Simple mp3 mono to simulated stereo sound conversion utility available?

[msilvers50]

I have some mono mp3's and was wondering if there's simple freeware out there that will turn them into decent simulated stereo sound. All I've been able to find is some complicated do it yourself Linux code, heavy techy talk about creating multiple channels with sound delays, etc., way too much for a newbie like me.

Thanks for any advice!

[Soopafresh]

Easiest thing I can think of:

Install the free Winamp 5 Http://www.winamp.com

Download this Stereo Simulator Winamp Plugin http://www.hansvanzutphen.com/stereo_tool/

Install both (winamp first)

Go into Winamp Config and choose the Stereo Simulator under "Plugins-DSP"

[Cornucopia]

NOTHING simple will be even semi-believable.

Do it right (where you have to learn a multitude of processes and techniques), or don't do it at all and live with it being mono.

Scott

[Soopafresh]

How true. Even the expensive stuff isn't very convincing. But it is all subjective, isn't it? Some people think black licorice tastes great, some can't stand it.

Found something even eaiser, but I think it requires WAV input

http://biphome.spray.se/baxtrom/sse/

[msilvers50]

Believe this. http://www.hansvanzutphen.com/stereo_tool/ together with Winamp did the trick for me. Thank you Soopafresh.

For anyone else interested, once you install Stereo Tool it comes up automatically each time you start Winamp. Set the Preset on Stereo Tool to "Fake Stereo (delayed channel)" and Winamp plays fairly good simulated stereo. If you then change Winamp's Options-Preferences-Plugins-Output to waveout, your previously mono mp3 track will be written to a simulated stereo wave file. Use your wav to mp3 converter of choice (such as Audacity) and you've got yourself a fairly decent stereo mp3!

[Cornucopia]

I think a determination of whether it's "fairly decent stereo" is extremely subjective, to put it mildly.
What you've got is a sound that has been changed from single point speaker source or single phantom signal that's centered between 2 speakers, to a single sound that has "elements" of it SMEARED/STRETCHED to various phantom points between 2 speakers. And when I say elements, I don't mean "oboe" or "tie fighter", I mean "odd harmonics" or "loudest transients".
Not what I'd call "stereo", which has phantom images that are defined with a particular perspective and ambience, and even though they're phantom, they feel "solid". Like you could walk up to a spot 2/3 of the way to the LEFT, and 5 feet behind the plane of the speakers, and grab the sound that seems to be emanating from there. That's stereo. (Not even talking about surround).
Still, thanks for the link. I'll add it to my list of available processing apps.

Scott

[Soopafresh]

If he likes it, then he likes it. Nothing wrong with that.

[msilvers50]

Cornucopia, you have the right to your opinion and I have mine. I didn't respond to the tone of your first response, but I will to your second one.

I'm new to this board, but I've been a member of other tech boards for a long time and I do know that they are for the purpose of providing friendly help and advice, not for the purpose of listening to lectures delivered from your soap box.

If I was that obsessed about pure stereo for the TV broadcast I recorded, I'd wait for and purchase the CD. (I may yet do that when it's available!) I have 2 engineering degrees so I know what it's like to be precise, picky and passionate about certain things. I choose not to be as passionate as you for this particular recording. What Soopafresh suggested fit the bill in this case. "Good enough" is acceptable in some cases, and this is my hobby, not my life as apparently it is for you. I hope you're more helpful with other questions you choose to answer on this board for other members.

[Cornucopia]

Wasn't trying to flame, and I know now that my post sounded like that. Sorry.

However, I was just trying to be blunt, hoping that you're being honest with yourself about what you really have. Also, since this is a public board (not just a tech board) and I'm talking not just to you, I wanted to make it very clear to others that this kind of thing isn't a cure-all. Note also, that I didn't try to get vindictive and say "your ideas are crap".

I know I get long-winded and preachy sometimes...
(Most of my stuff is very good--take the bad with the good)

Scott

>>>
edit: P.S., glad you liked what you've got now!

[jman98]

msilvers50 - Welcome to the boards. For what it's worth, Cornucopia is one of our better members and not prone to insults and such. He was blunt, yes, but I don't think it was out of line. If you don't like it, you won't last long here. I've seen much worse. A thicker skin might be helpful here

You are the only person who needs to be satisfied, so if you found something that works for you, that's great. He was just trying to point out that this method might be considered subpar for some people. Keep in mind that this is one of the nicer boards and your question would have been met with scorn you didn't get here if you asked it on some other boards I can think of.

[msilvers50]

Thank you Cornucopia and thank you jman98 for your further comments. Understood and no hard feelings. I feel like a member of the family now .

[Cornucopia]

Cool.

Scott

[rijir2001]

Believe this. http://www.hansvanzutphen.com/stereo_tool/ together with Winamp did the trick for me. Thank you Soopafresh.

For anyone else interested, once you install Stereo Tool it comes up automatically each time you start Winamp. Set the Preset on Stereo Tool to "Fake Stereo (delayed channel)" and Winamp plays fairly good simulated stereo. If you then change Winamp's Options-Preferences-Plugins-Output to waveout, your previously mono mp3 track will be written to a simulated stereo wave file. Use your wav to mp3 converter of choice (such as Audacity) and you've got yourself a fairly decent stereo mp3!

I've tried this but it will not write a wav file. What could be wrong?