To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

2003-07-11 13:19:32

I'm not talking about the processing that takes place during, for example, MP3 encoding.  There is a clear need for "shaping" the sound to compensate for other aspects of lossy compression, from what I understand.  This poll is referring to using digital signal processing for playback. You know, the "sound emulators" and "surround mode emulators" that are available in many software playback programs as well as on car and home audio systems.

There are obvious exceptions to this, though.  If you are doing karaoke, for example, DSP is used to process-out the vocal track by frequency (though it's generally re-recorded this way as well).  Or if you are playing back music over a really crappy setup and need the "help" of digital signal processing to improve the perceived sound quality.

But what about simple playback DSP on good equipment?  Does it sound better?  Or is it not worth the distortion increase?

As for my opinion, it's evil, I say...eeeeeevil...

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #1 – 2003-07-11 13:24:28

"Sound enhancing" DSPs are evil and only suit some people's sick needs IMO. Some other DSPs (EQ or resampler) can be helpful when used properly (EQ to correct nonlinear response of sound hardware, resampler to correct hardware issues); unfortunately most of people who use them don't have any clue about that.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #2 – 2003-07-11 15:41:14

Using DSP can be quite fun try frohmage for example but it can heavily deterioate the sound quality.  However I do like the Soundblaster EAX Advenced HD on Small Room setting through my Senheiser headphones, sounds amazing.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #3 – 2003-07-11 15:49:36

All you need to here is izotope Ozon and you'll be sold.

http://izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/winamp.html

Also, My Sony Dolby Digital amp has settings on it called CSTEX A,B and C  I use C, it is supposed to be an acoustic recreation of the Sony orchestra studio.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #4 – 2003-07-11 16:05:50

It's a cliche, but the better your equipment, the less need you should have for DSP.

I clicked Evil, but actually, if the recording needs some help, I'll use some. However, a well mastered recording in a good system in a good room should need none - it's eeeevil!

Cheers,
David.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #5 – 2003-07-11 16:55:11

My 1st post!

I generally agree with 2B above.  But I also like what sounds good to me.  Maybe it's a fault that I like to mix due to my Cubase setup, and I should probably know better than to tweak, but using the AdaptX plug in WinAmp allows me to use my Waves & BBE plugs (usually MaxxBass > BBE > Q10 EQ > L1 Ultra), which seems to go a long way to 'sweetening' the sound on my setup, particularly with those RoIO Floyd bootlegs!  I Love it!

Hello, BTW.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #6 – 2003-07-11 17:11:06

Does Dolby Headphone count?

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #7 – 2003-07-11 17:11:44

I have heard iZotope products - nice EQ, sometimes useful effects, but I still think that DSPing is eeeeevil.
(if you need to do it, better buy some good equipment)

Of course mastering requires sometimes a finishing touch, but most of the time it does not.

/EDIT\
Yes, Dolby Headphone is something similar to 'stereo enhancement'.
I like headphone stereo separation and lack of reverb.
\EDIT/

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #8 – 2003-07-11 17:45:55

Quote

Does Dolby Headphone count?

I used to use the SRS headphone setting to help out when using earbuds, but could never *quite* find an adjustment for it that completely satisfied me.

Nowadays what I do is open my Yamaha sound card software's controls, turn up the bass about 25%, turn down the treble about 25% (because it tends to scream otherwise), and that makes the sound better IMO for headphone listening than any DSP adjustment I've heard.  For speaker listening with those settings, I adjust the output on the Klipsch subwoofer to balance the bass (i.e., turn it a little down from the "recommended" setting since bass is up a little on the PC), and go with it.

What makes me think that DSP is eeeeeeeevil overall are two things...

--1--  Distortion.  If you look at the specs for *any* audio equipment in the world, you'll notice a moderately-to-considerably higher distortion rating for the DSP modes than for flat.  The better the DSP hardware/software, the lower this number, but I've never heard of DSP that introduces *no* distortion.  Whether it can be ABXed is another story...

--2--  Loss of Equalization Control.  If you use DSP, you effectively negate any chances of *accurately* adjusting the equalization of your music (even if your EQ is only a 2-band: bass and treble).  Now, if you have a favorite DSP mode, then you may be happy with the equalization as it is.  But if you're like me and wish for 0.25 dB steps on the bass and treble adjustments  , then any DSP is merely in the way.  Especially if the DSP mode changes the shape of the sound differently at different volumes.   

Which leads me to another question...

How many people use the most insiduous form of DSP...the "loudness" setting on their car or home audio systems?  You can guess my answer... 

(It may be debatable whether "loudness" is really DSP since it's really just dynamic volume-dependant equalization, but if it changes the shape of the sound using realtime processing of the digital signal, then it's still DSP to me.)

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #9 – 2003-07-11 21:11:10

The Waves DirectX plugins are amazing. I use MaxxBass & Renaissance Eq and L2 Ultramaximizer (peak limiting+dithering+noise shaping) through AdaptX DSP plugin. The only reason why I'll never probably switch to Foobar.

To DSP or not to DSP...that is the question.

Reply #10 – 2003-07-11 21:43:12

Not all recordings are created equal.  I too, use and love Ozone.
A little tweak here and a little tweak there, is just alright.

The secret is to use any setting conservatively.   

Dex