6
Vitalizer
®
Analog Code
®
Plug-in
Music emphasizing technique
One of the Vitalizer’s main features is the unmasking of overlap-
ping sounds. The way it works is, in principle, opposite to the way
compression formats (MP3, etc.) do: instead of deleting allegedly
unnecessary information, it enhances it. In order to do that, the
Vitalizer takes into account the perception of a frequency in rela-
tion to its volume. By shifting louder frequencies slightly in time,
softer and formerly overlapping sounds are “unmasked” and
made audible. The audible effect of unmasking could be described
in general terms as more clarity and depth in a mix. Lows sound
more powerful and better defined, mids more focused and dif-
ferentiated and highs more vivid and brilliant. It can be used on
individual channels to emphasize the sound character of instru-
ments or vocals. The clarity and definition achieved guarantee an
adequately perceptible presence in the mix.
Another characteristic of the Vitalizer’s sound optimization pro-
cess is the adaptation of the sound spectrum to the non-linear
sensitivity of human hearing. This phenomenon was audiometri-
cally proved in the 1930’s thanks to the equal loudness contours,
also known as the Fletcher-Munson curves after their discoverers.
According to these curves, the human ear is most sensitive to mid
frequencies, i.e. to the frequency range of speech. As a result, fre-
quencies below 200 Hz and above 6000 Hz need reinforcement
in order to achieve a well-balanced auditory impression – fre-
quencies between 6 kHz and approximately 11 kHz are perceived
as being 5 dB softer, for example. The Vitalizer uses the equal-
loudness contours to balance the frequency spectrum according
to human hearing, which in turn improves loudness. As a result,
individual elements of a mix can sound more present without an
actual increase in level. At the same time, the sum signal also ben-
efits from the Vitalizer processing since it can achieve the same
loudness with less sound pressure level.
Introduction
