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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: thomaspf on April 03, 2005, 09:25:38 pm

Title: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: thomaspf on April 03, 2005, 09:25:38 pm

Hi,

I just recently dicovered the directX host plugin and have been playing around with the ParEQ parametric equalizer plugin that comes with n-track.

So far this works reasonably well but I am missing some background information.

If I play a 16/44.1 stream is this also the format in which the audio data is handed to the plugin chain?

The plugin works internally with 64 floats and it would be a waste to have it work in 16 input and 16 bit output mode. At least I would want the data to be expanded to 24bits.

Does anyone here have a pointer to a directx plugin that simple gives you statistics and a description of what format the data is that is passed through the chain?

Is there a free plugin in that expands 16bit data to 24 bits?

Cheers

   Thomas

Title: Re: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: Matt on April 03, 2005, 09:30:21 pm

Media Center uses 32-bit floats internally for the entire audio path.  Downscaling (if necessary) is performed as the final step.  The chain is bit-perfect if no DSP is applied.

Title: Re: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: thomaspf on April 04, 2005, 01:00:09 am

I have no doubts about the integrity of the signal in the MC rendering chain. The library interface and the clean rendering path is basically why I am using the player.

I have to admit that I don't know much about the whole area of DirectX audio plugins and was looking for a plugin that gives me a bit more insight on what is actually going on.

The ParEQ is more like a test ballon. There are really high quality phase linear eq filters out there that I am looking into for room correction purposes. However, before I spend a great deal of money I would love to know in detail how this all works. The MC DirectX host is rather spartan and does not disclose much about the plugins.

So any suggestion you might have on what I could do to learn would be welcome.

Thanks

    Thomas

Title: Re: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: GHammer on April 04, 2005, 04:02:40 am

Quote from: thomaspf on April 04, 2005, 01:00:09 am

I have to admit that I don't know much about the whole area of DirectX audio plugins and was looking for a plugin that gives me a bit more insight on what is actually going on.

You can try this and see if it helps.

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/audio/bpolice.htm

Title: Re: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: GHammer on April 04, 2005, 04:18:58 am

You may also want to look at this plugin. I have been quite pleased with all it can do. And it has worked perfectly with MC 9, 10, and 11.

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/

Title: Re: Questions about the Direct-X host plugin
Post by: thomaspf on April 04, 2005, 11:59:59 am

Thanks,

for the actual equalization I am looking at two products.

http://www.waves.com/content.asp?id=137

http://www.algorithmix.com/en/peq2.htm

but I want to make sure I get really great quality in return. I am currently using an external Behringer DEQ2496 and that has helped damping my lf room resonances quite a bit. The quality of the eq however is supposedly much better with these plugins.

Cheers

   Thomas