What HARPEX LTD does

Harpex Audio GmbH (operating under HARPEX LTD and the brand Harpex) is a privately held Berlin-based software company founded in 2011 that develops the Harpex-X audio plugin, a desktop signal-processing tool for professional sound field recordings. The plugin runs as a VST, AAX, or Audio Unit on Windows and macOS and integrates with all major surround-capable DAWs (Pro Tools HD, Nuendo, Logic Pro, Pyramix, Reaper). Its core technology is a proprietary active matrix processor — distinct from passive ambisonic decoders — that extracts maximum spatial information from A-format, B-format, AmbiX, FuMa, and double-MS recordings, then renders them to 5.1/7.1 surround, 3D immersive formats (Dolby Atmos, IMAX, Auro 3D), binaural stereo for headphone playback, or higher-order AmbiX for VR and AR. The product supports direct input from the major tetrahedral microphone arrays (SoundField, Sennheiser Ambeo, Core Sound TetraMic, Zoom H3-VR, Rode NT-SF1) and integrates the SADIE project's KU100 and KEMAR HRTF sets plus SOFA-file loading for binaural decoding.

The company serves three primary use cases: film, television, and streaming post-production requiring high-channel-separation immersive audio; VR/AR content creators producing head-tracked AmbiX audio; and audio engineers and music producers needing binaural or non-coincident rendering from a single sound field capture. Its value proposition centers on resolving the technical shortcomings of passive matrix decoders — limited channel separation, small sweet spots, and phasing artifacts — that historically restricted sound field recordings to controlled listening environments.

Harpex operates a direct-to-consumer, product-led go-to-market: customers download a 30-day trial from harpex.net and purchase perpetual multi-seat licenses (covering 2-10 computers) through an integrated web shop. No dongle is required, and license transfers can be authenticated over the internet for frequent computer changes. The business has been bootstrapped since founding, with no disclosed external funding, and reaches customers globally with EU VAT handling. Beyond the core plugin, the company is also promoting spcmic (spcmic.com), signaling an adjacent product initiative.

Name

HARPEX LTD

Legal name

Harpex Audio GmbH

Website

https://harpex.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Harpex Audio GmbH develops the Harpex-X plugin, a proprietary active matrix processor that converts ambisonic sound field recordings into surround, immersive (Dolby Atmos, IMAX, Auro 3D), binaural, and VR/AR audio outputs for film, television, and VR post-production professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Production Software

NAICS

Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Re-Recording Mixing (Theatrical/TV/Streaming) (MPAHAEAF), Sound Effects (SFX) Editorial & Library Services (MPAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Spatial audio processing
• Ambisonic decoding software
• Surround sound plugins
• 3D audio production
• Binaural rendering tools

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Plugin Software Licenses: One-time perpetual license sales for Harpex-X plugin available in multiple seat configurations (2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 computers). Licenses include free 30-day trial period before purchase. No dongle required; license can be transferred to a new computer annually or more frequently via internet authentication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Harpex develops and sells the Harpex-X audio plugin, a signal processing algorithm that uses an active matrix processor (rather than traditional passive matrixing) to extract maximum spatial information from sound field recordings. The plugin converts A-format, B-format, AmbiX, FuMa, and double MS inputs from tetrahedral microphone arrays (SoundField, Sennheiser Ambeo, Core Sound TetraMic, Zoom H3-VR, Rode NT-SF1) into surround (5.1/7.1), 3D audio (Dolby Atmos, IMAX, Auro 3D), binaural stereo, and higher-order AmbiX output for film, television, VR, and AR production.

Product overview

HARPEX offers a single unified product: the Harpex-X audio plugin. Originally named Harpex-B (when it supported only B-format input), it was renamed Harpex-X in version 1.4 (2020) to reflect expanded input format support including A-format from various microphone arrays. Harpex-X is a commercial desktop plugin available in VST, AAX, and Audio Unit formats for Windows and Mac OS X. The software uses an active matrix processing algorithm (distinct from passive matrixing used by traditional ambisonic decoders) to extract maximum spatial information from sound field recordings. It offers a 30-day free trial and sells permanent licenses for installation on 2-10 computers without requiring a dongle or internet access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harpex-X Plug-in Desktop audio plugin (VST, AAX, and Audio Unit) for Windows and Mac OS X that processes sound field recordings and ambisonic formats and renders them to surround (5.1, 7.1), 3D surround (Dolby Atmos, IMAX, Auro 3D), binaural stereo, or higher-order AmbiX output. Distributed via 30-day free trial and perpetual multi-seat licenses (2-10 computers) through a self-serve web shop. Targeted at professional audio engineers, sound designers, film/TV post-production studios, and VR/AR content creators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Far greater channel separation than passive matrixing
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SennheisercoreTechnology or IntegrationAMBEO for VR partnership with Sennheiser. Harpex-X provides improved Ambeo input mode support for Sennheiser Ambeo microphone recordings. Harpex supports direct input from Sennheiser Ambeo microphone arrays.

Scale indicators1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dear Reality: Dear Reality develops dearVR, a leading spatial audio plugin suite that converts and renders immersive audio for VR, AR, and surround formats. It is the closest direct competitor to Harpex-X in the VST/AAX/AU spatial audio plugin space for film, TV, and immersive content.
• Sound Particles: Sound Particles offers 3D audio production software used for immersive sound design in film, games, and VR. It directly competes with Harpex-X for immersive audio production workflows in post and game audio.
• IEM Plug-ins: IEM Plug-ins (Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, Graz) offers a suite of free and commercial ambisonic encoder/decoder plugins used in immersive audio workflows. It is a direct functional competitor in ambisonic decoding and conversion.
• Blue Ripple Sound: Blue Ripple Sound develops ambisonic plugins and tools, particularly the OAM binaural decoder and AmbiX-format processing tools. It directly competes in the niche Harpex-X serves.
• New Audio Technology: New Audio Technology's Spatial Audio Designer provides ambisonic and object-based 3D audio rendering inside DAWs, directly overlapping with Harpex-X's spatial audio rendering and binaural/Atmos output capabilities.
• Nugen Audio: Nugen Audio's Halo Upmix and Halo Downmix plugins are widely used in film and broadcast post-production for upmixing/demixing between stereo, surround, and immersive formats. They target the same professional post-production customer base as Harpex-X.

Broad incumbents

• Waves Audio: Waves is a large incumbent plugin vendor with Nx and other spatial/immersive audio plugins used in post-production and music. It is a broader incumbent overlapping Harpex-X's immersive audio workflow but with a much wider product portfolio.
• Avid: Avid's Pro Tools is the dominant DAW in film/TV post-production and supports ambisonic tracks and Atmos workflows natively. It is a broad incumbent that could natively absorb functionality similar to Harpex-X.
• Apple (Logic Pro): Apple's Logic Pro is a major surround-capable DAW with built-in spatial audio features and integration with Dolby Atmos. It is a broad incumbent that competes for the same post-production workflows.

Emerging players

• Audio Brewers: Audio Brewers provides spatial audio plugins and resources targeting VR/AR, game audio, and immersive media creators. It is an emerging player with partial overlap with Harpex-X's immersive audio and binaural use cases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HARPEX LTD