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 Post subject: Stereo Tool 9.82 BETA
PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:00 pm 
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Latest version - Beta 014 (October 21 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • In one submitted preset, the "Pre-limiter enabled (avoids distortion)" function in the Simple Clipper was causing horrible IMD distortion even if the Advanced Clipper was enabled. So Advanced Clipper now disables that setting. I will check all built-in presets for issues with the automatic tests tonight.
  • Saving BS412 settings was a mess, some settings were saved under FM settings, other under processing settings. Now all settings are part of FM settings. This won't cause issues when loading existing presets, it just means that loading "Audio" only settings won't affect half of the BS412 settings without changing the other half.
  • Turn BS412 legacy mode off automatically?? (So auto-upgrade) - I think YES for all built-ins
  • BS412: Improved calculation of level differences based on different pilot/RDS levels, with/without composite clipper, and with no pilot/rds at all. Each of these required different settings to sound good, that's now no longer the case.
  • Updated Wes' Lunas presets
  • Check preset BS412 levels, and generic preset levels, also for other new presets.
  • Fix Enterprise build
  • Release new version for Link Up

After driving through Germany for (in total) about 20 hours, I got some new BS412 ideas and I think that I've improved the BS412 limiter in Stereo Tool.

Many stations in Germany clearly had issues with BS412 (a new song starts with a lot of bass, or one that's just very dense, and after 5 seconds the level drops by multiple dB's, for example).
This image shows the old (on top) and new (bottom) BS412 limiter behavior on slightly too loud audio, with all other protections (compressors/limiters) disabled. As you can see the one at the bottom looks much more stable. The main changes are that it goes down quicker, due to which it doesn't have to go down as far, which makes it actually less audible. Also, it goes up much slower if the predicted output level is close to the target, or if there's very little headroom available. In the (rare) case that the input level is way too low it actually goes up faster. As a result, the ouput sounds more constant and it's slightly louder as well.
On top of this I've added an extra compressor that "moves with" the BS412 behavior, ie it compresses less if BS412 is already reducing the level (which basically makes it back off on denser/more bassy sounds). You can turn this on to make quiet sections a bit louder, and also generate a more "radio-ish" sound.
I have added a "Legacy mode" switch in the BS412 page, it's OFF by default because I don't think there's any good reason to use the legacy mode instead of the new one. I'm not 100% sure of that though.

Both images made with several dB's more drive into BS412 than what we would normally advise, to get more extreme results, and without using the new compressor.
Attachment:
bs412.png
bs412.png [ 72.45 KiB | Viewed 8400 times ]

TODO's
  • BS412: What do we do with external BS412 presets, ask for updating to non-legacy or just do it? Nah, just do it for now I guess. It's SO much better.
  • Added "Advanced Limiter" Legacy mode, because some existing presets that were using it sounded bad after updating. (Found with automatic test)
  • Fixed a minor bug in bass IDM filtering in the clipper since version 9.80, fixed.
  • Add Enterprise /s option for silent installer
  • Code review
  • Check reported Jack version crash
  • RELEASE
  • Remove inactive filters from top bar
  • Stereo filter for streaming Done, add to new GUI
  • STX GUI: Remove unused filters?
  • STX: Add User / Password pages
  • If Admin account is not ok, disable password protection!
  • Why do wrong passwords move to the top????
  • Add initial LiveWire detection
  • MicroMPX library: Added pilot and RDS level info
  • MicroMPX decoder library: Added audio demodulator
  • MicroMPX library: Added mono only mode (upto 15 kHz, requires version 4.1.3 on both ends)
  • MicroMPX decoder library: Added estimated sample number in sync mode to match time stamps with ancillary data
  • MicroMPX decoder library: Allow bigger delay (upto 15 seconds instead of 9)
  • MicroMPX encoder library: Replaced NIC index (which pointed back to ParSet) by NIC string
  • MicroMPX add version number to web interface.
  • MicroMPX 64 bit ARM audio issue - Problem is LTO, unknown where but the compiler's LTO implementation seems buggy.
  • Updated IceCast from 2.4.1 to 2.4.5
  • Password protection: Make STX auto-logged-in for native interface
  • STQ: Fix Input 2 resampling -> Difficult, will take more time.
  • Create "aural exciter" mode for Absolute Highs. Remove sqrt and filltering, add HPF for 1-band mode.
  • Verify socket
  • RELEASE
  • PARAM_StereoFixPhase_MaxPhase: Make this work better for phases > 90 degrees. Done but needs to be tested for all phase levels
  • Speech detection: Also link MB band 1 to band 2.
  • Stereo: Small L-R delay. 90 degrees is too much.
  • "Quality" display show actual CPU load effect, 25-100%, 50 default
  • GPS report in Stereo Tool: 153600 -> 192000
  • MicroMPX: Pi image is used so much, add things like updating with recovery like in STX, sound card configuration, rebooting to GUI. If possible, add temperature and CPU load
  • BS412: Check bass filtering. That doesn't appear to work, and the display shows compression when more bass protection is there. See recordings Sebastian K (D:\sts\Seb*)
  • Add "Save" which saves to last opened (what does that mean though?) .sts file, and asks to save on close, so we always have a way to go back.
  • Preset compare, A/B mode with either 2 stored presets or 2 active presets that you can switch between.
  • Check: Clip highest frequencies harder, check if that improves Stokkemask issues. First test would be to lower the lowpass filter.
  • Crossovers
  • New GUI: MPX display
  • MicroMPX: Fix 2nd input; MicroMPX: Show source (origin port?) of last decoded packet, maybe also show other active origin ports. show duplicates in a different color in the graph? See check for originPortAllowed for separate streams. Maybe add checkbox to skip originPortAllowed check, if that does not yet exist.
  • Check M1 cross compile
  • If lowpass filter is used, maybe filters can ignore high frequencies as a performance improvement. Maybe even in Stokkemask etc!
  • Sudden Drop Protection in MB compressors?
  • MicroMPX: "Pilot frequency has a bigger than 2 Hz offset from 19 kHz. Compensating for a 6 Hz offset" message was shown once (Bob Hawkins). It looks like we can fall through some checks which causes the frequency checking code for the pilot to trigger, which can in turn report this - this PROBABLY should be filtered out the same way as other pilot frequency messages just after connecting to a stream.
  • TEST CRASH WHEN DISCONNECTING INTERNET WHEN STREAMING - Windows 7 only, apparently.
  • What happened to Shanes box?
  • Finish BIMP/STAMP interfaces?
  • 2w: Slow license code on startup
  • "Fade speed" in RC seems to respond to Quality setting. Needs to be set lower for higher Quality values.
  • Multi-instance version: Resampling behavior for input 2 (add it for input 2, and check why enabling it for input 1 causes glitches on input 2)
  • Is a few % phase wobbeling a good idea to improve stereo image and flat frequency response in rooms?
  • Sub-presets (Declipper, Voice detection)
  • MB1 band linking: instead of making it 3 to 2, make it 2 to 3
  • Fake Stereo doesn't work for Quality > 100%
  • AES67 NIC selecting doesn't work on STX (only shows 127.0.0.1 and Automatic) - Fails sometimes, probably due to booting too fast. Needs to be fixed in the AES67 redesign.
  • New web interface in Generic plugin
  • Fix web interface slow animation
  • Allocate big buffers if HD delay is enabled also in Stereo Tool, to avoid glitches
  • PNR message which settings changed
  • Speech detection: Different settings (presets?) for English/Dutch vs Spanish (different S sounds). Different settings for music radio with occasional speech, talk radio with occasional music, and sports radio with background noises. LATER
  • MicroMPX for left/right audio? And/or for AM?
  • Startup screen with logo STXtreme
  • Email/SMS alerts via cloud
  • Gates must work on loudest channel when combining channels? (Wes)
  • Speed linking in dynamic speed mode: Release slowest behavior a bit faster on big drops
  • Try extra clipping stage for highest highs AFTER rest of clipping stages, to protect against shrill sound @ 75 us pre-emphasis
  • Advanced Clipper Bass Killer: Add dynamic behavior (lower strength if there are mids, for example)
  • Improve Highs vs Rest calculation, it's now incorrectly adding up levels. Is it necessary to use real RMS? (Maybe not, verify with random noise ON HIGHS)
  • AGC band linking for extreme behavior? Maybe per band A/B combo a maximum difference? Or, easier, just select a "mid" band and set max offsets for the others.
  • AGC voice detection, reducing thresholds. "IF L/R = Mono, IF Gate = very active, IF Asymetry = detected, IF spectral energy = mostly mids, single base frequency or highs".
  • Add way to override sound card block sizes (at least for Linux, probably also useful for Windows)
  • Login: Per session
  • Login: Update editable status
  • Login: Hide things
  • Login: Show warning when trying to change something without access
  • Put backup file upload in web interface for MicroMPX
  • STX: Edit whitelist on unit
  • Remote jrtplib
  • Create/include BIMP presets
  • Stereo Tool Enterprise: Think of good name
  • Stereo Tool Enterprise: Switching between devices/channels can go wrong
  • Stereo Tool Enterprise: Sample rate mismatch detection is not ok for ASIO inputs
  • Pi PiMP stand alone BUSY
  • Pi AM stand alone
  • ABE GUI BUSY
  • Release
  • Add "Combp phase"-like test tone to uMPX (FB chat Cleiton Araújo)
  • Stereo Tool new I/O framework: Add bypass mode
  • MicroMPX: Silence detector with backup player (timeout - threshold - time ok before going back to stream)
  • Clipper detect where highs are killed and compensate for that
  • Block multiple instances (avoid running multiple Stereo Tool instances with the same settings)
  • Later: MicroMPX: Export version, bitrate and redundancy info in webinterface and library
  • Later: MicroMPX: Export user messages in library
  • Some pages remain visible when you're logged out (password protection)
  • Later: STX: Overview page with meters
  • Monday: Fill new site BUSY
  • Monday: Pens BUSY
  • Tuesday: Make multi-instance version available
  • Tuesday: Add SST multi-instance interface
  • DSP code - on hold
  • MicroMPX decoder 2nd port number - with pull-down menu, and indices.
  • Stereo Tool priorities: Check what prio 15 things are
  • LiquidSoap/Centova setup manual, maybe add some features
  • Website BUSY
  • Support Contract
  • Improve Advanced Bass Distortion Protection
  • Compressor with curve drawer
  • Disable stereo widening when detecting low bitrate MP3s
  • Add a checkbox under Delossifier that makes Absolute Highs fix the highs.
  • STX: Verify high frequency tilt behavior
  • Put Declipper presets in ST. Selecting one with "APPLY" overrules all existing settings.
  • BS412 bug: For Quality > 100, the compressors are off by a few dB (probably 1.5x or 2/3rds).
  • How to synchronize HD? THU
    -
  • Measure HifiBerry stereo separation -> Improved from 35 to 55 dB. Make RC work with Ignore high frequencies -> Later
  • Loudness project
  • Tom aan de Stegge remarks email 30 september 20:23 - change many defaults
    -
  • Support rewindowing with different Quality/Size settings. Will give better HPF performance and make lower CPU load possible, and PPM patch points.
  • Linux command line version with AES67 input so output can be streamed - seems to be useful... Other options (run a script for the output) might be easier.
  • Finish 9 - final uMPX file name issue -> In next 9 update.
  • PhoneBooster make multi-threaded if needed (it probably is, esp. for Pi)
  • PhoneBooster make Pi version
  • MicroMPX needs exception handling, just in case.
  • WatchCat replace files instead of placing them elsewhere. For playout systems.
  • WatchCat add CMD /C
  • Thimeo School
  • ABDP remove stuff that's no longer needed? BUSY for low CPU
  • Optimize ABDP
  • Input and output gain for command line version (like for sound card)
  • Dynamic adjustment of priorities
  • Sooth effect
  • AES67: Add WheatNet
  • Installer: Make installer aware of programs like MediaMonkey, AIMP, .....
  • HD delay
  • Documentation: "Processing" page contains all kinds of BS412 info - why?
  • Declipper L/R noise
  • Declipper handle resampled audio better (upsample, find oversampling spikes, then detect based on what remains)
  • Console version: Read sample rate and bit size from WAV header
  • # bands selections should allow option to insert a band instead. Or ask what to do when you change it.
  • AES67 thread affinities and priorities
  • Add resampler
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 013 (October 20 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Stereo Tool on Linux: Removed dependency on libCurl. Which leads to a cleaner build process. We would have had to add it to MicroMPX as well otherwise for the license handling.
  • Progressive Release + Limit with Follow doesn't work, seems to keep ratio at 1:1. None of the built-in presets were affected, this is a pretty new feature, so this change seems to be safe.
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 011 (October 18 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • VST plugin issue: Didn't work anymore in Audition since BETA010.
  • MicroMPX: Added easier licensing mechanism which doesn't require manual actions from us anymore. (Works now, port on server wasn't forwarded)
  • RESTORE PI 2 IMAGE, NEW GCC
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 010 (October 15 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Fixed VST window size issues - hopefully won't cause any new issues...
  • Fixed AGC wideband vs multiband behavior (it took the settings from the wrong band in some cases, should always use band 1 settings for WB band).
  • Added SDP slope and display of what it's doing
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 009 (October 14 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Sudden Drop Protection in Multiband 1: Changed behavior to only speed up if the compressor was in slowing down due to dynamic speeds. Note that this now only works if BOTH dynamic speeds AND Max Release Speed are enabled. This seems to work much better though.
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 008 (October 13 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Check Advanced Limiter pre-ringing caused by ABDP -> ABDP was executed twice, which had all kinds of nasty side effects and used more CPU than needed.
  • WatchCat: Added scrollbar to input settings for smaller monitors. That took WAY more time than it should have... :(
  • New GUI: Adding/removing elements from lists changed, which affect the MicroMPX web interface (no + signs for each line anymore, it's possible to add that again but it doesn't work currently.).
  • Make 100% channel linking default for Hot Compressor (maybe even remove the settings) -> That, and enabled "Constant sum".
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 007 (October 9 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • BS412 Hot Compressor: Removed some settings that people shouldn't touch, added channel linking.
  • Multiband 1: Added "sudden drop protection" (similar to what's in te AGC) for testing, requested by Wes Keene.
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 006 (October 8 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Added a completely new BS412 level control based on the 8 time interval measurements from BETA005. This one on its own can lead to very small overshoots, but the two methods can be combined, resulting in a far more natural, more consistent, more constant and louder output. Woohoo! :) The main effect of enabling this is that now, the level can be both increased and decreased based on those 8 intervals, on top of the existing analysis. Which means that if a louder song starts, the level is now reduced immediately, instead of (as before) when the limiter gets in trouble and needs to lower it by a lot more, at a weird time when nothing special seems to be happening.
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 005 (October 6 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • BS412: Deesser doesn't respond to Hot Compressor anymore.
  • BS412: Added more predictors for different level reduction speeds.
  • BS412: added measurements in 8 different time intervals which control the release speeds, with settings to control the effect per interval), that seem to result in a much less jumpy control (one more improvement is planned after this). If maintaining the current level (the maximum measured over those intervals) would cause the level to exceed 0 dB, the level won't go up anymore. This mainly helps against quieter parts disappearing from the interval, while too loud parts remain.
  • BS412: 5 test checkboxes added that will be removed before we release this version. They can be used to test different types of behavior. Current settings are *probably* optimal.
  • Web interfaces: Pip logo
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 003 (September 30 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Something is wrong with the presets in the list from ST load a OLDER FM PRESET wrong AGC setting load -> Confirmed, I was resetting BS412 and audio settings but the BS412 reset killed the audio settings reset. So there were probably far more settings wrong. Only affected built in FM preset.
  • Improve Advanced Limiter shape (Bojcha) -> Problem is not what it seemed to be! There's a memory problem between chunks of audio, solution is to keep track of what happened in the previous block, and keep the previous audio. -> Nah, it was a wrong calculation (pow) and a value that was not retained between steps. Solved, default settings changed for better sound (still prioriziting loudness, slow down release for non-bass for a more relaxed sound).
  • STXTreme: On one unit the I/O got turned off in the OS, still unknown why (possibly a config issue, waiting for feedback) but recovery code has been added that fixes this if it every happens again.
  • BS412: MERGE OLD WITH NEW BEHAVIOR FOR LEVEL > 96% -> No, added more predictors and stopped level from rising about headroom value (and even made it drop slightly above). Probably better now.. waiting for feedback.
  • STXtreme add more ALWAYS-ON-TOP forcing
Quote:
Quote:
Latest version - Beta 001 (September 24 2021)

Downloads
Changes/bugfixes
  • Improved BS412 behavior (see below).
  • Added BS412 wideband compressor to add density/loudness on quieter parts


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:11 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:02 pm
Posts: 123
I often hear that too. It's annoying. Once song should start with more power, it reduces gain :)
Is this behaviour present in Orbans or is it common on all BS412 limiters?


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:52 pm 
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I don't really know. It's not easy to make a good BS412 limiter (but based on what I heard my old version was already way better than what I heard on several German stations, and this new version is a lot better than the old one.

Also, it helps to use a very consistent preset. If one song has nearly no bass and the next one has more bass than almost any station that I've ever heard, and you make them both reach 0 dB MPX power, the difference is obviously going to be huge (and I've heard stations where the level dropped by 4 or 5 dB after a few seconds - not just that but it stayed constant for about 5 seconds and then dropped this much in a period of 2 seconds or so. So it's extremely noticeable). And then when the bass disappeared again the level would rise by sometimes even more than 6 dB, if there were some quiet parts in the song that allowed for a higer threshold.

This is what gave me the idea to add that extra compressor, if you really want quieter parts to sound louder you can do it now - but with a low ratio compressor, which sounds far more natural (I even like the effect) than when a BS412 limiter jumps between levels. The compressor is placed after the limiter, so it also makes the effect of the limiter less noticeable (if the limiter lowers the volume that also lowers the compressor drive).


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PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 1:45 pm 

Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:46 pm
Posts: 281
Quote:
I often hear that too. It's annoying. Once song should start with more power, it reduces gain :)
Is this behaviour present in Orbans or is it common on all BS412 limiters?
I think now rather less..... Here is an example from a large radio station in Germany. They definitely use Orban products. The result, which is broadcasted, looks like this. Seems to be more a problem of BS412, and not coming from the product.


Attachments:
BS412.png
BS412.png [ 19.14 KiB | Viewed 8246 times ]
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 2:40 pm 

Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:02 pm
Posts: 123
Quote:
I don't really know. It's not easy to make a good BS412 limiter (but based on what I heard my old version was already way better than what I heard on several German stations, and this new version is a lot better than the old one.

Also, it helps to use a very consistent preset. If one song has nearly no bass and the next one has more bass than almost any station that I've ever heard, and you make them both reach 0 dB MPX power, the difference is obviously going to be huge (and I've heard stations where the level dropped by 4 or 5 dB after a few seconds - not just that but it stayed constant for about 5 seconds and then dropped this much in a period of 2 seconds or so. So it's extremely noticeable). And then when the bass disappeared again the level would rise by sometimes even more than 6 dB, if there were some quiet parts in the song that allowed for a higer threshold.

This is what gave me the idea to add that extra compressor, if you really want quieter parts to sound louder you can do it now - but with a low ratio compressor, which sounds far more natural (I even like the effect) than when a BS412 limiter jumps between levels. The compressor is placed after the limiter, so it also makes the effect of the limiter less noticeable (if the limiter lowers the volume that also lowers the compressor drive).
Have to dig in. Thnx.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:09 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:52 pm
Posts: 109
Location: Nijmegen
Something is wrong with the presets in the list from ST load a OLDER FM PRESET wrong AGC setting load


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:36 pm 
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Quote:
Something is wrong with the presets in the list from ST load a OLDER FM PRESET wrong AGC setting load
O, weird. Confirmed. Will check what's wrong tomorrow morning.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 1:10 am 
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Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:16 pm
Posts: 191
whats changed in beta 3 ?


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:26 am 
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Quote:
whats changed in beta 3 ?
More BS412 stuff. I got a report that the previous version would sometimes drop the level a lot (once per hour or so). I've now added several safeguards against that, and added more predictors for different target levels. I'm not sure if this fixes the issue, but it should definitely make things better.


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 12:17 am 
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BETA006 is posted. I think I'm done with BS412 for now, it's really tons better than it was. It really wasn't bad before, compared to many other processors on the market, but the improvement still seems to be really huge.

For those of you who know how to read the BS412 graph: Here are before (9.81) vs after (9.82 BETA006) images, in both cases with extreme settings (way too loud input, all other protections (post compressors, limiters) disabled. Audio is a set of fragments of very different songs.
Attachment:
BS412-pre-post.png
BS412-pre-post.png [ 15.29 KiB | Viewed 6398 times ]
As you can see, the new behavior is FAR more consistent, despite the fact that on silence (not visible here) the level actually goes up faster than before. It's also on average 0.3 dB louder.

With sane settings the graph looks like this:
Attachment:
BS412-sane.png
BS412-sane.png [ 4.28 KiB | Viewed 6400 times ]


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