Test of stereo enhancers including K-Stereo - Page 3

**DrDeltaM** · 12th May 2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Oh, you mean Sonalksis ?

Nah, the Sonalksis is a more standard spreader.

macleodgrant · 12th May 2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Nah, the Sonalksis is a more standard spreader.

is it PC & Mac? sounds quite different to the others

seems the sonalksis stereotools will be dual platform which is good

**DrDeltaM** · 12th May 2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

is it PC & Mac? sounds quite different to the others

seems the sonalksis stereotools will be dual platform which is good

Mac atm, but PC should follow. Soundwise, you have rather some options to tweak it to your liking, so it's hard to give just an 'allround' sample, what's your opinion on the current setting?

ISedlacek · 12th May 2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Just a test with some quick settings by ear as this one doesn't work with exact numbers and is more then just one control :-) So prolly isn't really 118%, but gives an idea of a possible setting anyway. (note, it's more then just a simple spreader)

It is catching some funny resonations on vocal - like in 15:00 etc. which are neither in the original nor in the other samples with other enhancers

**DrDeltaM** · 12th May 2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

It is catching some funny resonations on vocal - like in 15:00 etc. which are neither in the original nor in the other samples with other enhancers

That'd be my mistake in the settings

I actually found the K-Stereo file to change the vocal a lot more then the PSP, probably because the latter is just a normal spreader while the K-Stereo isn't. I tried to go more for the K-Stereo type of sound (which deals with depth as well). Prolly overdid some parameters

ISedlacek · 12th May 2008, 06:53 PM

Can Sonalksis deal also with the depth ? You indicate it is not just a normal stereo spreader, but can do something more ?

**DrDeltaM** · 12th May 2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Can Sonalksis deal also with the depth ? You indicate it is not just a normal stereo spreader, but can do something more ?

Sorry for the confusion, but the demo I did was not done with the Sonalksis

ISedlacek · 12th May 2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Sorry for the confusion, but the demo I did was not done with the Sonalksis

Oh, so now I am really confused - so what is it then ? Something particular or still a secret anonymous "beta" ?

**DrDeltaM** · 12th May 2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Oh, so now I am really confused - so what is it then ? Something particular or still a secret anonymous "beta" ?

Still a secret atm, maybe will be announced at AES coming weekend. If it is, I don't have to shut up anymore

living sounds · 12th May 2008, 11:39 PM

That's market economy for you. They charge this much because they can sell it for that price. Having listened to Algorithmix'es EQs I think they are quite a bit better than the rest (or at least were at the time of initial release), so there an incentive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

*A word here about physical equipment versus plug-ins. I can see paying a couple of thousand dollars for a piece of hardware since it is made up of devices and passive components that have to be purchased, assembled and tested. There is also the cost of design and development that goes into the unit before it hits the store shelves. Software too has to cover the costs of design and development but once it is complete there are no other on going manufacturing costs to worry about and the only ongoing cost is that of updates and upgrades. Why is it that companies like Voxengo, PSP and Izotope can make software that works well and is reasonably priced and other software manufactures have to charge an arm and a leg for their software? I realize that some software is so specialized that only a hand full of people will use it and so the cost per each has to be high but audio plug-ins are used by LOTS of people and the cost per software title purchased should be lower. Oh well I guess it is the old "supply and demand" economics taking over in a weird way.

Just my two cents worth.

Brad Blackwood · 13th May 2008, 02:56 AM

I've never heard a 'stereo enhancer' (widener) I liked...

da goose · 13th May 2008, 09:19 PM

Found this link on the sonalksis site: http://www.sonalksis.com/press/2008/...s%20Images.zip

ISedlacek · 13th May 2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da goose

Found this link on the sonalksis site: http://www.sonalksis.com/press/2008/...s%20Images.zip

They should have better placed some demo there ... Otherwise it looks exactly like any other products of this kind ...

FreeDanny · 14th May 2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Blackwood

I've never heard a 'stereo enhancer' (widener) I liked...

Lagerfeldt · 14th May 2008, 02:14 PM

Flux free Stereo Tool just out - go get it
KVR: Flux Stereo Tool - Virtual Effect

skeptics · 14th May 2008, 02:37 PM

what about analog M/S processing , isn't that better than all these vst plugins? anyone?

ISedlacek · 14th May 2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeptics

what about analog M/S processing , isn't that better than all these vst plugins? anyone?

Do you mean something like this ?

Rupert Neve Designs - Portico 5014: Stereo Field Editor now shipping

Arksun · 14th May 2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Flux free Stereo Tool just out - go get it
KVR: Flux Stereo Tool - Virtual Effect

How does that fair to the commercial Sonalksis one you've been testing?.

(Don't be afraid to say its just as good/better if it is, for fear of sonalksis no likey freebie as good)

macleodgrant · 14th May 2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Flux free Stereo Tool just out - go get it
KVR: Flux Stereo Tool - Virtual Effect

hmm, nice...sounds quite good used minimally
there's lots of options in this plug and for free???

bcgood · 15th May 2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Blackwood

I've never heard a 'stereo enhancer' (widener) I liked...

Well, 'stereo enhancers' are inadament objects thus it wouldn't be very talkative.

Doktorfuture · 15th May 2008, 04:37 AM

I have a DNA-1 and love it. Love k-stereo so much.

P

DSD_Mastering · 15th May 2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Do you mean something like this ?

Rupert Neve Designs - Portico 5014: Stereo Field Editor now shipping

I've been using the Ambience/Depth in my Neve Masterpiece II and just love it for what it can do.
I also downloaded the K-Stereo plug and just used it on a mastering session I just did. It did something that the other pieces in my arsenal couldn't do. Looks like I'll be buying it... especially since it does 352kHz.

Regards,
Bruce

Lagerfeldt · 15th May 2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arksun

How does that fair to the commercial Sonalksis one you've been testing?.

(Don't be afraid to say its just as good/better if it is, for fear of sonalksis no likey freebie as good)

I haven't checked it out yet but Flux makes high end plug-ins :-)

Arksun · 15th May 2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

I haven't checked it out yet but Flux makes high end plug-ins :-)

I've been playing with it today, very impressed.

Whereas with the Waves S1,if you listen to the output in mono, when you start pushing it it smears the sound, particuarly the top end.

If you do the same thing with the Flux Stereo Tool, mono sounds exactly the same, even at its most crazy extreme stereo wide setting, the mono output sounds virtually identicle to having it on bypass.

Granted the resulting stereo output is much louder than before, but still, how they pulled this off I have no idea retaining such a balance in the mono summing.

I'll be very interesting to see how you find this Flux freebie compares to the Sonalksis you're testing :)

PrinsJan · 16th May 2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreeDanny

+2 !

Bob Olhsson · 16th May 2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Blackwood

I've never heard a 'stereo enhancer' (widener) I liked...

That said, I don't consider K-stereo to be a stereo "enhancer." It's lots more useful when it's appropriate.

Boomshanka · 18th May 2008, 03:55 AM

As far as widening goes, get your EQ balance right first and 9.9 times out of 10 you may well find you're already there, given that most spacial information is in the mids, upper mids & HF, with lows being (largely) mono. I've needed to add extra "width" once in the past two years and even then only to slightly nudge one track in line with others on an album.

For the uninitiated, it's very handy also to ensure your tweeters are at listening position ear height.

Boomshanka · 18th May 2008, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arksun

Granted the resulting stereo output is much louder than before, but still, how they pulled this off I have no idea retaining such a balance in the mono summing.

Probably because it's affecting the S channel only, not the M.

futur2 · 19th May 2008, 04:13 PM

listened to the samples. liked C the best by far on all sources and i'm glad it's PSP because that's what i have

12th May 2008, 06:53 PM	#66
ISedlacek Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Czech mountains and forests Posts: 2,642	Can Sonalksis deal also with the depth ? You indicate it is not just a normal stereo spreader, but can do something more ? __________________ Ivo Velvet Mastering Savita Music

13th May 2008, 02:56 AM	#71
Brad Blackwood Craneslut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The home of Rock-n-Roll, Memphis, TN Posts: 1,766	I've never heard a 'stereo enhancer' (widener) I liked... __________________ Brad Blackwood euphonic masters "What do I buy and how do I set it?"

13th May 2008, 09:19 PM	#72
da goose Gear Head Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Den Haag, the Netherlands Posts: 45	Found this link on the sonalksis site: http://www.sonalksis.com/press/2008/...s%20Images.zip __________________

14th May 2008, 02:14 PM	#75
Lagerfeldt Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 2,042	Flux free Stereo Tool just out - go get it KVR: Flux Stereo Tool - Virtual Effect __________________ Producer & engineer Apple Certified Pro for Logic Pro Popmusic.dk my production company Hit Kit V3 Sample CD urban & electronic beat production - used on Billboard #1 hits

18th May 2008, 03:55 AM	#87
Boomshanka Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne - The Oz music capital Posts: 303	As far as widening goes, get your EQ balance right first and 9.9 times out of 10 you may well find you're already there, given that most spacial information is in the mids, upper mids & HF, with lows being (largely) mono. I've needed to add extra "width" once in the past two years and even then only to slightly nudge one track in line with others on an album. For the uninitiated, it's very handy also to ensure your tweeters are at listening position ear height. __________________ Adam Dempsey Jack the Bear's Deluxe Mastering Melbourne Myspace Is adding presence the same as subtracting absence?

14th May 2008, 02:37 PM	#76
skeptics Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 16	what about analog M/S processing , isn't that better than all these vst plugins? anyone?

15th May 2008, 04:37 AM	#81
Doktorfuture Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 208	I have a DNA-1 and love it. Love k-stereo so much. P

19th May 2008, 04:13 PM	#89
futur2 Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 453	listened to the samples. liked C the best by far on all sources and i'm glad it's PSP because that's what i have