How to Install and Configure ATSurround Processor in foobar2000

ATSurround Processor for foobar2000: Best Settings for Music and MoviesATSurround Processor is a third‑party component for foobar2000 that enhances stereo-to-surround processing and spatial imaging, useful for listeners who want a wider, more immersive soundstage from stereo material. This article explains how ATSurround works, which listening setups benefit most, recommended settings for different content types (music vs. movies), installation and configuration steps, troubleshooting tips, and suggestions for further tuning.

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What ATSurround Processor Does

ATSurround aims to create convincing spatial cues from stereo sources. It uses phase, timing, and level manipulations to synthesize additional channels or to widen the stereo image. In foobar2000, ATSurround runs as an output processing component that intercepts audio before it reaches your sound device or ASIO/WASAPI driver and applies surround/upmix or widening algorithms.

Key effects you’ll notice:

• Wider stereo image — instruments and ambience feel more spread out.
• Perceived surround channels — derivation of rear/center cues from stereo material.
• Improved immersion for movie soundtracks and some genres of music.

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Who Should Use ATSurround

ATSurround is most useful when:

• You listen through multi‑speaker setups (5.⁄₇.1) but mostly play stereo sources.
• You use headphones and want a more open, spatial presentation (when paired with appropriate head‑related processing).
• You enjoy cinematic or ambient genres where room and reverb cues enhance enjoyment.

Avoid aggressive processing for critical mixing/mastering work, or for highly produced stereo masters where the original spatial intent should be preserved.

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Installation and Initial Setup

1. Download ATSurround Processor for foobar2000 from a trusted source (component repository or developer page).
2. In foobar2000, go to File → Preferences → Components → Install, select the downloaded .fb2k-component file, then restart foobar2000 when prompted.
3. Confirm installation: Preferences → Components should list ATSurround Processor.
4. Configure output: Preferences → Playback → Output → choose your preferred output device (WASAPI/ASIO recommended for lowest latency and best channel control).
5. Open ATSurround settings (usually found in Preferences → Playback → Output → ATSurround or a dedicated configuration dialog).

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Recommended Settings — Overview

Below are starting points. Your actual best settings depend on your playback system, room acoustics, and personal taste. Make small incremental changes and A/B test with reference tracks.

• Mode: choose between “Stereo Widening”, “Upmix to 5.1”, or “Custom” depending on setup.
• Strength / Amount: start at 30–50% for music, 50–70% for movies.
• Center Extract / Dialog Enhance: higher for movies (60–80%), low for music (10–20%).
• Surround Delay: 15–40 ms for subtle envelopment; longer delays create more obvious echoing.
• Low-frequency handling (LFE / Bass management): engage for multi‑speaker systems; set crossover to match your subwoofer (80 Hz is common).
• Bypass/Blend control: use to mix processed and original signals — try 70% processed for movies, 30–50% for critical music listening.

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Best Settings for Music

Goal: natural width and depth without phasey artifacts or loss of punch.

• Mode: Stereo Widening or Gentle Upmix.
• Strength: 25–40%.
• Width control: +10–20% (if separate).
• Center Extract: 5–15% (avoid moving main vocals too far from center).
• Surround Delay: 15–25 ms.
• Pre/Post EQ: apply if ATSurround causes muddiness; slightly cut 200–400 Hz and lift 8–12 kHz for air.
• Blend: 40–60% processed, to preserve original imaging while adding space.

Use a mix of songs with vocals, acoustic instruments, electronic tracks to judge settings.

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Best Settings for Movies

Goal: clear dialog, strong envelopment, controlled bass with LFE for impact.

• Mode: Upmix to 5.⁄₇.1.
• Strength: 55–75% (higher than music).
• Center Extract / Dialog Enhance: 60–80% to keep voices focused.
• Surround Delay: 20–40 ms for realistic envelopment.
• LFE: enabled; crossover at 80 Hz (unless your system uses a different standard).
• Rear Level: +1 to +4 dB relative to front to enhance immersion.
• Reverb/Room Size (if available): medium to large for cinematic feel.
• Blend: 70–85% processed to emphasize surround effects.

Test with a dialogue-heavy scene and a blockbuster action sequence to balance clarity and impact.

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Headphone Considerations

ATSurround can widen headphones, but requires care to avoid unnatural cues:

• Use headphone mode if ATSurround includes HRTF or binaural options.
• Lower strength vs. speakers: 10–35%.
• Avoid large surround delays; 5–20 ms is safer.
• Prefer subtle inward/outward widening and preserve center anchor for vocals and dialog.

Pair ATSurround with a headphone equalizer (or use foobar2000’s DSP Equalizer) to correct any tonal shifts.

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Calibration and Testing

• Use familiar reference tracks: vocal-centric, percussion-heavy, acoustic, and ambient pieces.
• For movies, test with scenes that have both dialog and complex effects.
• Toggle bypass to compare processed vs. original quickly.
• When using a subwoofer, run a bass management test tone and set crossover correctly.
• Measure for phase issues: if bass collapses or stereo center weakens, reduce strength or adjust center extract.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Muddiness/boomy bass: lower low-frequency processing, adjust crossover, or apply a HPF below 40–60 Hz.
• Vocal moved off-center: reduce center extract or increase center gain.
• Phasey or hollow sound: lower widening/strength and check output routing (ensure correct channel mapping).
• No rear output on multichannel: verify WASAPI/ASIO output mode and that Windows sound device supports the channel count.
• High CPU usage: reduce processing quality or sample rate.

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Advanced Tips

• Save presets: create separate presets for music and movies, and for headphones vs. speakers.
• Combine with other DSPs: use a parametric EQ before ATSurround to tame problematic frequencies, or after to fine-tune.
• Use ASIO for multi-channel hardware to preserve discrete channels and avoid Windows resampling.
• For critical listening, create an A/B playlist with processed/unprocessed versions for longer-term comparison.

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Example Presets (Starting Points)

Music — Gentle Widening

• Mode: Stereo Widening
• Strength: 30%
• Center Extract: 10%
• Surround Delay: 20 ms
• Blend: 50%
• LFE: Off (unless playing through 2.1+ with sub)

Movies — Cinematic Upmix

• Mode: Upmix to 5.1
• Strength: 65%
• Center Extract: 70%
• Surround Delay: 30 ms
• LFE: On; Crossover 80 Hz
• Rear Level: +3 dB
• Blend: 80%

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Final Notes

ATSurround is a powerful tool for enhancing spatial impression from stereo sources in foobar2000. Use moderate settings for music to preserve intent and stronger settings for cinematic content. Always trust your ears and keep multiple presets so you can switch quickly between listening modes.