Re: [Audacity-devel] Bass and Treble effect

[Steve t. F. <ste...@gm...>]

On 18 December 2012 00:54, Gale Andrews <ga...@au...> wrote:
>
> | From Steve the Fiddle <ste...@gm...>
> | Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:00:59 +0000
> | Subject: [Audacity-devel] Bass and Treble effect
>> Updated version of "Bass and Treble" effect.
>>
>> Changes:
>>
>> The half gain low shelf frequency is a little lower and the half gain
>> high shelf frequency is a little higher.
>> This makes the bass setting a bit more "bassy" and the treble setting
>> a bit more "trebly".
>> The filter slopes have been slightly reduced so that a smooth response
>> across the audio range is maintained.
>>
>> A "Gain" slider control has been added.
>> This allows users to compensate for the inevitable overall change in
>> gain when applying frequency boost or cut.
>>
>> These changes also makes it easier to adjust the mid-frequency range:
>> As with a conventional Bass/Treble control on an amplifier of music
>> player, to increase the mid frequencies, simply turn down the bass and
>> treble and turn the "volume" (gain slider) up a bit. To reduce the
>> mid-frequencies, turn up the bass and treble and turn the "volume"
>> (gain) down a bit.
>>
>> Fringe benefit: The Bass control now behaves a little more like the
>> default settings of the old "Bass Boost" effect.
>>
>> Unless there are problems that I am not aware of, I expect this to be
>> my "final" version of this effect.
>>
>> Steve
>
> Thanks, Steve.
>
> Here is a Windows build for anyone who may need it:
> http://gaclrecords.org.uk/audacity-win-2.0.3-alpha-bass-treble-v3.zip .

Thanks Gale

>
> I'm not sure the gain slider is an improvement for the rank
> novices you are targeting. Will they know what the word "gain"
> means?

I would hope so as we use the term throughout the manual
(e.g. http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/audio_tracks.html#gain)


>
> If they figure out it increases or reduces the volume, won't they
> get confused/disappointed if they for example set bass to +8 dB
> then gain to -8 dB and the track ends up too quiet? If one is
> trying to get the peak to 0 dB or close you still have to experiment
> with the gain to get it right. Would a checkbox to normalize to a
> chosen level be more useful?

Probably not, because we then need to decide how to handle multiple
selected tracks.
If the effect is applied to multiple tracks then one may not want to
amplify each track by different amounts.
The "gain" slider is just a matter of convenience. I added it because
while I was using the "Bass and Treble" effect I kept thinking "I wish
this had a gain control".


>
> My personal reaction on trying to fix a number of tinny sounding
> songs here is that turning up bass and treble and turning down
> the volume as you might do in the absence of an equalizer is a
> poor substitute for an actual control for the mid frequencies.

How do you cope with your hi-fi?
Of course, many users will be happy to use the Equalizer, but if you
just want to quickly push the bass or treble up or down a bit, then
this is a lot more convenient.


>
> We don't have to have a mid control (the effect is called "Bass
> and Treble" after all) but I think volume adjustment should stand
> or not on its own merits of adjusting the volume.

Yes. It is a convenience. After a short while using the effect without
a gain control it soon becomes tedious that you can't, for example,
increase the bass without the level going above 0 dB. The gain control
is not intended to replace the Amplify or Normalize effects, it just
means that while you are previewing the effect, if it starts clipping
you can pull down the gain without the need to cancel the effect,
apply Amplify, then re-select the effect,

>
> Should you add a balance control and make it like the four controls
> on an amplifier? I don't think so because I still see the value of this
> as a "very simple EQ", but I wonder if you considered it.

It's a bass and treble (tone) control.
We already have "pan" for panning (balance).

>
> One other thing - should we write the settings to .cfg? I assume
> people who used Bass Boost were doing just that and may want
> to continue doing so. A flat initialised setting for each session
> could be irritating for such people.

I guess that depends if the user is in the habit of "zeroing the desk"
after use (or not).
(Bass Boost does not write settings to .cfg)

Steve


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> Gale
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