[kromkamp]

Just wondering what the state of the art is with various devices that attempt to enhance audio detail, etc. I guess you could say the equivalent of noise reduction and or sharpness control for video.


I'm not interested in voodoo products but actual processors. I have some poorly recorded music that may or may not benefit from something like this, but I'm curious enough to give something a try.


Thanks,


Andy K.

 

[kromkamp]



 

[xwilliam]

I can't speak to this from a home/consumer audio perspective, but I do know that people in the recording industry rave about certain "restoration" plugins for recording systems like Logic and Pro Tools. Given the apparent success and effetiveness of those tools, there may be more dedicated hardware devices out there for this purpose that would work well for what you are talking about. If not, you might want to consider restoring these recording you have "inside the box" of a computer. you could get an interface, software and these plugins for about $2,000.


Check out this link for more info on this stuff:
http://www.waves.com/content.asp?id=59

 

[RIT]

In the old days "DBX" was it for sound enhancement. Look on EBAY for them .

 

[kromkamp]

Thanks for the tips. I think the software is more useful for restoration (transient removal, etc) though.


Actually I got thinking about another word - 'euphonic distortion' - and found a good link for what on the market right now:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...rch&Q=&ci=2091


The Aphex Aural Exciter's have me particularly interested , they seem to be a staple of pro houses for a long time now. I'm going to open another thread just to talk about them.


Thanks!

 

[swordfish22]

pro audio "enhancers" will generally degrade the sound of almost any home audio system...


these pro audio units were designed to enhance intelligiblility of voices on commercial paging systems that are using the cheapest speakers available.... (usually the speakers are under $15 each)


they are NOT designed to improve MUSIC reproduction in any system - professional or consumer...

 

[kromkamp]

I dont think thats correct. The description of the device certainly does not imply this is the intended use.


Fundamentally what it does is add even-order harmonic distortion. This is similar to what a tube amp does to music. Surely you are not saying tube amps are used to enhance vocal intelligibility over PA systems, are you?

 

[TauRus]

Quote:

Originally posted by kromkamp Just wondering what the state of the art is with various devices that attempt to enhance audio detail, etc. I guess you could say the equivalent of noise reduction and or sharpness control for video. I'm not interested in voodoo products but actual processors. I have some poorly recorded music that may or may not benefit from something like this, but I'm curious enough to give something a try. Thanks, Andy K.

I did not quite understand what it is you are trying to achieve with the audio enhancers? I am going to suggest something that might or might not be of interest to you, but for me this definitely enhances the redbook CD material. AL24 processing implemented on many Denon receivers (including AVR3803 that I own) does seem to bring out a lot of detail out of old CDs. I A/B-d the same CD audio turning Denon into different Stereo modes - Pure Direct Stereo (when all processing including AL24 is turned off) and regular Stereo with AL24 On and I found the difference quite substantial.

 

[kromkamp]

Just interested in seeing what kinds of devices are out there right now. Its an unfortunate truth that as your system gets better poor recordings start to sound worse in comparison


I thought it might be fun to try some of these devices and see how well they work on poor recordings.

 

[swordfish22]

Quote:

Originally posted by kromkamp I dont think thats correct. The description of the device certainly does not imply this is the intended use. Fundamentally what it does is add even-order harmonic distortion. This is similar to what a tube amp does to music. Surely you are not saying tube amps are used to enhance vocal intelligibility over PA systems, are you?

you can read the ad copy (and believe it) or you can look at what these devices are used for in the professional/commercial audio industry


btw - you won't find any of these devices in any serious home audio system

 

[tvtech1]

Quote:

or you can look at what these devices are used for in the professional/commercial audio industry

You obviously didn't look, otherwise you'd know something about the Apex Aural Exciter....hint: it's not for 'paging' systems.

Quote:

btw - you won't find any of these devices in any serious home audio system

Maybe, maybe not...but you will find them in 'serious' recording studios...who make the software that you listen to.

 

[swordfish22]

i have personal experience with these devices and i know at least one very popular application for the aphex aural exciter


from the aphex website
Quote:

Sound Reinforcement Adds clarity high frequency dispersion and penetration without increasing chance of feedback

speakers that have problems with "high frequency dispersion" are aided by this device


many professional sound techs have realized this and use aphex units for this purpose..... on stage and in commercial installations (i.e. paging systems)


maybe if you have home speakers with "high frequency dispersion" problems, then your system might be "improved" by one of these units


and in the many recording studios that i've been in - i've never seen any products from aphex


aphex does promote these units for broadcast use - they may be used there... i don't know - i have not had any experience in the broadcast industry....

http://www.aphex.com/250.htm

 

[kromkamp]

swordfish, thanks for the unnecessary digs. I'm not looking to 'improve' my system, I'm looking to experiment with devices like this for poor recordings. Much the same way something like ffdshow is highly regarded for HTPC video when used sparingly and in the right situations.


You cut and paste one bullet from the website without even reading the other ones around it.


I have no doubt that tvtech is right, that tools like these are used in the mastering process. So I'm willing to believe that used appropriately they can make an improvement.

 

[swordfish22]

whatever......


you asked for opinions on these "audio enhancers"


i shared my experiences with them and how i had seen them used in professional/commercial applications


i highlighted just one bullet point because tvtech tried to say that these units were not used in paging systems.... i have read the entire website... more times than you have i would be willing to bet... as well as the owners manual


over the years, i had the opportunity to try aphex as well as other "audio enhancers" in my home system (at no charge)... ultimately a total waste of time....


go out and buy a better amplifier, source, preamp, or speakers.... your sound will improve much more than by using any of these "audio enhancers"


but i can see that you have your mind already made up..... go ahead and spend your money... be sure to invite tvtech over to listen to how your poor recordings suddenly sound so much better





really - why did bother posting the question if you weren't willing to take comments from all possible answers??? who were you trying to convince that buying one of these units was a good idea??





btw - just because a tool is used in the mastering process doesn't mean that it is appropriate to use in the play back signal chain..... i have presented the facts of how and why it is used in the play back chain... which you decided to ignore anyways


but some people won't learn until they lose some money on a "buy it new and then sell it on ebay later" deal

 

[kromkamp]




#1: I didnt ask for opinions on whether or not I should try them, only what different devices were available.


#2: It is a *fact* that the better your equipment gets, the greater the difference between good recordings and bad recordings sound. I thought it would be interesting to try to sweeten some of the bad ones.


#3: I freely admit this is an experiment, just for curiousity. I have no expectations that this will magically improve all of my music.


Sheesh...