Stereo Tool

Let me tell you about multiband.

10 bands is more then enough! even 6 or 7 is enough and maybe even better. But, now i'll back to problem i point erlier and i still think same, .. Multiband in StereoTool is not good!
I mean Bands are too much narrowed. If you make it just wider (like Hans already tryed), they are mixed too much, so that's the problem too.

Missing bands are not only 65Hz, or (actually) 13kHz, missing is every freq. between current band.

Yes it has big role for consistency.

I think that special sound from Orban this because there enhanzer and very fast work AGC might even work multiband compressor expander. This artificial climbing just as the noise on the intro. The processing of Orban concentrated on processing 4 Khz .And the peculiar expression of high frequencies that sound with a hiss. Stereo Tool sounds cleaner ..
The dynamics of more pleasant. There does not seem to bass but it's okay too. I like the sound around BETA510-1 in future versions of much higher frequencies. But this is my opinion

I might have an idea to fix this.

I think I can reduce the 'mixed too much' issue a lot while still getting a much more constant output level. I'll check it soon...

well.. that's really good news

Bandwith for different frequencies has to vary significantly.

65 Hz (63.5 Hz) and 8kHz should be extremely narrow.
Other bands can be (or better: must be !) much broader.

To make it nearly perfect you have to do much trial and error to find the individual sweet spot of bandwith for every individual frequency band.

If 13 bands are too odd than 12 bands like this could be an alternative:
40 - 63.5 - 90 - 170 - 350 - 700 - 1.4K - 2.8K - 5.5K - 8K - 12K - 16K
or
40 - 63.5 - 90 - 170 - 350 - 700 - 1.4K - 2.8K - 5.5K - 8K - 11K - 15K


IMO 10K is definetly the Achilles' heel (weakest spot) like a lonely soldier in the middle of nowhere (5.5K....................................16K) with the order to take care of superior forces.

The output is much more constant now with only a very limited effect on the sound.

Update is coming soon (working on the last details now, performance is hit quite badly)


Edit: Building now!

This version will give a MUCH flatter output, at the cost of slightly increased volume effects (I'm not sure if that's good or bad though; I've listened to a recording with both versions on different channels with headphones and I could hardly hear the difference. The biggest difference that I've seen is around 1 dB in total output volume, in all cases that I've seen so far the difference was spread evenly through the entire spectrum.)

If the volume effects are too big, I can also create an in-between version (less flat, less volume effects) - or even add a slider for it (but hard coded values make it easier to optimize it).

By the way: The clipping filter is working very differently if you enable 'FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE' - if anyone hears artifacts let me know! (Although I would expect the sound to be BETTER rather than worse).

'FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE' replaces 'POST FILTER' - at a slightly higher CPU usage. If you enable FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE, the POST FILTER setting has no effect anymore.


Edit: I just realized that I've built this new version with also some Loudness changes. These changes should improve the sound in most cases, but for certain difficult sounds (xylophones etc.) it might cause some mild bass artifacts at high Loudness settings - or, if you have Hard Limit disabled, larger spikes than before. That's because I haven't finished this change yet... (It should be configurable, and I need a 2nd Hard Limit stage). These changes will replace the current 'relaxed limiting' slider!

Flat multiband response version:
Winamp DSP plugin: http://www.stereotool.com/download/dsp_ ... 510-14.exe
Stand alone version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-14.exe
VST version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-14.dll
VST version (No SSE2): http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-14.dll
Command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-14.exe
Linux command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... BETA510-14 (Unavailable, Linux build server wasn't running)

Please read my previous post for details.


Edit: Small bug found (already fixed, but not yet uploaded): If FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE is enabled, POST FILTER is disabled and CLIPPING is disabled, the sound is very strange. So for now, just enable POST FILTER as well if you want to use FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE.

Edit #2: Another bug: The Stereo Boost filter now causes pre-ringing artifacts. Already solved, will post an update tomorrow.

Mentioned bugs fixed:
Winamp DSP plugin: http://www.stereotool.com/download/dsp_ ... 510-15.exe
Stand alone version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-15.exe
VST version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-15.dll
VST version (No SSE2): http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-15.dll
Command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-15.exe
Linux command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... BETA510-15

(Edit: Links were broken, fixed)

Hanz,

I love BETA510-15. One thing happened to me, however. When flipping between traditional output singleband compressor/limiter and AGC-style (output), while adjusting levels, my Stereo Tool stopped output. I had to stop and restart the plugin. I haven't been able to reproduce it since. The output bars in Stereo Tool for left and right went totally blank. Oddly enough, my output bars on my stream and my stream source went completely full. I heard no output, however. This may be a bug, or it may have been a one-time glitch. I thought you should know regardless.

I made a new SuperH Low-Bitrate Optimization preset from the added functionality. It mainly takes advantage of the output AGC and the backed off limiting.

It's attached in ZIP form, and is applicable to BETA510-15.

Seems better constancy with 'FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE'...

SuperH mentioned one bug .. true. It happens when you push 'down speed' to max in AGC2.
Another bug is i AGC. When you select 1 or 2 bands .. 1-band mode stops to work.