[alexdi]

This is too cool, I have to post this. I've been bogarting too much of the Darin's (really cool) OOYH thread with references to other HRTF software. After a whole lot of tweaking, I'm just grinning nonstop. My rig is some HD600s with an O2/ODAC. 
 
http://www.jriver.com/mj/
http://sonarworks.com/headphones/overview/
http://wavearts.com/products/plugins/panorama/
 
Install the first one. JRiver is a bit crap for stability, but has the best VST support of any player available. Put the VSTs for the two plugins somewhere, then import them into the DSP section of JRiver. Put Panorama5 on top of Reference3. 
 
Use these settings:
 

 

 
Cycle through the HRTFs in Panorama until you find one you like. Enjoy! And tell me if you find any improvements in your own settings.

 

[dmbr]

I got very excited till I saw the price tag on Panorama

I'm a little confused though, could you explain what all you're doing here?

 

[alexdi]

Try the Panorama trial. I'm not actually sure it expires when used liked this. Frankly though, for what I'm hearing, they're both a bargain at full price. People put megabucks into amps and cables and whatever else for benefits that are a whole lot more subtle.
 
What I'm doing is first fixing the frequency response of the HD600s with Sonarworks. They're great without it, but more realistic with it, and have far better bass. I'm then running that neutral signal through Panorama (by stacking it on top of Sonarworks in the plugin section of JRiver).
 
Panorama uses an HRTF, coupled with the custom environment I specified above, to create a binaural listening experience, the kind that would usually require the material to have been recorded through a dummy head. The result is like those "virtual barbershop" videos on Youtube, except with everything. (They package 10 or so quality HRTFs; the button on the bottom-left cycles between them.)
 
 I'm really looking forward to someone trying this to validate if it's as cool as it seems to me.

 

[dmbr]

I love OOYH, but this being a VST rather than software/virtual device is very appealing for a number of reasons.

For instance, I already have and love sonarworks, but it can only be applied before OOYH's effects are--that is, OOYH can only be the last DSP in the chain, and SonarWorks should best be last instead.

I'm not sure whether to root for better headphone listening or my wallet :/

 

[dmbr]

On that note, shouldn't SonarWorks be last in your chain, too?

Why are you putting Panorama after it?

 

[alexdi]

Nope. Sonarworks is a fixed offset that assumes an unmolested signal. Panorama is more akin to a multiplier that affects only some parts of the signal. The HRTF assumes a neutral signal; the less neutral the cans, the less it's likely to perform as expected.
 
Let's say 10 represents a neutral volume for a given frequency and we have two sample frequencies with stock volumes of 7 and 12. Sonarworks would have fixed +3 and -2 offsets, respectively. Let's also say that for the HRTF to work, Panorama wants to multiply the first frequency by 2 and the second by 1.5.
 
If we do Sonarworks first, we get:
 
(7+3) * 2 = 20
(12 - 2) * 1.5 = 15
 
Because the HRTF assumes neutrality, we can take as given that the most effective HRTF will have a difference of 5 between those two frequencies as above.
 
If we do Panorama first, we get:
 
(7 * 2) + 3 = 17
( 12 * 1.5 ) - 2 = 16 
 
Now the difference is only 1. If the HRTF is supposed to define a certain response curve shape with variable multipliers, the fixed offsets of Sonarworks will ruin that shape. You can hear this yourself if you reverse the plugin order with cans that need strong correction. 

 

[dmbr]

Nope. Sonarworks is a fixed offset that assumes an unmolested signal. Panorama is more akin to a multiplier that affects only some parts of the signal. The HRTF assumes a neutral signal; the less neutral the cans, the less it's likely to perform as expected.

Let's say 10 represents a neutral volume for a given frequency and we have two sample frequencies with stock volumes of 7 and 12. Sonarworks would have fixed +3 and -2 offsets, respectively. Let's also say that for the HRTF to work, Panorama wants to multiply the first frequency by 2 and the second by 1.5.

If we do Sonarworks first, we get:

(7+3) * 2 = 20
(12 - 2) * 1.5 = 15

Because the HRTF assumes neutrality, we can take as given that the most effective HRTF will have a difference of 5 between those two frequencies as above.

If we do Panorama first, we get:

(7 * 2) + 3 = 17
( 12 * 1.5 ) - 2 = 16 

Now the difference is only 1. If the HRTF is supposed to define a certain response curve shape with variable multipliers, the fixed offsets of Sonarworks will ruin that shape. You can hear this yourself if you reverse the plugin order with cans that need strong correction. 

Very interesting, thank you!

 

[DivineCurrent]

I just downloaded the Panorama vst and tried it out with Foobar. I have to say, it is very, very convincing! I haven't quite fiddled with all the HRTF options yet, but so far it sounds great on my HD 650s. I was playing around and decided to move that speaker virtualization image around the head, it really sounds like someone is moving a speaker set around your head! I haven't even begun to try out all those room settings, I'm sure that will make a difference too. 

 

[alexdi]

Pretty cool, no? Have a go with the Sonarworks stack-- the settings I posted are for an equalized version of my HD600s. When the HD650s are set likewise, you should hear what I hear. I have a few other variations that bring the vocals more more forward. What HRTF has worked best for you so far? 
 
The realism and usefulness of the effect is heavily influenced by the extent of the room acoustics in the original recording. Classical music tends to benefit less because the environment is too ingrained in the performance, but most modern multi-track music has minimal room interaction, so Panorama creates a very realistic soundstage. 

 

[musicreo]

I compared Panorama to my "normal" setup for listening over headphones which involves a convolver vst with some free binaural impulse response files. After hearing for some minutes with panorama and switching back to my normal setup I found out that I like my "normal" setup more than panorama. While my normal setup is free Panorama is not and I would have to pay 149$. I just listen to music so the mixing options are not necessary for me. Panorama is limited to stereo and don't support 5.1 although you have free placement of the virtual loudspeakers.

 

[alexdi]

That's a pity. You might try a few more settings. Panorama is wildly configurable, it actually took me a week before I learned enough to make presets I liked. 

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Looking at your screenshot of Panorama, it appears this is for 2 channels only.  Is that correct?

 

[alexdi]

Indeed. There may be some way to configure it to use multichannel. I haven't looked into it. 

 

[vapman]

ReaEQ is suprisingly nice for a free plugin - then you realize it's by someone from the original winamp team.
So then it makes sense why it's so nice

 

[phoenixdogfan]

A way of thinking about this involves realizing Sonarworks is there to give DSP programs like OOYH and Panorama a clean canvas to paint their sonic picture on, so it therefore should be the penultimate rather than the final link in the chain.