My experimentation with foobar2000 DSPs/newbie-ish guide

[Audity]

Hopefully this is the right place.

For 22 years I've gone from not knowing what DACs are, or what EQ and DSPs are good for (didn't even know the term DSP existed), to experiencing the best sound quality I've ever heard through headphones, due to learning a ton this past week or so. I thought I'd share.

I made some tweaks to foobar's DSPs that are all incredible sound-quality improvers. ...For headphones, at least. (I have Denon Ah-D2000s.)

I'll type up a guide about it now! (This is copied from my journal. I wonder if it's a decent newbie guide.)

Everyone's audio system is different, so the guide may not produce a purely positive result without further tweaking. However, if the end result turns up slightly odd, it's still a way better start than nothing. 'Cuz foobar is one the best programs ever made.

It would help to have an external sound card like this one. Well, only if you're on a laptop. ...Use Turtle Beach Santa Cruz for desktops (UNLESS YOU LIKE EXTERNAL EVERYTHING). It'll also help to have half a brain when following this guide---regardless of my godly explanation skills---so that you understand what you're doing as you go along.

1. Install foobar. (There are some optional checkboxes while doing so. I remember in the last version, you HAD to check something to get all the great stuff, but not this one.)

2. Have fun learning the SEMI-intuitive interface, setting everything up how you like. (I like having everything available in view all at once---especially the visualizations!!! It exemplifies my tech-filled existence.)

3. Download this RAR of DSPs, and put the ".dll" files in foobar's "components" folder. (One of the DSPs needs to be installed, so it's a .exe)

4. Go to File -> Preferences -> Playback -> DSP Manager

5. You're going to move DSPs from the "Available DSPs" window to the "Active DSPs" window, in this exact order (!):

a.Equalizer [Here is the Configuration setting that makes mine good. Change it if necessary.]

b.Resampler (PPHS) [Might be pointless, but everyone says it's something they use, so I dunno.]

c.Convert stereo to 4 channels

d.Noise sharpening

e.4Front Headphones

f.Matrix Mixer [Normalize: Unchecked. Multiplier: 0.8]

g.Channel Mixer [Output channels: 6. Mode: Surround. "Use subwoofer": unchecked.]

h.Bauer stereophonic-to-binaural DSP

i.Advanced Limiter

Notes:

Not all settings are the ultimate truth. I may be completely unaware about some details. Like I think going to "Preferences -> Playback -> Output -> Output Data Format: 32-bit" makes the sound better (assuming your sound card supports 32-bit); it sure as hell sounds like it! And God knows what buying a headphone amp will improve, or what better surround-sound DSPs exist. Any feedback is appreciated.

I'm not sure if that Matrix Mixer helps. But at least it's one way to lower the volume legitimately, if you find that this setup really loud. Oh, by the way, IT'S GUNNA BE LOUD. Turn down your computer's Master Volume and Wave Volume way down.

Listen to multiple songs. Get to know the settings. (Unless you know right away that your audio setup doesn't like my configuration. ...I dunno.) The level of difference in some songs' production is grand.

I think hardware EQ might be the way to go, but I find foobar's EQ to be alright, and better than the limitations of the EQ of the sound card I linked at the top of this post.

Speaking of that sound card, I just turned on some Underwater effect, and it's making everything even better. (Some cases perhaps not).

SOUND KNOWS NO LIMITS.

Here's a song that really works well for me with my setup (there are many others). It's originally a lossy MP3, but I made some various volume changes, hence flac.

[Audity]

ok, what? ok, you feel like making a worthless reply just 'cuz you feel like it? Please, fill me with more inanity, oh Internet!

[JBLoudG20]

ok, what? ok, you feel like making a worthless reply just 'cuz you feel like it? Please, fill me with more inanity, oh Internet!

What is windows?

[Tachikoma]

I've tried all of the DSP mentioned above. While the binaural stuff is kinda cool sometimes, I didn't like most of them.

Welcome to head-case, and sorry about your thin skin.

[Audity]

I'm far from thick-skinned. I'm aware it's just a term you pulled out of your ass (haha i said ass), like most humans do to blanket-term everything, so it's easy to forgive it, as it is for obvious newbie bashing fun (I do it, too). Yet there's nothing wrong with disliking how someone posts something, since I put a decent effort into typing the first post, and Edipis was obviously mocking it. It doesn't mean I can't behave differently at different point in time, however.

Yep I like thinking a lot (another reason for the WTF response @ Epidis), and thanks for welcoming me.

Wait, did you just change your post from Thick to Thin? I AM CONFUSED whatever. Looks like this is going nowhere, unless there's a ray of light somewhere. I really do think this setup is amazing, though. I can hear everything balanced perfectly, and no fatigue whatsoever.

[JBLoudG20]

You clearly didn't lurk very long, oh thin skinned pissant.

[en480c4]

[JBLoudG20]

Remember kids, use a $15 soundcard if you are on a desktop. It really helps give you that hi-fi feeling. Also make sure you convert your MP3's to FLAC. Without these essential items, your soundz just plain old suxor.

[Elephas]

I've tried various DSP's and I prefer less of them.

The only one I regularly use is the Secret Rabbit Code Resampler, set to 176.4. With two of the DAC's I use this setting sounds very good to me.

Besides DSP's in foobar, I've also tried one for iTunes called Volume Logic. Its effects are interesting and not too bad for some songs. However, overall I prefer a "purer" type of sound and minimal DSP.

My configuration is:

Vista > foobar > RME HDSP 9632 > AES/EBU > Esoteric D-05 or Chord DAC64

--

Oh, I've used a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage with a Lenovo laptop. Its digital output matched with an external DAC is OK, but its analog out or headphone out sounds bad. It is a cheap and convenient option, but sound quality is mediocre.

[deepak]

For headphones, at least. (I have Denon Ah-D2000s.)

Therein lies your problem. Good headphones don't need DSPs to sound good. They just sound good.

Here's a song that really works well for me with my setup (there are many others). It's originally a lossy MP3, but I made some various volume changes, hence flac.

Video game music

Reks I thought we turned on the must be at least 13 years of age filter?

Edited August 12, 2008 by deepak

[n_maher]

would you like for me to delete your account?

It's ok Reks, I red carded him.

[guzziguy]

Nate, did you check his IP? He sounds a lot like a previously red carded member.

[aardvark baguette]

c.Convert stereo to 4 channels

[n_maher]

Nate, did you check his IP? He sounds a lot like a previously red carded member.

At first blush it looks like a new user.

[Dusty Chalk]

[n_maher]

[Dusty Chalk]

Better?

Directed at OP, if it wasn't obvious.

[guzziguy]

At first blush it looks like a new user.

I was wondering if HC had developed its own version of Andrea?

[LFF]

a.Equalizer [Here is the Configuration setting that makes mine good. Change it if necessary.]

b.Resampler (PPHS) [Might be pointless, but everyone says it's something they use, so I dunno.]

c.Convert stereo to 4 channels

d.Noise sharpening

e.4Front Headphones

f.Matrix Mixer [Normalize: Unchecked. Multiplier: 0.8]

g.Channel Mixer [Output channels: 6. Mode: Surround. "Use subwoofer": unchecked.]

h.Bauer stereophonic-to-binaural DSP

i.Advanced Limiter

Notes:

Not all settings are the ultimate truth. I may be completely unaware about some details. Like I think going to "Preferences -> Playback -> Output -> Output Data Format: 32-bit" makes the sound better (assuming your sound card supports 32-bit); it sure as hell sounds like it! And God knows what buying a headphone amp will improve, or what better surround-sound DSPs exist. Any feedback is appreciated.

I'm not sure if that Matrix Mixer helps. But at least it's one way to lower the volume legitimately, if you find that this setup really loud. Oh, by the way, IT'S GUNNA BE LOUD. Turn down your computer's Master Volume and Wave Volume way down.

Listen to multiple songs. Get to know the settings. (Unless you know right away that your audio setup doesn't like my configuration. ...I dunno.) The level of difference in some songs' production is grand.

I think hardware EQ might be the way to go, but I find foobar's EQ to be alright, and better than the limitations of the EQ of the sound card I linked at the top of this post.

Speaking of that sound card, I just turned on some Underwater effect, and it's making everything even better. (Some cases perhaps not).

SOUND KNOWS NO LIMITS.

Here's a song that really works well for me with my setup (there are many others). It's originally a lossy MP3, but I made some various volume changes, hence flac.

SERIOUSLY!!!

[Chachi]

Wow, what a bunch of dicks. The guy writes up a big post to help newbs get their sound better and he gets flamed and threatened to be banned?

[MoonShine]

Dicks?

(figured it was a bit too much to embed)

[GPH]

Wow, what a bunch of dicks. The guy writes up a big post to help newbs get their sound better and he gets flamed and threatened to be banned?

[lostonetr]

Chachi: does that at least mean you tried those settings out (regardless of how questionable they are), and found that they were an improvement? Thread necromancy =/.

[Augsburger]

ok, what? ok, you feel like making a worthless reply just 'cuz you feel like it? Please, fill me with more inanity, oh Internet!

[Augsburger]

Wow, what a bunch of dicks. The guy writes up a big post to help newbs get their sound better and he gets flamed and threatened to be banned?

Please refer to above post /\ /\ /\ /\ #26 in case you don't get it.