Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: De-emphasis of a CD (Read 4226 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

De-emphasis of a CD

Hi...
I discovered the joys of pre-emphasis when I numerized my Canadian The Wall CD to my server.
I've used Sox to de-emphasize the tracks, but after burning the de-emphasized tracks and compared them to the original CD on my main system, I was under theimpression that maybe the EQ correction harmed the sound, making it soud murky a bit.
What is the best tool to de-emphasize tracks? Is there a full-proof way?

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #1 –
That's exactly what de-emphasis does, it reduces the high-frequency sound (similar to RIAA equalization on vinyl, or Dolby NR on tape). This is probably why it seems "murky" or muffled to you. But that's really the way it's supposed to sound, because as far as I know Sox does it right.

I've de-emphasized some CDs before, and I actually prefer the original (emphasized) version better.

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #2 –
Quote from: slks on
That's exactly what de-emphasis does, it reduces the high-frequency sound (similar to RIAA equalization on vinyl, or Dolby NR on tape). This is probably why it seems "murky" or muffled to you. But that's really the way it's supposed to sound, because as far as I know Sox does it right.

I've de-emphasized some CDs before, and I actually prefer the original (emphasized) version better.


No I mean it does sound murky compared to the pre-emphasis title properly decoded. They should sound the same. Or did I understand it the wrong way?
If I burned a CD with no pre-emphasis flag (but with tracks de-emphased) and compare it to the original CD (with pre-emphased tracks and flags), they should sound the same, isn't it?
The pre-emphasis tracks, not decoded (like after a track-by-track back-up in EAC), sounds very bright and not nice at all. Properly decoded by the digital player, they sound perfect.

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #3 –
Hm. You are sure your CD player is de-emphasizing the music? Many don't.

But other than that, if Sox is really messing something up, you could try using the Convolver plugin with foobar2000 to generate a de-emphaiszed .wav. You'd have to find a de-emphasis impulse file somewhere, or make it yourself.

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #4 –
You might just try a different ripping program.  I havent run-across this problem yet, but according to this post, iTunes will apply de-emphasis if needed.  I assume that there are other rippers that can do it too.

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #5 –
Quote from: slks on
Hm. You are sure your CD player is de-emphasizing the music? Many don't.


Hi. I got that answer from another forum (Steve Hoffman Forum):
Quote
It is built into the fabric of the CD player design (and all those players that carry the Compact Disc logo) to be able to re-eq the CD back to normal upon seeing that the CD is flagged for Pre-emphasis...


And so my friends, I must warn you. It may require more testing that I am willing to do right now, but I think the Sox De-Emphasis option will not only reverse the Pre-Emphasis EQ like it is supposed to do, but it will apply an EQ that is definitively hurting the sound. The resulting waves DO NOT sound identical to thre sound of a CD with Pre-Emphasis flags properly decoded.

De-emphasis of a CD

Reply #6 –
Quote from: fredhammersmith on
...I think the Sox De-Emphasis option will not only reverse the Pre-Emphasis EQ like it is supposed to do, but it will apply an EQ that is definitively hurting the sound. The resulting waves DO NOT sound identical to thre sound of a CD with Pre-Emphasis flags properly decoded.
I've used SoX de-emph several times; I've never come across a problem such as you describe.