Stereo Lab
computing better sound

Note: For Stereo Lab app version 4 and above, the software is available in Apple's App Store. Home, Tonmeister, Phonograph, and Demo versions have been discontinued in favour of a subscription model. After installing and running Stereo Lab for the first time, the app runs in demo mode for 24 hours.

Introduction - Pass the Sauce

Stereo Lab (formerly Stereo Sauce) is a Macintosh High-Resolution Audio app for collectors, sound, film, and TV engineers, and audiophiles. It offers equalisation and noise-reduction for a wide range of source media — from cylinders and shellac discs, to analog tapes, to film soundtracks, and high-res digital files.

RIAA Needle-drop Mode

High-quality needle-drop tools with a precise linear analogue emulation of the RIAA network, phase-linear rumble filtering, distortion compensation and cartridge compensation. Includes a world-class click & pop filter and support for half-speed needle-drops.

Historic Equalisation Mode

Comprehensive support for historic record equalisation curves (EMI 78, BSI, Decca, NAB, RCA, BBC transcription, Columbia, AES and more). Includes a unique de-crackle process that preserves high frequencies and the GRAδIENT surface-noise reduction.

CD Equalisation Mode

Accurate CD de-emphasis for files recorded with pre-emphasis (common on early CDs). Use this to correct harsh, strident rips and restore natural tonal balance.

Read about CD de-emphasis

Stereo Shuffling Mode

Stereo Shuffling restores and refines the original Blumlein-derived stereo image. Stereo Lab implements several historical shufflers and FRANCINSTIEN stereo correction systems for robust stereo enhancement.

Beyond Shuffling — FRANCINSTIEN T-Sym

T-Sym is a third-generation, time-symmetric, phase-linear stereo correction that reconstructs the audio wavefront using non-causal filters — our flagship stereo enhancement only available inside Stereo Lab.

Learn about T-Sym

Headphones Mode

Includes Head Space (stereo?binaural HRTF + reverb) to simulate listening via speakers, and the ARIA 2.0 headphone folddown for 2-channel playback of surround upmixes.

Surround-sound Upmixing Mode

An adaptive PCA-based algorithm that converts stereo into convincing 5.1 upconversions without degrading the forward image. Outputs to multichannel files or sequences of stereo/mono files (.WAV, .AIFF, .FLAC).

Read about 5.1 upconversion

Microphone Processing Mode

Implements Blumlein-shuffler emulation for near-spaced omnis and enhancements for coincident cardioid arrays so recordings keep low-end richness while improving imaging.

Loudness Processing (ITU BS.1770-3)

Loudness measurement and adjustment tools compliant with ITU BS.1770-3. Targets are programmable for TV, radio, mastering and archiving.

Loudness measurement details

Quadraphonic Decoding Mode

Decodes all quadraphonic formats (and Dolby Surround) for multichannel replay and export. Supports a variety of output formats for archiving or re-encoding.

Tapes and Cassettes

High-quality Stereo UHJ decoding (multiple decoder options, including a 5.1 optimized decoder) for Ambisonic material such as Nimbus releases.

Digital Recovery Mode

Includes Hi-Res upscaling (16?24-bit upconversion) and Un-limiting to reclaim dynamics from heavily limited digital tracks &mdash' restoring some of the original musical dynamics.

Noise Reduction Mode

Software implementations of Dolby-B decoding, intelligent hum removal and cassette NR workflows: normalise first, then decode for optimal results on fragile tape sources.