[15:58] Hi, [15:58] ohaioh [15:59] I have been looking for Linux Sound Enhancement for the longest time. [15:59] And I found this SoundPim -> http://soundpimp.com/guidelines/computer-audio-enhancer-linux/ [16:00] I wonder if anyone has ever used ones similar. [16:02] I also use Pulse Audio Equalizer, but it is not the best. [16:02] Why are you using this? [16:02] The Soundpimp thing is doing more than EQ [16:03] erick_: what does that SW do? Their web page doesn't seem too say so much... seems to just mangle left and right audio by adding subtracting bits of audio. [16:03] It assumes a particular for of recording that does not really get used that much. [16:04] *particular type [16:04] Pulse Audio Eqaulizer was the only thing I could find. [16:04] Looks like it oversamples too [16:04] At least that bold at the top says that too [16:04] eq almost always uses over sample. [16:04] to me* [16:04] Yes but are you needlessly oversampling it to 192? [16:04] I doubt it [16:05] Source on EQs oversampling? [16:05] using an output of 48k is probably optimal [16:05] oversampling to 48 from 44.1 is useless [16:06] If your source is 44.1 it will stay that way [16:06] Just like you can't convert an mp3 to flac and get higher quality [16:06] oversampleing suring DSP is quite common, but the output is then presented as low [16:06] Back in Windows day, this DFX sound enhancer, was what I used to make sound pretty http://www.fxsound.com/ [16:06] I know, but it's an option [16:06] sirriffsalot_: You're from Norway? [16:06] yes, but the source would rarely be 44.1 any more. [16:06] I want to find something similar in Linux :) [16:07] sirriffsalot_: Just listening to the link you posted earlier [16:07] (well, yesterday) [16:07] Yes it would, if you pass 44.1 through and EQ, even if the EQ oversamples, your source is still 44.1 quality [16:07] It will come out as 48 or whatnot, but still have everything the 44.1 did and nothing more [16:08] I heard you. [16:08] Not talking to you [16:08] most soundcards have analog circuitry that deals with 48k best. The only place 44.1 is standard is on CDs which are dying out. Video is 48k, broadcast is 48 k [16:08] Oh [16:09] I think music made for Itunes is 48k [16:09] Doubt it [16:09] Soundcards run at 44.1 by default [16:09] no [16:09] Yes, they do, just open your on board settings and look [16:09] The HDA/AC97 buss is 48k [16:10] Ubuntu has changed things from the devs default to 44.1 so what? [16:10] It's still besides the point, okay so it's 48. That doesn't address that oversampling will not increase the specctrum of a recording because it is already recorded [16:10] There are a number of audio interfaces that are 48k only... like a lot of laptop mics for example. [16:10] I know [16:11] That much is correct. [16:11] I see. [16:11] skype and opus (html5 audio standard also put 48k out) [16:12] May I ask if we have any sound enhancer in linux? [16:12] I myself do everything in 48, my interface can go up to 192 but that's really, really overkill for a lot of things [16:12] I want to make my OS sound prettier. [16:12] Define prettier? [16:12] prettier is as always, in the ear of the beholder. [16:13] Youtube, skype, vlc and many software should sound better. [16:13] Then tell them to upload better quality recordings [16:13] better? [16:14] Use/demand flac files. [16:14] Yes, when I was using Windows, this would help http://www.fxsound.com/ [16:14] You can increase your sample rate but look at the entire conversation we just had to see why that would have very little effect [16:14] VLC has an EQ [16:14] and more [16:14] most people feel something "sounds better" just by inceasing the level 3 dB (or even less) [16:15] I tried using VLC EQ, and it only helps a bit. [16:15] erick_: so you are effectively saying that who got paid $20k plus per song to master it doesn't know what good sound is? [16:15] You need to understand that you can't magically make things sound "better" but what I see as better in my mind is probably not what you do [16:16] ahaha it's really not that simple [16:16] So what they were paid that, what format are you listening to? 192 kbps mp3? [16:16] What are you listening with? [16:16] What is your soundcard [16:16] yes :) [16:16] How good are your ears [16:16] etc [16:16] That is exactly the point [16:17] I got what you said, but sometime enhance the sound a little bit is better. [16:18] Let's say youtube video, for example. Let's the software enhance it a little bit. [16:18] The list of linux VSTs, LADSPA, LV2 plugins is long. almost all of them change (I hesitate to use the word enhance) the audio. [16:19] Or even skype, with sound enhancer, it should sound better. [16:19] "enhance" means something different for each and every track. [16:19] Indeed enhance is very vague and if you were to just, I don't know, put a stereo expander on it, it would probably not be very good [16:19] skype audio is enhanced already [16:20] EQ is kind of all you kind do, as everything else will mess with audio more, meaning that your enhancing can easily turn out to be the oppositet [16:20] skype has some of the very best echo cancel in the business [16:20] feel?\ [16:20] I see. [16:20] Using EQ you can compensate for the mediocrity of speakers [16:21] And that can do A LOT [16:21] (and room) [16:21] I see. [16:21] good speakers can still do a lot more. [16:21] oh boy lol, yeah, You can also spend a bunch of money on treatment for your room but [16:21] You're better of just listening with better stuff [16:21] :) [16:22] but youtube is GIGO [16:22] So we don't have good sound enhancer software, then? [16:22] you can't put back what is gone. [16:22] I could only find soundpim. [16:23] How do you listen to youtube video well? [16:23] erick_: you want a package that just does something you don't know that "sounds better", you are not willing to findout what it is that makes things sound better. The tools are all there, but you have to know how to use them. [16:24] I see. [16:24] I listen to youtube with the expectation that the quality is going to be less than good to be able to fit into a live stream bandwidth [16:25] I put on a CD I expect better quality... and I get it. [16:25] Right. [16:26] You can also use VLC to watch youtube video, and using its EQ. [16:27] I put on a high quality flac and I might do even better, a well done OGG with out bandwidth throttling (or even MP3) will still sound better than youtube. [16:27] I know, but you still need youtube. [16:28] I don't have great speakers, but good enough. (old Peavy network c-700s) [16:29] need? no one "needs" youtube. That is just pure faulse. [16:29] I guess there is no too many sound enhancer in linux, then. [16:29] False even [16:29] You seem to have missed everything I (and others) have said [16:29] I will look some more .... [16:30] There are probably no majic box SW that changes EQ and boosts level and calls itself an enhanser, for linux no. [16:31] but you can do the same thing yourself with the tools that are around. [16:31] Why not though? [16:31] I wish someone wrote them. [16:32] Even game developer would need to adjust sound some time. [16:42] A master of the tools can do wonders with just an EQ and a Comp in the master channel, while a beginner can have all the tools in the world, and it won't help a thing [16:43] Sure, there are some things that a computer can do, by analyzing the sound waves, but it doesn't replace a good ear [16:43] as well as experience [17:15] zequence, sorry, yeah I'm from Norway [17:15] zequence, why? Is it that obvious? :D [17:21] sirriffsalot_: I saw that from the site. Was familiar, but wasn't sure if it was Danish or Norwegian at first [17:21] I live in Sweden myself (though, I consider myself Finnish by identity) [17:34] zequence, tjena :) [17:35] sirriffsalot_: tjena, tjena :) [17:35] zequence, you mean by location of birth? [17:35] I'm in Gothenburg, actually, so not so far from Norway [17:36] Man.. Gothenburg, so much of the music I like comes from there [17:36] Location and birth is Sweden, but my parents are from Finland. Also, I grew up in an area where maybe 1/4 were from Finland. That was the 80s [17:37] So, I didn't learn my first Swedish words until I was 5, and I only started Swedish school in 4th grade (after having done 3 years in Finnish speaking school) [17:37] Not so well integrated, so to speak [17:38] To be very specific, I would say I'm a "finsk göteborgare" [17:38] sirriffsalot_: Not "At the Gates" I presume? [17:38] Hehe, yeah... I visit Helsinki often.. finnish is a bitch [17:38] zequence, all of the swedish metal peeps :) [17:38] Oh, cool [17:39] zequence, first CD I ever got when I was a kid was Clayman, so [17:39] Really? Well, for me, being an older generation, In Flames was a sort of At the Gates rip-off [17:39] Kind of pop :) [17:41] Great musicians [17:41] Very nordic too, I suppose [17:43] sirriffsalot_: Is it your music, in the link? [17:43] I suppose all done with ardour? [17:58] zequence, of course it is, they even list them as an influence, but damn good stuff, suits my taste well. Not so much these days though. Yeah all that is mine, done in the GNU/Lin homestudio :) [17:59] sirriffsalot_: Coolt. I'm doing some of my own metal recording in GBG right now, on Ubuntu Studio (even though I use Debian on my daily computer). Hope to share that within the year [18:00] GBG? [18:00] A friend of mine, who I share the studio with, is doing some At the Gates kind of music. And, the singer in Dark Tranquility is going to add vox to it [18:00] GBG = Gothenburg [18:01] But, my music is not as much At the Gates, I would say [18:01] Ah hehe :D Lucky bastard for getting him involved! [18:01] zequence, got some demos or something to give a flavour of your stuff? [18:02] sirriffsalot_: NOt really, at this point, sorry. Maybe in a few months [18:02] sirriffsalot_: I could give you something that is absolutely not what I'm doing, a song I did one day, just for the fun of it [18:03] But, it reflects the sound of the studio, somewhat. Not exactly well mixed [18:03] Let's see... [18:03] zequence, hit me :) [18:05] sirriffsalot_: https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/bM6ZLRDbPTx0bvm [18:05] Doesn't actually reflect the sound of the studio so well. It's not a good mix at all, but it's a song [18:06] I could pass another couple of links. This is for a doom project, which I've been involved in for may years. Not a song, but a few ideas put together https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/H0L4uNXkukJtBfH [18:07] Also, I did this Meshuggah cover one day. The final mix/master is somehow getting towards the right place, but I had a few problems with the original sounds https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/NvEjaE8k4pMNP7a [18:08] I play all the instruments, also the vox, which I haven't done for maybe 15 years, so I need to warm that up a bit [18:09] Wish I had your drum skills :( [18:10] I'm working on the skills still. The most work the past year has been on getting the sound right. Learning how to tune stuff properly, and what materials, and what mics to use [18:10] I only have 8 channels, and not enough cash for more mics anyway, so a simple 2 mic setup on the overhead [18:11] zequence, I have to say I'm tempted to jazz up the long notes with my way of riffing things... But you probably heard I do nothing but riff after riff after riff lol :) [18:11] zequence, there's something about the snare-recording that's out of place I think [18:12] zequence, or just that the pace isn't quick enough for that style of drumming, not sure yet [18:12] sirriffsalot_: It's unevenly played, badly mixed, and who knows what else [18:13] zequence, ah yeah, drums need some fine mixing then [18:13] zequence, perhaps a little stereo reverb on the final oscillation noise with the guitar before it ends? [18:13] The snare head for the first link is a Remo Ambassador, very highly pitched. I only used it for a couple of weeks. Have a different setup now [18:14] sirriffsalot_: Oh, you're talking fine details now. The first song, I did the whole song and the recording the same day [18:14] ..and the mix [18:14] zequence, wish I was that competent in writing songs haha, I take ages... too many ages [18:15] I don't actually do that kind of music normally. If I did, I could do one a day, or more, easily. [18:15] zequence, your vocals as well you said? Pretty damn good [18:15] Yeah, but I need to work more on those [18:16] I was surprised from that recording how well it sounded though. So, I'm actually starting to believe I can do the vocals myself, which is very liberating [18:16] In the past, I've always had to depend on a vocalist, and that usually doesn't end well [18:16] zequence, is it not kind of an irony that a doom metal project plays The Struggle Is Finally Over...? :D Not to discourage you [18:17] sirriffsalot_: Oh, it has a specific meaning for me. [18:17] The phrase, that is. [18:17] zequence, okay good, then keep it :) [18:18] zequence, lucky you, I'm about as limited a vocalist as you can get [18:18] sirriffsalot_: How is that? [18:18] zequence, well, without a studio I pretty much suck, haha :D Need to work my ass off keeping vocals warm or it just doesn't work [18:18] That is what I used to think, and still do. Particularly about ranges. But, I'm learning how to use my own charasteristics better now [18:19] That's what I'm easing into as well [18:19] So much is in the head [18:19] I used to try to sound like something that was not me at all [18:19] Black Soul reminds me of Scar Symmetry [18:20] Particularly the Pitch Black Progress album [18:20] Oh, the title is actually wrong. Supposed to be Catch Thirty Five [18:20] That's the Meshuggah cover [18:20] The album Catch Thirty Three [18:20] Yeah the sound I meant [18:20] Ok [18:21] That was the first recording I managed to get somewhat good. [18:21] The drumming is painfully uneven. I was tired as hell, while recording that [18:22] I do have a track called Black Soul, a song I wrote about 20 years ago [18:22] I have to admit I don't hear inconsistencies in the drums too much [18:22] Sounds pretty tight to me [18:23] The tag "Black Soul" was accidentally passed on to the Meshuggah cover [18:24] https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/lEyVRxXajGR4XY3 [18:24] Kind of Meshuggah inspired, but believe it or not, this song was created between 1995-1996 [18:25] I was going for the same sort of thing they were, inspired by Pantera to a great deal, just as they were [18:25] I don't do 4/4 so much [18:25] So, less square, if you like [18:26] No vocals yet. That was just a test recording [18:27] So far, I've mostly been using ardour and calf plugins [18:27] Haven't really become more familiar with a wider range of plugins yet [18:27] Looking for good reverbs [18:27] Particularly for drums [18:29] zequence, that's way above me, I struggle doing sequencing right, as I'm so basic when it comes to drumming haha [18:30] zequence, 96? Wtf? Sounds heavy for that time [18:30] A B A B form on the song. A₁ = 3/2 B₁ = 7/4 A₂ = varied B₂ = 7/4. Pretty simple [18:31] We had a band called Unhealth, which was actually going places, until there were some classic internal problems [18:32] We had some success at around -97. Simpler music, so that we could achieve playing the music, basically. But, that ended at about -98. So, no one ever heard of us [18:32] Simpler than Black Soul, that is [18:33] This is one of the old recordings from that period https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTYmVcWsvE [18:33] With the original singer, and the rest of the band. Recorded on an 8 channel porta, with lousy mics [18:34] zequence, classic problems are? :D [18:34] I did all of the music, and the lyrics even. Mostly because no one else was doing it [18:34] Yep [18:35] zequence, I only recently got into regular-rehearsal bands, so you're gonna have to tell me hehe [18:36] sirriffsalot_: Phew. I hate rehearsals. But, that's not the main problem. The main problem is to keep a project alive long enough to finish it somehow [18:37] People tend to want one thing one second, and something else the next second, and if your life doesn't depend on it, it may be hard to motivate people to continue [18:37] zequence, yeah I could see that happening already [18:37] Good, efficient organization, with good turnout probably helps [18:38] At the time, we were 18-20, so we had lots to learn [18:39] Not only girls like to have fun, you know [18:39] It's like a konstant in the human genome [18:39] *constant [18:40] sirriffsalot_: I liked how the music you linked to was very freely formed. [18:41] Could it be inspired by lyrics very much? [18:42] zequence, yeah, no structure whatsoever lol :) I'll need to be more methodical so I can get the best of both worlds, but Maria Mena does that a lot as she really wants it to be about something instead of a pop-song [18:42] sirriffsalot_: I like that [18:42] zequence, the only way it can be freely formed is without a regular beat mostly, so [18:43] Now that I have a drummer with me I have to learn to keep up with her lol [18:43] People are pretty dumb with time. It can either be in 1/2 or 1/3. Else, it's too complicated. Even 5/4 is more like 3/4 + 2/4 [18:44] zequence, incidentally if you find yourself real bored with nothing to do and feel like drumming, listen to this track and if you like it try to set some proper drums to it, it's been rotting digitally in my machine for ages :P https://www.dropbox.com/s/q42wyh5nm2pp6nw/VMAtilZequence.wav?dl=0 [18:45] sirriffsalot_: I might just take you up on that, one GNU brother to the next ;) [18:45] zequence, there's a synth-part version in the beginning that I had to leave out, too much work finding the stuff at the moment [18:45] Let me know and I'll give you the file without those lame-ass drums pooping away the track haha [18:47] sirriffsalot_: dropbox is probably slower than my bahnhof [18:47] zequence, should have .ogged it first, sorry [18:47] sirriffsalot_: No problem. Just fun to top them [18:48] The links I posted are from my living room [18:48] zequence, not very hard... [18:48] Hehe [18:49] sirriffsalot_: What kind of vision do you have for this track? What kind of emotion, atmosphere are you looking for? [18:50] NOt something metal people usually think a lot of, but it helps me from not doing something random [18:50] zequence, ups. I actually made it after seeing the ridiculous bouts of outcries in the VMA-performance of MIley Cyrus lol [18:50] The feeling is basically "look at this stupid bullshit", it has lyrics but the vocals are so bad I just muted it haha [18:50] Ok, so it's ok if it's kind of shallow, in an artistic way? [18:51] Reminds me of Zappa somehow [18:51] The attitude you described, that is [18:52] zequence, As in "look at this stupid culture-fodder we take seriously" [18:53] sirriffsalot_: Give me the track without drums, if you please. You can send it to my email, if you want -> zequence@mousike.me [18:54] sirriffsalot_: If you don't hear anything from me within a couple of weeks, please poke, cause it doesn't mean I have forgotten about you [18:56] sirriffsalot_: Is that Pod? It's not 2.0, but perhaps the one or two versions later? [18:57] I use an old Peavy Supreme from 1996, or so, which cost me about 2600kr at the time [18:57] I have a Mesa Boogie, but it's broken, and I don't have the cash to fix it. Not sure it is better though [18:58] I will probably be blending my Peavy with a Pod2.0, or one of the virtual amps, guitarix or rakkarack [18:59] zequence, Pod? It's a fender mustang I amp I think, haha [18:59] zequence, will send it, sec [19:00] sirriffsalot_: Line 6 Pod. Maybe it's more common here [19:05] zequence, never had one, hehe [19:08] zequence, and since you're obviously guitar-oriented as well you're welcome to say "hey this could work there or like this" if you have any thoughts like that [19:21] sirriffsalot_: Cool. Then I might even re-cut the whole thing. I will try to to my Zappa thing as well as I can [19:22] zequence, can you do one straight version and one cut? If you find the time to do it at all :P [19:31] sirriffsalot: Sure [19:38] sirriffsalot: btw, two reasons to use torrents. 1) faster 2) probably better results bit per bit [19:38] (very old discussion, probably one or two years old) [19:41] zequence, yeah, I've just been lazy all these years, haha :) [19:44] zequence, crap could you link me your email again? [19:47] sirriffsalot: zequence@mousike.me [19:53] zequence, sent! been a while since I heard that piece actually, haha [19:54] zequence, I left the chorus vocals in there because it's tolerable and gives a feel for the song as you requested I think [19:55] sirriffsalot: Did you forget to attach it perhaps? [19:56] zequence, ugh, say it isn't so... [19:56] I'm kind of musical, but would be hard to pull it off just from the written description [19:56] haha [19:57] Honestly that shit is just the worst... looks so lame on the screen for the person receiving it lol [19:57] Once I forgot to add the CV to a mail... "Sorry, here it is."-mails are cringe worthy [19:58] Aa, it was too big a file (wav) [19:59] sirriffsalot: CV -> hehe [19:59] sirriffsalot: Ok, I have fastmail. Don't know what their limit is [20:02] zequence, aaand SENT [20:03] sirriffsalot: It's pouring in, bit by bit [20:12] Hieee! When can we expect the glorious new LTS 16? [20:14] It is due to be released on April 21st. [20:14] Hurray! Looking forward to it.