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quote :Never even considered it, or looked at that option. I assumed that it detected the text file had been modified and updated automatically.
Not when using Edcast…I don’t believe so…honestly not sure though. Can anyone clarify?
quote :Use an attenuator to bring the level down a touch.Doh! I never thought to use an attenuator in SAM before sending to Breakaway. I have one in line in Breakaway to drop the output to the encoder by 1dB. Not sure if it’s required but my understanding of mp3 overshoot suggests that it’s better to allow a bit of headroom.
Thanks for the quick response!
I have now implemented the full Edcast encoder solution rather than using the encoders in SAM. I just have a couple of questions…
1. In my Edcast metadata, I am pulling my titles from a text file generated on every song change. What’s a good frequency to update this? Is there any impact in using a pretty short time (5 seconds) or is a higher amount more normal?
2. Certain tracks cause red flashes in Breakaway. Is this a problem? Should I reduce the volume on e.g. each of the SAM decks? Where would be the best place to do this to provide a good input level to Breakaway?
Other than that, it seems to be working OK. We’ll see how it performs long term regarding the processing dropouts (see original post title).
For convenience, I have zipped up all the dlls I used for this into one file. http://tdcat.com/STORAGE/Audio_Tools/breakaway_edcast_dlls.zip
TDCat.
Can anyone tell me if it’s still possible to still ‘touch’ the SpacialNet side of things and use Edcast for the actual encode?
Live is perfect for webstreaming and, as mentioned by other users, it doesn’t carry the CPU overhead that BBP does.
quote :In the internet realm, there’s no loudness warsIMHO processing and loudness are still a requirement on the internet…but it’s certainly not a war. It gives a station a certain known sound and consistency that people like…even if they maybe don’t realise it. Internet streaming certainly doesn’t require pushing every last drop of loudness out of the audio whilst remaining within your 75kHz deviation (UK). Constant level and full sound yes…flattened waveforms and driven to the max…no.
I’ve been using Breakaway Live on CruiseOne for getting on for 2 years now http://cruiseone.tdcat.com/.
It works great for me. Settings on this stream (for info)…
Preset: Plutonium
Peak Level: -1.0dB (sufficient for 256kbps level overshoot)
Final Drive: 0
Range: 40
Power: 40
Speed: 50
Bass Cut: -30
Bass Shape: 0
NR: Off
Stereo Enhancer: Off
Filter: 15kHz (you may ask why…from old FM days 🙂 )
Filter Type: Phase LinearLive is fine for internet use.
TDCat.
quote :Does it happen at the end of a track/ track change?No. It seems to be quite random.
quote :Also, as you are using dsp_livelink.dll I would guess you are using the built in Sam encoderI am indeed. I must admit, I have never used Edcast on my current setup. I might get that setup to see if it eliminates the problem.
Thanks for the responses!
TDCat.
Hi,
I agree with ‘sgeirk’ on this.
It’s a totally valid point. Audio processing of this type is changing and arguably ‘damages’ the sound that the producer had intended.
So what? It’s done this way for many number of reasons…all of which anyone reading this will know.
I agree that the post is irrelevant, not inaccurate.
TDCat.
Hi,
I agree that this is a great topic relating to hardware but I was also after a bit of info on the processing of a mic within Breakaway itself. E.g. Why does a Microphone preset exist? What is set specifically differently within that preset for it to be used for live mic use? Why does it use 4 bands rather than 6/7 as per many of the other presets?
I know these are fairly basic questions but my requirements for mic use do not warrant outlay on a hardware processor. I would love to try one though…Are there any Breakaway type products or VST plugins that even come close?
Thanks,
Torsten.
Hehe!! I’m afraid it’s a bit too rich for me 😀
My personal preference is that the AGC should always be ‘a slow hand on the pot’ for processing with the multiband offering fast release times.
That said, I listened to a fair number of tracks and the detail revealed is great on some tracks (listening on HD650’s).
Great work as always!!
Torsten.
That’s the thing. The soundcard is working perfectly in every way except when sending audio to Windows (i.e recording). Everything plays correctly in the Windows environment and the ASIO environment is faultless.
So, say on one of my mic channels, I can put an ASIO send on it to get the audio out to another ASIO application but if the application only supports ‘Windows’ audio (e.g Skype) I have to put the WAVE L/R HOST inline to get the audio from the mic out to the ‘WDM’ environment.
That’s the only bit that doesn’t work. I thought if a third-party app could take from an ASIO send and bridge it to WDM it would do the job of the broken bit.
Thanks for looking anyway. I know it’s not really a Breakaway question! Appreciated.
Torsten.
I would like to also say thanks for your support and for a great product. I have now purchased Breakaway Live for use initially on testing.
Now, if I may, I would like to add a shameless plug 🙂. For the duration of this weekend there will be a 256kbps stream (CruiseOne) running at the following addresses (depending on your player)…
http://tdcat.com:8000
http://tdcat.com/cruiseone.asx
http://tdcat.com/cruiseone.plsHardware Setup: I am currently running the playout system (SAM), Breakaway and the mp3 encoder on a fairly old Intel Centrino 1.8Ghz laptop. The OS is XP and is dedicated to the task with no additional applications installed. CPU usage sits between 40% and 60%. Not exactly idle but the laptop seems happy.
Audio Setup: Although I tend to go for a cleaner, more ‘virginal’ sound, I have gone against this trend for the purposes of this test. I have gone for a more punchy ‘fm’ type sound with plenty of gain makeup. I’ve done a good amount of listening with this setup and it copes well with a wide variety of music (which is good because, believe me, the playlist currently has a crazy eclectic mix). It’s loud but remains fairly clean on all but the most hypercompressed content (where it’s more a matter of it bringing out the flaws rather than causing them!).
It is based on the ‘Reference Settings’ preset.
Range: 70 (plenty of multiband drive for a variety of material and levels)
Power: 50
Speed: 50
Final Drive: 3dB
NR: Off
Peak Limit: -1.5dB (kept back to cope with peak uncertainty with lossy codecs)
Bass Boost: +20 (too much?)
Bass Shape: Normal
Frequency Cutoff: 15kHz (may not be needed with 256kbps really)
Filtering: Phase LinearThe codec being used is LAME 3.98.2 currently at 256kbps.
I’d appreciate any thoughts or comments. I’ve looked at a lot of software processing and this is without doubt the best I have come across. In some ways I wish there were more adjustments but, you know what, I think that might just spoil the enjoyment of the music as I’d just end up in a never ending tweak session. It’s great as it is.
TDCat.
Hi Leif,
Just wanted to say thanks again for the detailed replies! I’ll carry on testing and then see if our budget will stretch to purchasing the software. What I have seen so far is impressive. I have been looking at software audio processors for a couple of years now and this is the best…by quite a long way (in my opinion, of course 🙂 ).
Torsten.
Hi Leif,
Many thanks for the detailed response! Fair point on the information restriction. I understand your reasoning. 🙂 I have a few more questions if I may.
1. If you are not using a final clipper whatsoever, is it all done with lookahead limiting?
2. What is the slope of the high-pass filter when cutting out say, anything below 80Hz? I have been setting it to 80Hz for mic use but am thinking that if it’s 12 or 18dB/octave, I could get away with a lot lower for a fuller sound.
3. Does Breakaway (I am using ‘Breakaway Live’ as I am testing it with ASIO) use a dual band AGC on any of it’s presets?
Thanks again!!! I’m sorry to just burst in with a load of questions. I have looked on the forum for these specifics but can’t find them so I hope others find the answers useful too.
Torsten.
