audiority VST2 Polaris Digital Echo Reverb User Manual

Polaris – Digital Echo/Reverb
(AAX, AU, CLAP, VST2, VST3)

VST2 Polaris Digital Echo Reverb

produced by Luca Capozzi (Audiority), April 2016.

Current Manual version: v1.9 (September 2023)
Polaris is an echo/reverb plugin inspired by early hardware digital reverbs of the late 1970s and able to provide echo, ambience and reverb out of a single multitap delay line.
Please, read carefully both product specifications and system requirements before purchasing any Audiority products.

Polaris

produced by Audiority, April 2016.

Credits
Concept & DSP: Luca Capozzi (Progsounds / Audiority), April 2016.
GUI Design: Luca Capozzi
Code & DSP: Luca Capozzi
Published by Audiority Srls
Copyright © 2016-2017 – Progsounds by Luca Capozzi – All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018-2023 – Audiority Srls – All rights reserved.

Specifications

• Single Multi-tap Delay Line
• Pre-Delay
• Early Reflections (8 Programmable Taps)
• Diffusion (16 Programmable Modulated Taps)
• Echo (Ms, Sync, Tuned, Long)
• Echo Modulation
• 3 Band Feedback Equalizer
• Shimmer
• Sample Rate Reduction
• Width (Ping Pong Delay)
• Swell

System Requirements

PC

• Windows 7 64bit or later
• Intel i5 or equivalent
• 4 GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

MAC (Intel)

• OSX 10.13 or later
• Intel i5 or equivalent
• 4GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

MAC (Silicon)

• macOS 11.0 or later
• M1 or higher
• 4 GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, CLAP 64-bit host
• PT11 or higher, AAX 64-bit host

Behind Polaris

When hardware digital reverbs came out to the market they were really expensive. Most manufacturers were already exploiting chains of comb and allpass filters (smoother reverbs, but expensive in both resources and chips), there were other techniques involving the use of a single multitap delay line to create a reasonable reverb while keeping the cost affordable.
That idea is so simple yet powerful: you mix a bunch of unmodulated taps (Early Reflections) with the remaining modulated taps (Diffusion) to create a cheap but convincing reverb.
We extended this technique by making the Echo tap recirculating with the Diffusion section, allowing longer reverb tails. Furthermore you can easily edit all taps to create your own room responses.
Happy playing!
Luca

UPGRADING FROM v1.6.x and lower

PLEASE NOTE:
If you are upgrading from v1.6.x (or lower) there would be two backwards compatibility problems with your saved projects.

1. Pro Tools reporting the plugin as missing
2. Existing automations assigned to wrong parameters

HOW TO FIX THIS IF I UPGRADE

1. Open your DAW and load the plugin in a new project
2. Click on the Audiority logo → Settings and enable “Use Legacy Settings”
3. Click on the Save button and restart your DAW

Now your project will load as expected and automations are assigned to the correct parameters.

FILE LOCATIONS

Mac
All presets, license, IR files and settings are located in:
/Users/Shared/Audiority/
AAX, CLAP and VST plugins will be placed in their own Audiority sub-folder located in:
AAX: /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Audiority
CLAP: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP/Audiority
VST: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/Audiority
VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/Audiority

PC

All presets, license, IR files and settings are located to:
C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Audiority
AAX, CLAP and VST plugins will be placed in their own Audiority sub-folder, usually located in:
AAX: C:\Program Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins\Audiority
CLAP: {Your CLAP Path}\Audiority
VST: {Your VST Path}\Audiority
VST3: {Your VST3 Path}\Audiority

PLUGIN ACTIVATION

Once you install and open the plugin for the first time, it will be in Demo Mode until a license file is loaded.
In Demo Mode the plugin will output 3 seconds of silence every minute.
You can activate the plugin either OFFLINE or ONLINE.

OFFLINE ACTIVATION
If you purchased the plugin from our site, you should have received an email to download the installers and the license file. Save the license file you got with your purchase email (or via our User Area) anywhere on your computer.
Then, to activate the plugin, click on the Audiority logo and select “Register”. The Registration window will pop up allowing you to load the license file you got while purchasing the plugin by clicking the “Load License” button. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the license file on the registration window.
NOTE: If you purchased the plugin from one of our dealers, please check the “USER AREA AND REDEEM CODES” section below.

ONLINE ACTIVATION
If you are registered to our User Area, then you can activate the plugin online.

Insert your Username (or email address), your password and click the “Login” button. The license file will be automatically delivered in your computer and the plugin will be activated.

USER AREA AND REDEEM CODES

If you purchased from one of our dealers, then you should have received an email with a redeem code. This code is required to deposit a license in your User Area account and let you download the license file or activate the plugin online.
If you don’t have an User Area account yet, please follow these steps:

1. Go to https://www.audiority.com/register and fill out the signup form.
2. Once registered, log in to your account by clicking the User Area section of our site. Click the REDEEM section of your account and paste the code you received via email from our dealer.
3. After submitting the code, a license will be deposited in your account and will be shown in “MY PLUGINS” section of your User Area.
4. Now you can click “License File” and save the license anywhere on your computer and ready to be loaded through the plugin registration window. You can also skip this part and activate your plugin online (see previous section of this manual).

USER PATHS SETTING

By selecting “Settings” from the logo menu, you can change the path for Presets, License and IR folders.
You can also disable our Newsfeed from here.
Note: Please do not move the Settings folder from its default location.

PLUGIN PARAMETERS

Polaris User Interface is very straightforward, allowing you to easily shape your sound.

Top Row

High Shelving to 2kHz
Pre Dly| Adjust the pre-delay time (up to 255ms)
Dry/Wet (0..100%)| Direct and Processed signals volume
Smp Rate| Set the internal sample rate. Useful to get the grit of vintage digital effects and samplers.
Unlike usual decimation effects, this resampling algorithm reduces the artefacts by reconstructing the new signal with a 4-point interpolator.
Shim| Shimmer volume
Width| Ping-Pong delay mix
Swell| Adjust the attack time according with the current delay time. Use this to create atmosphere and pads.

Early Reflections

Diffusion

Echo

Time (ms / Sync / Tune / Long)| Set the Echo time in either milliseconds, beat sync and notes (C0 to B4). “Long” mode allows delay time up to 2500ms. Click on the Time label to switch between modes.
---|---
Feedback (0..100%)| Echo feedback amount. Also influences reverb duration when Diffusion is up.
Smooth (0..50ms)| Increase this parameter to get tape delay/echo effect while modulating the Echo Time parameter
LFO Wave| Switch between Sine, Triangle and Random
Mod Rate (Hz, Sync)| Set the LFO Rate in either Hz or Beat Sync (1/1 to 1/16th, including dotted and triplets). Click on the Mod Rate label to switch between modes.
Mod Amount (0..100%)| Modulation amount. Press x10 to increase the modulation range by 10 times.

Early Reflections / Diffusion / Echo settings

You can set the duration of each of the 8 Early Reflections and 16 Diffusion taps by clicking the Magnifier icon near each section label.
Taps are coupled and hard panned: odd numbered taps are panned to left, while even taps are panned to right.

On the Early Reflections page you can set the time of each tap and the volume of each couple, while on the Diffusion page you can also individually mute unused taps.

You can find Randomize and Reset buttons at the bottom corners of each section. The Reset button will restore the tap times to the settings saved in the current preset.

In the Echo page you can color the feedback signal with a 3 Band Equalizer:
LOW FREQ: 31Hz – 1kHz; MID FREQ: 80Hz – 8kHz; HIGH FREQ: 1kHz – 16kHz
MID Q: 0.1 – 4.0; GAIN: +/- 24dB

Audiority Srls – EULA (End-User License Agreement)

The software that accompanies this license is supplied under a license agreement. By installing this software you are agreeing to the Audiority License Agreement.
If you do not agree with these terms, do not install the software. All software download purchases are non-refundable. However, if you haven’t downloaded a license file (or used a redeem code), you may obtain a refund within 14 days through the dealer where you purchased the software, or if purchased at any of Audiority online stores, by contacting support@audiority.com.

The terms of this license agreement are as follows:
By installing the software, you confirm your acceptance of the Audiority Srls End User License Agreement.
This is a revocable, non-exclusive, single-user License.
This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is between Audiority Srls and you.
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE.
By using the Audiority Srls Software you accept these terms. The Audiority Srls Software may be distributed with software or components from third- parties
(“Third-Party Software”). Use of Third-Party Software is also subject to the terms of this EULA.

1. Limited Use License.
   The Software is licensed, not sold, by Audiority or its Third-Party Software suppliers (“Suppliers”) to the original end user for use only on the terms set forth in the Agreement. If and only if your Software is purchased through a Audiority Authorized Dealer or Distributor, Audiority, as Licensor, grants you, as an end user Licensee, a non-exclusive license to use the Software (which includes computer software, updates and any bug fixes subsequently delivered and associated media, printed materials and “online” or electronic documentation).

2. Title.
   The Software is owned by Audiority or its Suppliers as applicable, and is protected by copyright laws and international treaty provisions, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Audiority (or its Suppliers, as applicable) retains title to and ownership of the Software and all copies, as well as any rights not specifically granted. This Agreement only gives you certain rights to use the Software and related documentation, which may be revoked if you do not follow these terms.

3. Limited Rights to Install and Use the Software.
   (i) Permitted use and restrictions.
   You may install the Software into the memory of no more than three computers for your internal business use or your own personal enjoyment, but may not redistribute or electronically transfer the Software to someone else’s computer or operate it in a time-sharing or service-bureau operation.
   (ii) Reverse engineering and copying limitations.
   You may make one copy of the Software for backup purposes only (and replacement backup copies in the event of loss of or damage to a backup copy), provided you include all copyright notices contained on the original media on the backup copy. You may not modify, translate, adapt, reverse engineer, decompile, create other works from, or disassemble the Software or any portions thereof (except and to the extent that applicable law expressly permits reverse engineering, decompilation or disassembly). This includes, but it’s not limited to, analytical captures, impulse responses, profiles and/or machine learning training/validation/prediction.
   (iii) Technical limitations.
   The Software may include technological measures that are designed to prevent or detect unlicensed use of the Software. Circumvention of these technological measures is prohibited, except and only to the extent that applicable law expressly permits,  despite this limitation. Any attempt to circumvent technical limitations may render the Software or certain features unusable or unstable, and may prevent you from updating or upgrading the Software.
   (iv) No reconfiguration.
   The Software is licensed for installation and use only in the manner it was provided to you, as configured by an automated installation program provided with the Software, or as described in Audiority’s Documentation. You may not separate the components contained in the Software or otherwise reconfigure the Software to circumvent technical limitations on the use of the Software or to otherwise exceed the scope of your license.

4. Export and Renting Restrictions.
   You may not export, convey, rent, sublicense, or otherwise distribute the Software or any rights therein to any person or entity.

5. Feedback.
   Audiority shall have a royalty-free, worldwide, transferable, sublicenseable, irrevocable, perpetual license to use or incorporate into the Software any suggestions, ideas, enhancement requests, feedback, recommendations or other information provided by You relating to the features, functionality or operation of the Software (“Feedback”); provided, however, that Audiority shall have no obligation to use or incorporate into the Software any Feedback, and You shall have no obligation to provide Feedback.

6. Registration Information.
   Audiority uses named licenses for its products. When You activate the Software, Audiority may collect your name and email address and other contact information that You choose to provide (“Registration Information”). You agree to provide your real full name (or company name) to Audiority in order to comply with the requirements needed to generate such licenses. Audiority reserves all rights to terminate a license in any moment if the information provided are incorrect and/or fake (pseudonyms, anonymous or fake names like “John Doe” are not allowed) without any notice. You agree that Audiority may use this Registration Information to contact You regarding your purchase and to deliver notifications relative to your use of the Software.  Audiority does not collect or retain any financial information from or about You (such as payment card information).

7. License Transfer.
   Except if otherwise stated within this EULA, Licensee may resell the software to a third party or transfer the software permanently if the Licensee purchased the Software from any Audiority store or from any Audiority Dealer. Audiority reserves all rights to deny any requests for the transfer of this license, and may institute transfer fees and policies as it sees fit at the time of any request for the transfer of this license, if the Licensee purchased the license from another Licensee.
   By transferring a license, the third party agrees in writing with this EULA and Licensee ceases all use of the software, completely removes all installed copies of the software from its computer and – if the software was not purchased via download – deletes or transfers the original data storage to the third party (if Licensee is not obliged to a longer storage by law). NFR (not for resale) copies, including freeware products, free bonus products, and giveaway copies, cannot be resold. Following respective request from Licensee via its email address registered with Audiority, and payment of the Transfer Fee, the license file of the Product will be transferred by Audiority to the third party, and at the same time the registration of Licensee for the software purchased will be deleted. The current and updated
   Transfer Fee can be found at this address https://www.audiority.com/faq/#1509113035751-cec03c9c-5c77

8. Excluded Products.
   Audiority and its Suppliers give NO warranty for Software free of charge, including Software designated as “demo”, “limited release,” “pre-release,” “loan,” “beta” or “test.” This Software is provided “AS IS.”

9. Limitation of Liability.
   AUDIORITY AND ITS SUPPLIERS SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY TO YOU WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE OR PRODUCTS LIABILITY, FOR ANY CLAIM, LOSS, OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOST DATA, OR LOST FILES, OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR THE PERFORMANCE OR OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF AUDIORITY OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUDIORITY’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE EXCEED THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM YOU FOR YOUR LICENSE OF THE SOFTWARE.

10. Termination.
    To the extent permitted by law, and without prejudice to any other rights Audiority may have, Audiority may terminate your license if you materially breach these terms and conditions.

11. Third-Party Software and Information.
    This EULA governs any Third-Party Software distributed by Audiority. Audiority may include information about third party products and services, including links to Web sites run by others. Audiority is not responsible for, and does not endorse or sponsor, this third-party information.

12. Miscellaneous.
    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of the Software and Documentation, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of Audiority.

Should you have any questions concerning this Agreement, please contact Audiority Srls at info@audiority.com
Copyright ©2010-2023 Audiority Srls. All rights reserved.
Last updated on Jan 25th, 2023

Thank You

We wanna thank you for buying Audiority Polaris plugin.
We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did.
If you have any question, concerns, technical issues or even for just say ‘Hello’, get in touch with us at: info@audiority.com
or checkout our site at www.audiority.com

Cheers, Luca
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Copyright © 2018-2023 – Audiority Srls
All rights reserved.

References

• Audiority - Professional Audio Plugins VST, AAX, AU, CLAP
• Audiority - Professional Audio Plugins VST, AAX, AU, CLAP
• FAQ - Audiority
• Register - Audiority
• User Area - Audiority
• Login • Instagram

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