[linux-audio-user] Dumb question regarding CMT's ambisonic plugins

[Ivica Bukvic]

Hi all,

I have been messing with the ambisonic plugins provided in the CMT ladspa 
collection. I am namely looking into a simple implementation of B-format 
1ch->4ch encoder. The problem is that I am failing to figure out how to use 
this on a simple mono (non-encoded) sound input in order to control its 
diffusion over 4 channels. When running it via Ardour and sending it to 4 
separate busses via this plugin, even though the x, y, and z coordinates do 
affect the output of the 4 channels, they do not conform to the expected 
3,4,2,1 output (I presume these correspond to 4 speaker outputs, but I am 
also having doubts about this as well, so your help in understanding this 
better would be most appreciated).

By now you can see that although I know a bit about ambisonics (namely 
theory), that I am quite a newb in this area, but for what it's worth I am 
eager to learn :-).

The pd set of plugins pretty much work as expected but they are also designed 
differently, likely with discrete 4-8 output that can be then patched 
directly to main outs. In the case of ladspa plugins I am not even sure 
whether what I am getting is encoded version of a 4-channel stream that then 
needs to be decoded. Yet, when I tried having:

mono sound-> b-format 1ch to 4ch encoder (LADSPA)->4ch to 4ch decoder (LADSPA) 
-> out

That gave me bunch of garbage with two out of 4 channels consistently 
clipping, so this means that this is probably not the case either...

So, to conclude I must be not using the CMT plugins properly and would 
therefore greatly appreciate it if someone would enlighten me. I am already 
aware of the theory behind the ambisonics, it's just that I am a bit puzzled 
how the CMT plugins (if at all) could be used with mono and/or stereo 
non-encoded streams in order to spatialize them in real-time. I would most 
appreciate a simple practical example as to how to do this (if such proves to 
be possible).

Thank you very much!

Best wishes,

Ico