Foobar2000 Dolby Headphone config - Comment & discuss!

[pepemosca]

Are the fans of your setup getting an update?
Some new versions has arrived: http://www.foobar2000.org/changelog

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Quote:

Are the fans of your setup getting an update?
Some new versions has arrived: http://www.foobar2000.org/changelog

 
OK I'll provide an update but you can also do it yourself, just install new foobar2000 with all bells and whistles (you can add all missing components from the components folder from the previous version) and then replace the core.cfg file in the configuration folder with that previous foobar2000 and load the VST EQ plugin and then go to dsp manager and load the preferred config in the "dsp chain preset" list.
 
EDIT: Still testing/adjusting some stuff with the config etc but will try to update ASAP

 

[zombi3butt]

Hi RPGWiZard, could you add more skins and lyrics please? I'm kinda noob with foobar.

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Quote:

Hi RPGWiZard, could you add more skins and lyrics please? I'm kinda noob with foobar.

 
I want this config to only include the minimal stuff needed to get the dolby headphone config working and let people then add whatever skins they prefer themselves.
 
Besides I have no experience with skins, lyrics or whatever with foobar. I've always used default skin and I'm the boring guy who uses classic windows theme with the default boring blue background because the visual part is of no importance to me, I rather take the performance win instead.

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

OK now I've updated the links/configs on the first page to use foobar2000 v1.2.1 beta (the beta is just a quick hotfix of a functionality of v1.2)
 

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For convenience I paste the links to preconfigured packages here. 
 
IT APPEARS THAT LATEST GOOGLE CHROME DETECTS THE FILES AS PLAUSIBLE MALWARE/PHISHING STUFF BUT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY INCORRECT
 
The "forward" config is suitable for: People who prefer a more forward/"in-your-face" sounding soundstage (but improved/larger stage with better imaging/positioning and separation over stock foobar2000), more engaging listening experience. Suitable for people who like the Grado sound or listen to lots of rock, EDM, dance, pop and acoustic etc music. If unsure I'd first try this one as it's more closer to stock foobar2000 sound.
 
The "laid-back" config is suitable for: People who prefer a more laid-back sounding soundstage with better transparency and more spacious/wider soundstage, more relaxed listening. Suitable for people who prefer sound signatures by for example AKG K70x or Sennheiser HD800 or listen to a lot of classical/orchestra, blues etc. music. Try this if you think the "forward" config is fatiguing or the vocals too "in-your-face".
 
Portable foobar2000 v1.2.1 "Forward" configuration: foobar2000.v1.2.1.Dolby.Headphone.(Forward)-RPGWiZaRD.zip - (Updated on 7th January, 2013)
 
Portable foobar2000 v1.2.1 "Laid-back" configuration: foobar2000.v1.2.1.Dolby.Headphone.(Laid-back)-RPGWiZaRD.zip - (Updated on 7th January, 2013)
 
PLEASE NOTE! MANUALLY SELECT AFTERWARDS THE DOLBYHPH.DLL IN DOLBY HEADPHONE WRAPPER IN FILE -> PREFERENCES -> PLAYBACK -> DSP MANAGER. SELECT DOLBY HEADPHONE PLUGIN IN THE LIST -> CONFIGURE SELECTED AND BROWSE FOR THE LOCATION OF THE DOLBYHPH.DLL FILE WHICH IS LOCATED BY DEFAULT IN THE FOOBAR2000\COMPONENTS\ FOLDER
 
Note: For best result I recommend changing to WASAPI (event) output manually in the foobar2000 File -> Preferences -> Playback -> Output afterwards, it's been set to Direct Sound by default for compatibility reasons. If you use WASAPI you'll need to match your output device setting with the same bitrate as set in foobar2000 and make sure the music files are using same sample rate (for example 44100 Hz) as set in the output device properties in windows control panel or else use a resampler in foobar2000.

 

[danny93]

What's the difference between WASAPI event and push...event doesn't work on the Creative Titanium HD

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Quote:

What's the difference between WASAPI event and push...event doesn't work on the Creative Titanium HD

 
Really... that sounds weird. It's not a huge difference but I think the soundstage sounds more natural with event.
 
BTW can you confirm that when going to "Dolby Headphone" plugin wrapper settings, that it's really using that dolbyhph.dll file, ie you can try just browsing for the plugin manually and see if it still sounds the same when doing that (if it wasn't using it, would be significantly less loud and the positioning wouldn't obviously work as it should)... it's in the foobar2000\components folder. It's something I've been wondering many times that if it truly finds the dll file for people also on a whole different computer that may place foobar2000 in a different place etc. I know it should technically work since it's a portable install and I ticked the option "remember path relatively to foobar2000 installation folder" and the foobar2000 settings are stored inside the foobar2000 folder and not in the windows registry but yea would be nice to get it confirmed so I don't have to worry, don't have any other computers here to test with atm.

 

[Natrak]

Hi, I am a long time lurker and I've been using this config for quite some time. It's truly amazing, very lively. 

I decided to check up on your suggestion and the sound does indeed change after manually selecting the dolbyhph.dll. I tested both on laid-back config and forward. I suppose you need to add this info on front page, it's a gamebreaking change
 
Cheers, keep this up to date!

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Quote:

Hi, I am a long time lurker and I've been using this config for quite some time. It's truly amazing, very lively. 

I decided to check up on your suggestion and the sound does indeed change after manually selecting the dolbyhph.dll. I tested both on laid-back config and forward. I suppose you need to add this info on front page, it's a gamebreaking change
 
Cheers, keep this up to date!

 
Crap lol. Sucks if people haven't heard it like it's supposed to sound haha. It sux if it isn't working, a day and night difference. I wonder why it doesn't work though as I'm using a portable install so it really should remember these settings. Maybe it's conflicting in case you already got foobar2000 installed (non-portable install) from before as I remember in Vista/7 it keeps the foobar2000 settings in the "C:User\" folder somewhere.
 
EDIT1: OK, now added a red bold capitalized text just below the links so that people will see it. ;P
 
EDIT2: I've noticed that Direct Sound output works very good with the latest config/version. What's the reason behind that I don't know but 5.1 speakermode + DirectSound sounds very good (except for as usual VERY loudly / brickwalled recorded hardstyle songs where it pumps out loud bass with loud midfrequencies at the same time a few 0.1dB away from producing audible clip distortion (already when a clipmeter is giving red signs) may sound slightly "muted"/muffled with DirectSound (and will sound fine with WASAPI) but I haven't noticed that effect on any other genre and I've been testing this a lot, even for mainstream new pop music. DirectSound benefits more from the 5.1 speakermode from my testing than WASAPI. So yea unless you're a hardstyle lover like me then WASAPI isn't necessarily THAT important to use if you don't want to. Like I said, 5.1 speakermode + DirectSound is perhaps even the ideal setting for any other genre besides hardstyle.
 
If you're using a soundcard and can use 5.1 speakermode you should select the speaker settings in this fashion (using Realtek interface just to get it all on one same page, the same options are available in control panel when right clicking on the output device and "configure speakers"):
 
 

 

[YoloMcSwag]

Hey OP, can you make a custom setting for the hd 280?

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Quote:

Hey OP, can you make a custom setting for the hd 280?

 
Don't have those headphones so it's a bit hard but generally the soundstage settings I find to work equally good on all headphones, then it's just a matter of taste of how exactly you want it. Same goes for the EQ, I provide simply an EQ setting which will make the balance roughly similar as it would sound with your headphone stock when using this config as the Dolby Headphone plugin adds a bit bass and cuts a bit of the treble range and I simply EQ'd back that. It's a bit hard to EQ for specific headphones, I don't use any additional EQing with my M-Audio Q40 headphones for example as they sound best EQ-less to me and this EQ setting brings it back to roughly stock balance. 
 
Then it's a different story if you don't like how your headphones sound stock, but it's yourself that has to be EQing how you want it to sound like really.

 

[whiskaz]

Does anyone know if it's possible to convert tracks (with a preset, using the DH DSP presets) from a command line? I'm trying to automate adding additional DH tracks to some of my digital movies. I can automate extracting the track from the mkv (the movie container) and adding the new track back in, but I need to be able to run the conversion in foobar from a command line to automate the entire workflow. 
 
I'm pretty sure foobar just uses external commands to do the conversion (e.g. plugins for AAC, AC3, LAME, FLAC, etc) but I'm not sure how it applies the foobar DSPs...

 

[bluzeboy]

1. 58 Posts. Joined 12/2011
2. Location: Switzerland

using  the batch converter of  dbPoweramp you can covert all your files at one time.

 
OR use FFMPEG with Batch
 
ffmpeg.exe -i "INPUTFILE" -acodec "OUTPUTCODEC" "CONVERTEDFILE"
 
 
"INPUTFile" ==> Which file do you wanna convert
"OUTPUTCODEC" ==> Which codec do you wanna use? (alac, flac, mp3, wav, etc.)
"ConvertedFILE" ==> where to save the file after its converted?
 
If you convert to MP3 or some lossy format, you can set a bitrate by using -ab 320000 (320kbits/s).
 
I wrote a little C# Script some time ago, which scans all my directories and converts using ffmpeg, if somebody wants it:
 
(Flac to Alac):
http://pastebin.com/LyHDuGzr

 

[whiskaz]

Quote:

1. 58 Posts. Joined 12/2011
2. Location: Switzerland

 
OR use FFMPEG with Batch
 
ffmpeg.exe -i "INPUTFILE" -acodec "OUTPUTCODEC" "CONVERTEDFILE"
 
 
"INPUTFile" ==> Which file do you wanna convert
"OUTPUTCODEC" ==> Which codec do you wanna use? (alac, flac, mp3, wav, etc.)
"ConvertedFILE" ==> where to save the file after its converted?
 
If you convert to MP3 or some lossy format, you can set a bitrate by using -ab 320000 (320kbits/s).
 
I wrote a little C# Script some time ago, which scans all my directories and converts using ffmpeg, if somebody wants it:
 
(Flac to Alac):
http://pastebin.com/LyHDuGzr

 
Was that in reply to my request? If so, thanks, but the missing ingredients are the DSPs that are the subject of this thread: Channel Mixer, Matrix Mixer, Dolby Headphone, and Electri-Q. foobar lets you apply those to the track during the conversion process which is what I would like to do.

 

[dsdsds]

Anyone knows if it is posible to emulate a 7.1 enviroment with dolby headphone and freesurround or other multichannel upmixer? i use stereo headphones but i wanna make it 7.1