Stereo Tool

Okay, well thank you - I'll consider getting the basic + declipper when I feel like I can spend that much. So again, do you suggest that for each song that I use the declipper on, I should enable the true bass function?

Also, I've downloaded the VST3 plugin for the free version, and I can't figure out how to enable the declipper and true bass? I've turned them on but it has made no audible difference to the sound - unlike how the perfect declipper plugin I was previously using did.

True Bass is optional. I love it, but it's not for everybody. Same for Natural Dynamics: I'm not a huge fan of it in its current state of detection, but many folks love it.

However, it's odd you're not hearing the difference. Can you verify it's working by the metering? You should enable the Advanced Clipper and lower its drive to give it more headroom, in case that's the cause. If the volume lowers when you do this, it's likely all processing properly. You can also raise the Sub Bass Synthesis meter on the home page to hear more of an effect; which again, only occurs when it detects harmonics to derive the bass from. It's pretty transparent.

Yeah, I lowered the plugin output level in the I/O settings from 0dB which worked. Gosh, what are. all these different options like Sub bass? I don't really know what settings to use for improving DR of songs!! I've always used the Natural Dynamics at 1x and declipper in the separate program, but now there's dozens of different switches and I don't really know which ones to use - I'm not really wanting to do nuts with fine-tuning the sound...

It's daunting at first, but you don't have to get into the deep processing if you don't want to. My knowledge of the processing is very surface-level. The software should be right-clickable and you can click around and see if there's a "what is this?" selection to get more information about what everything does if you want to know more about the various modules.

Declipper is in the Repair section, and Natural Dynamics is in Processing > Dynamics. They function like they did in the old PD plugin.

Also, it's better to use the Advanced Clipper to lower the volume (loudness, drive, gain, whatever) by 6db and enable the Final Peak Remover in that module (as opposed to the plugin level). Or make sure the DAW limits it clearly since you will get peaks above 0 dBFS even with a -6db decrease.

That's 3 (4) things to be aware of and enable. Not too many. Also like I mentioned, skip True Bass for now until you learn more about it if you want.

You can also always save the preset to make it easer to load up the settings once you have it configured.

Well, thank you for all the help. I don't really know if I need to even use natural dynamics but have been anyway. Yeah, I'll be using the plugin VST3 so I could use this peak limiter to allow headroom for the declipper to work, and I can use the final peak remover, as long as It won't affect the way the music sounds sonically (in a major sense). I only use the declipper really on tracks that have a DR lower than 7 in most cases.

Two questions. Should I keep the "Input might be lossy" option on or off? (I use WAVs - which are lossless). Also, is the advanced clipper included in the basic package?

Yes, the Advanced Clipper is part of the Basic license.

I listen to a lot of sources and they're rarely lossless, so I definitely have that setting on here. Also I listen to 44.1khz stuff at 48khz, so I need the setting for resampled material as well.

Okay, thanks. I'll consider paying the upfront cost for the basic license + declipper, if it means I can improve the DR of whole albums without any beeping or voice interruptions.

It's also possible to buy piece-meal. Meaning you can buy ST Basic up front and then upgrade to the Declipper addon later; in case it's difficult to fund it all at once.