HiRes balance control add-on, MAATgo, is aimed at the playback of HiRes streams and files enhancing the audiophile user experience. The app is a cross platform plug-in and native application for routing, matrixing and visualisation of digital audio.
Available for all major plug-in formats, including VST 2, VST 3 and AAX for macOS and Windows plus Audio Units for macOS, MAATgo delivers complete ‘preamp’ channel routing, plus a software goniometer that replicates an analogue oscilloscope experience. In addition to the plug–in, which is supported by top flight, audio–only players like Amarra and Audirvana, MAATgo also includes a ‘native’ or standalone application for use with HiRes streaming services such as TIDAL and Qobuz. Sample rates up to 384 kHz are supported.
When any of the controls are disabled, they are completely ‘out of circuit’ and do not affect the sound quality. When any control is enabled, its DSP uses 64 bit, double precision floating point math to ensure maximum fidelity. Also, MAATgo will operate at up to 384 kHz, compatible with the highest fidelity lossless PCM files and streams generally available.
MAATgo combines a variety of channel steering and blending controls with a balance adjustment and goniometer. Some of the stereo image and routing controls include a sum or L+R mode, a difference or L-R mode, a swap mode that interchanges the position of left and right, and polarity inversion for left, right or both.
The L-R (Left Minus Right) mode can be used for ‘karaoke’ since many popular songs have mostly monaural vocals. Since L-R mode removes any mono content, vocals are usually reduced significantly or eliminated entirely. This lets you sing along, accompanied by the rhythm track. Another valuable feature, the polarity inversion modes let you check signal chain integrity, while the left–only and right–only controls offer a more nuanced view into your stereo sound field.
The standalone version can be used as a stream–through processor, just like component separates in the hi–fi hardware world. To use MAATgo standalone, you usually need a ‘virtual audio device’, an audio driver that provides a software ‘device’ your operating system can use for patching. For Windows, the company recommends VB-Audio’s HI-FI Cable. For macOS, it recommends Existential Audio’s BlackHole. Both are free.
MAATgo costs $24 and a fully functional 14-day demo can be downloaded here.
