Fiedler Audio Spacelab Ignition is a groundbreaking 3D audio plugin that combines reverb, panning, and spatialization into a single, powerful tool. Designed for music producers, sound designers, and content creators working in various mediums, Spacelab Ignition offers a unique approach to immersive audio production. The plugin treats incoming audio as objects positioned within a virtual room, allowing for precise placement and movement in a three-dimensional space. This object-based approach, coupled with a high-quality reverb algorithm developed in collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS, enables users to create realistic and dynamic spatial audio environments.
Spacelab Ignition supports up to 24 input objects and can render to various output formats, from stereo to full-sphere 3D audio, including Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H. It also features a binaural rendering mode for headphone-based 3D audio production. The plugin’s intuitive interface allows for easy manipulation of sound objects in space, while its advanced reverb engine provides detailed control over early reflections and decay characteristics. Spacelab Ignition is compatible with most major DAWs and offers seamless integration with Dolby Atmos workflows, making it a versatile tool for both traditional and cutting-edge audio production.
Pros:
• Intuitive object-based approach to 3D audio production
• High-quality reverb algorithm with realistic spatial characteristics
• Seamless integration with Dolby Atmos workflows
• Supports a wide range of output formats, including binaural
• User-friendly interface for easy object placement and manipulation
Cons:
• Limited to 24 input objects, which may be restrictive for complex productions
• Steep learning curve for users new to object-based audio concepts
Spacelab Ignition boasts an impressive array of features that set it apart in the realm of 3D audio production. At its core is a powerful object-based audio engine that allows users to place up to 24 audio sources anywhere within a virtual 3D space. This approach provides unprecedented control over the spatial characteristics of each sound element, enabling the creation of highly immersive and realistic soundscapes.
The plugin’s reverb engine, developed in collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS, is a standout feature. It offers a range of room simulations, from intimate spaces to vast environments, with separate control over early reflections and late reverberation. Users can adjust reverb time across nine frequency bands, allowing for precise tailoring of the reverb character. Each audio object has its own independent early reflection pattern based on its position in the virtual space, contributing to a more realistic and detailed spatial image.
Spacelab Ignition’s 3D panner is another key feature, providing an intuitive interface for positioning audio objects around the listener. The panner supports full-sphere positioning, allowing for placement above, below, and all around the listener. Movement of objects can be automated, opening up possibilities for dynamic and evolving spatial mixes.
The plugin’s rendering capabilities are equally impressive. Spacelab Ignition can output to a wide range of formats, from traditional stereo to complex multichannel setups like Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H. The built-in binaural renderer is particularly noteworthy, allowing users to monitor and produce 3D audio for headphone playback without additional tools.
Integration with existing workflows is made easy through the Spacelab Beam plugin. This auxiliary tool can be inserted on individual tracks in a DAW, allowing those tracks to appear as object sources within the main Spacelab Ignition interface. This feature is especially valuable for users of DAWs with limited multichannel routing capabilities, as it enables full use of Spacelab’s immersive audio functions regardless of the host software’s limitations.
The user interface of Spacelab Ignition deserves special mention. It provides a clear, visual representation of the virtual space and the objects within it. Users can easily manipulate object positions using mouse controls, with real-time visual feedback. The interface also includes comprehensive metering and a variety of presets to help users get started quickly.
Spacelab Ignition also offers a unique “Classic” mode, which allows the plugin to function as a traditional send/return reverb effect. This versatility makes it suitable for both conventional mixing tasks and advanced spatial audio production within a single tool.
In the realm of 3D audio production tools, Spacelab Ignition stands out for its integrated approach to reverb, panning, and spatialization. While plugins like Waves’ Abbey Road Studio 3 and Nx Ocean Way Nashville focus on room emulation, and tools like dearVR PRO specialize in binaural rendering, Spacelab Ignition combines these functionalities into a single, cohesive package. Compared to Dolby Atmos Production Suite, Spacelab Ignition offers a more accessible entry point into immersive audio production, with its intuitive object-based approach and DAW-agnostic design. However, it lacks some of the advanced features and deeper Atmos integration found in Dolby’s offering. In terms of reverb quality, Spacelab Ignition competes well with dedicated high-end reverb plugins like FabFilter Pro-R or Liquidsonics Cinematic Rooms. While these plugins may offer more detailed control over reverb characteristics, they lack Spacelab’s integrated 3D audio capabilities.
This plugin is best for:
• Music producers looking to explore immersive audio production
• Sound designers working on VR/AR content
• Film and game audio professionals seeking efficient 3D audio workflows
• Content creators aiming to future-proof their productions for emerging audio formats
• Mixing engineers wanting to expand their spatial audio toolkit
Spacelab Ignition represents a significant step forward in accessible 3D audio production tools. Its combination of high-quality reverb, intuitive object-based mixing, and flexible output options make it a versatile and powerful plugin for a wide range of audio professionals. The integration of reverb and spatial positioning in a single tool streamlines the workflow for creating immersive soundscapes, while the support for various output formats ensures compatibility with current and future playback systems. Spacelab Ignition’s seamless integration with Dolby Atmos workflows is particularly noteworthy, positioning it as a valuable tool for professionals working in this growing field. The ability to easily create and monitor binaural renders also makes it an excellent choice for those producing content for headphone-based listening experiences.