foo_dsp_delta ~ Foobar2000 Noise Sharpening


A digital signal processor that makes dull songs sound sharper, as in brighter.

Strictly speaking, nobody really needs this DSP. It’s just that some people like the effect. If you want to compensate deficiencies in your playback equipment or listening environment, the convolver or the equalizer are more appropriate tools. ~ HA post

There are four interrelated DSPs enclosed, only use the last one, Noise Sharpening.

Noise sharpening can/should be used alone. ~ HA post

http://foosion.foobar2000.org/components/?id=delta

foo_dsp_xover ~ Foobar2000 Digital Crossover


foo_dsp_xover is a software digital crossover implementation that I have been working on for a while in my spare time as a hobby. It is a Foobar2000 audio player plugin that implements this digital crossover to achieve active multi-amplification.

This software needs to run on a WinXP PC equipped with a multi-channel sound card (e.g. 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound card) feeding the various voices of a multi-amplifier and loudspeaker active configuration set-up.

foo_dsp_xover

xover.sourceforge.net
sourceforge.net/projects/xover

Helm ~ Open Source Synthesizer


Helm runs in GNU/Linux, Mac OSX and Windows. Run Helm as a standalone synthesizer or as an LV2, VST, VST3 or AU plugin. Comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

helm_screenshot

tytel.org/helm

CAPS ~ C* Audio Plugin Suite


CAPS is a collection of audio plugins comprising basic virtual guitar amplification and a small range of classic effects, signal processors and generators of mostly elementary and occasionally exotic nature.

The plugins aim to combine the highest sound quality with computational efficiency and zero latency*.

quitte.de/dsp/caps

lossyWAV ~ Lossy PCM In WAV File Format


lossyWAV is a freelossy pre-processor for PCM audio contained in the WAV file format. Proposed by David Robinson, it reduces bit depth of the input signal, which, when used in conjunction with certain lossless codecs, reduces the bitrate of the encoded file significantly compared to unpreprocessed compression. lossyWAV’s primary goal is to maintain transparency with a high degree of confidence when processing any audio data. ~ wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=LossyWAV

lossyWAV is a near lossless audio processor which dynamically reduces the bit depth of the signal on a block-by-block basis. Bit Depth reduction adds noise to the processed output. The added noise is adaptively shaped by default and can alternatively be fixed noise shaped or white noise depending on command line parameters. When lossyWAV processed output is compressed with certain lossless codecs (FLAC, Wavpack, Tak, LPAC, MPEG-4 ALS and WMA-Lossless) the bitrate of the output file is significantly[1] reduced compared to the lossless original.

[1]: on average, depending on content.

hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,112649
wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=LossyWAV#lossyWAV_and_foobar2000
github.com/corrideat/lossywav
github.com/MoSal/lossywav-for-posix

FLAC Frontend ~ Lossless Encoding GUI


FLAC Frontend is a convenient way for Windows users not used to working with command lines to use the official FLAC tools. It accepts WAVE, W64, AIFF and RAW files for encoding and outputs FLAC or OGG-FLAC files. It is able to decode FLAC files, test them, fingerprint them and re-encode them. It has drag-and-drop support too. It is tested on Windows XP SP3 and Windows 7, but should work with Windows XP SP2 or newer. It requires .NET 2.0 or later.

sourceforge.net/projects/flacfrontend

INFAMOUS Plugins ~ Linux LV2 Audio Plugins


These are audio plugins in the LV2 format, developed for Linux. Most are suitable for live use (exceptions are noted in the description).

  1. Cellular Automaton Synth
  2. Envelope Follower
  3. Hip2B
  4. Cheap Distortion
  5. Stuck

github.com/ssj71/infamousPlugins
ssj71.github.io/infamousPlugins/plugs

Open Metronome ~ Customizable Windows BPM


Free open source GPL metronome (a “branch” of “Weird Metronome“) for Windows, Windows Mobile, & Pocket PC. Uses user-definable multi-voice WAV or MIDI (PC only) sounds for the beats. Has a blinker & allows user defined bpm & fine measure control.

Features:

  • Accurate metronome sound! No skips or variation in audio output!
  • Custom rhythm patterns: use it as a (very basic) drum machine
  • User definable beats per minute
  • Set measure to any length, with emphasis on any beat(s)
  • Over 40 MIDI voices, optionally available as WAV samples
  • Up to nine simultaneous voices per beat
  • Add your own WAV samples to use whatever sounds you like
  • Highly customizable parameters
  • Define HotKeys to perform functions such as increase tempo
  • Set the Maximum & minimum tempo available via the tempo slider
open metronome

openmetronome.sourceforge.net
sourceforge.net/projects/openmetronome

Foobar2000 ~ Output Components


Listing of specialized output components that extend Foobar2000 in order to interface directly with system hardware or software output devices. Some of these are already installed by default and the remainder should be installed as needed.

By default foobar2000 uses the Windows Audio Session API (WASAPI) output in shared mode on modern versions (v1.6 and later). This means foobar2000 sends audio through the standard Windows audio stack using WASAPI unless you explicitly select another output (like WASAPI exclusive, ASIO with a plugin, or other output components).

The built in outputs and all installed output components can be selected from in the Preferences: Playback > Output > Device submenu.

Official output components:

Alternative output components:

Displaying Output Information:

foo_outinfo allows foobar2000 to display the actual specifications of the audio being played and the output device information using titleformatting.

foobar.hyv.fi/?view=foo_outinfo

ASIOhrp Utility:

hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=97127.msg978428#msg978428

Exclusive output modes:

Exclusive mode (in the context of foobar2000 and Windows audio) means that the player takes sole control of the audio device, bypassing the Windows system mixer for the duration of playback.

Here is what that entails, factually and practically:

What happens in exclusive mode
  • The audio device is locked to foobar2000 while playback is active.
  • No other application can play sound through that device at the same time.
  • Audio data is sent directly to the driver via WASAPI Exclusive (or ASIO), without Windows resampling or mixing.
  • The device switches to the exact sample rate and bit depth of the track being played, if the driver supports it.
How this differs from shared mode
  • In shared mode, Windows mixes audio from multiple applications and resamples everything to the format set in Windows Sound → Device Properties → Advanced.
  • In exclusive mode, Windows’ mixer is bypassed entirely, so there is no system-level resampling, mixing, or volume processing.
Technical implications
  • Enables bit-perfect playback, assuming no DSPs or volume scaling are active in foobar2000.
  • Prevents interference from system sounds, notifications, or browser audio.
  • Reduces latency and avoids format conversions imposed by the OS mixer.
Trade-offs and limitations
  • System sounds and other apps will be silent while exclusive playback is active.
  • If an application already has exclusive control, foobar2000 cannot start playback on that device.
  • Some USB DACs and Bluetooth devices have limited or unstable exclusive support, depending on drivers.
  • Exclusive mode does not improve audio quality if the DAC or downstream hardware already resamples internally.
In foobar2000 specifically
  • Exclusive mode is available via:
    • WASAPI (event or push) [exclusive]
    • ASIO (with the ASIO support component installed)
  • Selected in:
    Preferences → Playback → Output → Device
When exclusive mode makes sense
  • You want guaranteed bit-perfect output.
  • You use a dedicated DAC and do not want system sounds mixed in.
  • You frequently play material at multiple sample rates and want automatic hardware switching.
When it is unnecessary
  • Bluetooth audio (which is always lossy and resampled regardless).
  • Casual listening.
  • Systems where all audio is already set to the correct fixed format.

Resources:

wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Components/WASAPI_output_support_(foo_out_wasapi)
wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Foobar2000%3aPreferences:Output#Output_Device
Foobar2000 ~ How To Install A Component
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output (ASIO)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Plug_and_Play (UPNP)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_legacy_audio_components#Kernel_Streaming

GNUitar ~ Multiplatform Guitar Effects


GNUitar is guitar effects software that allows you to use your PC as a guitar processor. It includes the following effects: wah-wah, sustain, distortion, reverberator, echo, delay, tremolo, vibrato, and a chorus / flanger.

sourceforge.net/projects/gnuitar

FreqAnalyst ~ Spectrum Analyzer VST


Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst is a free spectrum analyzer plug-in that lets you monitor the spectral content of your audio signal in real time.

This plug-in has been designed to provide extreme smoothness and high resolution for both time and frequency: unlike most spectrum analyzers, Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst is able to display continuous variations even with a very high frequency resolution, thanks to its unique smooth interpolation algorithms.

Most aspects of the audio to frequency display conversion can be managed, which lets you total control over the monitoring. A special thresholding system has been developed to help you see the important parts of the spectrum easily. In case you need extra precision in a particular frequency range, you can zoom the display and check the part of the graph you are interested in.

freqanalyst

www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreqAnalyst

References:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_analyzer

Tune It! ~ Tune Your Instruments


Tune It! is a piece of software that helps musicians to tune their instrument. It can also be used to monitor the pitch during live performance.

Tune It! is based on a original and very accurate pitch detection algorithm. It can tune a wide range of instruments such as guitar, bass, piano, flute, violin, saxophone, etc…

Tune It! is available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. It can be ran as a standalone application or as a plugin within a VST or AU host.

Features:

  • Automatic note recognition from A-1 up to A6.
  • Programmable A440 reference from 400 to 480Hz (step of 1Hz or 0,1Hz).
  • Programmable Precision
  • The highest precision, the finest tuning.
  • The lower precision, the lower latency (suited for tuning control during live performance)
tuneit

tuneit.free.fr