Stereo Tool

I'm not sure this is really a "bug," just a discovery of a setting that doesn't play well with one song.

I'm using version 6.32.

Under "Stereo Image," I have "Azimuth & Channel Delay" on, max 100, diff 2.00. Channel Delay Fake Stereo is 0.000 msec.

Under "Stereo Image / Flat Stereo" I have "Stereo Image Processing On" checked, phase 1.00, width 1.00, 100% max phase, 180 limit 0 angle, 0 stereo only.

"Stereo Boost On" is not checked, nor is "DIFF."

I had kept "Center Bass" checked, but I've discovered that when I play "Think Of Laura" by Christopher Cross from the CD "Cross Words - The Best Of Christopher Cross" through it with these settings, the bass "growls" and "gurgles." Originally I thought I had a bad file, but I replaced the file with a new lossless rip from the CD and the problems persisted.

It was only when I shut off "Center Bass" that the "grumbling" goes away.

It, and the entire "Stereo Image" section seem to be challenged by this recording. With it switched on, the recording seems to go a little out of phase (perhaps because of keyboards that were perhaps out of phase in the original recording). With all of it switched on, the guitar starts to sound REALLY strange in some parts, like "auto-tune" has been turned on or something.

This is the only song out of more than a thousand that I've ever found that has this issue... in fact, it's likely more than several thousand songs I've tested, as I have Stereo Tool as my default in Winamp on my personal computer for personal listening.

I don't know that anything can be done to improve this section to make it work better with this song, or if I can change the settings and get a better reaction from the processor when I play the song. For now, I've simply switched off the "Center Bass" option.

I understand this may have to be a "quirk" of the processor I have to live with, and if it's only one song out of thousands that it has problems with, I would still say it's an excellent processor!!!

_________________
Gene Savage
BlackLight Radio
https://BlackLightRadio.com
Tulsa, Oklahoma USA

Actually I have been considering removing or rewriting this whole 'Stereo Image' section. Everything in there can give weird effects like this... For most songs, at not-too-extreme settings, it works fine, but for some it can be really bad. (Although so far Center bass has not caused any problems for me).

BTW: Congrats for your nomination (RAIN Best Single Stream Webcaster)

hi,
I checked this track. First, I don't expect that "center bass" can make any strange sounds. What i expect from it is to make "wider" bass more centred or fully centred. Also that mean that bass only can sound stronger, fuller and in one word, better. Again, that is with tracks where lower frequencies are "not in phase"!

So i listened track, with your settings, and i cannot hear that "grumbling" or anything similar/bad.

Btw, this is not lonely track where whole production is too much "phased". IMHO, that phasing is never good idea to apply it to all instruments (in mastering), but just on some or few.
To clearly see what i am talking about, try simple test. Put headphones on and play track, then switch to "mono". You'll clearly see how much whole track is, i can say, badly phased!

Also, to me this track (bass) sounds much better with 'center bass' ON, as i expected.