Compression/Effects for Dynamic Music

AuralMoon · 17th February 2002, 15:21

I hope someone can help me...

Like many shoutcasters, I have mp3s that, even though their normalized, still come through at different volume levels.

The music I play is quite dynamic - akin to classical music. I've tried things like Tom Steady, and although it work for about 60% of my songs, it butchers the other 40% that have quiet parts next to loud parts, and sharp dynamics throughout the song. I've tried a few different settings inside Tom Steady to no avail.

I was wondering if someone who ran a classical station, or has similar dynamic music, could recommend a program/setting that works with this type of music. I'm also interested in any EQ programs that might offer a little compression or sweetening, but the main thing is making song to song levels consistent.

TIA,

Avian

Shirow · 17th February 2002, 16:24

Not sure if you'll acheive the affect you're looking for with software - you might have to grab some hardware to do it. Garak knows some cheap places to get some good hardware though, if he's reading this..

17th February 2002, 20:37

TSGH > Where did those plug-ins go?

AudioStocker (volume normalizer plug-in), by Leif "Liket" Claesson:
http://users.one.se/liket/mp3stock/audiostocker.htm

RockSteady (compressor/normalizer) http://luna.spaceports.com/~pesho/

And other DSP plugs

Shirow · 17th February 2002, 20:38

yeah, I think those pieces of software all cause the problem he's trying to avoid though.

funmaster · 18th February 2002, 08:50

Have you given SoundForge by sonic foundry a shot.

Shirow · 18th February 2002, 14:57

I don't think Soundforge has a DSP plugin.. you'd still have to modify each mp3 one by one..

leo_c · 18th February 2002, 17:35

If you have cash, check out Otsjuke -

http://www.otsjuke.com

it has excellent dynamics processing built in.

Leo

AuralMoon · 18th February 2002, 22:41

I just noticed that OTSJuke requires Win 98 or Win 95. Shoutcast no likey!

Avian

Shirow · 18th February 2002, 22:51

Damn, that sucks.. who would want to run broadcasting software in 9x only? I doubt there are many "professional" (i use the word a little loosely

) broadcasters running in 9x..

leo_c · 19th February 2002, 01:49

Hmm..
I have OtsJuke running on 2k - I believe it also works well in XP.
I think the point is that it only works with well with WDM sound drivers, so it won't work in NT.

Anyway, I don't want to sound like a salesman =)
There is a users forum for Otsjuke elsewhere - Here in fact.

Leo

Shirow · 19th February 2002, 01:50

is OTSJuke worth buying? (i'm running win2k pro, stacking dsp crossfader and rocksteady..)

I'm not against spending money on good software..

maybe I'll download the demo and try it out.

leo_c · 19th February 2002, 01:56

Depends....
You do need to convert all your MP3's to OTS files (fairly quick), and it is still quite new software. However, for the price you could not purchase a similar sounding hardware audio limiter/compressor.

It works very well as a SHOUTCast (or Icecast!) source and the latency on processing live input is not too bad.

You'd be hard pushed to find something better for the price, but please don't just take my word for it.

Leo

Shirow · 19th February 2002, 01:58

what about doing mic input over shoutcast? is it 'clunky' or does it work well? (i'm using a monster mx300 soundcard, if you've ever tried one..)

I know I certainly have issues with the live input in shoutcast.

i am running win2k though, which it seems to have soundcard issues with.. maybe I need to switch to an sblive, as they seem to recommend that.

are there any tutorials on the web as to how to set it up to work well w/ shoutcast? will it connect to a shoutcast server, or do you have to run winamp/shoutcast in the background?

17th February 2002, 15:21	#1
AuralMoon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 104	Compression/Effects for Dynamic Music I hope someone can help me... Like many shoutcasters, I have mp3s that, even though their normalized, still come through at different volume levels. The music I play is quite dynamic - akin to classical music. I've tried things like Tom Steady, and although it work for about 60% of my songs, it butchers the other 40% that have quiet parts next to loud parts, and sharp dynamics throughout the song. I've tried a few different settings inside Tom Steady to no avail. I was wondering if someone who ran a classical station, or has similar dynamic music, could recommend a program/setting that works with this type of music. I'm also interested in any EQ programs that might offer a little compression or sweetening, but the main thing is making song to song levels consistent. TIA, Avian

19th February 2002, 01:58	#13
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	what about doing mic input over shoutcast? is it 'clunky' or does it work well? (i'm using a monster mx300 soundcard, if you've ever tried one..) I know I certainly have issues with the live input in shoutcast. i am running win2k though, which it seems to have soundcard issues with.. maybe I need to switch to an sblive, as they seem to recommend that. are there any tutorials on the web as to how to set it up to work well w/ shoutcast? will it connect to a shoutcast server, or do you have to run winamp/shoutcast in the background? Last edited by Shirow; 19th February 2002 at 04:52.

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17th February 2002, 16:24	#2
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	Not sure if you'll acheive the affect you're looking for with software - you might have to grab some hardware to do it. Garak knows some cheap places to get some good hardware though, if he's reading this..

17th February 2002, 20:37	#3
Sawg Guest Posts: n/a	TSGH > Where did those plug-ins go? AudioStocker (volume normalizer plug-in), by Leif "Liket" Claesson: http://users.one.se/liket/mp3stock/audiostocker.htm RockSteady (compressor/normalizer) http://luna.spaceports.com/~pesho/ And other DSP plugs

17th February 2002, 20:38	#4
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	yeah, I think those pieces of software all cause the problem he's trying to avoid though.

18th February 2002, 08:50	#5
funmaster Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3	Have you given SoundForge by sonic foundry a shot.

18th February 2002, 14:57	#6
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	I don't think Soundforge has a DSP plugin.. you'd still have to modify each mp3 one by one..

18th February 2002, 17:35	#7
leo_c Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 62	If you have cash, check out Otsjuke - http://www.otsjuke.com it has excellent dynamics processing built in. Leo

18th February 2002, 22:41	#8
AuralMoon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 104	I just noticed that OTSJuke requires Win 98 or Win 95. Shoutcast no likey! Avian

18th February 2002, 22:51	#9
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	Damn, that sucks.. who would want to run broadcasting software in 9x only? I doubt there are many "professional" (i use the word a little loosely ) broadcasters running in 9x..

19th February 2002, 01:49	#10
leo_c Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 62	Hmm.. I have OtsJuke running on 2k - I believe it also works well in XP. I think the point is that it only works with well with WDM sound drivers, so it won't work in NT. Anyway, I don't want to sound like a salesman =) There is a users forum for Otsjuke elsewhere - Here in fact. Leo

19th February 2002, 01:50	#11
Shirow Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 604	is OTSJuke worth buying? (i'm running win2k pro, stacking dsp crossfader and rocksteady..) I'm not against spending money on good software.. maybe I'll download the demo and try it out.

19th February 2002, 01:56	#12
leo_c Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 62	Depends.... You do need to convert all your MP3's to OTS files (fairly quick), and it is still quite new software. However, for the price you could not purchase a similar sounding hardware audio limiter/compressor. It works very well as a SHOUTCast (or Icecast!) source and the latency on processing live input is not too bad. You'd be hard pushed to find something better for the price, but please don't just take my word for it. Leo