Prosoft Eng Hear Instruction Manual

HEAR

User Guide

doc rev: 0408-4

Hear User Guide Page: 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction________________________________________________________________ 7!

2 System Requirements ________________________________________________________ 7!

3 Installation_________________________________________________________________ 7!

4 Registering_________________________________________________________________ 7!

5 Using Hear _________________________________________________________________ 7!

6 Presets ____________________________________________________________________ 8!

7 General Tab_______________________________________________________________ 10!

7.1 Volume _________________________________________________________________ 10!

7.2 Super Bass ______________________________________________________________ 10!

7.3 Ambience _______________________________________________________________ 11!

7.4 DeWoofer _______________________________________________________________ 11!

7.6 Fidelity _________________________________________________________________ 11!

7.7 FX Chain________________________________________________________________ 11!

7.8 Enable __________________________________________________________________ 11!

8 Equalizer tab ______________________________________________________________ 12!

8.1 PreAmp _________________________________________________________________ 14!

9 Mixer ____________________________________________________________________ 14!

9.1 DSP ____________________________________________________________________ 14!

9.2 Volume _________________________________________________________________ 15!

9.3 Application ______________________________________________________________ 15!

9.4 Activity _________________________________________________________________ 15!

10 3D Tab __________________________________________________________________ 15!

11 Ambience tab_____________________________________________________________ 17!

12 FX tab___________________________________________________________________ 18!

13 Maximizer _______________________________________________________________ 19!

14 Brainwave Synthesizer _____________________________________________________ 20!

15 Limiter __________________________________________________________________ 21!

16 Space tab ________________________________________________________________ 22!

17 Fidelity __________________________________________________________________ 23!

18 Speaker _________________________________________________________________ 24!

19 Subwoofer _______________________________________________________________ 25!

20 Frequency Asked Questions_________________________________________________ 26!

Hear User Guide Page: 3

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Preset ________________________________________________________________8!

Figure 2 Manual Preset _________________________________________________________8!

Figure 3 Save Preset As _________________________________________________________9!

Figure 4 General Tab __________________________________________________________10!

Figure 5 EQ Window __________________________________________________________12!

Figure 6 Curve Window________________________________________________________13!

Figure 7 Resolution options _____________________________________________________14!

Figure 8 Mixer Window________________________________________________________14!

Figure 9 3D Window __________________________________________________________15!

Figure 10 Ambience Window ___________________________________________________17!

Figure 11 FX Window _________________________________________________________18!

Figure 12 Maximizer Window ___________________________________________________19!

Figure 13 Brainwave Window ___________________________________________________20!

Figure 14 Limiter Window______________________________________________________21!

Figure 15 Space Window _______________________________________________________22!

Figure 16 Fidelity Window _____________________________________________________23!

Figure 17 Speaker Window _____________________________________________________24!

Figure 18 Subwoofer Window ___________________________________________________25!

Hear User Guide Page: 4

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Hear User Guide Page: 5

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Hear User Guide Page: 7

1 Introduction

Hear greatly improves sound quality in movies and music throughout all of your Mac OS X
applications. Hear utilizes the hardware already in your computer and combines that with state of
the art DSP programming to give you additional bass, spatialization, 3D surround enhancements
of any sound played through your Mac.

Hear extends sound beyond speakers, improves space perception and turns two-speaker system
into surround environment. With particular settings, technology can generally improve the
sound quality and dynamic range of any type of speakers and headphones.

2 System Requirements

Hear requires:

- Mac OS X 10.4 or higher (Leopard compatible)

- Intel or PPC

- 256mb or more memory

3 Installation

To install Hear click on Hear.app, this will open the installer program and prompt you for your
Mac OS X Administration password. Enter in your password then click OK and then
“Continue”. To launch Hear go to the Hear folder in Applications, and click on Hear.app. To
uninstall Hear menu>Hear>Uninstall.

4 Registering

When you start an un-activated copy of Hear, you will be presented with an Activation window
for you to enter in your registration information. You must enter in your name and serial number,
click in the checkbox for, “ I agree the license agreement”, and then click “Activate”. If using in
Demo mode simply click the Demo button (no serial number required).

5 Using Hear

To launch Hear, go to the Application folder and double click on the Hear folder and then on the
Hear.app. This is a system-wide control panel you will use to make adjustments to all of the
sound in OS X. You are not required to have the Hear control panel open to enjoy. The Hear
Audio Server handles all the audio processing in background transparently.

Hear User Guide Page: 8

6 Presets

Hear provides a wide variety of presets for you to choose from, genres include everything from
Dance music to Movie Trailers. You can also select the type of environment the sound will be
played in. Only registered users are allowed to create and save presets.

Figure 1 Preset

To see all the available presets select the pull up/pull down arrow where it reads “Manual”.

Figure 2 Manual Preset

Hear also allows you to modify existing presets. Simply select the preset you wish to change,
make your changes in any of the feature options, then select Save Preset under the Hear file
menu. If you decide you wish restore modified preset to factory setting, go to Hear
menu>Restore Preset.

Hear User Guide Page: 9

To create a new preset: Simply select “Manual”, make changes in any of the feature options. To
save, go to the Hear menu>File>Save Preset As. A dialog box will appear where you can enter
the new preset name or choose existing preset name. You can also choose to save this in any of
the existing preset folders or create a new folder.

Figure 3 Save Preset As

To delete a preset, select “Delete Preset” from Hear file menu.

Hear User Guide Page: 10

7 General Tab

General audio control that allows you to see and control sound quality.

Figure 4 General Tab

7.1 Volume

Use to gain effect of additional sound amplification or attenuation, turning too high will likely
cause sound to distort (clipping). Also, this slider is useful to lower sound volume in case
distortion occurs (e.g. too many options are turned on simultaneously).

To adjust the Volume; Position the mouse over the dial and mouse click up, you will notice the
volume dial move clockwise to adjust the volume higher. To turn volume down, mouse click
down and this will adjust counterclockwise. You can also click to the red dot right of “Volume
(db)” to automatically adjust the volume half way, red light will turn on.

7.2 Super Bass

This slider adjusts amount of additional SUB- and MID- bass frequencies sent to the speaker
system. This effect is useful for some speakers, which lack the power in this kind of frequency.

Hear User Guide Page: 11

7.3 Ambience

This allows you to add a reverb effect to the output.

7.4 DeWoofer

Removes “Woof” like sound of mid frequency range. DeWoofer correction can generally
improve quality of old recordings. DeWoofer can also greatly improve sounding of standard
desktop speakers, laptop speakers or even low-fi headphones. For all normal speakers systems,
recommended value is 25-30%, while with laptop speakers it may perform better while turn to
higher point. DeWoofer brings new level of quality, when used with SuperBass effect. The
approximate DeWoofer value of 60% is suitable for laptop speakers and light multimedia
headphones (e.g., made by Genius, QuickShot, Typhoon, etc.)>

7.6 Fidelity

Fidelity effect is designed to enhance sound image by introducing additional harmonics in high
frequency range. The technology makes the music sound brighter and reduces low MP3 quality
compression artifacts. Fidelity effect also improves aggressive 3d stereo expansion accuracy. In
professional audio world similar hardware devices are often called ENHANCERS and
EXCITERS.

7.7 FX Chain

This function allows you to change the chaining order of the effects applied to the audio.
Experiment with this setting to find best possible chain layout.

7.8 Enable

The rest of the controls are checkboxes. Each checkbox is called after corresponding effect or tab
name, and is used to either enable or disable settings for effects on particular tab.

Note: If checkbox is not checked, controls on appropriate tab will produce no effect. In order for
particular tab to affect sound, the corresponding checkbox must be checked.

Hear User Guide Page: 12

8 Equalizer tab

Hear features the most advanced N-band equalizer with built-in peak limiters.

Figure 5 EQ Window

You have a choice here to “Display As” Curve or Sliders. For fine tuning adjustments it is
recommended you use the Slider.

Hear User Guide Page: 13

Figure 6 Curve Window

Curve:
In curve mode you can click and drag the mouse on the band (vertical line with number
underneath) and move mouse pointer up or down to fine tune.

Slider:
In slider mode move the slider up or down to adjust higher or lower.

Reset:
Selecting this will reset to default.

Resolution:
Default is 10-band equalizer. You can adjust from 10 to 256 band equalizer, understand
increasing the number of bands will result in more CPU usage.

Figure 5 Resolution options

Hear User Guide Page: 14

Enable: Check box to enable EQ tab.

8.1 PreAmp

By using preamp you can gain effect for additional sound amplification or attenuation. Tuning to
high will cause sound to distort (clipping). If distortion occurs lower the preamp by moving
slider to the left.

Figure 7 Resolution options

9 Mixer

This allows you to enable or disable Hear sound control for a particular application.

Figure 8 Mixer Window

9.1 DSP

Digital Signal Processor indicates the listed application is enhanced by Hear. Click on the
triangle to disable/enable sound enhancements for the selected application..

Hear User Guide Page: 15

9.2 Volume

To adjust volume for particular application, move slider to the right to make louder, or to the left
to make volume lower.

9.3 Application

Which Application you will be selecting to adjust, enable or disable sound.

9.4 Activity

Displays level of sound activity.

10 3D Tab

This is an effect of expanding audio environment out of actual speaker positions.

Figure 9 3D Window

Hear User Guide Page: 16

Hear 3D surround technology is an effect of expanding audio environment out of the actual
speaker positions. Normally you hear the sound in between the speakers, if the sound comes
from the left speaker, it is not heard from the left, but from the speakers position.

When you are sitting in the middle of two front speakers, it is possible to correct the situation by
processing the sound. 3D surround does such processing, called “expansion”. It applies several
effect envelopes on the primary input signal and outputs surround space.

Note: Speakers should be plugged in proper phase. If they are not, the sound will appear to be
closer to the center of the two speakers, instead of space expansion.
If you experience this problem, Hear allows this to be fixed in a feature called “Phase invert”.
Phase Invert is located in the Speaker tab.

10.1 3D Mode

This controls the surround effect intensity.

Normal (x1): Standard level of effect. 3D depth is 100%.
Extra (x2): Double processing. 3D depth is 30-40%.
Overload (x3): Deep ambience processing. 3D depth is 10-25%.
V1 Extended: Echoes. Preserves lows and highs.

Enable: Click to enable 3D surround.

10.2 3D

Shows the amount of effect to be applied.

10.3 Bass Adjust

This compensates feedback or bass frequencies. This option creates extended surround for low
frequencies. If you like to have a very light sounding space effect, bass adjust level should be
lowered.

Note: Fidelity (Fidelity tab) can be useful when used with 3D surround, as it brings extra fidelity
to the surround and brightens dim sound.

Hear User Guide Page: 17

11 Ambience tab

This allows you to add a reverb effect to the output.

Figure 10 Ambience Window

This effect has three options.

Room Size: Adjust according to size of room.
Dry: Specifies amount of original sound added.
Wet: Specifies the amount of reverb sound

To adjust the Wet/Dry(db); Position the mouse over the dial and mouse click up, you will notice
the Wet/Dry dial move clockwise to adjust the volume higher. To turn Wet/Dry(db) down,
mouse click down and this will adjust counterclockwise. You can also click to the left of
Wet/Dry(db) to automatically adjust Wet/Dry(db) half way. Red light will turn on.

Enable: Check box to enable Ambience tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 18

12 FX tab

This is an aggressive type of surround sound remixing. This effect includes two controls,
“Space” and “Center”. “Center” controls center bass frequencies, you can control the volume of
sounds “center”. “Space” moves the sound aside from the listener. As the effect itself is strong
enough, it is not recommended to use 100% values of Space option. Good results are often
gained at 25-30% value. This effect is also effective for narrow placed speakers, however placing
speakers closely to each other will still require the listener to in the middle of the speakers.

Figure 11 FX Window

This is essentially an Aural Exciter feature. This restores the subtle nuances that are often
damaged in the recording process.

Enable: Check box to enable FX tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 19

13 Maximizer

Adjusts the Low and High Contours.

Figure 12 Maximizer Window

Low and High Contours adjust the bell shape curve parameters.

Gain: Elevates the Low and High Contour curve.

To adjust the Gain(db); Position the mouse over the dial and mouse click up, you will notice the
Gain(db) dial move clockwise to adjust the volume higher. To turn Gain(db) down, mouse click
down and this will adjust counterclockwise. You can also click to the left of Gain(db) to
automatically adjust Gain(db) half way. Red light will turn on.

Enable: Check box to enable Maximizer tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 20

14 Brainwave Synthesizer

This includes relaxation, meditation, concentration, etc. This should be adjusted to a particular
person, headphones and music style. Each person has different ears and different audio
equipment. This affects how a person hears the sound and how the sound passes to the brain.
For example, one person can hear sounds clearly, while another person may claim the same
sound is incorrect.

Figure 13 Brainwave Window

Enable: Check box to enable Brainwave tab.

14.1 Concentration

Use this mode to wake you up in the mornings.

14.2 Light/Effective Relaxation

Designed for maximum effect while a person is awake.

14.2 Deep Relaxation

Designed for use during sleep.

Hear User Guide Page: 21

15 Limiter

This controls the level of compression.

Figure 14 Limiter Window

This effect has two options:

Ceiling: Good values for ceiling are in the range of 30 – 60%.
Threshold: Sets decibel threshold to level which compressor begins to work.

Enable: Check box to enable Limiter tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 22

16 Space tab

Creates a virtual sounding space around the listener’s position.

Figure 15 Space Window

Extended space processing creates a virtual re-sounding frame behind the listener position and
bounces the sound around. The sound gets bounced multiple times and returns to listener from
the back. While the effect utilizes only two speakers, the resounding frame is emulated in 3D
space. The width of the resounding frame gives you the spatialization effect. To get the
maximum impression, use it together with 3D surround technology.

This effect has two options.

Normal: This effect emulates sound coming from the back.
Wide: Makes the frame wider and places it closer to the listener

Enable: check box to enable Space.

Hear User Guide Page: 23

17 Fidelity

Aural Exciter Feature. Restores the subtle nuances that are often damaged in the recording
process.

Figure 16 Fidelity Window

Hear User Guide Page: 24

18 Speaker

This enhances the sound of your speakers. Hear technology supports Speaker Adjustment,
which widens the frequency range of your speaker system (or headphones) and corrects the
output phase (when speakers are assembled incorrectly).

Figure 17 Speaker Window

This effect has five options:

Reduce Bass Resonance: Allows you to control how much bass is coming through the audio.
Reduce Cabinet Resonance: Allows you to adjust mid-range frequencies resonance.
Accent Mid Range: Accents mid-frequencies resonance.
Phase Invert: This is a fully featured software fix for improperly plugged speakers. Detects
improperly connected speakers (speaker wires connected incorrectly).
Flip Stereo: Switches the L/R around.

Enable: Check box to enable Speaker tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 25

19 Subwoofer

Virtual subwoofer is a technology of expanding bass frequencies like a real subwoofer would do.
Only two speakers are needed to emulate surround subwoofer.

Figure 18 Subwoofer Window

This effect has two options.

Overdrive: This affects the sensitivity of the subwoofer
Intensity: This controls the volume of added bass frequencies

Enable: Check box to enable Subwoofer tab.

Hear User Guide Page: 26

20 Frequency Asked Questions

Q: How do I reach JoeSoft Technical Support?
A: Technical Support can be reached at:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Q: How do I launch Hear?
A: Go to the Applications folder and look for the Hear folder. Double click on the Hear.app.

Q: How do I detect the right “Phase Invert” state for my speakers?
A: Turn on any song with vocals, place speakers closely facing each and touching each other.

With one setting of “Phase Invert” the vocals will be heard clearly, while the other speaker will
be slightly quieter, or will disappear. Adjust “Phase Invert” so songs vocals are heard clearly.

Q: Can you tell me more about the “Reduce Bass Resonance”?
A: Yes. This is a good feature to use if you live close to your neighbors, you can filter out low

frequencies that bother your neighbors.