SPECWEB (Now 2.2)

[GOS]

Excellent! I assumed I was the only one "challenged" in this arena....

 

[edisonbaggins]

When I drop a flac on the SpecWeb Play icon it does open a tab in MS Edge, but then I get a message almost immediately that the file "finished processing" and Edge asks if I want to close my tab. Whether I choose yes or no it closes the tab. Now playing of the file or adjusting of knobs is allowed.
This is an HDTrack 24/96

 

[HomerJAU]

I've had success in removing most of my unwanted artefacts up sampling to either 192 or 174.4kHz then using SpecWeb and with the [fft] size setting = 32768 in the SpecWeb.ini file.

The resampling adds another couple of steps but worth the effort.

I think I'm going write a small app to help with resampling up and converting to 24bit, surround conversion using SpecWeb, retagging (add '(upmix)' to the tagged album title), rename the files without 'MCH', copy to a new folder and resample down to either 96 or 88.2kHz, whatever is the best based on original sample rate. A one click, but long wait, solution.

At the moment it's Foobar, WebSpec, Tagscanner, Foobar with selecting and copying files inbetween steps to... (Slow and needs my careful attention).

I think I can make the app convert multiple folders (albums) with one click - but a veerrry loonngg wait. But at least I can do something while waiting

 

[zeerround]

When I drop a flac on the SpecWeb Play icon it does open a tab in MS Edge, but then I get a message almost immediately that the file "finished processing" and Edge asks if I want to close my tab. Whether I choose yes or no it closes the tab. Now playing of the file or adjusting of knobs is allowed.
This is an HDTrack 24/96

What happens if you add this:

-pmicrosoft-edge:http://localhost:7681

to the shortcut properties for the "SpecWeb Play" icon?

 

[HomerJAU]

When I drop a flac on the SpecWeb Play icon it does open a tab in MS Edge, but then I get a message almost immediately that the file "finished processing" and Edge asks if I want to close my tab. Whether I choose yes or no it closes the tab. Now playing of the file or adjusting of knobs is allowed.
This is an HDTrack 24/96

Edge worked for me. Try running the install bat again but right-click and use 'Run As Administrator'

 

[HomerJAU]

I had a similar "swishy" sort of sound from cymbals in the rear channels when using a "24x192" HDtracks album ("Candy-O" by The Cars, the first song "Let's Go"). Honestly, I really don't even know what 24x192 means, but is there something I can do to prevent this? Do I need to "downsample" the tracks? I'm a dummy, so simple, step by step instructions are best!

See my post above regarding setting the fft size setting in the ini file

 

[HomerJAU]

I think I'm going write a small app to help with resampling up and converting to 24bit, surround conversion using SpecWeb, retagging (add '(upmix)' to the tagged album title), rename the files without 'MCH', copy to a new folder and resample down to either 96 or 88.2kHz, whatever is the best based on original sample rate. A one click, but long wait, solution.

I am planning to upload my 'SpecWeb Helper' app for download today. Just doing some testing now. So if no unexpected issues I will post the link here in a couple of hours.

You will be required to download and install SpecWeb as per usual instructions. Configuring SpecWeb is still the same, currently Helper uses the SpecWeb.ini file for all config info. (I may add options later if feedback is there)

List of features (on top of SpecWeb features):

• Option to Over Sample original stereo files (reduces some known artefacts on lower sample rate files) - creates a copy 24bit 176.4 or 192kHz stereo file used be SpecWeb
• Option to Resample MCH output file to its original sample rate, leave at above over-sampled rates or reduce to hi-rez 88.2 or 96KHz
• Option to create MCH files in Source folder, Save to 'parallel' folder (next to original but new folder renamed with '(upmix)' suffix), or to User defined folder.
• Add files by selecting just their Parent folder (all files in that folder are added for conversion - i.e. all files from the album folder)
• Add multiple folders (as above) for batch conversion of multiple albums
• Option to re-tag the MCH files 'album' name with a user defined suffix (e.g. '(upmix)') to differentiate original stereo album from MCH version in music playing progs (Foobar etc)

So set some preferences, select 'album' folder(s), click 'Convert' and all current options are used to convert all selected files using SpecWeb.

SpecWeb Helper is a Windows only program. Free for your enjoyment.





THX
GarryH

 

[HomerJAU]

When I drop a flac on the SpecWeb Play icon it does open a tab in MS Edge, but then I get a message almost immediately that the file "finished processing" and Edge asks if I want to close my tab. Whether I choose yes or no it closes the tab. Now playing of the file or adjusting of knobs is allowed.
This is an HDTrack 24/96

There is an interesting issue with Windows 10.

Every time I restart my PC I get an error when using SpecWeb (used to in Edge now using Chrome, but same issue).

To fix I just re-run this installer in SpecWeb's bin\w-ccompxe-redist-msi-2013-sp1.0.103 sub-folder: w_ccompxe_redist_ia32_2013_sp1.0.103.msi

Just do a repair and now SpecWeb works fine. I'm unsure why Win10 doesn't like this file (security probably)

 

[skherbeck]

See my post above regarding setting the fft size setting in the ini file

Thanks for trying to help... I've found that every 24x192 track that I run through SpecWeb sounds bad. The 24x96 files sound great, though...Can you be more specific about how to "change the fft size in the ini file" ( I don't know what any of these terms mean or how to accomplish your recommendation... Just an average music fan... But if your suggestion will make these files sound good, I'd love to try it!) Do I have to make changes every time depending on the type of source file?

Edit: OK, I think this might be what I do: should I type "-N32768" in the command line before I start processing?

 

[HomerJAU]

I'm behind schedule on the Helper App. Got a problem to resolve.

 

[HomerJAU]

Thanks for trying to help... I've found that every 24x192 track that I run through SpecWeb sounds bad. The 24x96 files sound great, though...Can you be more specific about how to "change the fft size in the ini file" ( I don't know what any of these terms mean or how to accomplish your recommendation... Just an average music fan... But if your suggestion will make these files sound good, I'd love to try it!) Do I have to make changes every time depending on the type of source file?

Edit: OK, I think this might be what I do: should I type "-N32768" in the command line before I start processing?

Edit the SpecWeb.ini file in your Specweb folder. Find the [fft] line. Just below that is Size - change that value to 32768.

 

[skherbeck]

Edit the SpecWeb.ini file in your Specweb folder. Find the [fft] line. Just below that is Size - change that value to 32768.

Thank you! I tried it by manually entering in the command line before processing, and the output file sounded great! If I edit the SpecWeb.ini file, will this change the default fft setting so I no longer have to change it each time?

 

[HomerJAU]

Thank you! I tried it by manually entering in the command line before processing, and the output file sounded great! If I edit the SpecWeb.ini file, will this change the default fft setting so I no longer have to change it each time?

Yes. If you don't specify parameters it uses the ini file.

I think you can have more than one ini file. It tries to find the one in the same folder as the source music file, if not there then the one in the SpecWeb prog folder. So you can create a few 'tweaked' versions for different music genres etc

 

[HomerJAU]

My problem the Helper App is getting SpecWeb to run from a command line. Anyone created a bat file or similar with success? I've PM'ed zeerround but no replay as yet.

 

[HomerJAU]

Problem resolved. Helper coming soon.

 

[HomerJAU]

The SpecWeb Helper App (Windows only) can be downloaded form this link (its a zip file containing all Helper files):

(REMOVED - please see updated post later in this thread)

 

[zeerround]

Re: the helper; setting the output back to the original sample rate isn't working for me. I end up with file at 176400 sample rate. Is there a log file somewhere that would show errors?

By the way, 2x upsample should be plenty. 44.1 to 88.2, 48 to 96, etc. Going higher might not yield the best results, especially given the FFT size and overlap limitations in SpecWeb.

Also, you might consider Eac3to as a resampler, in order to get the Ssrc re-sampling lib. It's supposed to be the "best". If you have AudioMuxer installed you already have Eac3to in your AudioMuxer Roaming Profile.

 

[HomerJAU]

If you use the Oversampling option (recommended) the you need to edit the SpecWeb.ini file in your Specweb program folder with a text editor such as Notepad.

Find the [fft] line. Just below that is Size - change that value to 32768.

I will add that setting automatically in the next release if Oversampling is used.

The resampler used is 'Sox' which seems to be highly regarded.

 

[HomerJAU]

Re: the helper; setting the output back to the original sample rate isn't working for me. I end up with file at 176400 sample rate. Is there a log file somewhere that would show errors?

By the way, 2x upsample should be plenty. 44.1 to 88.2, 48 to 96, etc. Going higher might not yield the best results, especially given the FFT size and overlap limitations in SpecWeb.

Also, you might consider Eac3to as a resampler, in order to get the Ssrc re-sampling lib. It's supposed to be the "best". If you have AudioMuxer installed you already have Eac3to in your AudioMuxer Roaming Profile.

Thanks for the feedback.

I will check the issue with down sampling back to original sample rate and do a fix.

In my tests on my 'problem' mixes I definitley found 176.4KHz (x4 for CDs) improved the final mix with regard to the unwanted swishing and distortion. But maybe I can give a upper rate preference for next version.

I thought I read that Audiomuxer was using Sox. I will check.

 

[MC Maniac]

Thanks Garry for making this tool! They are very beneficial in that they make upmixing easier for those that are trying this for the first time

I installed your Helper - made a new folder - copied the 16/44 flacss to the folder

when I tried to either add the folder or the individual songs I got this error message..

Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object