SMART CUBE 1.0.0
Windows 64-bit VST3
Created by Andrea Di Tella
https://www.andreaditella.com

Smart Cube is an original small-speaker monitoring simulation. Use it to check
midrange balance, vocal presence, instrument levels and mono compatibility.
Its voicing approximates a compact, sealed, single-driver reference speaker.
It is not a measurement-based recreation of a specific commercial loudspeaker
and does not reproduce a listening room or replace physical reference monitors.

Free to use with no limitations. Optional donations support development:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/andreaditella

INSTALLATION
1. Close your DAW and other applications using audio plugins.
2. Extract this ZIP archive.
3. Copy the complete SmartCube.vst3 folder into:
   C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
4. Keep Contents and all its subfolders. Do not copy only the inner file.
   Accept the Windows administrator prompt if requested.
5. Open your DAW and rescan VST3 plugins if necessary.

REQUIREMENTS
Windows 64-bit and an application supporting 64-bit VST3 effects.
Mono input / mono output and stereo input / stereo output are supported.

WHERE TO INSERT IT
Use a monitor/control-room effects slot where your DAW provides one. Otherwise
insert Smart Cube as the last effect on your master bus for auditioning.
IMPORTANT: bypass or remove Smart Cube before exporting the final mix.
The plugin does not automatically bypass during an export.

CONTROLS
MONO
The default mode. On stereo tracks, left and right are averaged equally and
the same result is sent to both outputs. A centred signal keeps its level;
opposite-phase content can cancel, revealing mono-compatibility problems.
On a mono track, the single input is processed normally.

STEREO
Applies the same speaker response independently to left and right. Panning and
stereo differences are preserved. A single speaker is shown as a visual symbol
of the model; it does not mean the stereo mode is summed to mono.
Selecting STEREO on a mono track does not create a second output channel.

OUTPUT LEVEL
Adjusts the processed monitor signal from -24 dB to +6 dB. Default: 0 dB.
Double-click the knob to reset to 0 dB, or click its value field to type a value.
The response is level-matched at 1 kHz; perceived loudness still depends on the
material. Use OUTPUT LEVEL for comfortable comparisons with the original.

BYPASS
Amber means bypass is enabled. Hear the original signal, with no speaker
filtering, mono summing or output-level adjustment. Switching is smoothed.
The host's bypass function is also supported.

ACTIVE / CLIP
ACTIVE is lit while the speaker simulation is engaged.
CLIP indicates an output sample reaching or exceeding 0 dBFS, with a brief hold.
It is a sample-peak warning, not a true-peak meter or limiter. Reduce output
level or the signal before the plugin if it lights.

ABOUT / DONATE
ABOUT shows the version, author and clickable website link.
DONATE opens the optional PayPal donation page. CLOSE or Escape closes About.
All control settings can be automated and are saved with your DAW project.

QUICK START
1. Play your mix and engage Smart Cube at a comfortable listening volume.
2. Start in MONO with OUTPUT LEVEL at 0 dB.
3. Listen to the balance of vocals and lead instruments, and whether bass notes
   remain understandable through their midrange harmonics.
4. Use STEREO to check panning with the same small-speaker voicing.
5. Compare with BYPASS; avoid compensating the simulated lack of deep bass by
   automatically adding excessive bass to your mix.
6. Bypass or remove Smart Cube before exporting your finished audio.
