REQ: Har-Bal v3.7

You do not need golden ears to judge where the problem areas of a particular recording lie as the spectrum measurement gives you an accurate indication of this. By coupling spectrum analysis with linear phase digital filtering Har-Bal provides the most powerful, yet functionally simple means of re-adjusting the spectral balance of sound recordings, be they original new masters, or re-masters of existing works.

Har-Bal principally addresses the issue of equalization in a newer way. After the mix-down the final mix will more often than not have some level of dynamic range compression applied to it, either through a conventional compressor or a multi-band compressor like that available in the Finalizer. After compression some degree of equalization may be needed to compensate for the shift in spectral balance that compression often causes, or worse still, to compensate for a poor mix-down. Either way, this is achieved by a studio engineer of varying skill adjusting the controls on a graphic, or more commonly a parametric, equalizer while monitoring the resultant sound through speakers to obtain the desired effect.

Har-Bal is essentially composed of two parts : a spectrum analysis engine and a high-resolution linear phase digital filter. We handle the problem by first analyzing the entire recording. This gives us a measure of the average and peak spectrum content (displayed graphically) from which we can quickly and easily judge the spectral balance of a given recording. Then through a novel user interface, our software allows you to design a matching digital filter that produces the spectral balance that you want and without question.