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Topic: Spatialization component(s) (Read 2376 times) previous topic - next topic
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Spatialization component(s)

Hi guys,

Are there any spatializer / spatialization components / DSPs for foobar ? A previous search found nothing.
My goal would be to use them with headphones, to achieve the "out of your head" sensation on some recordings.

I know some spatializers (CanOpener, Waves NX) but they are not foobar-related stuff.
I also know there are crossfeed components, but here we're talking about more than crossfeed.

Thanks in advance !

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #1 –
I've tried a bunch of crossfeed and other plugins, but none of them worked until I tried stereo convolver with HRTF impulses by Joe Bloggs.

https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=112166.0

It's the only plugin I've found that makes headphones always sound better. It removes the effect where it sounds like audio is coming from three places (left ear, right ear, center of your head) and makes it sound smooth between them all.

Personally I use the 50-degree impulses because I like the "in your head" sound of headphones, but there are also 30-degree impulses that make it sound like stereo speakers.
Think millionaire, but with cannons.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #3 –
Thanks. Like I said, here we're talking about more than crossfeed.

I already have Cases's component. Doesn't do much for me at the moment, even at max setting, besides affecting my carefully-equalized frequency response.
Actually it makes a difference by reducing the stereo effect. So a sax on the left may sound closer to the middle... which is the opposite of what I'm looking for.
My goal would be to enlarge soundstage, and reducing the stereo effect doesn't help it.

I'll try Joe Bloggs' convolver waves. However I was hoping for something a little more complete and user-friendly (I know that's a lot to ask for foobar stuff). Like HeSuVi for example, but for foobar, not for Equalizer APO.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #4 –
SONIC CAT - LFX-1310
VST plugin.
Multi Effector
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https://sonic-cat.com/lfx-1310/

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #5 –

Including 24 Effectors
S’Filter 12 / S’Filter 24 / 3-band EQ
Peak Compressor / RMS Compressor
Overdrive / Distortion / Amp Distortion
Crusher / LP Noise / Stereo Image
Chorus / Flanger / Phaser / Auto Wah / Tremolo / Auto Pan
Delay / Stereo Delay / Ping-pong Delay
Gate Reverb / Room Reverb / Hall Reverb / Spring Reverb

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #7 –
There's also Isone Pro, which has a huge topic on Head-Fi :
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/isone-pro-the-best-thing-you-could-ever-get-for-your-headphones-on-your-computer.473885/

And more recently / interestingly, Out Of Your Head (OOYH), which also has a huge topic on Head-Fi :
https://fongaudio.com/demo/
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/darin-fong-audio-out-of-your-head-software
https://headphone.guru/out-of-your-head-software-six-figure-sound-from-your-headphones/
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/out-of-your-head-new-virtual-surround-simulator.689299/



The interesting thing about OOYH is that it's a virtual sound card, which makes it immediately compatible with foobar. Plus it seems to perform really well (I've listened to the online demos and the wow factor was there).
On the minus side, it's really expensive : $149 for the base software + 25$ for every additional preset or something like that.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #8 –
There's also an unlicensed solution, if you don't mind the dubious nature of freely redistributing impulses sampled from commercial spatialization systems.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/hesuvi/

HeSuVi, which is basically a configurator and impulse set for Equalizer APO for Windows.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

I also wrote a tool for standard C compilers which converts the 14 channel HeSuVi presets (asymmetrical responses with delayed impulses for the opposite ear) to two separate ear files for the post-14.x PulseAudio virtual surround plugin.

https://gist.github.com/kode54/2519179722432fc00be57ffb5155715f

E: Disregard this suggestion. This piece of crap can't even function properly with voice calls from Discord. The instant a voice call is engaged, it will mute all output, apparently feeding NaNs into the audio pipeline.

Cheapest feasible Windows suggestion: Buy one of the Headphone Virtualization plugins from the Microsoft Store. They range from $20-30 each, and can be applied system wide. And they're 100% trouble free.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #9 –
Thanks @kode54 for your insight :) I already mentioned HeSuVi in my second post in this topic (and yes, I understand your concerns).
So yes, that could work, if we don't mind it being a system-wide solution (installing EAPO + HeSuVi).
My intent was to find foobar-specific solutions, but maybe they don't exist yet.

The closest thing would be Out Of Your Head (OOYH) that I just mentioned. Since it's merely a virtual sound card, it can be selected as foobar's output. Have you tried their demo video ? It really works for me, so it's tempting. I might try their free demo.

As for your own tool, it looks great (plus I don't get voice calls on my PC anyway), but I'm afraid I won't be able to make it work (I'm not a dev, I'm reluctant to command lines, etc.). Oh, and I'm on Windows, not on Linux.

To sum it up :
- Free : EAPO + HeSuVi. Lots of features, but fairly complicated. I've found a HeSuVi video tutorial that looks good. Do I really need VB-Cable too to make everything work ?
- Commercial : OOYH (and others). Less features, but really simple to use (select a preset, play music). I may consider it, unless HeSuVi provides the same functionality and works well.
- Very Expensive : Realiser A16 . But it's state-of-the-art, so it basically blows everything else. Maybe one day, in 2, 3, 5 years...

PS : could you maybe leave a word on my other topic ? Thanks again.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #10 –
Not touching another goddamn expensive product. I don't have money for things like that, nor will I ever again.

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #11 –
I hear you @kode54 , I hear you.  :)

Just a quick add-on : I'm currently testing HeSuVi (with this nice tutorial ), and it's pretty amazing :o It's not perfect, but some wav presets really work for me, most notably the two OOYH ones. I wish there were more OOYH presets, but hey, it's free so...  :))

Only downside : I have audio glitches every 30 seconds or so  ::)  I'm currently trying to find where they come from. I have opened a support topic at VB-Cable's forum, in case somebody has time to waste.

In that topic, I mention that my sound card is an ESI Juli@ which happens to be equipped with DirectWire (ESI's ReWire technology). I've never had to use DirectWire, but I guess that's similar to what VB-Cable does ! So would I be able to use HeSuVi without VB-Cable, just via my card's control panel ? Could I make foobar communicate with HeSuVi via DirectWire ? How ?

Re: Spatialization component(s)

Reply #12 –
Anyway, I just wanted to report that I've removed VB-Cable (it basically wouldn't work with my config, no matter what I tried).
I don't even understand why it was in that tutorial in the first place, as it's basically useless !
Now HeSuVi runs perfectly in my case : foobar --> Equalizer APO (with HeSuVi) --> Sound card.
And I switch HeSuVi on/off with the Crtl+D shortcut.

It's quite impressive. My favorite virtualization presets (for MUSIC, not gaming) seem to be OOYH 0 (Genelec) and the Dubai one.
They're not perfect though. I guess I'd need to find a way to customize my own personal HRTF. any tips on that ?