Audio Processing and Some Questions

Ken · April 15, 2017, 07:48:31 PM

Some general questions from a Newbie here...

What type of audio processing do you use with your station and RadioDJ?
I'm trying to learn and get some ideas to help my station sound its best.

And...I use BUTT as my encoder, which level is best to keep it at, as should I stay at 0 (green) or can I go into the orange a little...I do see that it clips in the red and I do hear clipping through my computer and ipad speakers, but I wonder which is the best place to set it.

Also, do you know of any online courses that would help me get a better understand of audio processing?

Thanks

Copper007 · April 18, 2017, 08:41:54 AM

Primarely I'd like to know if you want info about hard- or software?

In studio (and location / portable set) we use both.....

Grtz,
Krid

Ken · April 18, 2017, 12:10:10 PM

I'm thinking Software based for a Streaming station at a fixed location.
What are the pros and cons of software vs hardware processors?

Filip83 · April 18, 2017, 07:34:07 PM

My personal favorite is Sound solution.

Have a look here:
http://www.radiodj.ro/community/index.php?topic=641.msg50821#msg50821

Stereo tool is also good but as I said I prefer the other one:
http://www.radiodj.ro/community/index.php?topic=8552.msg51908#msg51908

Ken · April 18, 2017, 08:18:55 PM

Thanks...I have been giving myself a crash course and lots of google searches.

I found a program called Breakaway One...Seems very smooth with lots of different presets...Of course not quite sure which ones would work best for my start-up station, but progress is being made.

Filip83 · April 18, 2017, 08:25:27 PM

There are many premium plugins, but the ones i mention are free and tested. I also provide presets for sound solution in one of the posts.

qtronix · April 19, 2017, 11:41:35 AM

I use Stereo Tool (http://www.stereotool.com/) for my processing. It is written by Hans Van Zutphen, a partner of Telos-Alliance. It includes some excellent declippers and dynamic processing.

I highly recommend it.

FreerunMedia · April 22, 2017, 10:34:09 AM

Breakaway One isn't free so keep that in mind. It is a very good software solution that is true because the builders of the software are also building the hardware audio processors. A good free solution is Stereotool, for a stream you don't need to switch on the FM and AM tools. The declipper is great and yes that is a paid setting.

Now for the hardware against the software solutions. Hardware is a good option, No lagging at all so everything you hear is real time. When it stops, just switch down and switch on again and it will take a couple of seconds and it's up and running again. The downside is it cost a lot of money. For example, an optimod 8600 FM/HD digital processor is only costing a small 7900 euro's!

For the software it is less costly but you need a computer to run it. The computer is running the OS, sometimes other things and with Windows 10 you have the "automatic update shut down" option.

Sometimes it has a little lag of just a couple of milliseconds but those could be enough to get you confused. Most of the software based soundprocessors kan be used by the playout software using a plugin.

For settings, both has the option to safe settings. Yes it is also possbible to export settings to a computer for the hardware processors.

country101 · May 06, 2017, 05:06:42 AM

OK I downloaded stereo tools and not sure if it is or is not working on my stream. I have it I think correctly configured but then again I am not sure. I have it using the input of VAC from RadioDJ that goes over to BUTT and then to ICECAST. but again I dont know if it is or is not doing anything. to me it just looks like it is doing nothing.

FreerunMedia · May 06, 2017, 10:47:13 AM

Quote from: country101 on May 06, 2017, 05:06:42 AM
OK I downloaded stereo tools and not sure if it is or is not working on my stream. I have it I think correctly configured but then again I am not sure. I have it using the input of VAC from RadioDJ that goes over to BUTT and then to ICECAST. but again I dont know if it is or is not doing anything. to me it just looks like it is doing nothing.

You have to select within Stereotool what audio board it can use. If you have a mixer and RadioDJ is running through that, mixer connected to the line input of the computer, it is simple. Just select the input for stereotool ( stand alone version ) to the line input of the computer. Than you have to select the output to either the output of a second audio board or a virutal cable solution. The streamer like BUTT should have the input selected that stereotool is outputting to.

If you use the plugin for RadioDJ, only RadioDJ will be processed. You have to enable the DSP plugins and put the stereotool plugin in the DSP plugin folder. After restart RadioDJ should be using the stereotool processing. The line input is also processed but as you know, there will be a delay on it.

You can check if the processing is working by just pressing bypass and look at the meters of Stereotool. Also disable the build in processor of RadioDJ. For the right settings you have to choose whatever suits your station. A HIT-RADIO-NON-STOP-HITS-OVERBLOWN-2DB-DYNAMICS processing on a golden oldies station or classical station, will do more harm than that it sound great. But a easy listening processing on a dance station won't work either. Choose one preset and adjust it to your needs. My station (www.radio251.nl) is running on version setup 10 right now because it didn't sounded good for our station. Now we are more satisfied with the setting. It sounds clean and not over processed.

plauri · May 06, 2017, 01:37:09 PM

I don't know why many many users here (mostly beginners) very very seldom put a link to their new stream, and ask for help... If one can check the streaming, I think can help in a better way.

FreerunMedia · May 06, 2017, 04:58:56 PM

Quote from: plauri on May 06, 2017, 01:37:09 PM
I don't know why many many users here (mostly beginners) very very seldom put a link to their new stream, and ask for help... If one can check the streaming, I think can help in a better way.

We could help in a better way than guessing what is wrong. In this case i think he didn't get it working through the processing so it won't help much because it is not there yet.

Ken · May 07, 2017, 10:03:06 PM

I'm now using Breakaway One and Stereo Tools...Both excellent! Guess I'll see how they both play out over time...I really like the Eleven Heaven preset in Stereo Tools and Putonimum on Breakaway One.

I need to find a way to learn more about audio processing in general.

it's interesting how some stations I've been listening too sound so different, some are whisper quiet while others are loud and too bright. (for my taste)

plauri · May 08, 2017, 12:27:33 AM

I don't use Stereo Tools, but as far as BreakawayOne is concerned I can say that Plutonium is a bit too much aggressive and pumped (for the music I play). I use Amsterdam with some adjustment I did after several hours of testing.

RFU · May 11, 2017, 04:41:44 PM

Quote from: Filip83 on April 18, 2017, 07:34:07 PM
My personal favorite is Sound solution.

Have a look here:
http://www.radiodj.ro/community/index.php?topic=641.msg50821#msg50821

Stereo tool is also good but as I said I prefer the other one:
http://www.radiodj.ro/community/index.php?topic=8552.msg51908#msg51908

I can't get it to install. It keeps asking to connect to the internet to download a dll file that's already there, and then doesn't download it