Stereo Tool

I was just cleaning up some code (removed the 'Allow louder lows' filter, at its maximum setting it didn't do anything anymore anyway), when I noticed some code that was boosting the sound when it got very loud.

The intention of this code was to boost loud sounds so they would remain loud. But... This filter bypasses all the new filters that I created, and increases distortion (in some cases even extremely when playing very loud 'S' sounds combined with pre-emphasis).

I have now removed this filter. Due to this, the sound is noticeably cleaner, but loud highs ('S' sounds, hi-hats) have more effect on other frequencies. To compensate for that I wrote a new filter that protects mid frequencies against very loud highs, and I've moved the Dirty bass 'protect against highs' slider to 0%.

The result of this in frequency content appears to be very close to what I started with, but with less distortion. Now I only hope that you agree with this

New version is building now.

Close to 4 months now. Still fighting hard with Hans' creation to simulate the sound of a popular local FM station. Can software based DSPs ever get that sound of Orban 8400? The closest I've come is by fiddling with beta51 of ST. Breakaway just won't do it.

I am now on the verge of giving up. Well, I uploaded the recorded track (FMREC009.mp3) the original one and my pathetic attempt to emulate that(sans the typical Orban bass) in an archive. If someone can suggest a preset or settings file that replicates(or even comes close to) the signature of this station, I'd be sending a box of chocolates!

http://www.mediafire.com/?a2r6kaa2675rv16

Didn't get time to visit the forum on a constant basis. Intend to check out the new beta releases this weekend.
And yeah, thanks Hans for this tool. Dude you've immense patience. Don't know how you do it, but my ears start ringing after 2-3 hours of monitoring. Keep up the good work! And Bojcha you too deserve credit for taking the project in the intended direction.

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- Removed Allow Louder Lows filter
- Removed volume (and distortion...) boosting filter
- FIXED A BUG IN THE PREVIOUS DATA WHICH CAUSED ALL KINDS OF STRANGE BEHAVIOR.

Winamp DSP plugin: http://www.stereotool.com/download/dsp_ ... 510-56.exe
Stand alone version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-56.exe
VST version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-56.dll
VST version (No SSE2): http://www.stereotool.com/download/vst_ ... 510-56.dll
Command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... 510-56.exe
Linux command line version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... BETA510-56 (not available)
Linux GUI version: http://www.stereotool.com/download/ster ... BETA510-56 (not available)

Much much much better, this beta56 than beta50/51. Solid bass and clear vocals. Thats my opinion for now after hearing a couple of tracks.

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Phoenix: Here are a few things to try:

0. If you're using any of the new FM presets, I think you need to disable the equalizer (which boosts the bass and highs - not needed for this sound!)

1. Lower Pre Amp to around 2.00. This keeps the loud bass, but the in-between parts get softer, which is much closer to the FM recording you included.

2. In Loudness:
- Set 'Max highs burst strength' to 200%. This better protects bass against loud highs - which also means that you'll get a louder bass kick when the first few bass beats kick in. (I think I need to adjust the default level in ST, that's still on my todo list)
- Enable 'Strict' after the 'Then rize to (static)' slider.
- Make sure 'Account for highs' is set to 0% (I just changed that in the latest beta).
- Set 'Dirty bass' to 4.00%

3. Make sure that 'Final Limiter' almost reaches the red part during the loud parts. If it doesn't you seem to loose some punch (I just discovered this while trying to get the sound you want)... Adjust Loudness (set it lower) to accomodate for the louder Final Limiter output.

3. In 'Bandpass filter', select 'Never phase linear'. This often (and it does in this track) improves the bass a lot.

4. To boost the bass a bit, you might want to use Bass Boost. To get closer to the Orban sound, increase the 'Allow harmonics from 0 upto...' slider (I've set it to 320 Hz to replicate your wanted sound).

5. You may need to set 'Allow louder highs' a bit below 0 (but I think you already did that?)


I'm actually getting pretty close (even with the bass), although my sound is less 'squashed' (more open). Maybe increasing Loudness further will help here... (If you really want that squashed sound).

Edit: Setting Multiband from 'Compress' to 'Limit' should also help a lot to achieve that squashed sound. If you didn't already of course (I don't have your preset so I have to guess a bit here).

Phoenix: How's this? Intended for BETA56.

Note: Manual actions for setting that are not yet being saved to disk:
In Loudness:
- Enable Strict
- Set 'Clip lowest bass at (dynamic)' to 100% (not sure that this is a good idea...)
- Set 'Dirty bass' to 4.00%

[Common]
Pre amplifier=2
Post amplifier=0.789999962
Extra loudness=1.5
Extra loudness - Very deep bass relative clipping level=0
Extra loudness - Allow extra lows (advanced)=103.90461731
Extra loudness - Allow extra highs (advanced)=-40000
Extra loudness - Punchy=0.224999905
Extra loudness - Max Punch peak=0.75
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Enabled=0
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Difference=0
Extra loudness - Deep bass protection - Value=0.638750076
Extra loudness - Forcibly remove DC component caused by Loudness=0
Extra loudness - Reflection strength=0.099999994
Bass protection - Enabled=1
Bass protection - Two steps=0
Bass protection - Clip level=140
Bass protection - Deep bass boost=0
Bass protection - Raise clip level if highs get above=150
Bass protection - Maximum clip level raise=35
Hard limit output=1
[Noise Gate]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
Noise level=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 1=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 2=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 3=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 4=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 5=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 6=1
Relative noise gate level - Band 7=1
[Singleband Compressor]
Enabled=0
Difference=0
Maximum volume=1.5
Attack speed=0.004095
Decay speed=0.000539601
Above Top Limiter=0
AGC RMS style Enabled=1
AGC RMS style Target RMS level=25000
AGC RMS style Remove remaining peaks above=1.5
[Pre Compressor]
Enabled=1
Maximum volume - Band 1=42000
Attack speed - Band 1=0.000002096
Attack speed - Band 3=0.000002096
Decay speed - Band 1=0.00026822
Decay speed - Band 3=0.00026822
Dual band=1
Third band=0
Relative expected volume of highs=0.649999976
Relative maximum volume of highs=3
Relative maximum volume of very highs=0.330000013
Remove remaining peaks above (relative to maximum volume)=1.299999952
Maximum expected dynamics strength for smoothing=1
Enable smoothing=0
Smoothing time=10
Gating level=512
Use ITU-BS.1770=0
Channel separation=0.300000012
Gating based on volume before Pre Amp=1
Lock bass to band 2 strength=0.5
[Multiband Compressor]
Enabled=1
Difference=0
Delay enabled=0
Maximum volume - Band -1=6270
Maximum volume - Band 0=7290
Maximum volume - Band 1=7290
Maximum volume - Band 2=7120
Maximum volume - Band 3=7120
Maximum volume - Band 4=6780
Maximum volume - Band 5=5420
Maximum volume - Band 6=3560
Maximum volume - Band 7=2200
Maximum volume - Band 8=1190
Attack speeds linked=1
Attack speed - Band -1=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 0=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 1=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 2=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 3=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 4=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 5=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 6=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 7=0.000049975
Attack speed - Band 8=0.000049975
Decay speeds linked=0
Decay speed - Band -1=0.000100064
Decay speed - Band 0=0.000200099
Decay speed - Band 1=0.000300077
Decay speed - Band 2=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 3=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 4=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 5=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 6=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 7=0.000399904
Decay speed - Band 8=0.000399904
Above Top Limiter=1
Clipping enabled=1
Postprocessing enabled=0
Flat frequency response enabled=1
Relative clip position - Band -1=2.773585081
Relative clip position - Band 0=3
Relative clip position - Band 1=2.773585081
Relative clip position - Band 2=2.508771658
Relative clip position - Band 3=2.225806475
Relative clip position - Band 4=1.985074759
Relative clip position - Band 5=1.816901207
Relative clip position - Band 6=1.597402573
Relative clip position - Band 7=1.500000238
Relative clip position - Band 8=1.500000238
Final limiter value=1
Final limiter decay speed=0.000700178
Final limiter clipping=2.508771658
Equalizer enabled=0
Equalize before multiband-compression=0
Equalizer position - Band -1=1.247190952
Equalizer position - Band 0=1.127659559
Equalizer position - Band 1=1
Equalizer position - Band 2=1
Equalizer position - Band 3=1
Equalizer position - Band 4=1
Equalizer position - Band 5=1
Equalizer position - Band 6=1.325581312
Equalizer position - Band 7=1.43902421
Equalizer position - Band 8=1.380952358
Center frequency - Band -1=43.06640625
Center frequency - Band 0=86.1328125
Center frequency - Band 1=172.265625
Center frequency - Band 2=344.53125
Center frequency - Band 3=689.0625
Center frequency - Band 4=1378.125
Center frequency - Band 5=2756.25
Center frequency - Band 6=5512.5
Center frequency - Band 7=10000
Center frequency - Band 8=15000
[Stereo]
Enabled=3
Stereo AZIMUTH Enabled=1
Stereo Image Enabled=0
Stereo Boost Enabled=0
Stereo Boost Excessive Reverb Protection Enabled=1
Delay enabled=0
Difference=0
Center bass=0
AZIMUTH limit=60.000003815
AZIMUTH change speed=0.200000003
Image phase amplifier=1
Image phase amplifier maximum angle=180
Image phase amplifier maximum separation strength=100
Image width amplifier=1
Extra phase shift=0
Mono or stereo only=0
Stereo Boost strength=4
Stereo Boost maximum amplification=2.5
Stereo Boost multiplier=1
Stereo Boost - Never reduce below original level=1
[Channel Delay]
Enabled=0
Left Delay=0
[Output Filter]
Enabled=1
Lowpass filter=15800
Highpass filter=30.000001907
Highpass filter linearity=No
[Bass Boost]
Enabled=1
Strength=1
Start lowpass frequency of input filter=0
End lowpass frequency of input filter=120
Start lowpass frequency of output filter=320
End lowpass frequency of output filter=420
Clip level=1
Clip level is relative to estimated maximum level=1
Preserve louder peaks=1
Difference=0
[Phase Rotator]
Enabled=1
Start frequency=700
Start speed=1400
Number of rotations=4
Smoothness=0.979999959
[Final Limiter]
Enabled=1
Difference=0
Pre-amp=1.5
Pre-limiter enabled=0
Pre-limiter relative volume=1.75
Reduced CPU processing=0
[FM Transmitter]
Enabled=1
Pre-emphasize=1
Pre-emphasis time=50
Output is pre-emphasized=0
Stereo encoder enabled=0
RDS encoder enabled=0
Pilot signal volume=9
RDS signal volume=4.5
FM overdrive volume=1
RDS PS text=5s:VEGHEL/5s:ZUTPHEN
RDS RadioText text=Hans van Zutphen is jarig!
RDS PTY=10
RDS PI=0
RDS Alternative frequency 1=0
RDS Alternative frequency 2=0
RDS Alternative frequency 3=0
RDS Alternative frequency 4=0
RDS Alternative frequency 5=0
RDS Alternative frequency 6=0
RDS Alternative frequency 7=0
RDS Alternative frequency 8=0
RDS Alternative frequency 9=0
RDS Alternative frequency 10=0
RDS Alternative frequency 11=0
RDS Alternative frequency 12=0
RDS Alternative frequency 13=0
RDS Alternative frequency 14=0
RDS Alternative frequency 15=0
RDS Alternative frequency 16=0
RDS Alternative frequency 17=0
RDS Alternative frequency 18=0
RDS Alternative frequency 19=0
RDS Alternative frequency 20=0
RDS Alternative frequency 21=0
RDS Alternative frequency 22=0
RDS Alternative frequency 23=0
RDS Alternative frequency 24=0
RDS Alternative frequency 25=0
RDS TP=0
RDS TA=0
RDS Music=1
RDS Artificial Head=0
RDS Compressed=1
RDS Dynamic PTY=0
RDS RadioText Enabled=1
RDS ClockTime Enabled=0
FM Transmitter Calibration Enabled=0
MPX Oversampling mode=Follow main Quality setting
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 20 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 40 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 80 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 160 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 320 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 640 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 1280 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 2560 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 5120 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 10240 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 19000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 23000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 28000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 33000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 38000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 43000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 48000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 53000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Volume 57000 Hz=1
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 20 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 40 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 80 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 160 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 320 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 640 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 1280 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 2560 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 5120 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 10240 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 19000 Hz=0.007499993
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 23000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 28000 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 33000 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 38000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 43000 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 48000 Hz=0.002499998
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 53000 Hz=0
FM Transmitter Calibration - Phase shift 57000 Hz=0.002499998
[Lossy compression output optimization]
Enabled=0
Spike Protation pre-emphasis time=15
[Direct soundcard access]
Enabled=0
Device ID=Speakers (Juli@ Audio)
Volume=1
Buffer size=1.381999969
Send to Winamp=Normal
ASIO Override channel 1=0
ASIO Override channel 2=1
[Low latency output]
Enabled=0
Device ID=Microsoft Sound Mapper
Volume=1
Buffer size=0.180999994
ASIO Override channel 1=-1
ASIO Override channel 2=-1

Hans...
Exellent preset and this song track Bedingfield - If You're Not the One... For demonstration of Voice vibration.
Other, due slow Down speed of bass .. almost every First-low bass kick distorts or make voice to distort.
Big help if "clip lowest bass" is at 0.60.

Tp better hear .. play beynce

Bojcha: Actually this proves what you have claimed a long time already. If I set 'Clean/Punch' all the way to Clean I can even leave both clip bass sliders at 100%! (Only in BETA56!)

So you're right: I need to fix Punch such that it keeps clipping.


Edit: This is insane! With Clean/Punch on Clean, in BETA56, even if I turn the whole voice vibrations filter completely off there's hardly anything left! (Mina track).
So apparently those voice vibrations were caused by the filter that I've just removed...

Awesome settings Hans!
"Make sure that 'Final Limiter' almost reaches the red part during the loud parts. If it doesn't you seem to loose some punch"...will keep that on a priority in my bible for sound processing. Never before realized the importance so much.
Thats indeed very identical to the signature. Dirty bass and Max Highs Burst Strenght are the ones which I didn't touch at all, and these are making great impact on the kind of bass which is there in that station's signature. My oh my, you've revived my interest.
Oh yeah setting the multiband TopLimiter to Limit, well that sounds great too..

Good to know that I was not wrong about the stereo processing part. It does sound that the station doesnot do any channel expansion. And your preset just confirms that...

Thanks a tonne Hans. I am really indebted to you. This is turning out to be a great weekend after a weeklong of stressing work.
Still experimenting with the new beta. Its awesome.

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Neither did I - and actually I'm still not convinced that it really makes a difference. I'll have to check it further - if it DOES make a difference, I need to fix the Loudness filter so it doesn't anymore...