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Multi-Filter
DCArt10/DC Forensics10 provides the capability of cascading up to 20 filters or effects together and running them as if they were a single filter. It also provides for a “Live” (real time feed-through) mode of operation. The elements of the string of cascaded filters can all be unique, or repetitions of the same filter/effect or a combination thereof. The multi-filter also allows you can even mix Diamond Cut filter and/or effects with VST plugins. This allows you the flexibility to construct your own favorite sequence of filters, along with their presets, and be able to save the cascade along with all of the filter parameters under one user defined single preset name.
The filter/effect combinations thereby created can by previewed or run like any other single filter. In Live Preview mode (real time feed-through) you can also run all of the filters in the chain through a full duplex sound card, using the computer as a digital signal processor. Live Preview mode is particularly useful in surveillance and live broadcast work. For details on this mode of operation, please refer to the section on “Live Preview” mode below.
The best way to envision the Multi-Filter is to merely view it as another DCArt10/DC Forensics10 filter that can be customized and sequenced. To create a customized sequence (cascade) of filters merely click on the Multi-Filter icon or select Filter/Multi-Filter, and the Multi-Filter dialog box will pop up. On the left, you will see the source input (In) to the system. On the right of the screen, you will see the output (Out). The input is that .wav file which is present in the source window, (or in the case of Live mode, it can be the sound card input signal) as is the case with any other filter. The output of the filter can be previewed, bypassed, or run just like any other filter. It can also be run in “Live Preview” mode as well (see below).
To create your filter sequence, merely drag and drop the desired filters from the filter selection grouping into the signal pathway in your prescribed order. If you want to change the order of the filters in the cascaded chain, merely left click on the filter in the pathway, and drag it to a new location along the signal path. To get rid of a filter, simply drag it away from the signal pathway with the left mouse button, releasing the button when the filter is away from the signal stream. To view the parameters of any given filter or effect in the Multi-Filter, double click on the filter icon in the cascaded chain and the particular filter dialog box will pop-up. Adjust the parameters to the values that you desire, and they shall be saved as part of the sequence of filters that you have just constructed. As with all of the filters, the parameters may be previewed while adjusting the parameters. Be aware that when long chains of filters have been created, there will be a delay in time before the controls react to your changes. If you desire to delete a filter, drag the filter out of the chain and release the left mouse button.
After you have developed a Multi-Filter chain that you find to be particularly effective for a certain type of task, you can save its settings under a descriptive name just like any other DCArt10/DC Forensics10 filter for ease of recall later.
It is important to note that improved audio performance will be achieved using the Multi-Filter as opposed to a sequence of .wav file processing, performed one step at a time. The reason is that there will not be the quantization error buildup since the Multi-Filter will maintain the highest possible resolution for the signal throughout the process from the first filter to the last one in the sequence. Sequential one step at a time filtering must always convert back to a .wav file as the intermediate step between filter operations, producing a buildup of quantization errors. This error build-up is avoided with the Multi-Filter.
Run Multiple Filters Simultaneously!
Forensics Starter Setup preset in the Multifilter
The “Forensics Starter Setup” preset found in the Multifilter is a very good place to start a Forensics enhancement project. It includes a plethora of useful filters all having good starting point settings. From those starting point values, you can adjust each filter element for optimal results for a given enhancement project.
Multifllter Presets
The multifilter can be used in an almost unlimited way in terms of the creation of filter combinations and custom setups. One example is a monophonic to stereo simulator which uses several comb filters having spaced notches to create its effect. There are also several amplifiers using combinations of the VVA (Virtual Valve Amplifier) to obtain unique sound colorations based on the cascaded amplifier stage combinations. You can create and save your own filter creations and save them for future reference. You can also bring up one of the factory supplied presets and modify it and then re-save it under a unique name without damaging the original preset.
Example Multifilter Preset Display - (Stereo Simulator)
Live Preview
Live (real time feed-through) mode allows you to bypass the hard disk recording process, making your computer into a real-time feed-through digital signal processor. Signals are fed into your sound card, processed through the filter or filters chosen, and then fed back out of the output of the sound card for use "live." Live mode is useful for professional applications such as broadcasting, or surveillance work where a signal needs to be processed in real-time without the intervening process of hard drive recording. It is also very handy for use in a Ham Radio, Short Wave listening (DXing) or even as a permanent part of a home audio system as a real time signal processor. This feature is particularly useful for real time audio restoration as may be required by radio stations desiring to play old vinyl or 78s directly on the air. It is also useful for cleaning up live news audio feeds or noisy telephone audio on talk radio shows.
This feature requires a full-duplex sound card and a fast computer. We recommend the fastest computer that you can afford, since the faster that your computer can perform the mathematical functions, the more filters that you can cascade in "Live" mode. System "stuttering" is an indication that you have exceeded your computer's ability to keep up with the data processing in real-time. Also, latency (the time delay for processing) is reduced as the speed of your computer is increased. For professional applications, we recommend a Pentium 4 or higher for "Live Preview" mode when used in conjunction with the Multi-Filter features. However, slower computers will run with increased latency and a reduced maximum number of allowable cascaded filters.
Live mode is activated by clicking the “Live Preview” button in the Multi-Filter window. To adjust the input parameters for your sound card, double click on the input icon (the turntable) and a dialog box will pop-up. The following input parameters are adjustable:
Adjust the parameters appropriately. Keep in mind that stereo signals will consume about twice the computer resources compared to monophonic signals. So, if you do not need stereo, do not operate the Live mode in stereo, else you will be adding extra latency to the signal and reduce the number of filters that can be run without “stuttering”.
Drag and drop the filters of interest into the signal path. Adjust their parameters by double clicking on each filter, producing its dialog box.
To run the "Live" mode, merely click on the "Live Preview" button, and the signal will be processed through the filters/effects in the signal path. To adjust the output level, double click on the output device (the loudspeaker icon) and a dialog box will appear to facilitate this function. You can also create .wav files in real time while using the Live mode. This feature is also contained in the output device dialog box.
To delete a filter from the line-up, simply drag it out of the pathway or use the right-mouse function called “Delete Filter”. To clear the entire signal pathway, use the right mouse function called “Delete All Filters”.
Note: To minimize Live Preview Mode latency, use the smallest number of preview buffers and the highest possible sampling rate that your system will support. Minimum latency will generally occur at 96 kHz or 192 kHz sampling rates. (Conceptually, this is probably counter-intuitive.)
Important Note: When using "Live" mode, it is not advisable to connect the soundcard I/O in an effects loop on a mixing console. Doing so can produce echo effects due to the latency of the computational process. Instead, connect the soundcard directly in the signal pathway which you desire to process.
DCArt10/DC Forensics10 provides the capability of cascading up to 20 filters or effects together and running them as if they were a single filter. It also provides for a “Live” (real time feed-through) mode of operation. The elements of the string of cascaded filters can all be unique, or repetitions of the same filter/effect or a combination thereof. The multi-filter also allows you can even mix Diamond Cut filter and/or effects with VST plugins. This allows you the flexibility to construct your own favorite sequence of filters, along with their presets, and be able to save the cascade along with all of the filter parameters under one user defined single preset name.
The filter/effect combinations thereby created can by previewed or run like any other single filter. In Live Preview mode (real time feed-through) you can also run all of the filters in the chain through a full duplex sound card, using the computer as a digital signal processor. Live Preview mode is particularly useful in surveillance and live broadcast work. For details on this mode of operation, please refer to the section on “Live Preview” mode below.
The best way to envision the Multi-Filter is to merely view it as another DCArt10/DC Forensics10 filter that can be customized and sequenced. To create a customized sequence (cascade) of filters merely click on the Multi-Filter icon or select Filter/Multi-Filter, and the Multi-Filter dialog box will pop up. On the left, you will see the source input (In) to the system. On the right of the screen, you will see the output (Out). The input is that .wav file which is present in the source window, (or in the case of Live mode, it can be the sound card input signal) as is the case with any other filter. The output of the filter can be previewed, bypassed, or run just like any other filter. It can also be run in “Live Preview” mode as well (see below).
To create your filter sequence, merely drag and drop the desired filters from the filter selection grouping into the signal pathway in your prescribed order. If you want to change the order of the filters in the cascaded chain, merely left click on the filter in the pathway, and drag it to a new location along the signal path. To get rid of a filter, simply drag it away from the signal pathway with the left mouse button, releasing the button when the filter is away from the signal stream. To view the parameters of any given filter or effect in the Multi-Filter, double click on the filter icon in the cascaded chain and the particular filter dialog box will pop-up. Adjust the parameters to the values that you desire, and they shall be saved as part of the sequence of filters that you have just constructed. As with all of the filters, the parameters may be previewed while adjusting the parameters. Be aware that when long chains of filters have been created, there will be a delay in time before the controls react to your changes. If you desire to delete a filter, drag the filter out of the chain and release the left mouse button.
After you have developed a Multi-Filter chain that you find to be particularly effective for a certain type of task, you can save its settings under a descriptive name just like any other DCArt10/DC Forensics10 filter for ease of recall later.
It is important to note that improved audio performance will be achieved using the Multi-Filter as opposed to a sequence of .wav file processing, performed one step at a time. The reason is that there will not be the quantization error buildup since the Multi-Filter will maintain the highest possible resolution for the signal throughout the process from the first filter to the last one in the sequence. Sequential one step at a time filtering must always convert back to a .wav file as the intermediate step between filter operations, producing a buildup of quantization errors. This error build-up is avoided with the Multi-Filter.
Run Multiple Filters Simultaneously!
Forensics Starter Setup preset in the Multifilter
The “Forensics Starter Setup” preset found in the Multifilter is a very good place to start a Forensics enhancement project. It includes a plethora of useful filters all having good starting point settings. From those starting point values, you can adjust each filter element for optimal results for a given enhancement project.
Multifllter Presets
The multifilter can be used in an almost unlimited way in terms of the creation of filter combinations and custom setups. One example is a monophonic to stereo simulator which uses several comb filters having spaced notches to create its effect. There are also several amplifiers using combinations of the VVA (Virtual Valve Amplifier) to obtain unique sound colorations based on the cascaded amplifier stage combinations. You can create and save your own filter creations and save them for future reference. You can also bring up one of the factory supplied presets and modify it and then re-save it under a unique name without damaging the original preset.
Example Multifilter Preset Display - (Stereo Simulator)
Live Preview
Live (real time feed-through) mode allows you to bypass the hard disk recording process, making your computer into a real-time feed-through digital signal processor. Signals are fed into your sound card, processed through the filter or filters chosen, and then fed back out of the output of the sound card for use "live." Live mode is useful for professional applications such as broadcasting, or surveillance work where a signal needs to be processed in real-time without the intervening process of hard drive recording. It is also very handy for use in a Ham Radio, Short Wave listening (DXing) or even as a permanent part of a home audio system as a real time signal processor. This feature is particularly useful for real time audio restoration as may be required by radio stations desiring to play old vinyl or 78s directly on the air. It is also useful for cleaning up live news audio feeds or noisy telephone audio on talk radio shows.
This feature requires a full-duplex sound card and a fast computer. We recommend the fastest computer that you can afford, since the faster that your computer can perform the mathematical functions, the more filters that you can cascade in "Live" mode. System "stuttering" is an indication that you have exceeded your computer's ability to keep up with the data processing in real-time. Also, latency (the time delay for processing) is reduced as the speed of your computer is increased. For professional applications, we recommend a Pentium 4 or higher for "Live Preview" mode when used in conjunction with the Multi-Filter features. However, slower computers will run with increased latency and a reduced maximum number of allowable cascaded filters.
Live mode is activated by clicking the “Live Preview” button in the Multi-Filter window. To adjust the input parameters for your sound card, double click on the input icon (the turntable) and a dialog box will pop-up. The following input parameters are adjustable:
- Mono or Stereo
- Sampling Rate (up to 192 kHz)
- Resolution (8 bit to 24 bit)
- Input level indicators are also provided
Adjust the parameters appropriately. Keep in mind that stereo signals will consume about twice the computer resources compared to monophonic signals. So, if you do not need stereo, do not operate the Live mode in stereo, else you will be adding extra latency to the signal and reduce the number of filters that can be run without “stuttering”.
Drag and drop the filters of interest into the signal path. Adjust their parameters by double clicking on each filter, producing its dialog box.
To run the "Live" mode, merely click on the "Live Preview" button, and the signal will be processed through the filters/effects in the signal path. To adjust the output level, double click on the output device (the loudspeaker icon) and a dialog box will appear to facilitate this function. You can also create .wav files in real time while using the Live mode. This feature is also contained in the output device dialog box.
To delete a filter from the line-up, simply drag it out of the pathway or use the right-mouse function called “Delete Filter”. To clear the entire signal pathway, use the right mouse function called “Delete All Filters”.
Note: To minimize Live Preview Mode latency, use the smallest number of preview buffers and the highest possible sampling rate that your system will support. Minimum latency will generally occur at 96 kHz or 192 kHz sampling rates. (Conceptually, this is probably counter-intuitive.)
Important Note: When using "Live" mode, it is not advisable to connect the soundcard I/O in an effects loop on a mixing console. Doing so can produce echo effects due to the latency of the computational process. Instead, connect the soundcard directly in the signal pathway which you desire to process.