Aams (auto Audio Mastering System)

AAMS (Auto Audio Mastering System)
WWW.CURIOZA.COM / WWW.SINED.NL

I gave it a try and i must admit its really not bad for an auto mastering system.
You load your rendered wave file, select a reference file (mastering preset) and it takes about 5 - 10 minutes for the whole process to complete. Give you a logfile afterwards about what actions where taken.

Here is example of logfile :

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AAMS Auto Audio Mastering System - Mastering Document

Source File : dow-trance.aam
Reference File : @Nederlands RMS.aam

Equalizer Suggestion - Settings

(1) Freq. : 18 Hz M : -2.1 dB L : -1.8 dB R : -2.3 dB
(2) Freq. : 36 Hz M : -1.8 dB L : -1.6 dB R : -2.0 dB
(3) Freq. : 56 Hz M : -5.0 dB L : -4.8 dB R : -5.3 dB
(4) Freq. : 78 Hz M : 0.6 dB L : 0.7 dB R : 0.4 dB
(5) Freq. : 102 Hz M : 1.6 dB L : 1.8 dB R : 1.4 dB
(6) Freq. : 128 Hz M : 1.1 dB L : 1.1 dB R : 1.1 dB
(7) Freq. : 157 Hz M : 0.7 dB L : 1.0 dB R : 0.4 dB
(8) Freq. : 189 Hz M : 1.7 dB L : 1.8 dB R : 1.6 dB
(9) Freq. : 224 Hz M : 4.4 dB L : 4.5 dB R : 4.3 dB
(10) Freq. : 263 Hz M : 3.6 dB L : 3.8 dB R : 3.4 dB
(11) Freq. : 306 Hz M : 2.2 dB L : 2.6 dB R : 1.7 dB
(12) Freq. : 353 Hz M : 4.4 dB L : 4.4 dB R : 4.4 dB
(13) Freq. : 405 Hz M : 2.4 dB L : 2.6 dB R : 2.2 dB
(14) Freq. : 462 Hz M : 4.1 dB L : 4.6 dB R : 3.5 dB
(15) Freq. : 525 Hz M : 3.1 dB L : 3.3 dB R : 2.9 dB
(16) Freq. : 594 Hz M : 1.1 dB L : 0.8 dB R : 1.4 dB
(17) Freq. : 670 Hz M : 1.5 dB L : 1.4 dB R : 1.6 dB
(18) Freq. : 755 Hz M : -1.4 dB L : -1.4 dB R : -1.5 dB
(19) Freq. : 847 Hz M : -1.8 dB L : -1.4 dB R : -2.1 dB
(20) Freq. : 949 Hz M : -2.9 dB L : -2.7 dB R : -3.2 dB
(21) Freq. : 1062 Hz M : -1.7 dB L : -1.7 dB R : -1.8 dB
(22) Freq. : 1186 Hz M : -2.4 dB L : -2.3 dB R : -2.6 dB
(23) Freq. : 1322 Hz M : -0.9 dB L : -0.6 dB R : -1.3 dB
(24) Freq. : 1472 Hz M : -0.9 dB L : -0.7 dB R : -1.0 dB
(25) Freq. : 1638 Hz M : -1.3 dB L : -1.2 dB R : -1.4 dB
(26) Freq. : 1820 Hz M : -1.6 dB L : -1.3 dB R : -2.0 dB
(27) Freq. : 2021 Hz M : -1.4 dB L : -1.2 dB R : -1.5 dB
(28) Freq. : 2243 Hz M : -0.5 dB L : -0.5 dB R : -0.6 dB
(29) Freq. : 2486 Hz M : 0.5 dB L : 0.6 dB R : 0.4 dB
(30) Freq. : 2755 Hz M : 1.0 dB L : 1.1 dB R : 0.8 dB
(31) Freq. : 3051 Hz M : 1.0 dB L : 1.1 dB R : 0.9 dB
(32) Freq. : 3377 Hz M : 2.2 dB L : 2.2 dB R : 2.2 dB
(33) Freq. : 3736 Hz M : 1.6 dB L : 1.7 dB R : 1.6 dB
(34) Freq. : 4131 Hz M : 1.7 dB L : 1.7 dB R : 1.6 dB
(35) Freq. : 4567 Hz M : 1.5 dB L : 1.6 dB R : 1.4 dB
(36) Freq. : 5046 Hz M : 1.4 dB L : 1.5 dB R : 1.3 dB
(37) Freq. : 5575 Hz M : 1.7 dB L : 1.8 dB R : 1.5 dB
(38) Freq. : 6157 Hz M : 1.9 dB L : 1.9 dB R : 1.8 dB
(39) Freq. : 6799 Hz M : 2.5 dB L : 2.5 dB R : 2.4 dB
(40) Freq. : 7505 Hz M : 3.3 dB L : 3.4 dB R : 3.3 dB
(41) Freq. : 8283 Hz M : 2.9 dB L : 2.9 dB R : 2.8 dB
(42) Freq. : 9141 Hz M : 2.2 dB L : 2.4 dB R : 2.1 dB
(43) Freq. : 10085 Hz M : 2.6 dB L : 2.7 dB R : 2.5 dB
(44) Freq. : 11125 Hz M : 1.6 dB L : 1.8 dB R : 1.4 dB
(45) Freq. : 12271 Hz M : 1.9 dB L : 2.0 dB R : 1.8 dB
(46) Freq. : 13533 Hz M : 1.4 dB L : 1.5 dB R : 1.3 dB
(47) Freq. : 14924 Hz M : 0.7 dB L : 0.7 dB R : 0.7 dB
(48) Freq. : 16455 Hz M : 0.9 dB L : 0.8 dB R : 0.9 dB
(49) Freq. : 18143 Hz M : -0.4 dB L : -0.1 dB R : -0.6 dB
(50) Freq. : 20000 Hz M : 0.9 dB L : 1.2 dB R : 0.6 dB

Compressor Suggestion - Settings

Compressor Band : 1
Start Frequency : 5.3 Hz
End Frequency : 120.9 Hz
Compression M : 0.9 dB
Compression Left : 0.8 dB
Compression Right : 0.9 dB

Compressor Band : 2
Start Frequency : 120.9 Hz
End Frequency : 2000.0 Hz
Compression M : 1.6 dB
Compression Left : 1.7 dB
Compression Right : 1.5 dB

Compressor Band : 3
Start Frequency : 2000.0 Hz
End Frequency : 10081.9 Hz
Compression M : 1.1 dB
Compression Left : 1.1 dB
Compression Right : 1.0 dB

Compressor Band : 4
Start Frequency : 10081.9 Hz
End Frequency : 20000.0 Hz
Compression M : 1.7 dB
Compression Left : 1.5 dB
Compression Right : 1.8 dB

DSP-EQ Results

Fader End Volume L : -3.7 dB
Fader End Volume R : -3.7 dB

DSP-Compressor Results

Compressor band : 1
Start Frequency : 5.3 Hz
End Frequency : 120.9 Hz
Suggestion Mono : 0.9 dB

Suggestion Left : 0.8 dB
Measured Left : -0.8 dB
Differences Left : 0.0 dB
Threshold Left : -3.7 dB
AGC Correct Left : OK.

Suggestion Right : 0.9 dB
Measured Right : -0.9 dB
Differences Right : 0.0 dB
Threshold Right : -3.7 dB
AGC Correct Right : OK.

Compressor band : 2
Start Frequency : 120.9 Hz
End Frequency : 2000.0 Hz
Suggestion Mono : 1.6 dB

Suggestion Left : 1.7 dB
Measured Left : -1.7 dB
Differences Left : 0.0 dB
Threshold Left : -4.4 dB
AGC Correct Left : OK.

Suggestion Right : 1.5 dB
Measured Right : -1.5 dB
Differences Right : 0.0 dB
Threshold Right : -4.4 dB
AGC Correct Right : OK.

Compressor band : 3
Start Frequency : 2000.0 Hz
End Frequency : 10081.9 Hz
Suggestion Mono : 1.1 dB

Suggestion Left : 1.1 dB
Measured Left : -1.1 dB
Differences Left : 0.0 dB
Threshold Left : -4.4 dB
AGC Correct Left : OK.

Suggestion Right : 1.0 dB
Measured Right : -1.0 dB
Differences Right : 0.0 dB
Threshold Right : -4.4 dB
AGC Correct Right : OK.

Compressor band : 4
Start Frequency : 10081.9 Hz
End Frequency : 20000.0 Hz
Suggestion Mono : 1.7 dB

Suggestion Left : 1.5 dB
Measured Left : -1.5 dB
Differences Left : 0.0 dB
Threshold Left : -5.2 dB
AGC Correct Left : OK.

Suggestion Right : 1.8 dB
Measured Right : -1.8 dB
Differences Right : 0.0 dB
Threshold Right : -5.2 dB
AGC Correct Right : OK.

DSP-Compressor AGC Status

All AGC Correct!

Fader End Volume : 0.00 dB
Fader End Balance : 0.00 dB

DSP-Loudness Results

Master End Balance : 0.00 dB
Master End Loudness : 3.11 dB

=======================================
Personally i tried some presets (The normal master preset seems to be very nice).

I think this is a good program for those who don’t know how to master manually like a studio expert, but still want to have decent sound in the final stages. :walkman:

Of course many believe that mastering should be done manually and not automatic.

:blink: Really?

…checks it out…

And it’s free. I’ll be trying this for sure, comparing to my own pre/post mastering results.

Sweet.

It sounds alright… it’s trialware though, but not bad…
It does not work on all wave files though… got an invalid floeting point error one one of my files :P

I’m waiting for Foo’s comment on this…

If you eat McDonald’s all day you’ll get sick.

in the epic battle of man vs. machine 2008, master dollin ends the machines petty existence with one hit of his trident. forever, the machines shall be slave to man, to do men’s bidding, not their own. this great battle will never be forgotten. we shall remember thee FOREVER!..Ever…ever…

:lol:

;)

btw it gives informations you can use on very low and very high frequencies… sometimes you can have big mess on thoses frequencies that you can t hear very well

Good advice

At least it is a nice way to be able to comfortably call in sick at your boss’s office.

Gave this a go and i must say it’s pretty awesome!

It’s not just an automatic process, you can do all kinds of stuff manually too.

I’ve been pokingaroundwith AAMS the last few days to try to understand what it can do. There are a few videos on YouTube by (Ibelieve the author of the program. I find them a bit hard to follow because there is littlenarrationand the resolution is poor. I had to do a lot of “pause, go back, watch again”

The software allows you to skip the automated part and step through the stages of mastering a song.

At each step you should be able to tweak the settings (EQ, compression, loudness). You should be able to also save off your changes to new files that can then be loaded again later.

The UI is somewhat clunky; there’s a lot of mouse-driven slider manipulation that makes it hard to get precise values. Worse, every time I tried to save a reference file I got a message that it was corrupted (and the currently loaded reference file seemed to get corrupted as well). I suggest you make back ups of all the provided source and reference *.aam files in case you need to replace them.

That was with ver 2.5. Version 3 has more restrictions. Ver 2.5 let me save off a wav file at each step. Ver 3 says I need to buy the pro version to do that. The how-to videos I watched were for version 2.5. Ver 3 has a some UI changes so it’s unclear to me if I have the same options.

Both of them give me errors of one kind or another when saving data files.

Every so often I would get something along the lines of a null pointer exception (I don’t recall the actual details, but it was in that realm). Basically, the software was failing toadequatelycheck what it was trying to do.

Here’s my biggest concern: The program wants to run withadministratorprivileges. Every time. If you have the default UAC settings in place you’ll be prompted to allow the program to run every time.

The program’s web site has a page devoted to teachingpeoplehow to degrade the UAC security on Windows:http://www.curioza.com/index.php/en/windows-problems#compatibillity

This is a buggy 32-bit Windows XP program. I do not generally expect all software to be bug-free. I do not, however, want to run known-to-be-buggy software using adminprivileges.

The admin requirements seem to be an issue with version 3. I have been able to run ver 2.5 without having to grant it admin rights (and without having to lower the security on my box). But ver 2.5 seems more buggy that ver 3.

It’s a shame; the software, when it works, is quite slick. However I cannot get my head around a developer telling people to degrade their OS security in order to run aprogrambuilt for anunsupportedversionof Windows.

Ver 2.5 seems good enough for theautomatedmastering as well as for stepping through and checking out the visualizations. I found it unreliable for hand-tweaked mastering because of assorted program errors.

There seems to be ways to get the analysis data and EQ/compression/limiter settings (at least in ver 2.5). Makes me wonder if there’s a way to use AAMS for initialanalysisand then import those settings into tools/fx in Renoise, and work from there.