Carl Blare

If you use Winamp and want your transmitted and streamed audio to sound professional but do not have the expensive processor (i.e., Innovonics) I strongly suggest the Stereo Tool Plugin by Hans van Zutphen available in a free version, or a more complete inexpensive version

http://www.stereotool.com/

I am mentioning the Stereo Tool for two reasons at this present moment, for one thing my radio signals have that full present sound which is a total pleasure to listen to all day and it’s because of the Stereo Tool. But the other reason this plugin is on my mind is because of a problem I’ve been having which I have theoretically traced to the Stereo Tool.

In another thread, asking for Shoutcast help, I have made several entries regarding the frequent disconnection and reconnection of my Shoutcast Server from the YP (Yellow Page Directory) at shoutcast.com.

One cause, I found through experimentation, is the conversion going on in real-time within Winamp as it converts the audiofile bit-rates to the streaming bit-rates. Winamp does this very well until some odd-ball file values show up and then it seems to appear like a “lost source.”

One audio file in particular causes the connection to drop and reconnect about once a minute during its 15-minute length. It is a Time-Counter that I use to fill time with clock-like pulses similar to WWV Time Radio. My theory is that the pulses happen BEFORE the Stereo Tool can hard-limit them, thus exceeding the headroom limit from the Shoutcast Server. With this in mind, it is possible that other disconnects may be happening from any audio material with a strong starting velocity.

If my theory holds up, all I need to do is drive my stream with a very careful top-end threshhold.

I will be back after manipulating things.