SolAudioLab Virtual Headphones
Windows 64-bit VST3 | Beta 0.5

Virtual Headphones is a monitoring plug-in that lets you compare the tonal
character of other headphones and selected consumer listening devices through
the headphones you already use. It can also apply a neutral correction for
your current headphones.

Beta 0.5 expands the model database while preserving the original Beta 0.2.3
sound calculations for the existing models.

This package is for Windows only. It cannot be used on macOS.


[SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS]

- 64-bit Windows
- A 64-bit DAW that supports VST3 plug-ins
- Plug-in format: Windows VST3


[INSTALLATION]

1. Quit your DAW completely.
2. Copy the entire "SolAudioLab" folder from this ZIP.
3. Paste it into:

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3

The final installation path should be:

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\SolAudioLab\Virtual Headphones.vst3

Allow administrator permission if Windows requests it.


[UPDATING AN EXISTING VERSION]

1. Quit your DAW completely.
2. Delete the existing plug-in folder:

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\SolAudioLab\Virtual Headphones.vst3

3. Copy the "SolAudioLab" folder from the new ZIP into the same VST3 folder.
4. Start your DAW and run its plug-in scan or rescan.

Beta 0.5 keeps the original Beta 0.2.3 source and target models at the beginning
of the database and includes state migration for projects saved with Beta 0.2.3.
Even so, keep a backup of important DAW projects while testing this Beta build.


[FINDING THE PLUG-IN IN CAKEWALK]

1. Start Cakewalk.
2. Go to Edit > Preferences > File > VST Settings.
3. Run Scan.
4. Look for the plug-in under:

   Mastering > Virtual Headphones

When plug-ins are organized by manufacturer, look under:

   SolAudioLab > Virtual Headphones


[BASIC USE]

1. Select FIND under MY HEADPHONES.
2. Choose the manufacturer and model of the headphones you are using.
3. Select FIND for the target and choose FLAT, another headphone, or a supported
   consumer listening device.
4. Switch between the two model-name buttons to compare the sound at the same
   monitoring level.

FLAT is not another headphone model. It applies a neutral frequency-response
correction for the headphones selected under MY HEADPHONES.

Beta 0.5 contains 330 MY HEADPHONES models and 408 target models. Headphones,
in-ear devices, and earbuds are presented in one target list. They are not
separated into different first-step categories.


[CONSUMER CHECK]

Selected widely used consumer targets are marked CONSUMER CHECK in the model
list. Click the model name to select the target immediately without opening the
guide. Click the CONSUMER CHECK text to select that target and open the short
guide. Closing the guide keeps the target selected and active.

Consumer targets are useful for checking mix translation, but they are not an
exact reproduction of every listener's result. In-ear fit, ear tips, seal, ANC,
adaptive processing, and device DSP can change the actual response.

When an over-ear MY HEADPHONES model is compared with an in-ear or earbud target,
the plug-in uses the same LISTENING REFERENCE calculation developed for the
SolAudioLab web tool. Cross-type correction strength and limits are deliberately
reduced for a stable practical reference.


[READING THE GRAPH]

- MY HEADPHONES: the original frequency response of your current headphones
- TARGET or FLAT: the target response or the neutral reference line
- CORRECTION: the response of the correction filters that are actually applied

Safety Attenuation provides headroom for level increases caused by correction.
The same attenuation is applied to both comparison modes.


[IMPORTANT: TURN IT OFF BEFORE EXPORT]

This plug-in is for headphone monitoring only.
Turn it off manually before the final Export or Bounce.

The plug-in automatically bypasses its audio processing when it detects an
offline Export. Some DAWs and export methods may not report this state to the
plug-in, so do not rely only on automatic detection.


[IF THE PLUG-IN DOES NOT APPEAR]

- Confirm that the installation path is correct.
- Confirm that your DAW is 64-bit and supports VST3.
- Run the DAW's plug-in Scan or Rescan.
- If Cakewalk still shows an older entry, run Reset in VST Settings and then
  run Scan again.


[BETA NOTICE]

This plug-in is currently a Beta version. Perceived headphone response can
change with fit, ear-pad condition, ear shape, acoustic seal, and the source
measurement data. Consumer in-ear and earbud targets can vary even more with
fit and device processing. Use the result as a monitoring and mix-translation
reference, especially when making important decisions.

Please report the DAW name and version, Windows version, audio sample rate,
selected MY HEADPHONES model, selected target, and a short description of the
problem when reporting a Beta issue.


[WEB VERSION AND MORE INFORMATION]

https://solaudiolab.com/virtual-headphones/

Copyright SolAudioLab. All rights reserved.


[BETA 0.5 WORKFLOW IMPROVEMENTS]

- The plug-in uses a charcoal visual theme aligned with SolAudioLab.com.
- The extra rounded outer frame inside the DAW window has been removed.
- LISTEN now uses one full-width toggle. It alternates between the selected target
  and MY HEADPHONES so A/B comparison does not require moving the mouse sideways.
- The model picker can show up to six recently used models above the search field.
  MY HEADPHONES and TARGET history are stored separately.
- Recent-model history is stored locally on this computer. It is not sent to
  SolAudioLab.

[REMOTE SOLAUDIOLAB NOTICE]

The small SolAudioLab area at the bottom can retrieve optional announcement text
and a SolAudioLab link from:

https://solaudiolab.com/virtual-headphones/plugin-notice.json

The request is made only when the plug-in editor is opened and is rate-limited by
a local refresh interval. The audio/DSP thread never performs a network request.
If the server cannot be reached, the plug-in keeps the last local notice or the
built-in SolAudioLab link.

The notice request does not send the selected headphones, target model, DAW
project name, audio content, or other project data to SolAudioLab. The remote
file provides display text, visibility, refresh interval, and a SolAudioLab URL.
It does not provide executable code.
