HoRNet CLMS 1.1.0 update

We are excited to announce the release of version 1.1.0 of HoRNet CLMS, the revolutionary system designed to solve the common problem of loudness perception during mixing. This update brings even more functionality and reliability to the system, ensuring you can mix with greater confidence and precision.

HoRNet CLMS addresses the well-known “loudness deception” issue, which occurs when changes in loudness affect the perception of frequencies, leading to inaccurate mixing decisions. This phenomenon can happen when using certain effects, such as equalizers or compressors, that cause noticeable fluctuations in signal level. When these changes occur, they often influence how we perceive different frequencies, leading to imbalanced mixes.

This issue has been a longstanding challenge for producers, sound engineers, and mix engineers, as it can lead to poor decisions when it comes to EQ adjustments, dynamic processing, and overall balance of a track. As a result, mixes can often sound different in various environments, or even when the volume level is adjusted. The solution to this issue is HoRNet CLMS, which maintains a constant loudness level throughout the entire mixing process, allowing you to make decisions based purely on the sound, without worrying about loudness shifts.

One of the key features of HoRNet CLMS is that it works by controlling loudness using Loudness Units (LU). This system revolves around two distinct plugins: HoRNetCLMS_Send and HoRNetCLMS_Receive.

HoRNetCLMS_Send is placed on the individual tracks or channels in your mix that require loudness compensation. It continuously monitors the loudness of the signal and stores this level in a shared memory area. This ensures that each track maintains a constant LU level regardless of any dynamic changes that may occur throughout the processing chain.

Once the HoRNetCLMS_Send plugin has monitored the loudness, the HoRNetCLMS_Receive plugin is placed at the end of your master chain. The HoRNetCLMS_Receive plugin reads the loudness value from the sender and adjusts the gain of the track to match the stored loudness level. This guarantees that the output from the master chain maintains a consistent loudness, no matter how much processing is applied to individual tracks during mixing.

The HoRNetCLMS_Receive plugin doesn’t just adjust the gain based on loudness differences. It also incorporates a LUFS normalization utility, which adds another layer of precision to your mix. By using this feature, you can ensure that your track achieves an optimal loudness level that meets industry standards. Simply click on the text box to set your desired target loudness, and then press the “analyze” button. The plugin will calculate the average LU level of the track, and once the analysis is complete, the “normalize” button can be activated. This feature automatically adjusts the gain to match the target loudness, ensuring that your track is properly balanced and loud enough for commercial use. This helps create mixes that sound consistent across different playback systems, preventing volume jumps that could throw off the overall dynamic range.

Additionally, HoRNet CLMS allows you to insert as many HoRNetCLMS_Send plugins as needed throughout your session. This ensures that no matter how complex your mix is, you can continuously monitor and adjust each track’s loudness independently without worrying about its overall impact on the master bus. The plugin includes an intuitive button that activates communication between the Send and Receive plugins. However, it’s worth noting that this communication is exclusive — meaning only one HoRNetCLMS_Send plugin can interact with a given HoRNetCLMS_Receive plugin at any given time. This prevents conflicting loudness measurements and ensures that each track’s loudness remains accurate.

In addition to these core features, HoRNet CLMS also brings a number of improvements to ensure a better overall user experience. With this update, we have added full support for Apple Silicon M1 processors. This means that HoRNet CLMS now operates even more efficiently on M1-powered Macs, providing faster processing speeds and better performance on newer Apple hardware. This is particularly important for users who rely on high-performance computing for demanding sessions, as it ensures smooth operation even with complex mixes.

The update also includes a fix for a small GUI issue on Windows with high DPI monitors. This problem was preventing users from properly viewing the plugin’s interface on certain screens. With this fix, the plugin now scales correctly on high-resolution displays, ensuring that the interface remains clear and readable for all users.

In an effort to streamline support and improve plugin performance, HoRNet CLMS has removed 32-bit support in this update. The shift towards 64-bit systems has become standard in the industry, and by discontinuing 32-bit support, we can focus more on providing optimal performance and stability for modern systems. While this may not affect most users, those still working on older setups should be aware of this change.

As always, this update is completely free for existing owners of HoRNet CLMS. If you already own the plugin, simply log into your account on our website and download the latest version. By keeping your software up to date, you ensure that you’re always working with the most stable and feature-rich version of the plugin, allowing you to make the best mixing decisions possible.

In conclusion, HoRNet CLMS offers a sophisticated, yet simple solution to the loudness deception problem that often arises during mixing. With its LU-based loudness compensation system, precise normalization utilities, and added compatibility with the latest hardware, this plugin is a must-have for any serious mixing engineer. Whether you’re working on a complex project with many tracks or a simple mix, HoRNet CLMS will ensure that your final output remains consistent and accurate, with a perfect balance of loudness across all playback systems.

Try HoRNet CLMS today and experience a new level of precision and control over your mixing workflow!