I downloaded the (later aborted) newest version several weeks ago. I didn't install it because I thought it wouldn't work with my asio driver. I didn't know it was mainly an m-audio card problem (which I don't have). So, my question is: should I go ahead and install the version I downloaded, or should I wait for the next release? In other words, are there going to be other changes besides fixing the asio problem?
Thanks!
New Version
You are never alone :)
Paavo is addressing the issue with the ASIO driver as we speak. You are correct in assuming that there are no other changes other than the following.
Visual Changes
Changes to the GUI include the introduction of a volume control plus the
replacement of the gain drop down list with a slider control. Furthermore
the track statistics are now displayed on the graph (source file name,
filter file name, peak and average power figures of merit).
Finally, five small buttons appear in the bottom right hand corner of the
application screen. The first two control whether focus markers are
displayed and whether the original spectrum is displayed. The focus markers
show you which spectrum represent what is currently playing. The remaining
three buttons toggle the spectrum traces on or off (ie. average power,
geometric mean, and peak power).
New Tools
Two new shelving tools now appear to the left of the gain tool ( now renamed
parametric EQ). The first is a low shelf, the second a high shelf tool. Use
of these is largely self evident.
An extra menu command, Equalizer/Match Loudness, can be used to match the
average loudness figures of merit of the current track with the current
reference in an instant. This is quite useful for normalising.
An Equalizer/Loop menu command has been added which does as it says it does.
When pressed while the track is playing the track will loop between the
point at which the play button was pressed and the point at which the loop
button was pressed. Looping will continue indefinitely or until the loop
mode is toggled off.
A tip files feature has been added that gives you information regarding the
character of particular parts of the spectrum while you make adjustments
based on advice stored in a tip file. A tip file is simply a text file and
you can easily create your own tip files should you wish to. An example is
included in this beta and more will be compiled for the final release. To
test this feature open the tip file in the HarBal\Tip_Files folder and show
the tips. Then select one of the editing tools and move it over different
parts of the spectrum to see what happens.
A range of views have been added to give more information to the user. You
can now select between Spectrum View, Frequency Response View, and Impulse
Response View. You can use the tools to make adjustments in the former two
views but not the latter. To change the view use the Graph/View menu
command.
When Recording EQd tracks the track is now queued to be recorded via a
recording thread of execution and control is immediately returned to the
user. This allows you to move on to adjusting the next track immediately. A
job list window opens to show you the queue jobs and also allows you to
delete jobs that you dont want completed.
Similarly you can open a number of tracks to be analyzed by an analysis
thread using the File/Batch Analysis menu item. This opens a multiple select
open dialog and the selected files are then queued to be analyzed.
Finally, the file menu popup now supports recent files history. It records
recent files, recent filters and recent references.
Other improvements
HarBal now supports various modes of operation controlled under the
Equalizer Options dialog, one of which is selection between Linear or
Minimum phase filter topologies. Try using the impulse response view to
verify the differences between minimum phase and linear phase filters.
HarBal now supports sound device driver selection which is user selectable
under the Driver Options dialog. HarBal supports ASIO, DirectX and
multimedia style drivers.
HarBal supports mono files.
HarBal has fixed filter code which produces glitchless transfer between
filter in / filter out (provided your PC is fast enough).
Earle
Visual Changes
Changes to the GUI include the introduction of a volume control plus the
replacement of the gain drop down list with a slider control. Furthermore
the track statistics are now displayed on the graph (source file name,
filter file name, peak and average power figures of merit).
Finally, five small buttons appear in the bottom right hand corner of the
application screen. The first two control whether focus markers are
displayed and whether the original spectrum is displayed. The focus markers
show you which spectrum represent what is currently playing. The remaining
three buttons toggle the spectrum traces on or off (ie. average power,
geometric mean, and peak power).
New Tools
Two new shelving tools now appear to the left of the gain tool ( now renamed
parametric EQ). The first is a low shelf, the second a high shelf tool. Use
of these is largely self evident.
An extra menu command, Equalizer/Match Loudness, can be used to match the
average loudness figures of merit of the current track with the current
reference in an instant. This is quite useful for normalising.
An Equalizer/Loop menu command has been added which does as it says it does.
When pressed while the track is playing the track will loop between the
point at which the play button was pressed and the point at which the loop
button was pressed. Looping will continue indefinitely or until the loop
mode is toggled off.
A tip files feature has been added that gives you information regarding the
character of particular parts of the spectrum while you make adjustments
based on advice stored in a tip file. A tip file is simply a text file and
you can easily create your own tip files should you wish to. An example is
included in this beta and more will be compiled for the final release. To
test this feature open the tip file in the HarBal\Tip_Files folder and show
the tips. Then select one of the editing tools and move it over different
parts of the spectrum to see what happens.
A range of views have been added to give more information to the user. You
can now select between Spectrum View, Frequency Response View, and Impulse
Response View. You can use the tools to make adjustments in the former two
views but not the latter. To change the view use the Graph/View menu
command.
When Recording EQd tracks the track is now queued to be recorded via a
recording thread of execution and control is immediately returned to the
user. This allows you to move on to adjusting the next track immediately. A
job list window opens to show you the queue jobs and also allows you to
delete jobs that you dont want completed.
Similarly you can open a number of tracks to be analyzed by an analysis
thread using the File/Batch Analysis menu item. This opens a multiple select
open dialog and the selected files are then queued to be analyzed.
Finally, the file menu popup now supports recent files history. It records
recent files, recent filters and recent references.
Other improvements
HarBal now supports various modes of operation controlled under the
Equalizer Options dialog, one of which is selection between Linear or
Minimum phase filter topologies. Try using the impulse response view to
verify the differences between minimum phase and linear phase filters.
HarBal now supports sound device driver selection which is user selectable
under the Driver Options dialog. HarBal supports ASIO, DirectX and
multimedia style drivers.
HarBal supports mono files.
HarBal has fixed filter code which produces glitchless transfer between
filter in / filter out (provided your PC is fast enough).
Earle
Release Date
I'm taking hold of a new PC this weekend and should then be able to finally resolve the outstanding ASIO issue. Once resolved I'll issue a beta 4 and then update the help. The ASIO stuff has delayed me again by about 2 weeks.
Beta 4 should be out next week and the final release 1-2 weeks after that. Thanks for everyones patience on this matter. It has taken longer than anticipated to resolve all the issues but at least we are not compromising quality.
Regards,
Paavo.
Beta 4 should be out next week and the final release 1-2 weeks after that. Thanks for everyones patience on this matter. It has taken longer than anticipated to resolve all the issues but at least we are not compromising quality.
Regards,
Paavo.