Stereo Tool 222 Workaround

StereoTool by Hans Van Zutphen turns a computer into a highly professional audio processor. It is good for AM, FM and streaming, and keeps evolving.

I use mine with an AM Preset for level control and have the audio bandpass set to precisely the numbers suitable for my streaming rate.

My NRSC PreEmphasis is being done by the SSTran Transmitters, as I don't want to add it to the online stream, but having it available within StereoTools is a great option to have.

AM Transmitter section

Settings for AM transmitters.

AM asymmetry panel

AM asymmetry settings.

• AM asymmetric limiting and clipping
  Enables asymmetrical limiting and clipping for AM stations.

• Allow bigger peaks to
  The direction in which higher peaks are allowed.
  
  This depends on how the transmitter is connected to the sound card. Tests are probably needed to determine the correct setting.

• Asymmetry Sttength
  How asymmetrical the sound may be.
  
  The allowed value here depends on your local legislation. Values upto 200% are supported, but usually not allowed.
  
  Note: Opposed to other uses, when you increase this level, you need to lower the settings of Post amplifier to allow for the extra headroom. This is a workaround for now.

I didn't know that ST could do assymetrical modulation.  Thanks for that.

I haven't used ST for some time - I found that it took a great deal more CPU power than something, like, say, VSTHost, and you can customize VST (and it's CPU utilization) by adding or taking away plug-ins.  My computers aren't all that powerful, and when ZaraRadio needs CPU, it REALLY needs it (or it stutters).

That being said, I'm distributing the processing load over 2 computers shortly, and will look again at ST.

The ST application is not as abusive to processor consumption as it once was.

🙂

Running StereoTool has never been a CPU problem around here.

Matter of fact I hear about a lot of others having CPU problems running this or that, but for some reason I have always run loads of things all the time and the Task Manager says CPU usage is running 7% to 20% (that's what it is right now).

Streaming, running ST, browsing, Emailing, audio editing, converting files from CD for mp3 airing, even watching HULU, nothing ever gets clogged.

How can I over-tax my CPU so that I fit in?

Let me send you some malware. 

John, WDCX, where did you get your own malware?

I don't have any malware. I'd be afraid to have it around, it might activate.

Anyone with life experience knows that one thing leads to another.

The one thing was that by using the NRSC jumper in my SSTran Transmitters I'd be set for life and not need to set StereoTools for NRSC so that I wouldn't be Pre-Emphasizing my stream server.

But just now as it began to rain, I was clipping a wild-rose bush and sticking my fingers with those blasted thorns, when I thought: "Oh, no! My LPB carrier current transmitter doesn't have built-in NRSC and I'll be getting it back online soon. Now what?"

Now I need a design engineer who can figure out how to cut those bushes without getting stuck with thorns.

After downloading the latest StereoTools Version 7.50 DSP Plugin I was unable to find the Asymetric AM Processing, so I checked the Standalone Version and THERE IT IS.

And it makes perfect sense.

The DSP Plugin Version connects between the Player and the Stream Encoder, which is NOT the location where you'd want NRSC Asymetric Processing.

The Player (in my case Winamp) also has its DirectSound Output, which is the connection to the AM transmitter. THIS is where the Standalone Version of Stereotools gets patched.

It appears, pending further study, that Virtual Cable will be needed to get all the patching done, but this is an excellent discovery, because it means that in one and the same computer/audio system, TWO instances of StereoTools can assign two DIFFERENT audio band-pass settings, one for streaming and the other for AM radio, and the NRSC Asymetric Settings can be assigned exclusively to the AM feed.

The ALPB meets tonight.

I disagree with myself.

Thinking further, the DSP Version of StereoTools affects BOTH output feeds coming from the Player. Otherwise I wouldn't already be able to alter the audio processing going both to the streaming server and also the AM transmitter.

But, and maybe I'm just not finding it, the Asymetric Processing is only built into the Stand Alone Version of StereoTools.

Therefore I have delivered some fresh information, but more work needs to be done.

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