How To test SOFAlizer in 2021

[SDX-LV]

This code is not maintained, but in case someone wants to test it, it still works on Windows10 with a few caveats:

1. Download VLC 2.1 installer from https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/2.1.0.html#download (some newer versions work as well, but I had no luck with the current VLC - no audio devices showed up)
2. No need to install VLC 2.1 - Just extract the ".exe" file with 7zip to a folder.
3. Extract the contents of SOFAlizer-0.1.0.zip directly over the VLC 2.1 files and overwrite everything: https://github.com/sofacoustics/SOFAlizer-for-VLC-Player/releases
4. Start the vlc.exe in the 2.1 folder - it should work and play music files already.
5. Then you need a known SOFA file to test. Get one in the SOFA-format 1.0 from here: http://sofacoustics.org/data/database/ari/hrtf%20b_nh10.sofa
6. Now you can follow the rest of instructions in the release:

• Goto Tools, Preferences, check "Show settings: All"
• In the left panel, for Audio/Filters, check "SOFAlizer"
• In the left panel, for Audio/Filters/SOFAlizer, select at SOFA file 1,2,3 up to three SOFA files
• Click on Save
• Goto Tools/Effects and Filters, in that panel, select "SOFAlizer"
• Enable SOFAlizer
• Load a audio/video file, enjoy

Don't forget to use "Tools" ==> "Effects and Filters" ==> "Audio Effects" ==> "SOFAlizer" tab.

There are much more details about SOFAlizer in the original Thesis: https://iem.kug.ac.at/fileadmin/media/iem/projects/2014/hrauda.pdf

I think this software is excellent, it only is missing support for head-trackers such as https://supperware.co.uk/ and then it could be practically used for listening to virtual surround in both video and music using individual HRTF made using for example Mesh2HRTF.