Mars FX Halo
STEREO SPATIAL EXPANDER & SHIMMER ENGINE
Halo is an advanced stereo spatial expansion plugin designed to elevate your soundstage into three dimensions. Built around pristine Mid/Side DSP algorithms, Halo stretches stereo width while keeping sub-bass frequencies rock-solid in mono. Featuring an orbiting pitch-shimmer particle generator and 1:1 visual reactivity through our Martian mascot.
100% Free • VST3 & AU Supported
Why It's Different
Standard stereo imagers (like iZotope Ozone Imager or Waves S1) simply manipulate Mid/Side gain, which often destroys phase correlation, weakens sub-bass, and breaks mono compatibility. Halo combines precision spatial expansion with an active mono-crossover filter and high-frequency pitch shimmer—isolating sub-bass to true mono while expanding upper-mids and highs to guarantee 100% club-system mono compatibility.
Key Features & DSP Engine
Width Expansion
Precision Mid/Side width processing from 0% (mono) to 200% super-wide stereo without phase cancellation.
Mono Maker
Custom crossover filter that automatically sums low frequencies (20Hz - 500Hz) to mono to preserve club system low-end punch.
Shimmer Particle Generator
Feeds high-frequency stereo signals into an orbiting pitch-shifted tail for ethereal top-end air and sheen.
Visual Feedback Engine
Real-time eye cross-straining and halo glow modulation based on active monomaker and width parameters.
Control Specifications
| Parameter | Range / Value | Function & DSP Impact |
|---|---|---|
| WIDTH | 0.0 to 2.0 | Controls overall stereo field spread and Mid/Side balance. |
| MONO MAKER | 20 Hz to 500 Hz | Sets the crossover frequency below which stereo information is summed to mono. |
| SHIMMER | 0.0 to 1.0 | Injects pitch-shifted particle orbits into the high-end stereo field. |
| OUTPUT | -24dB to +12dB | Master output gain stage with automatic headroom protection. |
Audio Examples
Listen to Halo in action across various mix elements.