Stereo Tool

This is what I've been tinkering with for the past few weeks...

Fundamentally, this is Bojcha's Addiction V11, just less boomy, thus why I've called it tenatively "A1". A lot of you seem to like heavy bass, but I'm more into a cleaner sound.

At any rate, this is still a work in progress. I've tweaked this about all I can with my current audio equipment. It has a hard time with metal tracks that have heavy mids and seems to lack some oomph, but it could be just the overall output level...

Also, for those of you who say it's too heavy on the highs, bear in mind that I'm pushing 40 and am losing some of the ability to hear highs. I tried to keep it flat on the median display and adjust for my hearing with treble and EQ adjustments via my sound card.

Also, as a disclaimer, this is from the Winamp DSP version, 24-bit mode enabled in Winamp, with a -8 dB preamp inside Winamp, and is NOT intended for FM broadcasting. If you have better audio hardware and/or software, or are intending to do FM, your milage may vary with this...

Feedback welcome (but hopefully not created)

[Common]
CPU usage - Quality (new style)=1
Latency (samples)=4096
Pre amplifier=6
Post amplifier=0.959999979
Extra loudness=1.600000024
Extra loudness - Very deep bass relative clipping level=0
Extra loudness - De-esser limit=39000
Extra loudness - Punchy=-0.420000017
Extra loudness - Max Punch peak=0.25
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Enabled=1
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Difference=0
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Value=0.79550004
Extra loudness - Forcibly remove DC component caused by Loudness=0
Extra loudness - Reflection strength=0.099999994
Extra loudness - Allow more distortion=0
Extra loudness - Highs burst strength=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Very deep bass filter frequency 1=150
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Very deep bass filter frequency 2=350
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Clip very deep bass at=0.730000019
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - BassMid filter frequency 1=350
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - BassMid filter frequency 2=750
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Clip BassMid at=0.899999976
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Highs feedback strength=1
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Never reduce bass below=0.400000006
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Multiply measured vibration level by=1
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Ignore vibration levels below=0.400000006
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Reduce sensitivity for non-constant sounds strength=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping - More strict=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping frequency 1=250
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping frequency 2=350
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping - Clip bass at=0.75
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping - Clip Punched bass at=0.850000024
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping - Never dynamically raise bass level above=0.899999976
Extra loudness - Dirty Bass=0
Bass protection - Enabled=1
Bass protection - Two steps=0
Bass protection - Clip level=90.88999939
Bass protection - Deep bass boost=0
Bass protection - Raise clip level if highs get above=100.830001831
Bass protection - Maximum clip level raise=35.799999237
Hard limit output=1
[FM Hiss]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
FM median pos=25
FM measure max multiplier=2
FM reduce=150
FM delay=2.5
FM delay median=7.502121449
[Noise Gate]
Enabled=1
Difference=0
Noise level=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 1=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 2=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 3=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 4=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 5=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 6=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 7=1
[Singleband Compressor]
Enabled=1
Difference=0
Maximum volume=10
Attack speed=0.000031768
Decay speed=0.000539601
Above Top Limiter=0
AGC RMS style Enabled=1
AGC RMS style Target RMS level=27250
AGC RMS style Remove remaining peaks above=1
[Pre Compressor]
Enabled=1
Maximum volume - Band 1=43550
Attack speed - Band 1=0.000002098
Attack speed - Band 3=0.000002098
Decay speed - Band 1=0.000402536
Decay speed - Band 3=0.00026822
Dual band=1
Third band=1
Relative expected volume of highs=0.569999993
Relative maximum volume of highs=2.5
Relative maximum volume of very highs=0.5
Remove remaining peaks above (relative to maximum volume)=1.200000048
Maximum expected dynamics strength for smoothing=1
Enable smoothing=0
Smoothing time=0
Gating level=1600.00012207
Use ITU-BS.1770=0
Channel separation=0.5
Gating based on volume before Pre Amp=1
Lock bass to band 2 strength=0.5
[Multiband Compressor]
Enabled=1
Difference=0
Delay enabled=0
Maximum volume - Band -1=4700
Maximum volume - Band 0=6400
Maximum volume - Band 1=6000
Maximum volume - Band 2=6700
Maximum volume - Band 3=7300
Maximum volume - Band 4=7400
Maximum volume - Band 5=6600
Maximum volume - Band 6=4500
Maximum volume - Band 7=2850
Maximum volume - Band 8=1700
Attack speeds linked=0
Attack speed - Band -1=0.000037834
Attack speed - Band 0=0.00003896
Attack speed - Band 1=0.000039165
Attack speed - Band 2=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 3=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 4=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 5=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 6=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 7=0.000044652
Attack speed - Band 8=0.000044652
Decay speeds linked=0
Decay speed - Band -1=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 0=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 1=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 2=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 3=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 4=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 5=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 6=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 7=0.000280126
Decay speed - Band 8=0.000280126
Above Top Limiter=1
Clipping enabled=1
Postprocessing enabled=1
Flat frequency response enabled=1
Relative clip position - Band -1=1.409638405
Relative clip position - Band 0=1.500000238
Relative clip position - Band 1=1.702702761
Relative clip position - Band 2=1.985074759
Relative clip position - Band 3=2.333333254
Relative clip position - Band 4=2.333333254
Relative clip position - Band 5=2.333333254
Relative clip position - Band 6=3
Relative clip position - Band 7=3
Relative clip position - Band 8=3
Final limiter value=1
Final limiter decay speed=0.000871399
Final limiter clipping=1.352941036
Channel separation steepness (maximum artifact strength)=0.25
Equalizer enabled=0
Equalize before multiband-compression=0
Equalizer position - Band -1=1.380952358
Equalizer position - Band 0=1.247190952
Equalizer position - Band 1=1
Equalizer position - Band 2=1
Equalizer position - Band 3=1
Equalizer position - Band 4=1
Equalizer position - Band 5=1
Equalizer position - Band 6=1.061855555
Equalizer position - Band 7=1.222222328
Equalizer position - Band 8=1.500000238
Center frequency - Band -1=43.06640625
Center frequency - Band 0=86.1328125
Center frequency - Band 1=172.265625
Center frequency - Band 2=344.53125
Center frequency - Band 3=689.0625
Center frequency - Band 4=1378.125
Center frequency - Band 5=2756.25
Center frequency - Band 6=5512.5
Center frequency - Band 7=10000
Center frequency - Band 8=15000
[Stereo]
Enabled=3
Stereo AZIMUTH Enabled=1
Stereo Image Enabled=0
Stereo Boost Enabled=1
Stereo Boost Excessive Reverb Protection Enabled=0
Delay enabled=0
Difference=0
Center bass=0
AZIMUTH limit=50
AZIMUTH change speed=0.200000003
Image phase amplifier=1
Image phase amplifier maximum angle=180
Image phase amplifier maximum separation strength=100
Image width amplifier=1
Extra phase shift=0
Mono or stereo only=0
Stereo Boost strength=6
Stereo Boost maximum amplification=1.200000048
Stereo Boost multiplier=1
Stereo Boost - Never reduce below original level=1
[Channel Delay]
Enabled=0
Left Delay=0
[Output Filter]
Enabled=1
Lowpass filter=18000
Highpass filter=40
Highpass filter linearity=No
[Bass Boost]
Enabled=1
Strength=0.8046
Start lowpass frequency of input filter=0
End lowpass frequency of input filter=200
Start lowpass frequency of output filter=400
End lowpass frequency of output filter=600
Clip level=0.900899947
Clip level is relative to estimated maximum level=1
Preserve louder peaks=1
Difference=0
[Phase Rotator]
Enabled=1
Start frequency=700
Start speed=1400
Number of rotations=4
Smoothness=0.980999947
Low latency look back samples=112
Low latency look ahead samples=20
[Final Limiter]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
Pre-amp=1
Pre-limiter enabled=0
Pre-limiter relative volume=1
Reduced CPU processing=0
[FM Transmitter]
Enabled=0
Pre-emphasize=1
Pre-emphasis time=50
Output is pre-emphasized=0
Stereo encoder enabled=0
RDS encoder enabled=0
Pilot signal volume=9
RDS signal volume=4.5
FM overdrive volume=1
RDS PS text=2s:STEREO/2s:TOOL/<1=1.5s,2..-2=2t,-1=1.5s:WWW.STEREOTOOL.COM
RDS RadioText text=60s:Stereo Tool: Professional Audio Processing - http://www.stereotool.com/30s:Stereo Tool by Hans van Zutphen, 1999-2008 - http://www.stereotool.com
RDS PTY=0
RDS PI=65535
RDS Alternative frequency 1=0
RDS Alternative frequency 2=0
RDS Alternative frequency 3=0
RDS Alternative frequency 4=0
RDS Alternative frequency 5=0
RDS Alternative frequency 6=0
RDS Alternative frequency 7=0
RDS Alternative frequency 8=0
RDS Alternative frequency 9=0
RDS Alternative frequency 10=0
RDS Alternative frequency 11=0
RDS Alternative frequency 12=0
RDS Alternative frequency 13=0
RDS Alternative frequency 14=0
RDS Alternative frequency 15=0
RDS Alternative frequency 16=0
RDS Alternative frequency 17=0
RDS Alternative frequency 18=0
RDS Alternative frequency 19=0
RDS Alternative frequency 20=0
RDS Alternative frequency 21=0
RDS Alternative frequency 22=0
RDS Alternative frequency 23=0
RDS Alternative frequency 24=0
RDS Alternative frequency 25=0
RDS TP=0
RDS TA=0
RDS Music=1
RDS Artificial Head=0
RDS Compressed=1
RDS Dynamic PTY=0
RDS RadioText Enabled=1
RDS ClockTime Enabled=1
FM Transmitter Calibration Enabled=0
MPX Oversampling mode=Follow main Quality setting
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 20 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 40 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 80 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 160 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 320 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 640 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 1280 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 2560 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 5120 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 10240 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 19000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 23000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 28000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 33000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 38000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 43000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 48000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 53000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 57000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 20 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 40 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 80 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 160 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 320 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 640 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 1280 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 2560 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 5120 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 10240 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 19000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 23000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 28000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 33000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 38000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 43000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 48000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 53000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 57000 Hz=0
[Lossy compression output optimization]
Enabled=0
Spike Protation pre-emphasis time=5.880000114
[Direct soundcard access]
Enabled=0
Device ID=SB X-Fi Audio [9C00]
Volume=1
Buffer size=1
Send to Winamp=Silence
ASIO Override channel 1=4
ASIO Override channel 2=5
[Low latency output]
Enabled=0
Device ID=Microsoft Sound Mapper
Volume=1
Buffer size=0.080000006
ASIO Override channel 1=2
ASIO Override channel 2=3

I've made some very slight changes.

Overall bass is slightly louder, with deep bass getting most of the boost, including a drop of the highpass filter back down to 35 Hz from 40 and deep boosting in Loudness. I've found that boosting deep bass works better for the total sound if done via the Loudness section rather than in Bass Boost. That's probably due to causing a larger boost to happen from 60 - 150 if you bump up in Bass Boost.

Beyond that:

I decreased the 1.4K band slightly and increased the 10K band slightly based on slightly better sound when I manipulated similar bands via my X-Fi's EQ. Seems to have slightly helped the metal genre...

Main 3-band AGC settings were modified slightly too, decreasing the down speed for bass and some changes to the AGC behavior. I'm still fuzzy on what those sliders do and how they end up interacting with each other.

Singleband AGC sensitivity increased slightly (kicks in slightly lower, comes back up slightly faster).

Max Punch increased from 25 to 33.

Slight changes to vibrating voice. Again, somewhat unsure about the behavior here. Needs a help file written for it, as well as the entire Loudness section.