What's New in v1.3.0

Apple Spatial Audio

Orbit now supports Apple Spatial Audio as a fourth monitoring mode alongside Multichannel, Binaural, and Stereo. This uses Apple's Spatial Audio engine with high-quality HRTF rendering — the same spatial audio pipeline used by Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Apple Music.

Four sub-modes are available, selected from the Spatial Options panel in the sidebar:

• Static — Apple HRTF without head tracking (any headphones).
• Static Personalised — Uses your personal ear scan profile (any headphones).
• Head Tracking — Real-time head tracking via AirPods/Beats.
• Head Tracking Personalised — Head tracking with personalised HRTF.

Orbit automatically detects whether your connected headphones support head tracking and personalised HRTF, and shows only the modes available to you.

An independent volume control is provided for Apple Spatial Audio output, with a dB slider in the sidebar matching the range of the master fader (-60 to +12 dB).

Expanded HRTF library

The binaural monitoring section now ships with four built-in HRTF profiles:

• Orbit Studio — A synthesised HRTF designed to work well with most headphones. Includes bass compensation for natural low-frequency perception through headphones, and height channel balance correction for consistent top-to-bottom imaging.
• Orbit Reference — Diffuse-field compensated Neumann KU100 measurements from the SADIE II database. Removes the dummy head's tonal coloration while preserving all spatial cues (ITD, ILD, spectral shape). Designed for tonally neutral, reference-grade binaural monitoring.
• SADIE II KU100 — Raw Neumann KU100 dummy head measurements. Uncompensated — retains the natural KU100 tonal character for users who prefer it.
• SADIE II KEMAR — Raw GRAS KEMAR dummy head measurements. Uncompensated — retains the natural KEMAR tonal character.

Custom SOFA files remain fully supported.

Binaural output meters

When monitoring in Binaural or Apple Spatial Audio mode, the meters now show the actual binaural output — the stereo L/R signal after HRTF processing. This gives you an accurate picture of what's reaching your headphones.

Upgraded meter visuals

The metering display has been redesigned:

• Position-fixed gradient colouring (green to yellow to orange to red) mapped to absolute dB levels
• Peak hold indicators with 1.5-second hold time and decay
• Vertical channel labels
• Smoother attack/release behaviour

Binaural limiter

Binaural monitoring now includes a peak limiter to prevent clipping on headphone output. A -3 dB trim is applied by default with a lookahead limiter at -1 dBTP. A gain reduction indicator is shown in the meters area, and the limiter can be bypassed if preferred.

Binaural loudness metering

Loudness metering now works in binaural and Apple Spatial Audio modes, measuring the 2-channel binaural output rather than the internal 7.1.4 speaker feeds. This is useful for reference, but should not be used for QC or delivery compliance.

Accurate ADM parsing up to 7.1.4

Orbit now correctly identifies standard ADM bed formats from mono (1.0) through to 7.1.4, including files that use ITU-R BS.2094 Common Definitions. This has been verified against EBU/BBC test material and Dolby Atmos Masters. Previously, some ADM files — particularly those from BBC and other broadcasters that rely on Common Definitions rather than inline metadata — could be misidentified.

Faster loading and lower memory usage

File loading has been substantially reworked for large ADM files:

• Orbit now uses a custom-built streaming ADM parser. A 17.3 GB ADM file loads in under 12 seconds.
• Playback is available immediately after loading — waveform calculation runs in the background, so you can start listening while waveforms build progressively.
• Up to 80% reduction in peak memory usage for large ADM files.
• Improved RF64 container handling for better compatibility with large ADM BWF files.

Open Recent

The File menu now includes an Open Recent submenu, making it easy to reopen previously loaded ADM files without navigating the file picker each time. Recent files persist across app restarts.

Bug fixes

• Fixed update banner to always check API on launch.
• Fixed waveform spatial colouring accuracy.