Overview
IR Player is a single impulse-response loader for cabinets, rooms, reverbs, and other convolution files. Use it after an amp modeler, preamp, distortion, or recorded track when you want a dedicated IR stage without the rest of a rig plugin.
IR Player is free and requires no license file, account activation, or machine authorization.
The plugin loads WAV, AIFF, AIF, and FLAC impulse responses. It runs as an audio effect, does not use MIDI, and stores the selected IR path with the plugin state and presets.
Signal Flow
When the plugin is active, incoming audio passes through the selected IR and tone controls:
- IR convolution
- Low Cut
- High Cut
- Phase
- Pan and Mix
Mono input can be routed to mono or stereo output. When the host gives the plugin mono input with stereo output, IR Player copies the mono source to both output channels before IR processing.
IR Loading
Open the IR selector to choose a bundled IR from FACTORY or an IR from USER LIBRARY. The user-library menu scans the configured folder and its subfolders.
Use Browse For IR to load a file from another location. The file dialog remembers the last location you used. If you regularly use that folder, open IR Directory Settings and save it as the user IR directory.
The factory library includes a V30 cabinet IR and a long stereo 80s Hall effects IR. The default user-library location is the IRs folder in Documents.
Presets
The preset strip stores the current control settings and selected IR. The configured user-library and last-browse folders remain session preferences rather than becoming part of every preset. Bundled factory IRs use portable references so factory presets work across computers.
The Mix lock beside MIX preserves the live wet/dry blend while named presets are recalled. Factory Default always preserves the current Mix, whether the lock is on or off.
Factory and user presets are stored under /Users/Shared/SignalworksDSP/Presets/IR Player/.
Plugin Formats
Current packaging builds IR Player as Universal 2 VST3 and AU for macOS 14 or later.
Click the IR PLAYER product name for About, version, manual, support, updates, and copyable system information. Click the Signalworks DSP wordmark to open the company website.
Quick Start
Load An IR
- Insert IR Player after your amp, preamp, modeler, or distortion plugin.
- Open the IR selector.
- Choose
FACTORY > V30 57 Afor a cabinet, orFACTORY > 80s Hallto try an effects IR. - Choose Browse For IR to load your own WAV, AIFF, AIF, or FLAC file.
- If USER LIBRARY is empty, open IR Directory Settings and choose the folder that contains your IR collection.
Shape The Sound
Start with Mix at 100% for a cabinet IR. For a reverb or parallel effect, try 35% and adjust to taste. Leave Low Cut fully open, High Cut fully open, Pan centered, and Phase set to Normal.
Then adjust:
- Low Cut to remove boom or rumble.
- High Cut to tame harsh top end.
- Pan to place the IR in the stereo field.
- Phase if the sound gets thin when combined with another track, bus, or parallel path.
- Mix to blend the convolved signal with the dry source.
Click the lock beside MIX when you want to audition presets without changing your live wet/dry balance. Factory Default always keeps the current Mix.
Save The Setup
Use SAVE in the preset strip to store the current control settings and selected IR path.
Keep user IR files in the same location after saving. Presets recall the IR reference; they do not copy the audio file into the preset. Bundled factory IR references remain portable.
Controls
Interface Tour
IR Player is built around one IR lane. The top strip handles presets. The main panel handles IR selection, waveform/EQ previews, and the controls for the loaded IR.
Control Reference
| Control | Range or values | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Preset selector | Factory/User presets | Loads saved plugin states. |
| NEW | Button | Starts an unsaved preset from the current settings without resetting the controls. |
| SAVE | Button | Updates the selected user preset; factory or unsaved states open Save As. |
| SAVE AS... | Preset menu | Creates a separately named user preset. |
| RENAME... | Preset menu | Renames the selected user preset. |
| COMPARE | Button | Temporarily compares the current edits with the loaded reference state. |
| DELETE | Button | Deletes the selected user preset. Factory presets are protected. |
| Settings menu | Menu | Opens preset and plugin settings, including IR Directory Settings. |
| IR selector | Menu | Loads an IR from the separate FACTORY or USER LIBRARY menus, or opens Browse For IR. |
| Mix | 0 to 100% | Blends the convolved signal with the dry source. Double-click resets to 100%. |
| Mix lock | Unlocked/Locked | Keeps the live Mix unchanged while named presets are recalled. Factory Default preserves Mix regardless. |
| Low Cut | 20 Hz to 1 kHz | Reduces low-frequency content after the IR. |
| High Cut | 1 kHz to 20 kHz | Reduces high-frequency content after the IR. |
| Pan | Left to right | Places the IR output in the stereo field. Center is shown as CTR. |
| Phase | Normal/Inverted | Flips the IR output polarity when set to Invert. |
Visuals
The waveform view shows the loaded IR file when it can be read. The EQ curve view reflects the current Low Cut, High Cut, and Pan settings.
If the IR file cannot be loaded, reload the file or choose another supported IR.
File Handling
The IR selector supports .wav, .aiff, .aif, and .flac files and loads up to 524,288 source samples, allowing both cabinet and long effects IRs. Browse For IR remembers its last location. External files appear under USER LIBRARY after you set their folder as the IR directory.
Click the product name for About and product-help actions. Click the Signalworks DSP wordmark for the company website.
Troubleshooting
The Plugin Does Not Appear In My DAW
- Quit and reopen the DAW.
- Run the DAW's plugin rescan.
- Confirm IR Player is installed in the correct macOS plugin folder:
- VST3:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ - AU:
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
- VST3:
IR Player is free. It does not stop processing for license or demo reasons.
The Selector Says No IR Files Found
FACTORY remains available independently of the user library. If USER LIBRARY is empty, open IR Directory Settings and choose the folder that contains your IRs. The selector reads WAV, AIFF, AIF, and FLAC files from that folder and its subfolders.
If you only need one file, choose Browse For IR and load it directly.
A Preset Cannot Find Its IR
User presets store the selected IR file reference. If a user IR was moved, renamed, or deleted, choose it again or restore the file to the saved path. Factory presets use portable references to the installed factory library.
When a saved IR cannot be loaded, the plugin may recover with a bundled/default IR if one is available.
The Sound Does Not Change
Check these first:
- The DAW's plug-in bypass is not engaged.
- A supported IR file is loaded.
- Mix is not set to 0% when you expect to hear convolution.
- The plugin is inserted after a source that needs cabinet or IR processing.
The Tone Is Too Bright, Dark, Or Thin
Use High Cut to reduce harsh top end, Low Cut to remove excess low end, and Phase if the signal sounds hollow when blended with another track or bus.
Shared IR Content Is Missing
The installer places the bundled library under /Users/Shared/SignalworksDSP/IR/Factory. If that folder or its contents are missing after an update, re-run the installer. IR Directory Settings controls the separate user library and does not replace the factory location.