This Har-Bal app rocks...

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Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002

With the new release of 1.02 I just can't believe what this app can do...and do so easily. I am really not a "hard-sell" sort of guy, I provide affiliate links for people to use to help support the site and all, but I don't think I am too pushy. Har-Bal, well, we get no commissions from or anything, but I gotta say, after being able to work on some of MY music over the weekend, this app rocks. it really makes it unnecessary to have 4-5 different sets of speakers to listen to your mix through, it makes EQing and certain phases of mastering sooo easy.

Jeez, I love this program...I just wanted to share the love. :-)

With 1.02 a big improvement was real time editing, as you edit the EQ curve, you hear it while playing...it also now handles 32-bit float files.

Unbelievable. www.har-bal.com/

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sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003


Oct 29, 2003 09:46 am

Gee, maybe I should skip the monitors and put my money into this, if it does that good as an eq'ing interface... I could just trust my eyes instead of having my ears trust a cheapo monitor.... hmmm....
I know this is the wrong attitude, but I look at the actual file's tiny size and I can't help but think, wow, that's pricey for such a tiny app. I know, I know, it's what it does for you that counts.
Is it hard to use?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 29, 2003 10:00 am

It's probably the single easiest app I have in my audio arsenal. It's click and drag visual-based eqing...it's shaweet!

Be aware you still ned decent speakers to get a good mix TO master. :-) But yes, I see your point.

Try the demo, the demo is only 8 bit, but it WILL show you what the app is capable of...just in a lower bitrate.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Oct 29, 2003 02:02 pm

i am intrigued.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Oct 29, 2003 02:20 pm

I downloaded the DEMO and have been playing around with it, but at only 8bit res, and not even the abiltiy to save the file so you CAN go listen to it on various sources I personally feel the demo is useless.

I've been debating whether to go with there 30 day moneyback guarentee, but I usually don't go that route, more often than not I'm one of those people that end up keeping it whether is was any good not.

I'm very intriqued by the program since I think it could be a big help in getting the EQ right, especially for someone like me who's high frequency hearing ain't what it used to be. But I'm just not ready shell out $100 for a "could be". I wouldn't even think about buying it at the full price they say it's going to cost though whether it worked or not. So I'm tryin to decide before they raise the price. :)

Dan


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 29, 2003 02:28 pm

Yes, they have taken some beatings for the 8-bit demo on forums and such, but they are going to stick to their guns on that, and I understand why. If it is a 16-bit demo with reg, then it gets cracked and winds up on Kazaa and they get nothing. I understand that.

I also understand the hesitant nature of some folks. I can not promise anyone would be as excited about it as me, but I am amazed. I do a lot of mastering, it's hard work sometimes...most times, to do it RIGHT. I found it to make quick work of EQing. I harBal'd "The Right Way" before I put it in my profile, it's the only one there that is harbal'd so far, and it is far and away the best sounding song in my profile. Maybe needs some mixing tweaks and stuff, but the EQing and fullness is great and it took about 5 minutes.

I taked to one of the guys there today and he said they are having better sales in Europe than the US, but he has passed on some of the email he has gotten from people that have bought it, including some realy heavy-weights in the biz, it's pretty impressive. Something I am glad I am a small part of, that's for sure.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Oct 29, 2003 02:58 pm

I understand their reasoning as well though I think their method is flawed. The full version is probaby already out there.

I'll probably decide to jump off the fence just as they raise the price, about par for me. <G>

Dan

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 29, 2003 03:00 pm

it sounds like they will keep it at that price for a while, atleast the end of the year I think I remember them telling me...I think.

I have actually looked for it out there and never found it. They offer the 30-day thing as a way to compensate for the 8-bit. I totally understand their reasoning.

Ultimately, when it comes to protecting yourself from piracy, there IS NO perfect answer...which sucks for us and them.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 30, 2003 07:43 am

Has anyone here actually USED the 8-bit demo? Just idle curiousity, I don't recall if I ever did or not, just curious of the impression it gave anyone that did.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Oct 30, 2003 10:00 am

Yes I'm using it now (or was). The 8bit res isn't as a big a problem IMO as not being able to save the result so you can go listen on different things or let some one else compare it to the original.

Dan

Member
Since: Jun 28, 2002


Oct 30, 2003 06:39 pm

yeah i used the 8 bit version and i'm not sure i knew how to use it cause all it did was make my mixes sound thin, but i'm gonna give it another try once i get a final mix

Member
Since: Jun 28, 2002


Oct 30, 2003 06:42 pm

yeah i used the 8 bit version and i'm not sure i knew how to use it cause all it did was make my mixes sound thin, but i'm gonna give it another try once i get a final mix to try it on

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 30, 2003 07:35 pm

I just downloaded it and I'm about to give it a shot. I'm really considering buying it as it sounds like it would be a great complament to Ozone and would fix my master eq problems.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Oct 30, 2003 10:21 pm

Using the 8bit demo, the few times I've tried it, all I can really say is it sounded different. I mean the test your making becomes okay my tune sounds just as bad as the reference I loaded now, so it must sound better <G>

I can't say I'm surpised they are having a tuff sell here in States I really don't think you can evaluate what the program does with the demo.

Dan

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 04:53 am

Muffins, thats my exact plan for my EP I am working on rightnow, EQ it all out in HarBal, then open it in WaveLab and give it the Ozone treatment...I am looking forward ot the plugin verion of HarBal, but haven't heard any word on when that will happen, their next priority I remember hearing about was making a version for Mac.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:02 am

Well, I tried it out and it's pretty cool, but I'm not quite sure of its advantages over a parametric EQ like Ozone's set to analyze an entire song. I see that it definately has some, but I don't know if it's worth the $100 to me at the moment. I was still having trouble figuring out where to flatten things out and where not to, but I know that's something that must come with time and education. I did read most of the manual, but it just kind of reaffirms that I've got a ways to go in learning how to EQ a final mix-- I think this must be the toughest step in the recording/mixing/mastering process!

Oh- And I didn't find the 8-bit thing to be a big problem at all. It does still give you a good idea of what the program can do-- Just with some added noise in the background :)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:06 am

the whole point is you don't want any big peaks or valleys in your frequency curve. THAT is where the problems enter about sound very different from speaker to speaker...it's all about how each different speaker handles sound. If one speaker has a "sweet spot" at the same place your music has a big valley...well, it's gonna sound thin on those speakers...

You want the curve reasonably flat...which is how the visual tool like HarBal makes it all so easy.

Anyway, thats my take on it.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:20 am

Yeah, I see what you mean. It definately does the job nicely. I guess the difference between trying to do the same thing in Ozone and doing it in Har-Bal is that in Har-Bal it's much easier to do because it makes the actual frequency curve and the EQ mold one and the same. Am I right? This way you can edit it even without listening to the music at the same time. Then you can go back and fine tune it while playing it back.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:22 am

yes, tho I don't reccommend editing the EQ corve without listening to it ;-)

Also, while listening back you can punch the EQ edit in and out and hear the difference...it's quite stunning sometimes. The better I get at mixing (never been a strongpoint for me, I am a mastering guy) I notice the freq. spectrum looks better and better and needs less tweaking in HarBal...which is good. Still never perfect, but as the curve looks better lets me know I am improving as a mixer :-)

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:27 am

Yeah, I like the way that it keeps the relative volume the same for EQ in and out even though you've changed the frequency curve. Really makes it much easier to compare since louder always sounds better.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:30 am

Yup, that's the magic of their "Loudness Compensation Technology" it is super cool.

I'm tellin ya, this app rocks. :-D

Member
Since: Jun 28, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 02:35 pm

is there any "loudness compensation technology" plugin out there that you can throw at the end of your chain so you can use it while you compress or what not?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 02:36 pm

ya, it's called a compressor ;-)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 08:10 am

FYI, I was sharing some emails with the folks at Har-Bal and got some good news. In about 9 weeks a new version of Har-Bal will be released that includes VST and DirectX plugin compatibility. This will be (or it sounded like to me) a free upgrade for existing users, and will make no price increase to the existing purchase price for first-time buyers.

I am totally jazzed about this myself, I think Har-Bal will make a great addition to my WaveLab arsenal, it will make mastering a totally one-stop-shop with a plugin version.

This is VERY cool in my opinion.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 01:14 pm

great. smart move of their part

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 02, 2003 05:15 am

Hmmm, well, this is an interesting development. As it turns out I was all backwards in my understanding of the new version. As it turns out Har-Bal will still be a standalone application that hosts plugins, not be the plugin itself.

At first I was thinking, "well, t hat doesn't make sense" but the more Ithink about it, it's kinda cool. Then as you compress, limit, maximize and add other effects you can see how it affects the spectrum. This could prove interesting to see how these effects color the sound outside of just doing the just they are intended to.

That make Har-Bal a great mastering app. Obviously not a wave editor, but strictly a standalone mastering tool.

The more I think about, the more cool it is...

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Nov 02, 2003 07:51 am

it's funny you say that, because on my first reading your previous post, that's what I thought you meant. I knew something was up so I reread it right away and decided you meant that they'd be making it as a DX and VST plug. Strange coincidence

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 02, 2003 07:54 am

hehehe, that is kinda weird. The more I think about it tho, I think they are doing it right, making Harbal the host, not the plug in. It'll be interesting to see the frequency spectrum after applying various effects to it...see what plugins are how clean...or not clean...

Actually, then, except for wave editing, it will make things like WaveLab and Sound Forge useless to me for strictly mastering uses.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Nov 02, 2003 09:40 am

shes on my shopping list now i think...which is a rare occurence!

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