your personal effect on the soundcolour.

xInteraural Time Difference (ITD) ± this is part of the HRTF.

x

Interaural Level Difference (ILD) ± this is a part of the HRTF.

x

Head movements.

The localization of sound for humans is traditionally explained using theconcepts of the ITD and ILD. ILD is suggested to be the main localization
mechanism above the frequency at which the human head becomes a

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significant shadow for sound (above 1500 Hz), with the ITD dominating
below those frequencies. However, both of these are part of a moreelaborate description of the directional hearing mechanism, that of the
HRTF.

Examples of HRTF magnitude responses for audio arriving from the front (left) and from above (right).

The example above shows the direction-dependent filtering of the HRTF in
the external ear, with sound arriving from the left and sound arriving fromabove. Our brain automatically decodes the sound colouration created by
the external ear to establish the direction of arrival of the audio.

Example of the HRTF magnitude response as a function of azimuth angle at one ear.

To give you some examples of what the HRTF LVGRLQJWRVRXQGOHW¶VORRN
at the direction-dependent level variations.
The example above shows the direction-dependent level variations for theleft ear located at about 80 degrees azimuth, seen on the horizontal plane
for a sound source going around the head7KHµstraight DKHDG¶ direction isat zero degrees (and 360 degrees), straight back is at 180 degrees, andwith increasing angle value rotation happens to left. In the figure you see
the frequency-dependent level at the ear when the audio is arriving fromdifferent directions on the horizontal plane. Although you can see the heavy

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filtering that happens because of your external ears, head, and torso, in
real life, you will not hear these changes in sound colour but instead you
understand that sound arrives in a certain direction.

Directional and Common Transfer Functions
The HRTF for a person has two components. One of these will change
depending on the direction of audio, and one remains the same irrespectiveof the direction of audio.
The directional part of the full HRTF is called the Directional Transfer
Function. This direction-dependent part of the HRTF is created by yourhead and body diffracting and reflecting audio differently depending on theaudio direction. This also creates the differences between the left and rightears, including the effects of the ITD and ILD.
The nondirectional part of the full HRTF is called the Common Transfer
Function. This part exists because your head and body affect the soundfield and this causes a change in the sound colour that you hear. Thischange is personal and specific to you.

Headphone Monitoring
Headphones are typically used to monitor smaller details in a mix because
they can offer excellent signal-to-noise ratio and isolation from in-roombackground noises, so low-level audio becomes more clearly audible. They
are also used for checking that a headphone mix sounds good, since somuch music these days is experienced through headphones.
When headphones are placed over the ears (or inside the ears), the soundis directly delivered into your ears. Then, head-related sound colourchanges cannot occur. Also, the headphones on your head always remain
at the same location, so it is no longer possible to use head movements to
help with sound source location. These are the reasons why conventional
headphone sound seems to happen µinside¶ DQHDUSKRQHOLVWHQHU¶VKHDG

Loudspeakers offer a sound stage
with virtual sound sources.

With standard headphone
listening, virtual sound sources
appear µinside¶ WKHOLVWHQHU¶VKHDG.

Aural ID can recreate the correct
sense of imaging for headphone
listening.

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Personal Calibration of the Aural ID Plug-in
Once the information to localize sound, described by the HRTF, isreintroduced by signal processing, the sound recovers its correct directionof arrival ± and no longer seems to be happening inside your head.
Your Aural ID interacts with the headphone frequency response. Although
Aural ID is precise, headphones are built to create an illusion of neutral
audio when audio material recorded using the standard stereo loudspeaker
setup is used. While the low frequency details of the headphone frequency
response will mainly affect the sound colour presentation, the frequency
response details in the midrange frequencies will interact with your HRTF.
The Aural ID Plug-in comes with compensations for certain headphone
types. Ideally, this will significantly reduce the interaction with the HRTF.
However, the way the headphones sit on your head will also modify theheadphone frequency response, as the external ear shape and size differs
between individuals.
When you are using headphone models not listed in the Aural ID plug-in
library, select the option µ2WKHU¶. The plug-in will then work with the soundcolour compensation built into your headphones to implement thedirectional cues as well as possible, while the headphones determine thesound colour.
With both of these modes, you should perform further personal calibration,and the plug-in offers very good tools for this.
xEach virtual monitor location is adjusted in azimuth and elevation ±this ensures that the structure of the virtual monitor system iscorrect for you with the headphones that you are using.

x

Listener orientation is adjusted in azimuth and elevation ± thissetting depends on the way you experience the monitoring systemorientation.

x

Each virtual monitor level can be adjusted ± this ensures that thelevel panning will work correctly.

xComplete system sound character is adjusted with the plug-in
equalizer function ± this can help match the sound presented by the
Aural ID Plug-in to your workflow or to the sound of your listeningroom.

Advice in the process of calibration includes:x

Use familiar audio material, including male and female voice.

x

Use enough time and re-evaluate ± it may be useful to re-evaluate
the calibration over several days to gain a deep understanding ofGenelec Aural ID System Operating Manual

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the mapping between loudspeaker-based monitoring and Aural ID
monitoring.
x

Study one virtual monitor at the time (for location, distance colour)
and also the total system (for sound stage and sound space).

xCompare the virtual presentation of Aural ID to your reference, forexample your loudspeaker-based monitoring system.

Please note that a well-executed calibration process can increase yourmonitoring accuracy, and the efficiency in your daily monitoring tasks.