In this article we suggest some useful utility software which we find helpful for those tedious tasks which can get in the way of actually getting stuff done. Rather than concentrate on the better known problem-solvers like Auto Align Post or time savers like SoundFlow we’re looking at the less talked about but equally useful. From awkward audio routing through to scanning your plugins, here are a few you might want to check out.
Audio file format conversion - Media Human Audio Converter
This is a very efficient, free audio converter for Mac and PC which can convert an extensive list of audio file formats into an equally extensive list of output formats, 18 in total. Launching a DAW is time consuming when all you want to do is convert a single file, My tool of choice for this has been Rougue Amoeba’s excellent Fission editor but for straight ahead file conversion this is even more efficient and offers a greater list of output formats. That being said, if you need chapterised mp3’s the definitely check out Fission.
Impulse response capture utility - Waves Arts MLsTool
If you’ve never created our own impulse responses then I really recommend you try it. It’s great fun, gives you something unique and it’s not difficult. For years my go-to for creating Its was the excellent Impulse Response Utility which shipped with Logic. After not using it for a long time I looked in the Utilities folder of my Mac, where the Impulse Response Utility was to be found and it wasn’t there! I concluded that it had been discontinued at some point but closer investigation revealed that it had been moved and was now to be found as a feature in Space Designer.
MlsTool is free application used to measure impulse responses. You can use MlsTool to measure the room reverberation of acoustical spaces, or to measure digital effects units, speaker cabinets, spring or plate reverbs, etc. The impulse responses from MlsTool can be loaded into any convolution reverb including Wave Arts ConvologyXT plug-in.
Route audio from your phone into your DAW - Mountain Road DSP auxCord
auxCord allows you to stream audio from iOS devices, or a computer capable of using AirPlay, to your computer’s DAW. You can connect multiple devices at the same time. You can control the individual volume, solo mute and mute state of each iOS device from auxCord and crucially you don’t need to install an app on the iOS devices you’re streaming from, the only software to install is auxCord on the host computer. If you’re an Android user you can use the AirPlay App to access this product, Mountainroad DSP report that it works well.
The software comes in two versions, Standalone, which allows streaming to the host computer and out to the monitors or headphones connected to that computer, or the plugin version, which when instantiated on a suitable track in your DAW of choice allows streaming direct into the DAW for monitoring or recording. The plugin is available as a VST3, AU or AAX Plugin for Windows or macOS, the standalone version is available for Mac or PC. Being a product which uses AirPlay it is of course iOS only so there is no Android version.
Stream Audio from your DAW to your phone - Sound On Digital Mix To Mobile
If you would prefer to go in the opposite direction from that offered by auxCord Mix To Mobile is an AU, VST and AAX plugin for Mac and Windows which streams the audio from any track in your DAW to an iOS or Android device for playback. There are two elements to Mix To Mobile: The Sender plugin which is instantiated on whichever track you wish to monitor on your phone, in most cases this will be the master but it doesn’t have to be, then there is the receiving App which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once installed these two elements stream lossless audio over WiFi.
Keep Pro Tools and Pro Tools Plugins In Shape - PT Prefs 2
PT Prefs is a utility program for macOS which can delete / backup / restore various preference and support files. What is often referred to as ‘Pro Tools preference trashing’. New in version 2 is the useful addition of plugin scanning, you can now scan AU/VST/VST3 plugins. We’re finding this especially useful as a way to identify plugins which need updating or are yet to be updated to be Apple Silicon compatible. If you’re a Pro Tools user you’ll find this free software indispensable.
Route Audio Between Computers and more - Dante Via
You might be aware of Dante Virtual Soundcard, the application which allows a computer to route audio to and from a Dante Audio Over IP network, for example for multitrack capture from a Dante equipped mixer at a gig. Dante Virtual Soundcard is designed for use on a Dante network which has at least one hardware Dante device. This is necessary for correct clocking.
Dante Via is a complementary product and can be used for all sorts of routing tasks both across a network and locally. A key difference between it and Dante Virtual Soundcard is that Via can be used to create software-only Dante networks, opening up even more opportunities. Find out more in our review from way back in 2016.
Make Objective Comparisons - Nugen AB Assist
Nugen Audio’s AB Assist is a free plugin which helps engineers avoid unconscious bias and helps them to choose between two audio options objectively. What is so useful about A|B assist is its Test function which simply re-labels the two streams randomly as X and Y. The user can then select between X and Y and choose between them any number of times until they reach a level of certainty on their favourite. The Reveal button then reveals X and Y’s identities and shows the percentage and tally score for the A and B streams.
Automate Your Talkback - Sound Radix Muteomatic
Muteomatic is a free plugin fromSound Radix and it’s a life-saver if you find having to manually open a close your talkback inconvenient. By inserting Muteomatic on a bus it is possible to have an audio path automatically open when the transport is stopped. Ideal if you want a latched talkback mic open between takes but closed during them. Operation couldn’t be simpler. Just instantiate Muteomatic on the path you wish to control and select the action you wish to use.
Muteomatic has 3 modes: Stop, Play and Record. The Record mode used to be VST only but it is now available in AAX, but not in the AU version at present. So now it is possible to have your talkback latch open during stop and playback but automatically mute during record.
What utility software and plugins make your life easier? Share your discoveries in the comments.