Audio knowledge and student pricing for the next generation of producers
Human hearing sensitivity varies dramatically with both frequency and volume level. The Fletcher-Munson curves (now updated as ISO 226 equal-loudness contours) show that at lower listening levels, we perceive significantly less bass and treble. This is why a mix that sounds balanced loud can feel thin at low volumes. Understanding these curves is essential for making mix decisions that translate across playback levels. Buchert Audio plugins are designed with these perceptual characteristics in mind — our EQ curves account for how you actually hear, not just what the spectrum analyzer shows.
The human ear divides the audible spectrum into approximately 24 critical bands (Bark scale). Within each band, sounds compete for attention — a phenomenon called auditory masking. When two sounds occupy the same critical band, the louder one can make the quieter one imperceptible. This is why surgical EQ cuts are often more effective than boosts: removing competing energy within a critical band unmasks the sounds you want to hear. Tonality EQ's Surgical mode is designed specifically for this kind of precision work.
Every musical sound consists of a fundamental frequency plus a series of harmonics (overtones) at integer multiples of that fundamental. The relative strength of these harmonics determines timbre — why a piano and a guitar playing the same note sound different. Analog equipment naturally adds subtle harmonics, contributing to the 'warmth' associated with vintage gear. Warmth Engine's five processing stages model this harmonic enrichment, giving you precise control over the harmonic content of your signal.
Mid/Side (M/S) is a stereo processing technique that separates audio into a center channel (Mid) and a difference channel (Side). The Mid contains everything panned center — typically vocals, kick, snare, bass. The Side contains stereo width information — reverb tails, stereo synths, wide guitars. Processing these independently lets you tighten the center while widening the sides, or apply different EQ to each. Both Buchert Audio plugins support full M/S processing for this level of control.
Fastl & Zwicker
Mike Senior
David Gibson
Tim Dittmar