2010-06-28

Leave it to the Germans to find a way to remove the annoying sound of the Vuvuzelas from the World Cup: Instructions to filter the Vuvuzela (using free Windows software):
  1. Download VSThost, unzip and run from the directory where you saved it (it doesn't come with an installer).
  2. Donwload a VST equalizer plugin like ReaQ or Electri-Q and run the installer or get the new Fraunhofer Vuvuzela-Filter-Plugin which might lead to superior results.
  3. In VSThost, press Ctrl+N and choose the plug-in from step 2 (e.g. "reaeq-standalone.dll" or "Electri-Q (posihfopit edition).dll"). The resulting configuration should look like this:
    VSThost configuration with equalizer
  4. If you're using the new Fraunhofer Vuvuzela-Filter-Plugin, follow the configuration instructions here.

    If you're using an equalizer plugin, configure it to tune out the frequencies 235Hz, 465Hz, 930Hz and 1860Hz. Start by clicking on the plugin edit symbol (see arrow below):
    Configure equalizer
    Note: Bandwidth values above are very conservative, you'll probably want to increase them later (while listening to the results).

    If you don't want to manually configure the equalizer, use the Electri-Q plugin and download and unzip Hendrick's preset. Click on the plugin edit symbol (as above) and then right-click in the "Presets" display, choose "Import Preset" and select the presets file:
  5. Specify the audio input and output ports in VSThost (completely updated June 18):

    I) If the sound is coming from an external device (e.g. TV line out), connect it to your PC, then choose Devices>Wave from the menu in VSThost and select the corresponding "line in" as the input port. Depending on where you want to listen to the processed audio, choose "loudspeakers", "line out", etc. as the output port [the actual names are more complicated, like "MME: loudspeakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)"].

    II) If you're watching streaming video in your browser, I currently don't know how you'd manage to get filtering to work without buying a second sound card or a software called Virtual Audio Cable (trial version available). Please read below for a possible solution for SHOUTcast streams and let me know in the comments if you have a better idea.

    IIa) If you're using Virtual Audio Cable, set "Line 1 Virtual Audio Cable" both as the standard playback device in your Windows audio settings and as the input port for VSThost (in the Devices>Wave menu), then choose the desired output port ("loudspeakers" or something similar). This way, the original streaming audio is sent to the virtual audio cable, then runs through the filter before being output to the speakers.

    IIb) If you're using a second sound card like the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (available for a few € on auction sites), specify "Loudspeakers / Creative SB Audigy 2" as the standard playback device in Windows but don't connect any actual speakers to the card. Then go to Devices>Wave in VSThost and choose "What U Hear" as the input port and your regular loudspeakers (connected to the existing sound card or onboard chip) as the output port. Note: If you bought some stupid second sound card which does not have a "What U Hear" or "Stereo Mix" channel you'll have to run an actual cable from one card to the other.
  6. That's it. Make sure "Autosave PlugIn Banks" and "Autosave Performance" are selected in the File menu so that you don't have to redo everything the next time you start VSThost.
Other things you could try if the Vuvuzela still annoys you: First posted June 15, 2010.

2010-06-12

Permalink 22:59:34 by Stephan, Categories: English , Tags: luxembourg, maps

Everyone knows Google Maps (which BTW now allows you to add your local business for free), but there's more:

  1. Microsoft's Bing Maps can show you Luxembourg in an awesome "bird's eye" aerial view with multiple angles.
  2. User-generated OpenStreetMap is the best site to find hiking and biking trails which are not displayed on Google or Bing.
  3. GR-Atlas visualizes a range of topics from the greater region (found on wort.lu).
  4. Luxmap displays "relevant local village and business information" (currently only for Dudelange, Hesperange and Roeser), though I doubt their attempt to get businesses to pay for a listing will be very successful.

2010-05-28

Permalink 13:14:05 by Stephan, Categories: English , Tags: howald, tunnel

Preparatory works at the Howald tunnel (A1) are starting this weekend, leading to the following traffic restrictions from Friday (28.05.) 20:00h until Sunday 06:00h (source):

  • direction Trier: complete closure between "Croix de Gasperich" and "Irrgarten".
  • direction Gasperich: only one lane available between "Kirchberg" and "Croix de Gasperich".

The actual works are scheduled to start June 28 and are going to last until November. Since there are no viable alternative routes, you'll probably be telling your grandchildren about the legendary traffic jams:

"Back when oil was still plentiful, I used to drive my car to the bank where I worked and that one summer they had to renovate the tunnel and..."
"Mom, Grandpa needs his pills! He's talking gibberish again!"

Here's the official website for the tunnel works with further information.

2010-05-18

Permalink 12:05:34 by Stephan, Categories: English , Tags: calligraphy, chinese, city concorde, luxembourg, tea
City Concorde

The City Concorde shopping center has set up a few stands where you can have your name* written in traditional Chinese characters, buy Chinese tea, try (free!) Chinese food, etc., during regular opening hours. It's not the world expo, but it's surprisingly nice. Saturday (22.05.) is the last day.

*It won't be exactly you name.

2010-05-14

Deutsche Mark

If I had any loyal readers, they'd know that I like to post BS from time to time. Side effect: I'm pretty good at identifying BS, too. So let's have a look at the signs for the imminent return of the Deutsche Mark (DM), shall we?

These signs can be divided into two groups:

1. Stuff that someone said: informants close to Merkel, overheard conversations between bankers, etc. Well guess what, I can't verify this and those who could are not making any efforts to do so.

2. Concrete signs:

2a. The new bank notes (which look just like the old ones), ready for distribution: fake, original image is here. Got to admire the effort, though.

2b. KITCO's "half-ready" page listing precious metals in DM? Wayback machine says that this page has been around for years. It's obviously not "half-ready", but "half broken" because it's a ghost page that's not maintained anymore.

2c. Gysi's comment. He's criticizing that politicians are just reacting to the developments, running around and throwing money at every new hole that opens in the ground [my words]. That's the context. Then he says: "There's a lot of confusion and I don't know what will happen next Friday, but something's going to happen so I'll see you again then." Something is going to happen, again, like it does all the time. What exactly? He doesn't know, nobody knows.

2d. Invoices which show the former currency in anticipation of its return together with the euro (like this one): some companies never stopped writing invoices like this, particularly in France (Pixmania is a French company). Also: old exchange rate.

I have friends who still calculate in LUF. OMG, that means they're in on the top secret plan! I'll go interrogate them later and should they eventually just turn around and walk
away this can only mean one thing: they know everything but were sworn to secrecy!

2e. Armored convoy transporting money: I don't see any DM in that video.

2f. DENIC name server meltdown on Wednesday: I admit it, for a moment I thought about running to the BCL and buying whatever gold coins they still have. However, after an hour and a half the German internet was back to normal. Sure, if you're planning something like a surprise currency replacement it'd be nice to have an internet blackout. However, you wouldn't want to try this out a few days earlier, first upsetting all the crazies and then giving them a chance to write down the IP addresses of their favorite websites so that they won't be affected when you repeat the procedure a few days later. Makes no sense. Nice adrenaline spike, though.

I'm absolutely not saying that the Euro's going to last forever. There is, however, no proof and no convincing indication that the DM is about to return this weekend. What we're witnessing here is what psychologists call "scenario fulfillment"- people see what they expect.

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