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I’m posting this in the ‘pro’ section, because that’s what I’m ultimately going to be using.
Just to try it out, I’ve downloaded the trial of the ‘audio enhancer’ version to test drive at home. This thing is so great that I’m going to tear up my prescription for Viagra!
Now that I’ve considered using this on my ‘part 15’ station (replacing my Aphex Compellor/Texar Prism/8100A combo) I have a couple of questions…
This has an "FM mode". I have not checked it on a scope, but it sounds as if the signal is being bandwidth limited (30-15,000hz) as well as pre-emphasis limited. (even though the output remains ‘flat’)
This would make it the equivalent of the custom de-emphasized output of my 8100A… Perfect for feeding my ‘hobby’ transmitter’s line inputs. Is this correct?
The only other minor issue I have with the software is that the ‘range’ control (basically the input drive level) seems to increase gain to both the AGC and the multiband drive as it’s increased… There is no separate control for each. This would seem to cause the ‘density’ of the sound to increase as the input level increases. Still, I don’t notice any very harsh artifacts unless I run it VERY high, but my instinct would be to run an Aphex Compellor in front of it, and then set the range control until I reach the desired density. This would make the processed sound remain the same regardless of level changes, or ‘sloppy’ board operating.
At any rate, I’m surprised that the ‘cheap’ version seems to have just about the same control as I would imagine that the pro versions would.
Also, right now I can only get it to work with on-board audio that’s loaded on the computer, playing either on Winamp, or Windows Media Player. If I send sound into the sound card from an external source, it just bypasses Breakaway. Is this a setting issue or do I need a separate sound card?
This is only a dry run anyway with a cheap sound card, and I would have a separate system to run Breakaway in the future.
You guys rock!
Howdy!
[quote author=”kodamar”]Just to try it out, I’ve downloaded the trial of the ‘audio enhancer’ version to test drive at home. This thing is so great that I’m going to tear up my prescription for Viagra![/quote]
Thank you! Maybe I should trademark the word "Eargasm" 😉.
[quote author=”kodamar”]This has an "FM mode". I have not checked it on a scope, but it sounds as if the signal is being bandwidth limited (30-15,000hz) as well as pre-emphasis limited. (even though the output remains ‘flat’)This would make it the equivalent of the custom de-emphasized output of my 8100A… Perfect for feeding my ‘hobby’ transmitter’s line inputs. Is this correct?[/quote]
Absolutely correct! It also has parametric EQ to allow you to correct the frequency response, as hobby transmitters tend not to follow the correct pre-emphasis curve.
I like that you have an 8100A! Of all the hardware processors in existence, it’s the only one I can stand to listen to. It does a decent job even on extremely difficult cuts like the first few few seconds of "Kelly Clarkson – Because of you", which all current digital FM processors completely butcher. In fact, it sounds almost as clean analog as Breakaway. 😉
[quote author=”kodamar”]Also, right now I can only get it to work with on-board audio that’s loaded on the computer, playing either on Winamp, or Windows Media Player. If I send sound into the sound card from an external source, it just bypasses Breakaway. Is this a setting issue or do I need a separate sound card?[/quote]
This is a limitation in the $29 version. This way I why I dare to include FM mode in the cheap version, without undercutting myself 🙂.
BBP ($199) and BBP ASIO ($299) do not have that limitation, and are still extremely inexpensive compared to hardware products.
BBP ASIO has a low latency mode which gives you mic-to-air delay of less than 20 milliseconds — quick enough to monitor off-air.
They both have many more controls than the $29 version — Stereo Enhancer, MPX Stereo Gen, Final Drive control etc etc.
None of the current versions have full control (that’s coming in hardware) but I may possibly break apart AGC and Multiband controls in the future.
Best regards,
///LeifLeif, thanks for the response…
I was expecting to have to get the broadcast version anyway, even for my hobbying needs.
Will that version allow me the same ability to have a ‘flat’ stereo output that’s preemphasis limited, or only composite?
I never noticed the Kelly Clarkson "Because of You" artifact… Is it just coincidence that she also has a song called "Breakaway"? 😀
[quote author=”kodamar”]Will that version allow me the same ability to have a ‘flat’ stereo output that’s preemphasis limited, or only composite?[/quote]
It sure will. The processor always does pre-emphasis, and from there you can also select de-emphasis for the L/R output, regardless of the MPX output which always has pre-emph.
[quote author=”kodamar”]I never noticed the Kelly Clarkson "Because of You" artifact… Is it just coincidence that she also has a song called "Breakaway"?[/quote]
Try the first few seconds (when she’s humming) on any digital processor set to competitive loudness. On any other processor, it will sound like she has barb-wire in her throat. No joke.
Coincidence, though 🙂.
///Leif
[quote author=”Leif”]Try the first few seconds (when she’s humming) on any digital processor set to competitive loudness. On any other processor, it will sound like she has barb-wire in her throat. No joke.
///Leif[/quote]
In original song that occures!
[quote author=”Boki”][quote author=”Leif”]Try the first few seconds (when she’s humming) on any digital processor set to competitive loudness. On any other processor, it will sound like she has barb-wire in her throat. No joke.
///Leif[/quote]
In original song that occures![/quote]
There are actually many artifacts that I have heard in various songs that I thought were from processing, but turned out to be in the song… Sometimes intentional ‘distortion’ on beats, or sometimes the plain result of this crappy modern mastering that we seem to be stuck with for life! Some processors seem to emphasize them more, and some seem to be more forgiving.
The first time I was ever tweaking a multiband device, I thought I could hear too much of a ‘flanging’ effect from adjacent bands while listening to The Spin Doctors’ "Two Princes". (in the vocal breakdown right after the bridge) I was frustrated trying to tweak it out, and finally decided to listen to the song without processing. It was an artifact of the studio multiband processing on the CD!
I agree, there’s plenty of songs where there’s artifacts already in the master. However, this is not one of them. That particular section (just the first 10 seconds of the song or so) is particularly tough on traditional pre-emphasis clippers, like the ones you’ll find in 8500, Omnia 6, Vorsis AP2000 and DSPXtreme. 🙂
///Leif
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