Stereo Tool

I just realized that I forgot to make a release post here. So:

Stereo Tool 9.40 is available! Changes:

• AGC: Added dynamic attack/release speeds.
• AGC: Added release hold for better consistency. Avoids too high levels for drum solos etc.
• Analog Compressors: Added dynamic attack/release speeds.
• FM clippers: Flatter frequency response, more highs above 11 kHz. Controlled by "Highest highs vs lower highs" slider.
• Advanced Clipper: Added option to allow generating even harmonics; results in louder, more open and warmer audio.
• AGC: Improved Sudden Jump Protection a bit.
• AGC: Added "Attack immediately" for tighter control and better consistency.
• Analog Compressors: Added "Attack Immediately" mode that gives a tighter sound with better consistency.
• Advanced Clipper: Bass protection under "highs" killed bass in v9.37, maximum stages reduced to 2. Smaller effect on bass, still nearly full IMD protection.
• Multiband Compressor 1: Analog Compressor: Added progressive release to constand (maximum) speed releases.
• Bass Clipper: Added extra hard clipping stage to handle overshoots from "Extra Softness", for much better bass control.
• Declipper: Added protection against predicting too much, mainly needed for restoring optical sound tracks in old films.
• IceCast: Added IceCast streaming to DSP plugin.
• IceCast: Added streaming metadata (artist, title, album), plus polling to update data from a file.
• IceCast: DLL's are loaded only when needed, no longer on startup.
• CPU core scheduling: Added preferred thread CPU core affinity, beside forced. Uses selected core when possible, another if not available; allows lower latencies.
• I/O: Improved ASIO future samples prediction to remove clicks when calculation isn't ready yet, enables lower latencies without audible gliches.
• Web server: Added websockets for better performance and lower data usage.
• Web server: Changed scope display updates to fix display hiccups.
• Web server: Redesigned to be better able to handle large numbers of open connections that are waiting for HTTP GET requests.
• Web server: Added Active field to a number of widgets, and button press doesn't happen more than once anymore when the connection is flaky.
• Web server: Fix file uploading, was adding extra bytes, caused by extra \r \n before closing line.
• Auto EQ/Bass EQ: Improved attack behavior; added "Legacy attack" mode for compatibility.
• GUI: Improved synchronizing of waveform display.
• GUI: Waveform display: Glitch on 0-crossing of buffer.
• GUI: Added synchronization of screen drawing to ASIO callbacks for lowest possible latencies (4 ms).
• Bug fix: VST3 plugin bug fix: NAN's in vMix solved! (caused by a compiler bug).
• Bug fix: BS412: For Quality > 100 the audio could sometimes drop to 0.
• Bug fix: Streaming/Normal output was pre-emphasized when MicroMPX was used without turning FM sound card on.
• Bug fix: IceCast streamer no longer uses threads (which apparently could cause reliability issues, in external software outside of our control).
• Bug fix: Scheduler: Last element of the list was ignored.
• Bug fix: MicroMPX NIC selection did not work from within Stereo Tool (always used Automatic).
• Bug fix: Command line version on Windows big file (> 2 GB) issue fixed.
• Code change: Parameter code partially rewritten for new GUI.
• GUI: "Version 7.31 Attack compatibility" parameter removed (wasn't used anymore).
• Changed default preset to Dutch Chocolate Moose.
• Updated presets.
• MicroMPX Decoder: RC on/off checkbox was ignored.
• MicroMPX Decoder: Bug fix: Backup player could get in a state where it wouldn't start playing.
• MicroMPX: SFN/GPS license fixed (was always beeping).
• MicroMPX: Updated web interface.
• MicroMPX: "GPS lock" display in Stereo Tool and MicroMPX encoder didn't work.
• MicroMPX: Fix µ in µs for RC in MicroMPX web gui.
• PhoneBooster: Added web interface, initial beta posted.
• STX: Initial firmware version pre-released (no touchscreen support yet).

Can you elaborate on that? What did it predict too much? Amplitude?

Is the development still active despite the threats of COVID-19?

Sure. We've been working from home for the last 4 weeks or so.

Yes, and in this specific case (optical tracks in old films) that caused a lot of artifacts. With the new protection, it adds a bit less than before, but the artifacts are gone. It's better on other content as well, but the difference is much smaller.

Hans, will you please update the stand-alone Declipper plugin with the mentioned fixes and any other appropriate platform-related updates?

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America's Country
Totally RAD Radio

I will with the next update; I have updated the code (some things had broken in the GUI since the last update).

Hans, is there a new beta version after the 9.40 release available for download?

No, not yet.

Can we soon expect atleast some of this fixes:

- Fix Final Limiter sometimes unnecessary make clipping and weird crackling (edit; finaly found cause: it's something in 1st and 2nd bass stage, fix pre-ring (caused by ADBP) and make it lest cost on cpu (it's kinda not right that limiter uses more or same cpu usage as clipper). Also Bass clipper works noticable better in clipper mode then limiter mode and that kinda should be same (probably also caused by 1st and 2nd bass stage).
- Recent "dynamic speeds" and "start attack" huge cpu usage (peek mode)
- Selection for AGC gate detection after AGC, Also option for Noise reduction "after AGC"
- Fix huge bug in Clipper ABDP Detection. It does not detects some mid-lows. "Reduce bass for mids" does not detect anything under 500Hz and should be atleast 400-350. Exactly that uncontrolable gap seems to make most IMD at loud presets.
- In singleband compressor(s) make SC to work with limiters too!
- ..

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control point
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