Stereo Tool

Hi all! I wish you all a Happy New Year 2012!
Step into the New Year with better sound!
Here is my new version of the preset Lucidity FX. I think its sounds much better than build-in version FX4.

Recommended usage for this preset:
- Normal audio listening at headphones or speakers
- Streaming web radio station at high bitrates (192k MP3, 112k ogg)
- Targeted to listening/streaming 80' & 90' rock/pop/dance hits. But also can be used for "repairing" modern clipped songs.

There is short changelog:
- Better handling with differend songs sounds levels (thank's to reworked AGC filter).
- Better bass control (added Bass AGC filter)
- Overall cleaner and airier sound (lowered compression)
- Better dynamics at same RMS level!
(for example PFD Mix test: http://i.imgur.com/rHiT0.png )

So... Enjoy it!
(package contains replace for booth versions - normal (Web radio stations section) and soft (Generic presets section) 4th Mar 2012: UPDATE: LUCIDITY FX5.6 version!
The main changes from version 5.0:
- Prepared for SA Stereo Tool 6.22 (beta)
- More dynamics! 99.5% of tested (300) songs achieved at least DR8!
- "Volume bursts" reduced to minimum. (new AGC filtering in ST 6.22 and MB tuning)
- and... eh...because my English is bad, so in short: It just sounds better!

I really recommends this update beacause: Lucidity FX 5.6 (with ST6.22 beta) sounds close to what I (and maybe you) want to hear!

Nice sound. What do you think about this preset when you play, for example, 'Foo Fighters - The Pretender'?

I guess I am going to assume this is a loaded question, and am responding for myself, not presuming to speak for anyone else...

I think your commentary is about the volume of the vocals. This preset, as well as mine, has softer vocals...or possibly a more bass-centric focus than Neodymium does, although Neodymium is also a preset with a higher RMS.

Is this what you are getting at?

Nope! Trick in that track "loud volume burst" (in two places mostly) And in this preset is just to much noticable.
Also in "ClawFinger - Do what i say" and more..
Also good demo is that one from PFD with comercials!
I am also searching for solution for this! For now i have, let's say, half solution.
Singleband compressor is just too much simple, i can adjust it for those tracks but then it will not feet for all others tracks.
AGC2 - also not good enough.

Hans already have one post in "Wish List" about this problem, so i am waiting what he will make.
Or maybe someone will make some interesting preset/solution for that problem in current ST.

Yes, I know about this problem... but yet I couldn't find a good solution. My every attempt to reduce "volume burst" hurts dynamics.
Maybe I try the single band compressor for reduce this "efect"... I'm afraid that does not affect the normal songs.

Thanks for your response. I will try to reduce this to possible minimum.

EDIT: Hallefu*kinglujah! This your little trick works very well on these songs (but I must use different output target level), thanks!
So, tomorrow I will tune / test it perfectly.

Try enabling the singleband setting exactly how it is in V6_Web and see what you think. I disabled that based on some discussion somewhere on the forum suggesting that singleband should not be used very much... It might could be moved up to a higher RMS to keep from knocking down other peaks...

@ Brian

Do you still prefer to use headphones most of the time ?


@ Others

What do you prefer (use most of the time):
Headphones ?
or
Speakers ?

Yes, but even if I used electrostatic speakers with a crossover and separate amp driving a separate high excursion subwoofer (something from MartinLogan, perhaps), that won't change too much RMS being pushed. Making a mix too hot is a function of the mix and equipment (software and hardware) up to the point of, but not including, the final output device.

Still testing... Its impossible to find setting what kills the "volume bursts" but also can't cut down peaks (Dynamic) in normal songs.


@ Michi95: Headphones (DT990)

'Foo Fighters - The Pretender' ?
The album version from 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace' ?

I have just searched the internet database of my local public library.
It is available (that album) !
Tomorrow I can try this too.

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Rich Costey
The Foo Fighters: 'The Pretender'
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar08/a ... k_0308.htm