Low Frequency Distortion!

Topic: Low Frequency Distortion! (Read 4185 times) previous topic - next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Low Frequency Distortion!

2004-05-14 19:18:12

I'm just a couple months into this computer JukeBox mentality (pls excuse the ignorance)

Using FB2k 8.1 I have been wearing-out the Replaygain feature to reduce Low-end distortion (it drives me a bit crazy). Have just figured how using the FB2k equalizer I can eliminate the distortion by adjusting down 55Hz through 110Hz. But I am losing music quality as well. I have to set as follows:

55Hz -20db
77Hz -10db
110Hz - 0db

THese same Eq settings work for the 4.1 Altec Lansing computer speakers as well as the Stereo 2.0 with 2-way Infinities. This distortion is present on 50% of my tracks, of which I have ripped ~20% through EAC, the rest are downloaded AAC & MP3 files. Most noticable on Rock with big bass drum. The distortion is bad enough to wreck the other frequencies coming from the woofer, but I think it's crossing over to the mid-range speakers as well. Even playing straight off the CD does the same thing. Windows Media player 9 and WinAmp2.96 produce the same distortion. Each of 3 computers does the same thing (2 SoundBlaster audio cards, one Formosa audio card).

Figured at first this was simply due to poor encoding, so I've been using EAC exclusively. Trying Normalization does not help (Using --alt-preset standard %s %d)

I get no distortion when playing CDs from the CD Changer through the stereo.

Please don't tell me I need a $120 audio card to solve this issue as I have been to way too many concerts so my ears are somewhat less than high-fi capable.

Is this just a common computer issue that we have to live with, or is there a better solution than hacking off the low frequencies?
TIA

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #1 – 2004-05-14 19:48:30

This is not compression related since it occurs playing back directly CDs
This is not computer related since it occurs on three computers with two soundcards (though you may have the same DSP enabled on all computers).

It can be speaker related, but you say that it occurs on both the computer and stereo speakers. However, I think it can be related to the way you plug the computers into the stereo.

The cable might have a broken shield connector (very strong distortion, echoey sound, hum at 50 / 60 Hz). You might use a wrong input on the receiver (mic input, or phono input), try in the same one as the CD player. You might use a wrong output on the soundcard (amplified output into line input)...
If you have headphones, plug them in the soundcards headphone outputs, and into the CD player or receiver output, in order to know if the problem comes from the three computers (Player OK, computers KO), or from their connection to the hifi (All OK). The problem on the PC speaker would then be just a coincidence.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #2 – 2004-05-14 20:38:13

Thanks 4 the input,

It is not a Hum, like you would get with ground-loop issues, & is in sync/rythm with the bass music.

I don't have suitable headphones, but will try with my earbuds to connect to sound card and to the audio out of the CD drive.

The computer speakers (4.1) are pluged directly into the soundcard (of 3 audio card ports, only 1 produces sound-out), on the stereo I use the Video 1 input (it's a huge thing to access the back of the receiver, basically have to move 400lbs away from wall). This receiver is new (2-weeks) and got the same distortion from the old receiver. But I get the same distortion from the stereo connected cpu to (low-end 2.0) computer speakers.

Surely I'm overlooking something simple

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #3 – 2004-05-14 20:58:17

I think you're hearing the clipping/distortion from "the loudness race."

That's the same area that clipping really bothers me.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #4 – 2004-05-14 21:03:10

Maybe can you plug the output of a soundcard into the input of another, and upload a little sample in MPC or MP3, so that we can listen to the problem.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #5 – 2004-05-14 21:39:21

Quote

I get no distortion when playing CDs from the CD Changer through the stereo.

Quote

This receiver is new (2-weeks) and got the same distortion from the old receiver.

If I read this correctly there is NO distortion on new stereo receiver? Does this distortion reduce if the listening level is reduced?
It sounds to me like you are running out of 'grunt'.Looking at the offending waveform in a editor would establish your problem.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #6 – 2004-05-15 13:24:55

Thanks for the replies:

The CD Changer is a Stereo component "CD Player" -not computer related.

The cpu driven distortion occurs at all volume levels.

WaveEditor sounds interesting, but I'm not interested in editing a few thousand titles individually.

<plug the output of a soundcard into the input of another, and upload a little sample in MPC or MP3>
I believe I have an appropriate cable, but do not know how to proceed from there.

dreamliner77: So this is normal? Eventhough it's present only from a computer driven source?

I removed Replaygain from all tracks last eve -IMO the titles sound better with the low freq hacked-off compared with Replaygain.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #7 – 2004-05-15 19:50:22

Quote

<plug the output of a soundcard into the input of another, and upload a little sample in MPC or MP3>
I believe I have an appropriate cable, but do not know how to proceed from there.

You need a wav editor, that is a program that records.
Goldwave can do this.

You must plug the faulty output into the line input of the recording card (not the mic input).
Then you need to adjust the soundcard record properties. Go to the volume control. Right click on it, or find its options someway, in order to get the recording mixer, not the playback one, that is displayed by default. Select the line in channel (usually, only one can be selected at a time), and set the recording level not too high (just below the middle should be ok).

Open GoldWave, or your recording software. In the recording options, choose stereo 16 bits, 44100 Hz. Start recording, start playing.
Once done, click file / save as, and same it as "wav". It must be shorter than 30 seconds, otherwise uploading it for us would break the copyright laws.
Then convert the wav file to MP3 (alt-preset standard), or any format, as soon as the quality is optimal (e.g. MPC quality 5)

Then open a new topic in the 'uploads' forum, and attach the compressed file to your message.

EDIT : before uploading the file, listen to it to check that the problem is still audible.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #8 – 2004-05-15 21:23:26

Quote

(though you may have the same DSP enabled on all computers).

I would certainly check for such situation, I run into bass distortion all the time, because I boost it way too much.

Low Frequency Distortion!

Reply #9 – 2004-05-19 15:05:15

Think I found the issue (for future reference):

I had the Volume on each sound card at Max (Windows Volume Control). Turned-down to ~3/4 and most of this Low-end distortion has gone. Still present on some titles, which I believe were intentionally squashed.

Notice