Stereo Tool
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ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin
https://forums.stereotool.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5746
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Author:  Dean B. [ Mon Dec 08, 2014 1:03 am ]
Post subject:  ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

I've attempted to bypass my outboard Innovonics stereo generator/wideband clipper to use Stereo Tool completely for optimized quality. However, I'm having a few issues:

1. The instructions I was able to find for setting up the FM Output only refer to the Stand-Alone version of ST. Several parameters mentioned in the instructions don't appear in the DSP version. Are there separate instructions for the DSP version that explain how to setup soundcards for FM Output?

2. I believe I set it up correctly:
FM Output "Device" is the sound card channel that goes to the transmitter (correct?).
The audio output device in Winamp is set to a seprate sound card channel (Presonus Firepod 96khz) for my studio monitor only.

I am getting good stereo separation on air but when I stop or pause the music, the stereo pilot turns off! Should I be routing the Winamp audio out, then back into the PC using the stand-alone version of ST instead?

The instructions for sound card setup explain that the "Device" under FM Output is suppossed to be the monitoring channel, not the transmitter audio feed. I'm confused.

The sound card I'm using to feed the transmitter is an on-board Realtek HD set to 192khz 24 bit default sample rate in windows as your instructions mention.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I searched the forum quite a bit and didn't find anyone else mentioning this problem.

Author:  hvz [ Mon Dec 08, 2014 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

Hello Dean,

Your setup seems to be correct. The fact that the stereo (and RDS!) switch off when you don't play anything makes sense - the processing stops as well in this situation so it actually makes no sense to do this... If you use the Stereo Tool Winamp plugin not in Winamp but in a program that's made for broadcast use it will continue to receive an input signal (silence) and processing and stereo/rds generation will continue.

So my question right now is: Why do you turn playing off in Winamp? Because all you can do with it turned off is broadcast complete silence, Winamp doesn't support a microphone input at that moment for example.

I don't really know what you mean by this question about 'monitoring channel', the sound card that you specify in the FM Sound Card settings is the card that the MPX signal is sent to, if you let the de-emphasized signal be sent to Winamp you can indeed use that for monitoring (with quite a big delay because Winamp has a big delay, it's not made for low latency use).

I don't know if this helps - if not please explain what you're trying to do... The stand alone version of Stereo Tool can be used as if it's a hardware FM processor so if that's your goal and you have a studio with mixers etc, you need the stand alone version. Which also offers a low latency (10-11 ms) monitoring output.

Author:  Dean B. [ Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

Thank you Hanz.

Your explanation makes perfect sense. I don't typically intend to stop Winamp unless there's a unique situation (I can't think of one at the moment). I simply expected the pilot to be on when I enabled it in ST while Winamp was stopped and I was setting the configuration. If this is normal for my setup, then I'm comfortable with that.
I may decide to switch to the stand-alone version at some point if it is decided to implement live programming and use of the sound board. There is a mixer in the studio but it's not currently in use.
When I mentioned the monitor output I was referring to a de-emphasized feed which would go directly to the studio amp (although I prefer listening to the on-air feed). You're definitely right about the latency in Winamp!! :D

If I do decide to use the stand-alone version instead, can I use my existing registration key? Or, would my existing registration automatically apply to the stand-alone processor since it will be on the same server?

Thanks.

Author:  hvz [ Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

You'll need to enter the key again in the stand alone version - but you don't need a new key.

Author:  Dean B. [ Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

Thank you. I do have another quick question somewhat related to this.
I'm about to purchase the additional FM Composite Clipper option. However, when using the FM Output with an assigned ASIO sound card I noticed there's already a composite clipper - in addition to the Advanced Clipper section. Under my licensed options, the FM Composite Clipper is not checked. Does this mean I already have that option? Or, does an additional composite clipper section appear once I've purchased that option and is hidden when not licensed?

Thanks again. :D

Author:  hvz [ Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

You have it, but if you turn it on it will play a message through the audio every few hours. So you can test it.

(I wanted to write: But not use it. But I recently heard that a big station (#1 station in a 50 million people market) is having that message played every few hours, lol... Anyway you get the idea, you can test it and if you like it, buy it).

Author:  Dean B. [ Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ST 7.51 running in Winamp as DSP Plugin

:lol: Ha Ha!! Thats great!!! And quite halarious! Hey, it's good advertising for you though.
Thanks for your prompt reply. I did notice the message and was wondering why - you just clarified that for me as well.

Take care.

Dean B.

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