LEWITT, the respected Austrian manufacturer known for its microphones and audio interfaces, has released its first plug-in: Space Replicator. Designed for headphone use, Space Replicator lets users experience how their audio would sound when played through speakers in various virtual environments. Unlike a reverb plug-in, it doesn't simulate reflections or ambience; it replicates the spatial and directional cues of real-world speaker playback, using advanced HRTF (head-related transfer function) modeling rather than a synthetic representation of listening spaces.
To get started, Space Replicator is inserted on the DAW’s master fader or monitor output bus. Once loaded, the plug-in walks each listener through a brief set up process to create a personalized profile. Users can skip this step and choose a generic profile, but customizing the experience will provide more accurate results. The configuration process directs users to LEWITT’s website for a brief stereo imaging listening exercise, which is used to generate a custom HRTF profile based on headphones and head shape. After the configured profile is synced to the plug-in, users can explore the available virtual spaces.
Space Replicator emulates, over headphones, the sound of a mix played through speakers in a specific acoustic space. This plug-in includes a curated selection of professional studios (some offering multiple speaker configurations); everyday listening environments, such as Living rooms, and Cars; and playback through TVs, smartphones, or Bluetooth speakers. Users can even hear how their mix might sound in iconic venues such as Berlin’s now-closed Watergate club. LEWITT plans to expand the collection of environments in future updates. Interestingly, the plug-in also includes simulations of several popular headphones and earbuds.