Stereo Tool

What does gas mode (Boyle's law) do?

Well, my idea (based on input from Bojcha) was to make a compressor that behaves like a 'gas compressor'.

So, if you push it stronger together, release will be faster.

One effect of this is that loud sounds will not be reduced as much because the release 'fights back' more. Also, in a traditional compressor, for each sample you have EITHER release OR attack, and in Gas Mode release always works. I actually also want attack to work always, but so far I've been unable to figure out how to do that.

Release makes sense: Deeper down = push back up stronger. (Currently that's true when measured in dB's but in amplification value it's a straight line. Not sure if that's good or not, making the amplification go up twice as fast when it's down twice as deep causes other bad things that I don't want.)
Attack is more difficult: Say we have a tone that's 6 dB too loud. Then attack should push down to at most 6 dB reduction (which it won't reach due to the new release). Point is, say that we're 6 dB too soft. Then it should actually still have some (very weak) push compared to no audio at all. The problem here is that if I just convert a sample value into some amount of pushing, a range of large values could push it into negative values. So something is wrong with this idea. Or alternatively, I should make it such that we push with the same strength that release would use when we reach the target position. Problem with that is that in that case, I cannot set attack separately anymore - if it differs from release it won't work. So, I'm kinda a bit confused here. (That's also why I didn't mention it yet in the list of changes).

Up to know a very goed beta version!! Also the bass AGC is really cool!

Keep up the good work.

Time to make a list of all the changes I made so far, and what I need to do to release this version:

DONE:
- Added Controlled Distortion, including intermodulation distortion detection
- Rewrote Stokkemask code and added some options to control behavior and CPU load. For a similar behavior as before (yet at a lower CPU load), use Audio Quality 0, no skip, no faster. Faster seems to have very little impact on the signal but reduces CPU load, Skip reduces it further but causes bigger overshoots, with far less impact on audio. A higher Audio Quality greatly reduces the impact on the audio (especially if you leave 'allow small overshoots' at 0).
- More than 2 channel audio compressor issue should be fixed.
- Use RDBS names when using 75 us pre-emphasis viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4869
- GUI closing warning viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4708
- Fix AGC problem (release doesn't respond the same at very high input levels). Old behavior still present for compatibility.
- AGC improvement: Bojcha reported that the AGC gives a much more consistent output at lower latency settings. Now, at higher latency settings you can replicate the lower latency settings behavior (See AGC -> Bands -> Block size; suggested value is 1024).
- Added AGC matrix mode (L+R/L-R processing)
- Added full screen mode (Configuration top panel), this hides all window bars and should also hide the Windows task manager. Especially useful for small (eg. 7") displays.
- Limiter improvement: Bojcha reported that the compressors (mainly the limiters) give a much more consistent output at lower latency settings. Now, at higher latency settings you can replicate the lower latency settings behavior (See the 'Block size' parameter (under 'detection'), available for all compressors (singleband and multiband per band). Very low settings can cause bass intermodulation distortion.
- Added multi-language support
- Command line version --samplerate option to use different sample rates. With this, it's now also possible to output an MPX signal (but the input sample rate needs to be high enough, since input and output sample rates are still identical).
- Command line version --r128 option for R128 normalization. Including options to set the target level (default is -23 LUFS) and max TruePeak level.
- Improved and optimized Traditional Peak mode for compressors (Singleband, Multiband) and Natural Dynamics.
- Fixed several bugs in the declipper -> output sounds better
- Scale added to meters
- Added zooming in/out to waveform displays, optimized the code, and made it possible to turn the display off
- CPU load for moving mouse over Bands or Equalizer displays greatly reduced
- Compressor: Peak mode replaced by Traditional Peak, RMS by Traditional RMS; RMS compatiblity mode available for old presets (only thing it does is raise the thresholds by 1.75 dB). Code is further optimized.
- Improved limiter attack and release behavior. See new 'Limiter maximum release' slider. (Difference is pretty big, the resulting signal is much tighter and pumps less; if I only use the limiter it's also about 0.75 dB louder than before with the same peak level).
- Improved multi-touch screen handling
- New version notification: Removed from GML plugin
- Added R128 normalization to GML plugin version
- Improved VMware detection (added param, and let it be set to VMware, Native, Unknown - where Unknown is automatically changed to either if it can be determined reliably.)
- Metering: MPX power added
- BS412 memory usage reduced
- Added MULTIPATH protection settings. Now similar to Stokkemask but with some settings not configurable. Tests needed...
- Added hysterisis when changing buffer size to avoid (or at least reduce) Juli@ driver crashes. If the buffer size is changed, only one restart is performed per 250 ms. Change was needed to avoid Juli@ ASIO crashes, but I've implemented it now for all input and output methods. Waiting for test results Note: This is a workaround to reduce the chance of an ASIO driver crash caused by an error in the Juli@ sound card driver. It greatly reduces the chance of crashes but doesn't (and cannot) completely protect against it.
- Added sound card restart behavior in case of driver errors. No guarantee that it works (because I don't know if the problem that was reported by Storm905 viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5054 was caused by what I think it's caused by) - but it might.
- Added option to receiving a stream via VLC, instead of using an external player and virtual cable.
- Added FM transmitter synchronization to stand alone version
- Added "Power Bass" mode to AGC. Makes bass far more constant and stronger.

TODO:
- Auto-set RMS block sizes per band.
- Power Bass does not work too well with side chain with a lot of bass reduction New mode added (and also maximum effect added), waiting for feedback...
- Finish or remove Gas Mode. Release is probably good now, but I think I should not touch attack (at least for now) - so restore the old code. Not sure if this is thing is useful?
- Check existing presets on RMS mode, settings must be updated. Check effect of new RMS compression/limiting. What to do with block sizes? Check old presets... Also check what to do with better limiter settings.
- Update presets
- Change version number
- RELEASE

Hans , I like the gass gives more impact in dynamics somehow! I use it highest 11% at 1728 Hz till 4% at 112 Hz, others in between
Also the new AGC bass is cool

Thanks!

I noticed that - but that was actually unintentional... So I don't really know what I did wrong (and maybe if people like it I should keep it anyway). Could also be that the same effect can be reached by increasing the attack time, I have not yet tested how that compares to the Gass sound.

New AGC bass has a big effect - maybe a level control may be an idea so it can be reduced if needed? Thanks.

where is this end version stand alone and winamp plugin? Thanks

Links are on the previous page of this thread.

The MPX power display still having some white background when ST is starting and still is clearing slowly . Is this the normal behave ?