Stereo Tool

Please bare with me because I'm not much of an audiophile.

I have the new Stereotool v6.20 plugged into my Winamp, along with my new License key (thanks, Hans!)

I have downloaded the Sample MP3 from the Perfect Declipper Website:
http://perfectdeclipper.com/extreme-clipped.mp3

I have reset all settings to default by pressing the "Reset" button.

I've dialed the preamp down x0.14

I've then enabled the Declipper with the default settings.

It still sounds terrible! At least to my ears.

What am I doing wrong here? Is it just me, not noticing the difference? When I listen to the "fixed" version from the Perfect Declipper website, it sounds great, nothing like what I'm hearing.

When I look at the waveform in the ST window, it's like a pipe, very flat, just like this from the DeClipper website:



I feel like a total doofus. I must be doing something boneheadedly wrong, but I can't figure out what it'd be.

_________________
I just use ST Winamp to listen to music.

Woah! So I just tried Declipper using the VST Plugin in Audacity.

What a _huge_ difference.

I'm fairly sure the declipper is disabled/broken in v6.20 for the Winamp plugin.

_________________
I just use ST Winamp to listen to music.

Hm, I just did a quick test with the DSP version and it seems fine here. Could you post or send me your settings?

Settings as follows:

[Common]
CPU usage - Quality (new style)=1
Latency (samples)=4096
Pre amplifier=1
Post amplifier=1
Extra loudness=1
Extra loudness - Very deep bass relative clipping level=0
Extra loudness - De-esser limit=131072
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Enabled=1
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Difference=0
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Value=0.636619747
Extra loudness - Forcibly remove DC component caused by Loudness=0
Extra loudness - Reflection strength=0.100000001
Extra loudness - Dirty Bass=0
Extra loudness - Allow more distortion=0
Extra loudness - Allow more distortion - highs=0
Extra loudness - Advanced Highs Protection enabled=1
Extra loudness - Advanced Highs Protection - Strength=4
Extra loudness - Advanced Highs Protection - Maximum reduction=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Clip very deep bass at=0.709999979
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Never reduce bass below=0.400000006
Extra loudness - Voice vibrations - Allowed graininess multiplication=2.400000095
Extra loudness - Non constant sound vibrations - Sensitivity=1
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping frequency 1=150
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping frequency 2=250
Extra loudness - New Bass Protection - Strict clipping - Never dynamically raise bass level above=0.939999998
Oversample limiters=0
Extra loudness - Take some shortcuts (CPU)=1
Extra loudness - Advanced Extreme Highs Protection - Never clip below=0.800000012
Extra loudness - Advanced Extreme Highs Protection - Always clip below=1.700000048
Extra loudness - Advanced Extreme Highs Protection - Maximum low/mid frequency volume reduction=0.709999979
Bass protection - Enabled=1
Bass protection - Two steps=0
Bass protection - Clip level=140
Bass protection - Deep bass boost=0
Bass protection - Raise clip level if highs get above=150
Bass protection - Maximum clip level raise=35
Extra loudness - Clipping strictness=10
Bass protection - Smoothe mid frequencies=4
Bass protection - Smoothe peak detection steepness=0.100000001
Bass protection - Allowed highs distortion=0
Extra loudness - Advanced Extreme Highs Protection=1
Extra loudness - Advanced Extreme Highs Protection - Keep transients=1
Extra loudness - Take oversampling shortcuts=1
Extra loudness - Bass protection - Bass clipping strictness=4
Extra loudness - Highs vs bass protection - strictness=3
Hard limit output=0
[Declipper]
Enabled=1
Analog input=0
Maximum restored peak=4
Quality=25
Reduction precision=0.870000005
Maximum expected distortion level=0.110000007
Definitely clipped if below (relative)=0.974999964
Probably clipped if below (relative)=0.774999976
Maybe clipped if below (relative)=0.649999976
Not clipped if below (absolute)=4090
Clipping straight line margin=0.199999988
Clipped if below short term margin=0.199999988
Clipped if below short term margin Enabled=1
Only declip if tilt can be determined=1
Do not allow restored peaks to be lower than clipped signal=0
Do not reconstruct if reconstructed signal resembles original - threshold=1
Do not reconstruct if reconstructed signal resembles original - texture threshold=1
Amount of peak samples to remove - long term=0.100000001
Amount of peak samples to remove - short term=0.400000006
Tilt default level=0
Tilt maximum adjustment per measurement=0.027777778
Tilt level detection enabled=1
Tilt minimum level=-0.125
Tilt maximum level=0.125
Only declip if clipping histogram spike is symmetrical=0
Declip if (type)=3
Declip if type 4 long term margin=0.920000017
Dynamically increase probably clipped level=1
Dynamically increase maybe clipped level=1
Veil normal down speed (dB/ms)=2
Veil after spike down speed (dB/ms)=4
Veil speed drop time reduction time after spike (ms)=1
Veil margin=0.899999976
MP3 margin=0.924999952
MP3 number of samples=1
Display - Show input=1
Display - Show tilted=1
Display - Show output=0
Display - Show output big=1
[Natural Dynamics]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
After AGC=0
Expected input level=3
Effect strength=1
Smooth time=16
Keep transients=1
Half value time=0.150000006
Expected maximum volume - Band 1=7494.120117188
Expected maximum volume - Band 2=7494.120117188
Expected maximum volume - Band 3=7319.359863281
Expected maximum volume - Band 4=7319.359863281
Expected maximum volume - Band 5=6969.840332031
Expected maximum volume - Band 6=5571.760253906
Expected maximum volume - Band 7=3659.679931641
Expected maximum volume - Band 8=2261.600097656
Expected maximum volume - Band 9=1223.320068359
Maximum relative boost - Band 1=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 2=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 3=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 4=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 5=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 6=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 7=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 8=1
Maximum relative boost - Band 9=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=7.5
[Noise Gate]
Enabled=0
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=0
Difference=0
Maximum volume=1.5
Attack speed=0.004095
Decay speed=0.000539601
Above Top Limiter=0
AGC RMS style Enabled=0
AGC RMS style Target RMS level=25000
AGC RMS style Remove remaining peaks above=1.5
[Pre Compressor]
Enabled=0
Maximum volume - Band 1=35000
Attack speed - Band 1=0.000002096
Attack speed - Band 3=0.000002096
Minimum attack speed near top=0
Force volume down if it is kept too much above calculated target level margin=2
Decay speed - Band 1=0.00026822
Decay speed - Band 3=0.00026822
Dual band=1
Third band=0
Relative expected volume of highs=0.649999976
Relative maximum volume of highs=3
Relative maximum volume of very highs=0.330000013
Remove remaining peaks above (relative to maximum volume)=1.299999952
Remove remaining peaks above (relative to maximum volume) - band 2=1.299999952
Remove remaining peaks in mono=1
Startup input level=0
Maximum expected dynamics strength for smoothing=1
Enable smoothing=0
Smoothing time=10
Gating level=512
Use ITU-BS.1770 Head=0
Use ITU-BS.1770 Bass=0
Channel separation=0.300000012
Gating based on volume before Pre Amp=1
Lock bass to band 2 strength=0.5
[Pre Compressor Bass]
Enabled=0
Maximum relative volume=1.200000048
Attack speed=0.000050304
Decay speed=0.00214576
Remove remaining peaks above (relative to maximum volume)=1
[Multiband Compressor]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
Delay enabled=0
Maximum volume - Band -1=6270
Maximum volume - Band 0=7290
Maximum volume - Band 1=7290
Maximum volume - Band 2=7120
Maximum volume - Band 3=7120
Maximum volume - Band 4=6780
Maximum volume - Band 5=5420
Maximum volume - Band 6=3560
Maximum volume - Band 7=2200
Maximum volume - Band 8=1190
Attack speeds linked=1
Attack speed - Band -1=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 0=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 1=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 2=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 3=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 4=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 5=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 6=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 7=0.00005
Attack speed - Band 8=0.00005
Decay speeds linked=1
Decay speed - Band -1=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 0=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 1=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 2=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 3=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 4=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 5=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 6=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 7=0.0004
Decay speed - Band 8=0.0004
Above Top Limiter=0
Clipping enabled=1
Postprocessing enabled=0
Flat frequency response enabled=1
Relative clip position - Band -1=3
Relative clip position - Band 0=3
Relative clip position - Band 1=2.5
Relative clip position - Band 2=2
Relative clip position - Band 3=2
Relative clip position - Band 4=2
Relative clip position - Band 5=2
Relative clip position - Band 6=2
Relative clip position - Band 7=2
Relative clip position - Band 8=2
Final limiter value=1
Final limiter decay speed=0.0007
Final limiter clipping=2.5
Channel separation steepness protection enabled=1
Channel separation steepness (maximum artifact strength)=0.300000012
Voice protection strength=1
Band 1+2 locking strength=0
Equalizer enabled=0
Equalize before multiband-compression=1
Equalizer position - Band -1=1
Equalizer position - Band 0=1
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
Equalizer position - Band 7=1
Equalizer position - Band 8=1
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=2
Stereo AZIMUTH Enabled=0
Stereo Image Enabled=0
Stereo Boost Enabled=0
Stereo Boost Excessive Reverb Protection Enabled=0
Delay enabled=0
Difference=0
Center bass=0
AZIMUTH limit=0
AZIMUTH change speed=0
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=1
Stereo Boost maximum amplification=3
Stereo Boost multiplier=1
Stereo Boost - Never reduce below original level=1
[Channel Delay]
Enabled=0
Left Delay=0
[Output Filter]
Enabled=0
Lowpass filter=15000
Highpass filter=20
Highpass filter linearity=Auto
Non-phase-linear highpass filter order=6
Highpass post filter=1
Highpass post filter - avoid artifacts=1
[Bass Boost]
Enabled=0
Strength=1
Start lowpass frequency of input filter=0
End lowpass frequency of input filter=120
Start lowpass frequency of output filter=120
End lowpass frequency of output filter=250
Clip level=1.5
Clip level is relative to estimated maximum level=1
Preserve louder peaks=1
Difference=0
[Phase Rotator]
Enabled=0
Start frequency=700
Start speed=1400
Number of rotations=4
Smoothness=0.980000019
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=1.75
Reduced CPU processing=0
[FM Transmitter]
Enabled=0
Pre-emphasize=0
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
RDS RadioText text=60s:Stereo Tool: Professional Audio Processing - www.stereotool.com/30s:Stereo Tool by Hans van Zutphen, 1999-2008 - 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=15
[Side Channels]
Channel 1 Enabled=0
Channel 2 Enabled=0
Channel 1 Volume=10
Channel 2 Volume=10
Lowpass frequency=7000
[Direct soundcard access]
Enabled=0
Device ID=Microsoft Sound Mapper
Volume=1
Buffer size=0.191
Send to Winamp=Silence
ASIO Override channel 1=0
ASIO Override channel 2=1
[Low latency output]
Enabled=0
Device ID=Microsoft Sound Mapper
Volume=1
Buffer size=0.180999994
ASIO Override channel 1=-1
ASIO Override channel 2=-1

I must be doing something wrong. I can certainly hear how much cleaner the sound is with the Audacity version - but I just can't get Winamp's output to sound anything like it.

Here is an mp3 to listen to: http://db.tt/OLDo5jAw

This is your original mp3 feed into Winamp with the settings above, written out as a WAV file using the Winamp Wav Writer output, then reconverted back to a mp3 using lame present standard.

_________________
I just use ST Winamp to listen to music.

Ah! Got it!

You're feeding the audio at a very soft level - maximum level is around 4096.

But, in the settings you'll see that the declipper is switched off for sample values below 4096.

Due to rounding errors some samples are detected as clipped and others are not.

So either feed the input signal _slightly_ louder (not with Pre Amp, but in Winamp itself!), or lower this slider ("Never consider samples to be clipped if they are lower than (absolute level)").

Wow yes! As soon as I lower that - it works amazingly

How do I feed sound in louder from Winamp though? I have the volume slider up within Winamp all the way, am I missing something?

Thanks!

Tim

_________________
I just use ST Winamp to listen to music.