Stereo Tool

I am noticing random playback distortion with StereoTool 6.20 installed with the released version of MediaMonkey 4. If I disable StereoTool, the issue disappears and the music plays clear and clean. I tried changing the preset with no success. I also ensured my sound drivers are up to date - no change.

I installed Winamp 5.62 and then StereoTool 6.20. I play the same songs and there is no playback distortion or issues. This leads me to believe the problem lies with MM 4 and the StereoTool integration. In another post, I noted that I am seeing a dual listing of StereoTool in the DSP menu and wonder if this is causing this issue.

This issue appeared with the upgrade to MediaMonkey 4. As with all new versions of software, I delete the older version first - essentially a clean install. The one thing I did not do at first is delete my database files. I have since done this after deleting MM4 and reinstalling with no change doing a clean install and having the database files rebuilt. No change - the only way I can eliminate the playback distortion is to disable StereoTool which does not make me happy.

Okay, this baffles my mind but this issue appears to be resolved.

All I did was change the skin from the default (Vitreous) to another skin and the distorted playback ceased. I played several songs that did not play correctly - both MP3 and FLAC - and no problems. I then switched back to Vitreous, and the same songs play without issues.

I am not sure what changing the skin does, but it appears to have fixed this particular issue. I am thankful this is resolved as music without StereoTool does not sound that good.

ADDENDUM: Okay, I was premature here. I exited MM and restarted it and the problem returned but changing the skin no longer fixes the sound issue. I thought this sounded too simple.

Hello jtekUSA,

First of all, thanks for notifying me of this issue!

What type of distortion is it? Can you describe it, or upload a sample?

Hi all
I too have have that horrendous distortion from m monkey (3.2). Scared the living crap out of me.

Just finished install for winamp & stereotool. Al Green sounds good.
Now I just have to learn how to tweek this tool. Thanks for the trial.

I'm sre I'll be asking questions now that it is working.

_________________
Michael Delahaye

Hi all
I too have have that horrendous distortion from m monkey (3.2). Scared the living crap out of me.

Just finished install for winamp & stereotool. Al Green sounds good.
Now I just have to learn how to tweek this tool. Thanks for the trial.

I'm sure I'll be asking questions now that it is working.

_________________
Michael Delahaye

Well I guess that volley of distorion burnt the vc of one of my 8" kevlar drivers (can't replace)

I think you should not submit that it works with m-monkey for the time being so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

I was all up for trying this software, but now I'm pissed and mad at myself for not turning it down before making changes.

_________________
Michael Delahaye

Owch! Last time this was reported - and today again - I've tried MediaMonkey for a while and everything seems to work fine. Stereo Tool is unaware of in which program it runs so this is really weird. Can you tell me what you did when this happened? And how often does it happen?

Hi again
Well when it happened, things where quite normal. I had just finished installing M-monkey & checking it out.
Thought I would check for new plug-ins for it. Installed Stereo Tool & the moment I clicked to turn it on is when it happened.
This distortion was full range, all frequency's. The woofers where bottoming at an astounding rate like popcorn popping.
I don't know how else to explain it. Like I said, it scared the crap out of me at that moment. I had my hand on the mouse, and could not turn it off fast enough.

It's kind of funny when i think about it now. Kind of like one of those corny movie moments where someone is trying to get away from the bad guy and they can't get the keys to the car in the ignition to drive away. (know what I mean)

Any way, that's how I ended up here. Trying to find out what went wrong. I see I'm not alone.

_________________
Michael Delahaye

The thing is, if it would play some random audio you would get white noise - similar to FM hiss between stations - which doesn't include that much low end.

Also, the sound card cannot output more than its maximum level. And many tracks are already recorded at that level - something in the software could make it a bit louder by sending out a square wave but that's all - and many tracks already look like square waves, so even doing that wouldn't cause that much higher audio levels.

This kinda sounds like what happens if there's a loose cable - but of course that would not be related to installing software.

I don't understand that you want to explain it away as upper limits of sound cards.
My computer is hooked up to a Denon AVR 3808. Good clean power to my speakers.
The bass is going through a Crown CS 1000 (bridged) to an Eminence LAB 12 with a passive rad of the same-cone with 5oz added.
This is something I've worked on getting right for some time.
If I'm talking to the right guy, then you will understand the frustration.
A simple thing of an add-on trial for your music has had detrimental effect.....(like burning a VC).

_________________
Michael Delahaye