Is BURWEN BOBCAT RE still available?
No. All BURWEN BOBCAT products have been replaced by BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER and BURWEN BOBCAT TR.
I own BURWEN BOBCAT RE. Should I buy BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
Get BURWEN BOBCAT TR if mainly what you want is simplicity. Its Smooth Bobcat button includes the NO SCREECH dynamic equalization that
improves screechy recordings like old Beatles that are recorded loud. Its Pure Bobcat button is only a slight improvement over Basic Bobcat you now
have. To make a really big improvement in your audio system buy BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.
A computer with BURWEN BOBCAT can sound better than my $13,000 player? How can it be?
BURWEN BOBCAT does not attempt to make the analog signal an accurate replica of the digital signal as your player does. It actually improves the
signal by adding nearly inaudible high frequency reverberation and subtle tonal balance correction (equalization).
BURWEN BOBCAT adds what I describe as ambiance without echo. It includes a lot of what audiophiles call "air". Rough sounding recordings become
smoother and more musical because the extreme high frequency reverberation averages out the grit. Unlike natural reverberation, which tends to
obscure transient sounds, BURWEN BOBCAT stretches transients in time so they are more easily perceived and become clearer.
Conversion from CD to MP3 format loses information which cannot be restored, but the added ambiance information from the high frequency
reverberation produces better sound. Also the audibility of conversion damage is reduced for BURWEN BOBCAT processed files. Other available
processors cannot produce this type of sound. For highest quality, rip CDs to WMA lossless files and play through a 24-bit sound card or DAC
Is there a free trial period for the software?
No. Try our WEB DEMONSTRATION.
Do I need expensive vacuum tube power amplifiers?
No!!!!! BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER can save you a lot of money by equalizing your speakers much better than using the high output
impedance of expensive, low-feedback, vacuum tube amplifiers. Instead buy low distortion semiconductor amplifiers that have a lot of feedback and far
more power output.
During my 60 years of designing circuits I designed a lot of vacuum tube, transistor, and switching power amplifiers and know how each performs. In the
1950's I designed the lowest distortion vacuum tube amplifier ever, the Krohn-Hite UF-101. It was rated at 50 Watts, 0.005% total harmonic distortion,
50 dB of negative feedback, and it sold in small quantities as a laboratory instrument for 20 years. Today I wouldn't take a vacuum tube amplifier as a
gift. Why?
What you are really buying is not quality amplification but a high distortion equalizer. The lack of feedback in many of today's tube amplifiers gives the
amplifier high distortion and a high internal output impedance, typically in the range of 1 to 5 ohms. At some frequencies such as the fundamental cone
resonance, and crossover frequencies between drivers, the load impedance of the speaker rises. The voltage divider effect delivers more signal to the
speaker terminals at these frequencies. With some amplifier-speaker combinations the effect on frequency response is very pleasing.
This load impedance effect was epitomized in the July, 2004 Stereophile review of the world's most expensive amplifier, the $350,000/pair Wavac SH-
833, by Michael Fremer with measurements by John Atkinson, page 73. The curves clearly show up to 2 to10 dB of bass boost at 80 Hz depending
upon the load impedance. The measured distortion is shameful for even the cheapest amplifier. A vacuum tube amplifier should really be regarded as a
nice piece of furniture with wires, that glows in the dark. Use a real equalizer to improve the frequency response of your speakers!
Equalizing your speakers is not enough. Any fixed frequency response system may optimally balance the tone on about 1 in 500 pieces of available
program material. You need really flexible multichannel program equalization to balance all the rest.
In my own sound system for 30 years I used Phase Linear 400 power amplifiers that I redesigned for lower noise, -115 dB re 200 watts, and reduced
bias drift. The 34 channels each drive 1 woofer, 1 mid-range horn, or 9 or 12 of the 30 tweeters in each 13 foot speaker horn. With the 4-way
electronic crossover the equivalent sound level available is that of a single 20,000 watt monoblock. Before purchasing these amplifiers I compared one
with my Krohn-Hite UF-101 Ultra-Low Distortion Power Amplifier. The sounds were identical except that the Phase Linear 400 played louder before
clipping.
In 2004 after tiring of repairing the Phase Linears whose transistors suffered thermal fatigue, I replaced them all, purchasing 19 QSC SRA1222 dual
200-watt amplifiers. I chose these amplifiers, after measuring one unit, for their 200 watts/channel, (all my speakers can handle), low internal
impedance due to high feedback, flat frequency response, low distortion, low noise (6 dB worse than my Phase Linears), high slew rate, switching
power supply, automatic gain reduction during clipping for reduced distortion, 3.5 inch rack panel size, 22 lb. weight, very low fan noise, and 3-year
warranty. They cost under $1000 each and for somewhat more money QSC offered up to 1800 watts/channel into 2 ohms in the same size. I cannot
detect any change in the sound. In 6 years of operation at 75 hrs/week, none have failed.
That is the sort of amplifier I suggest for you and there are plenty of other good amplifiers from other manufacturers in the professional area. And forget
expensive cables. They are inaudible furniture.
If my computer fails do I have to purchase BURWEN BOBCAT again?
No. Your serial number is set to allow one extra activation in case your computer fails or you want to transfer BURWEN BOBCAT to a new computer or
use a second laptop computer as a remote control. If a 2nd failure occurs, contact us for an additional activation at sales@burwenbobcat.com .
Your software license for BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER or BURWEN BOBCAT TR (which comes as part of the BURWEN BOBCAT TONE
BALANCER) allows use on two computers by the same person, you. We keep track of activations and are aware that a few customers try to game the
system. Fortunately most appreciate the hard work that went into this intellectual property, and its value in improving their music.
I did not download. How can I download without getting charged again?
View your order at the link in your email receipt. At the bottom enter your credit card number just to identify you. The download button will appear, and
your card will not be charged again.
Can I upgrade BURWEN BOBCAT TR to BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER?
Yes. Send an email to sales1@burwenbobcat.com letting us know. We will return a coupon number for full $109.00 credit against the purchase of
either BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER or AUDIO SPLENDOR if purchased before December 31, 2012. Enter the coupon number during the
purchase process.
What is the difference between BURWEN BOBCAT RE and the new more expensive BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE had two windows, Big Bobcat with 18 different processed sounds, and Basic Bobcat with one processed sound, plus Bypass.
We learned that customers were using Basic 3 sound almost all the time and ignoring the others. The new BURWEN BOBCAT TR has two processed
sound buttons, Pure and Smooth plus Bypass. Pure is a slightly refined Basic processing, which is very neutral and works for all music tracks. Smooth
attenuates the shrill 3500 Hz region and additionally incorporates new NO SCREECH technology. NO SCREECH further attenuates the 3500 Hz region
dynamically, but only during a singer's loudest high notes. Simultaneously it boosts the 600 Hz region to make the voice fuller and retain the dynamic
impact. It is very effective in making screechy voices like the Beatles listenable at loud levels without making the instruments too dull.
Old Basic 3 included enough extreme low bass boost to require setting the signal level 5 dB lower to prevent overload on some rock music. New Pure
and Smooth both have reduced bass boost and are set the normal 0 dB level, the same as Bypass. So now if you use the high-speed file converter to
make processed MP3 or WMA Lossless files for your iPod or car, the files are all at normal level.
BURWEN BOBCAT TR is a digital signal processing (DSP) program designed to mate with the Microsoft Excel workbook, BURWEN BOBCAT TONE
BALANCER.xls. The combination can now deliver 2-channel stereo or 5-channel custom processed sound from ordinary 2-channel music files in the
Windows Music Player library, by adding ambiance into the rear and front channels.
I use iTunes and an iPod. Will BURWEN BOBCAT work on those, so that when I play back MP3 files they will sound better?
Yes. BURWEN BOBCAT TR can convert at high speed WAV, WMA, or MP3 files to MP3 format at 128 kbps playable on an iPod. By dragging and
dropping files onto the Bobcat window, you can convert one file at a time, with its own Bobcat button selection, or a number of files, or a folder full with
a common Bobcat selection. It will make a definite improvement in a 128 kbps MP3 file. For minimum degradation due to two conversions to a low bit
rate, the input file should have a higher bit rate than 128 kbps, preferably lossless.
Is BURWEN BOBCAT TR simply an up-sampling program?
No. Bobcat operates at the 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz sampling rate of your sound card. It improves the signal by adding nearly inaudible
high frequency reverberation and subtle tonal balance correction (equalization).
Can I record with BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
Yes, if you use an inexpensive third party recording program such as Total Recorder that records the signal going to your sound card. It is easier to
use the high speed file converter in Burwen Bobcat TR to convert your music files to Bobcat processed MP3 or WMA lossless. Just drop them on the
bobcat window, one at a time or a whole folder full.
Can I record with BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER?
Yes, if you use an inexpensive third party recording program such as Total Recorder that records the signal going to your sound card. This method
records the sound produced by both the tone controls and the high frequency reveberation selection.
Is BURWEN BOBCAT RE just a tone control?
No. Tonal balance correction (equalization) is a vital part of its improved sound, but what really makes the sound so much smoother and more musical
is added high frequency reverberation. See the second question above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with Windows Media Player 11?
Yes.
I want to hear recordings the way they were recorded. What is the most neutral setting for BURWEN BOBCAT RE?
For purists Basic in the small window smooths the sound and makes everything more musical with hardly any change in balance.
Basic 3 in the Big Bobcat window is the same, but has added low frequency extension. To prevent overload at extreme low frequencies the volume is 5
dB lower.
Why does BURWEN BOBCAT RE provide 19 processing selections instead of one universal processing?
If you want to be a purist and suffer from the poor engineering in many recordings that is your privilege. I would throw out 70% of my CDs if I could not
completely change their bad sound using my AUDIO SPLENDOR software from which BURWEN BOBCAT is derived - www.burwenaudio.com .
No software, hardware, or automatic equalization, not even BURWEN BOBCAT RE, can substitute for precise, flexible equalization, set by ear and
adjusted in tenths of a dB - and different for every single recording. I listen to some of my older CDS with as much as a 50 dB difference between 15
Hz and 20 kHz! At least BURWEN BOBCAT RE provides 19 choices of high frequency reverberation and equalization combinations that get you into the
ballpark of good sound. The added high frequency reverberation makes the sound cleaner, clearer, and more musical, in a way that equalization alone
cannot accomplish.
For well balanced audiophile CDs use Basic or Basic 3 which are very neutral. See the question next above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with Windows Vista?
Yes. 32-bit versions, not Vista 64. And we have added a feature - conversion to WMA lossless files.
I have a system with digital inputs. Can I avoid converting to analog?
Yes, in Windows XP, if you have a sound card with an SPDIF output and your digital system has an SPDIF input. Vista disables SPDIF when playing
protected content.
Will you make a BURWEN BOBCAT version for MAC computers?
No. We have no plans for MACs. It does work with Windows XP on MACS.
Will you make a BURWEN BOBCAT version for iTunes or other Players
We already have BOBCAT MOBILE, now built into LG Arena.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE process files downloaded from iTunes?
Burn them to CD in iTunes, Then rip to your desired format using the Windows Media Player. If the Bobcat window shows and you have selected a
button your files will be Bobcat processed.
Will it plug into other players?
No. BURWEN BOBCAT RE is designed to plug into the Windows Media Player only, either version 10 or 11. Bobcat processed WMA or MP3 files will
play on any player that supports these formats.
Yes. Our BURWEN BOBCAT DX version plugs into professional audio editors and DirectX hosts. BURWEN BOBCAT MONITOR and AUDIO
SPLENDOR plug into DirectX hosts, professional editors and the Windows Media Player. J. River offers a DirectX Host plug-in for J. River players, and
Chronotron offers Adapt-X for Winamp and the Windows Media Player. Check your player's website for DirectX plug-in capability. BURWEN BOBCAT
DX is no longer available. AUDIO SPLENDOR performs these functions.
How about a CD player with BURWEN BOBCAT built in?
Burwen Bobcat can be adapted to all kinds of musical electronics that have extra DSP processing capacity.
How can I use BURWEN BOBCAT RE with my multi-room distribution system?
Best quality occurs when each CD is ripped to a lossless WMA file with your best Bobcat selection for each different CD. If you already have a big
collection of files and don't want to do a lot of work, you can mass convert one, a multiple selection, or a whole folder full of files to Bobcat processed
MP3 128 kbps files by dragging and dropping onto the Bobcat window with your favorite button pushed. Bobcat reduces the difference between an
MP3 and the original CD when both are processed, so the processed CD is only slightly better.
As speakers and acoustics may differ from room to room, it is a good idea to have a separate equalizer or tone controls in each room.
Can a bobcat processed 128 kbps MP3 be made from a downloaded 128 kbps MP3?
Yes It will be definitely improved, but not quite as good as when made from a higher bit rate or lossless file. An iPod will play the processed files.
How can I remaster a CD with BURWEN BOBCAT processing?
Use AUDIO SPLENDOR It plugs into professional audio editors and provides the same processing selections as BURWEN BOBCAT RE and
BURWEN BOBCAT TR plus multi-channel. For ultimate improvement and control use Bobcat's daddy, AUDIO SPLENDOR, (Mighty Bobcat) described
at www.burwenaudio.com.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE process SACDs?
No, but it can process the CD layer and make it sound better, when comparing 2 channels. To process SACDs you need an analog input for your
player. AUDIO SPLENDOR works with analog inputs. See the next question above
Can it process 5.1 channels?
BURWEN BOBCAT TR by itself works only in two channels. BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.xls sends new 5.1 channel sounds to BURWEN
BOBCAT TR to produce multichannel output for listening only from ordinary 2-channel stereo music files played via the Windows Media Player. It
requires a powerful PC and a MOTU 828MK3 Audio Interface. AUDIO SPLENDOR can make new multichannel music files from 1 to 8 input channels.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT process HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and SACD multichannel sound?
Use AUDIO SPLENDOR software on a powerful PC with a MOTU 828MK3 Audio Interface as a sound card whose analog inputs connect to an external
multichannel player. See the next question above.
What if I want to feed in an analog input?
See the next question above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE require the Daniel Hertz DAC?
We recommend the Daniel Hertz Advanced Audio Designs Inc, Model 1 DAC with the BURWEN BOBCAT logo on its face, or the Genius power
amplifier-DAC, but neither one is required. The original BURWEN BOBCAT playback-only software was designed to work only with Daniel Hertz
products and that gave it copy protection. New BURWEN BOBCAT RE, for recording and playing, works with all DACs including your computer's sound
card, best with Daniel Hertz products. Copy protection allows it to work on your particular computer only.
I have a system with digital inputs. Can I avoid converting to analog?
Yes, if you have a sound card with an SPDIF output and your digital system has an SPDIF input. USB to SPDIF adapters are available. See the next
question below. Vista disables SPDIF for protected content.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with my hi-fi DAC?
If you can connect your DAC to your computer and use it as a sound card you can use BURWEN BOBCAT RE. In Windows XP, one way is to use a
USB to Toslink or SPDIF adapter that can connect to your DAC, such as the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage micro at
http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/audioadv/micro/producthome.asp .
The PA3390U-1MPM - Toshiba Multimedia Center Sound Card has a coaxial SPDIF output.
http://www.getpartsonline.com/pa3390u-1mpm.html?shttp://www.getpartsonline.com/pa3390u-1mpm.html?source=googlebase&code=pa3390u-
1mpm#Specifications.
Note that Vista disables SPDIF for copy protected content.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE work at high sample rates?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE works only at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. The Windows Media Player converts most sources to these rates.
AUDIO SPLENDOR operates at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz.
How can I make your original BURWEN BOBCAT work with the Daniel Hertz DAC?
Try uninstalling and reinstalling, using Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. In Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, Volume, Advanced,
set Stereo Monitor Speakers. The BOBCAT DAC must be the selected Playback Device or Bobcat won't work. (BURWEN BOBCAT RE works with
any DAC or sound card; our original versions 1.01DHD and 1.02DHD work only with the BOBCAT DAC.)
In the Windows Media Player, Tools, Options, Devices, Speakers, Speaker Properties, set Default Direct Sound device.
Rip a CD to WMA lossless on Drive C. Play back with the desired Bobcat button.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE process WAV files?
Yes. For listening play WAV files via the Windows Media Player with Bobcat open and your favorite processing button selected.
Burn CDs for your car with Bobcat open.
Make Bobcat processed MP3s for your iPod by first converting the files to WMA lossless using the Windows Audio Converter plug-in. Then drag and
drop them on the Bobcat window to convert from WMA to MP3 128 kbps files Bobcat processed.
Don't WAV files have better fidelity than all other formats except SACD?
16 bit 44.1 kHz WAV files from CDs are superior to compressed file formats and the same as lossless formats including WMA. Despite some of the
propaganda on the Internet, lossless really means lossless. Each can be converted to the other bit accurate. EAC makes no difference except
possibly on a very badly pressed or scratched CD.
When you play a lossless file in any format it is continuously converted back to original WAV format for use by the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in
your sound card, with accurate clocking.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE make 320 kbps MP3s for my iPod?
Yes, when ripping from a CD. No, when using the Burwen Audio Converter. It makes only 128 kbps MP3s from input files in any MP3 or WMA format.
If I convert a BURWEN BOBCAT processed file to FLAC or another format will I lose the Bobcat processing?
No. The Bobcat sound will be preserved. If you convert to other than a lossless format there will be some degradation, but BURWEN BOBCAT makes
the difference less noticeable.
In a Bobcat processed file it is part of the audio signal, the same as if Bobcat was a characteristic of the original sound that entered the recording
microphones.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE be used with my FLAC files?
Plug-ins are available that enable the Windows Media Player to play FLAC files. Get them at
http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html.
Another way is to convert your FLAC files to a format the Windows Media Player can play. For example Softe Audio Converter, www.softe.net, can
convert FLAC to WMA lossless. Since FLAC is also a lossless format, the quality will be equivalent to playing your original CD via BURWEN BOBCAT.
How can I make the BURWEN BOBCAT FILTER work in my editor?
Close all programs. Reboot your computer. Play a 44.1 kHz file with no other plug-ins. Insert the BURWEN BOBCAT FILTER and preview with it.
Then add other plug-ins. In WaveLab the order of insertion is important and Bobcat should be first.
BURWEN BOBCAT DX works at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. AUDIO SPLENDOR operates at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz.
Do Properties of the file show Bobcat processing?
No. The file type is exactly the same as without Bobcat processing. In a Bobcat processed file it is part of the audio signal, the same as if Bobcat was
a characteristic of the original sound that entered the recording microphones.
Bobcat processed files are identified by a Subtitle that shows only in the Windows Media Player (right click on the title bar) and by a red Bobcat icon
beside the file name in Windows Explorer or My Computer if the Subtitle is detected.
You don't need to install the Bobcat File Identifier to detect the Subtitle because you have it already as part of BURWEN BOBCAT RE. Files made with
BURWEN BOBCAT DX don't have the Subtitle.
How can I tell if a commercial CD is Bobcat processed?
Mastering engineers add a caret (^) at the beginning of each track name or the album name. The Windows Media Player with BURWEN BOBCAT TR
will play these tracks in Bypass. Clicking Process Audio in BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.xls will produce a new sound until a track change
detects another caret.
What does the No Bobcat button do?
If you want to compare your selected Bobcat sound with the original which is Bypass, the comparison won’t be fair because Bypass is 5 dB louder. So
use No Bobcat which is the same as Bypass, but 5 dB softer. A louder sound often seems better even when it is inferior. The Bobcat selections,
except for Basic in the small window, are made softer than the original to avoid overload due to extreme low frequency bass boost.
In BURWEN BOBCAT TR the No Bobcat button is at normal 0 dB level to match the Pure and Smooth buttons.
Where are the Subtitle and the Bobcat icon?
To view the subtitle in the Windows Media Player, in each of your groupings such as Artist, Composer, Album, etc. right-click on the title bar and select
Choose Columns to show Subtitle and whatever else you want, in your desired order. That is where you will see BURWEN BOBCAT V2 for Vocal 2
processing if the file was made by converting or ripping with Bobcat open.
There is no icon in the Windows Media Player. It shows in Windows Explorer and My Computer.
If you play Bobcat processed MP3 or WMA files with other than the Windows Media Player and allow Windows to set that player as the default for that
file type, the Bobcat icon will no longer display. Simply right click on one of the files, select Open with Windows Media Player and set it as default.
How can I remove the subtitle so a file can be processed again?
Enter the file into the Windows Media Player Library. Go to the Subtitle Field and delete it. In Windows 7 you can right click on the file in Windows
Explorer or My Computer to reveal Properties. There you can delete the Subtitle.
At Start, Programs, Burwen Bobcat there is no way to open it. How can I run Bobcat?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE and BURWEN BOBCAT TR do not open from the Start button. Open the Windows Media Player by inserting a CD or DVD in
the drive or by double clicking its icon. Go to the menu item View, Plug-ins, Other, Burwen Bobcat and click to place a check mark at Burwen Bobcat.
The Burwen Bobcat window will open.
Bobcat can't convert my files. What is wrong?
The Burwen Audio converter works only on WAV, WMA, or MP3 input files. It won't convert to the same folder containing the input file because the
name and tag information are the same as the input file. Specify a different folder.
Get the latest Microsoft updates for .Net Framework.
The BURWEN BOBCAT button on my Taskbar does not open the Bobcat window. How can I fix it?
Right click on the Bobcat button on the Taskbar. Select Move with the left button. Release the button. Use the arrow keys to move the Bobcat window
on screen. It may have gone off screen due to a reduction in display resolution.
HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER IT IS REALLY ACTIVATED?
If BURWEN BOBCAT has not been activated, the Bobcat window will display in red just below the logo:
No valid license found. Click here to activate the software. Clicking opens the Bobcat Activation wizard which offers the three methods for activation.
IT DOES NOT WORK! HOW CAN I FIX THE PROBLEM?
If the software has been activated and you cannot find it, it fails process audio or convert files, or it stops the sound, something may be blocking
Bobcat. Check the options in your software for proper speaker and plug-in setup. Close all programs. Reboot your computer. Open only the software
BURWEN BOBCAT plugs in to. Play some music with no other plug-ins. Then insert the Bobcat plug-in to make the Bobcat window appear. With
music playing, click various processing selections and compare with no bobcat or bypass.
If you are unable to make it work, email a description of what happened and a copy of any error messages you saw to contact@burwenbobcat.com .
Dick Burwen
No. All BURWEN BOBCAT products have been replaced by BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER and BURWEN BOBCAT TR.
I own BURWEN BOBCAT RE. Should I buy BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
Get BURWEN BOBCAT TR if mainly what you want is simplicity. Its Smooth Bobcat button includes the NO SCREECH dynamic equalization that
improves screechy recordings like old Beatles that are recorded loud. Its Pure Bobcat button is only a slight improvement over Basic Bobcat you now
have. To make a really big improvement in your audio system buy BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.
A computer with BURWEN BOBCAT can sound better than my $13,000 player? How can it be?
BURWEN BOBCAT does not attempt to make the analog signal an accurate replica of the digital signal as your player does. It actually improves the
signal by adding nearly inaudible high frequency reverberation and subtle tonal balance correction (equalization).
BURWEN BOBCAT adds what I describe as ambiance without echo. It includes a lot of what audiophiles call "air". Rough sounding recordings become
smoother and more musical because the extreme high frequency reverberation averages out the grit. Unlike natural reverberation, which tends to
obscure transient sounds, BURWEN BOBCAT stretches transients in time so they are more easily perceived and become clearer.
Conversion from CD to MP3 format loses information which cannot be restored, but the added ambiance information from the high frequency
reverberation produces better sound. Also the audibility of conversion damage is reduced for BURWEN BOBCAT processed files. Other available
processors cannot produce this type of sound. For highest quality, rip CDs to WMA lossless files and play through a 24-bit sound card or DAC
Is there a free trial period for the software?
No. Try our WEB DEMONSTRATION.
Do I need expensive vacuum tube power amplifiers?
No!!!!! BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER can save you a lot of money by equalizing your speakers much better than using the high output
impedance of expensive, low-feedback, vacuum tube amplifiers. Instead buy low distortion semiconductor amplifiers that have a lot of feedback and far
more power output.
During my 60 years of designing circuits I designed a lot of vacuum tube, transistor, and switching power amplifiers and know how each performs. In the
1950's I designed the lowest distortion vacuum tube amplifier ever, the Krohn-Hite UF-101. It was rated at 50 Watts, 0.005% total harmonic distortion,
50 dB of negative feedback, and it sold in small quantities as a laboratory instrument for 20 years. Today I wouldn't take a vacuum tube amplifier as a
gift. Why?
What you are really buying is not quality amplification but a high distortion equalizer. The lack of feedback in many of today's tube amplifiers gives the
amplifier high distortion and a high internal output impedance, typically in the range of 1 to 5 ohms. At some frequencies such as the fundamental cone
resonance, and crossover frequencies between drivers, the load impedance of the speaker rises. The voltage divider effect delivers more signal to the
speaker terminals at these frequencies. With some amplifier-speaker combinations the effect on frequency response is very pleasing.
This load impedance effect was epitomized in the July, 2004 Stereophile review of the world's most expensive amplifier, the $350,000/pair Wavac SH-
833, by Michael Fremer with measurements by John Atkinson, page 73. The curves clearly show up to 2 to10 dB of bass boost at 80 Hz depending
upon the load impedance. The measured distortion is shameful for even the cheapest amplifier. A vacuum tube amplifier should really be regarded as a
nice piece of furniture with wires, that glows in the dark. Use a real equalizer to improve the frequency response of your speakers!
Equalizing your speakers is not enough. Any fixed frequency response system may optimally balance the tone on about 1 in 500 pieces of available
program material. You need really flexible multichannel program equalization to balance all the rest.
In my own sound system for 30 years I used Phase Linear 400 power amplifiers that I redesigned for lower noise, -115 dB re 200 watts, and reduced
bias drift. The 34 channels each drive 1 woofer, 1 mid-range horn, or 9 or 12 of the 30 tweeters in each 13 foot speaker horn. With the 4-way
electronic crossover the equivalent sound level available is that of a single 20,000 watt monoblock. Before purchasing these amplifiers I compared one
with my Krohn-Hite UF-101 Ultra-Low Distortion Power Amplifier. The sounds were identical except that the Phase Linear 400 played louder before
clipping.
In 2004 after tiring of repairing the Phase Linears whose transistors suffered thermal fatigue, I replaced them all, purchasing 19 QSC SRA1222 dual
200-watt amplifiers. I chose these amplifiers, after measuring one unit, for their 200 watts/channel, (all my speakers can handle), low internal
impedance due to high feedback, flat frequency response, low distortion, low noise (6 dB worse than my Phase Linears), high slew rate, switching
power supply, automatic gain reduction during clipping for reduced distortion, 3.5 inch rack panel size, 22 lb. weight, very low fan noise, and 3-year
warranty. They cost under $1000 each and for somewhat more money QSC offered up to 1800 watts/channel into 2 ohms in the same size. I cannot
detect any change in the sound. In 6 years of operation at 75 hrs/week, none have failed.
That is the sort of amplifier I suggest for you and there are plenty of other good amplifiers from other manufacturers in the professional area. And forget
expensive cables. They are inaudible furniture.
If my computer fails do I have to purchase BURWEN BOBCAT again?
No. Your serial number is set to allow one extra activation in case your computer fails or you want to transfer BURWEN BOBCAT to a new computer or
use a second laptop computer as a remote control. If a 2nd failure occurs, contact us for an additional activation at sales@burwenbobcat.com .
Your software license for BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER or BURWEN BOBCAT TR (which comes as part of the BURWEN BOBCAT TONE
BALANCER) allows use on two computers by the same person, you. We keep track of activations and are aware that a few customers try to game the
system. Fortunately most appreciate the hard work that went into this intellectual property, and its value in improving their music.
I did not download. How can I download without getting charged again?
View your order at the link in your email receipt. At the bottom enter your credit card number just to identify you. The download button will appear, and
your card will not be charged again.
Can I upgrade BURWEN BOBCAT TR to BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER?
Yes. Send an email to sales1@burwenbobcat.com letting us know. We will return a coupon number for full $109.00 credit against the purchase of
either BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER or AUDIO SPLENDOR if purchased before December 31, 2012. Enter the coupon number during the
purchase process.
What is the difference between BURWEN BOBCAT RE and the new more expensive BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE had two windows, Big Bobcat with 18 different processed sounds, and Basic Bobcat with one processed sound, plus Bypass.
We learned that customers were using Basic 3 sound almost all the time and ignoring the others. The new BURWEN BOBCAT TR has two processed
sound buttons, Pure and Smooth plus Bypass. Pure is a slightly refined Basic processing, which is very neutral and works for all music tracks. Smooth
attenuates the shrill 3500 Hz region and additionally incorporates new NO SCREECH technology. NO SCREECH further attenuates the 3500 Hz region
dynamically, but only during a singer's loudest high notes. Simultaneously it boosts the 600 Hz region to make the voice fuller and retain the dynamic
impact. It is very effective in making screechy voices like the Beatles listenable at loud levels without making the instruments too dull.
Old Basic 3 included enough extreme low bass boost to require setting the signal level 5 dB lower to prevent overload on some rock music. New Pure
and Smooth both have reduced bass boost and are set the normal 0 dB level, the same as Bypass. So now if you use the high-speed file converter to
make processed MP3 or WMA Lossless files for your iPod or car, the files are all at normal level.
BURWEN BOBCAT TR is a digital signal processing (DSP) program designed to mate with the Microsoft Excel workbook, BURWEN BOBCAT TONE
BALANCER.xls. The combination can now deliver 2-channel stereo or 5-channel custom processed sound from ordinary 2-channel music files in the
Windows Music Player library, by adding ambiance into the rear and front channels.
I use iTunes and an iPod. Will BURWEN BOBCAT work on those, so that when I play back MP3 files they will sound better?
Yes. BURWEN BOBCAT TR can convert at high speed WAV, WMA, or MP3 files to MP3 format at 128 kbps playable on an iPod. By dragging and
dropping files onto the Bobcat window, you can convert one file at a time, with its own Bobcat button selection, or a number of files, or a folder full with
a common Bobcat selection. It will make a definite improvement in a 128 kbps MP3 file. For minimum degradation due to two conversions to a low bit
rate, the input file should have a higher bit rate than 128 kbps, preferably lossless.
Is BURWEN BOBCAT TR simply an up-sampling program?
No. Bobcat operates at the 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz sampling rate of your sound card. It improves the signal by adding nearly inaudible
high frequency reverberation and subtle tonal balance correction (equalization).
Can I record with BURWEN BOBCAT TR?
Yes, if you use an inexpensive third party recording program such as Total Recorder that records the signal going to your sound card. It is easier to
use the high speed file converter in Burwen Bobcat TR to convert your music files to Bobcat processed MP3 or WMA lossless. Just drop them on the
bobcat window, one at a time or a whole folder full.
Can I record with BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER?
Yes, if you use an inexpensive third party recording program such as Total Recorder that records the signal going to your sound card. This method
records the sound produced by both the tone controls and the high frequency reveberation selection.
Is BURWEN BOBCAT RE just a tone control?
No. Tonal balance correction (equalization) is a vital part of its improved sound, but what really makes the sound so much smoother and more musical
is added high frequency reverberation. See the second question above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with Windows Media Player 11?
Yes.
I want to hear recordings the way they were recorded. What is the most neutral setting for BURWEN BOBCAT RE?
For purists Basic in the small window smooths the sound and makes everything more musical with hardly any change in balance.
Basic 3 in the Big Bobcat window is the same, but has added low frequency extension. To prevent overload at extreme low frequencies the volume is 5
dB lower.
Why does BURWEN BOBCAT RE provide 19 processing selections instead of one universal processing?
If you want to be a purist and suffer from the poor engineering in many recordings that is your privilege. I would throw out 70% of my CDs if I could not
completely change their bad sound using my AUDIO SPLENDOR software from which BURWEN BOBCAT is derived - www.burwenaudio.com .
No software, hardware, or automatic equalization, not even BURWEN BOBCAT RE, can substitute for precise, flexible equalization, set by ear and
adjusted in tenths of a dB - and different for every single recording. I listen to some of my older CDS with as much as a 50 dB difference between 15
Hz and 20 kHz! At least BURWEN BOBCAT RE provides 19 choices of high frequency reverberation and equalization combinations that get you into the
ballpark of good sound. The added high frequency reverberation makes the sound cleaner, clearer, and more musical, in a way that equalization alone
cannot accomplish.
For well balanced audiophile CDs use Basic or Basic 3 which are very neutral. See the question next above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with Windows Vista?
Yes. 32-bit versions, not Vista 64. And we have added a feature - conversion to WMA lossless files.
I have a system with digital inputs. Can I avoid converting to analog?
Yes, in Windows XP, if you have a sound card with an SPDIF output and your digital system has an SPDIF input. Vista disables SPDIF when playing
protected content.
Will you make a BURWEN BOBCAT version for MAC computers?
No. We have no plans for MACs. It does work with Windows XP on MACS.
Will you make a BURWEN BOBCAT version for iTunes or other Players
We already have BOBCAT MOBILE, now built into LG Arena.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE process files downloaded from iTunes?
Burn them to CD in iTunes, Then rip to your desired format using the Windows Media Player. If the Bobcat window shows and you have selected a
button your files will be Bobcat processed.
Will it plug into other players?
No. BURWEN BOBCAT RE is designed to plug into the Windows Media Player only, either version 10 or 11. Bobcat processed WMA or MP3 files will
play on any player that supports these formats.
Yes. Our BURWEN BOBCAT DX version plugs into professional audio editors and DirectX hosts. BURWEN BOBCAT MONITOR and AUDIO
SPLENDOR plug into DirectX hosts, professional editors and the Windows Media Player. J. River offers a DirectX Host plug-in for J. River players, and
Chronotron offers Adapt-X for Winamp and the Windows Media Player. Check your player's website for DirectX plug-in capability. BURWEN BOBCAT
DX is no longer available. AUDIO SPLENDOR performs these functions.
How about a CD player with BURWEN BOBCAT built in?
Burwen Bobcat can be adapted to all kinds of musical electronics that have extra DSP processing capacity.
How can I use BURWEN BOBCAT RE with my multi-room distribution system?
Best quality occurs when each CD is ripped to a lossless WMA file with your best Bobcat selection for each different CD. If you already have a big
collection of files and don't want to do a lot of work, you can mass convert one, a multiple selection, or a whole folder full of files to Bobcat processed
MP3 128 kbps files by dragging and dropping onto the Bobcat window with your favorite button pushed. Bobcat reduces the difference between an
MP3 and the original CD when both are processed, so the processed CD is only slightly better.
As speakers and acoustics may differ from room to room, it is a good idea to have a separate equalizer or tone controls in each room.
Can a bobcat processed 128 kbps MP3 be made from a downloaded 128 kbps MP3?
Yes It will be definitely improved, but not quite as good as when made from a higher bit rate or lossless file. An iPod will play the processed files.
How can I remaster a CD with BURWEN BOBCAT processing?
Use AUDIO SPLENDOR It plugs into professional audio editors and provides the same processing selections as BURWEN BOBCAT RE and
BURWEN BOBCAT TR plus multi-channel. For ultimate improvement and control use Bobcat's daddy, AUDIO SPLENDOR, (Mighty Bobcat) described
at www.burwenaudio.com.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE process SACDs?
No, but it can process the CD layer and make it sound better, when comparing 2 channels. To process SACDs you need an analog input for your
player. AUDIO SPLENDOR works with analog inputs. See the next question above
Can it process 5.1 channels?
BURWEN BOBCAT TR by itself works only in two channels. BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.xls sends new 5.1 channel sounds to BURWEN
BOBCAT TR to produce multichannel output for listening only from ordinary 2-channel stereo music files played via the Windows Media Player. It
requires a powerful PC and a MOTU 828MK3 Audio Interface. AUDIO SPLENDOR can make new multichannel music files from 1 to 8 input channels.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT process HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and SACD multichannel sound?
Use AUDIO SPLENDOR software on a powerful PC with a MOTU 828MK3 Audio Interface as a sound card whose analog inputs connect to an external
multichannel player. See the next question above.
What if I want to feed in an analog input?
See the next question above.
Does BURWEN BOBCAT RE require the Daniel Hertz DAC?
We recommend the Daniel Hertz Advanced Audio Designs Inc, Model 1 DAC with the BURWEN BOBCAT logo on its face, or the Genius power
amplifier-DAC, but neither one is required. The original BURWEN BOBCAT playback-only software was designed to work only with Daniel Hertz
products and that gave it copy protection. New BURWEN BOBCAT RE, for recording and playing, works with all DACs including your computer's sound
card, best with Daniel Hertz products. Copy protection allows it to work on your particular computer only.
I have a system with digital inputs. Can I avoid converting to analog?
Yes, if you have a sound card with an SPDIF output and your digital system has an SPDIF input. USB to SPDIF adapters are available. See the next
question below. Vista disables SPDIF for protected content.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE work with my hi-fi DAC?
If you can connect your DAC to your computer and use it as a sound card you can use BURWEN BOBCAT RE. In Windows XP, one way is to use a
USB to Toslink or SPDIF adapter that can connect to your DAC, such as the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage micro at
http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/audioadv/micro/producthome.asp .
The PA3390U-1MPM - Toshiba Multimedia Center Sound Card has a coaxial SPDIF output.
http://www.getpartsonline.com/pa3390u-1mpm.html?shttp://www.getpartsonline.com/pa3390u-1mpm.html?source=googlebase&code=pa3390u-
1mpm#Specifications.
Note that Vista disables SPDIF for copy protected content.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE work at high sample rates?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE works only at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. The Windows Media Player converts most sources to these rates.
AUDIO SPLENDOR operates at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz.
How can I make your original BURWEN BOBCAT work with the Daniel Hertz DAC?
Try uninstalling and reinstalling, using Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. In Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, Volume, Advanced,
set Stereo Monitor Speakers. The BOBCAT DAC must be the selected Playback Device or Bobcat won't work. (BURWEN BOBCAT RE works with
any DAC or sound card; our original versions 1.01DHD and 1.02DHD work only with the BOBCAT DAC.)
In the Windows Media Player, Tools, Options, Devices, Speakers, Speaker Properties, set Default Direct Sound device.
Rip a CD to WMA lossless on Drive C. Play back with the desired Bobcat button.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE process WAV files?
Yes. For listening play WAV files via the Windows Media Player with Bobcat open and your favorite processing button selected.
Burn CDs for your car with Bobcat open.
Make Bobcat processed MP3s for your iPod by first converting the files to WMA lossless using the Windows Audio Converter plug-in. Then drag and
drop them on the Bobcat window to convert from WMA to MP3 128 kbps files Bobcat processed.
Don't WAV files have better fidelity than all other formats except SACD?
16 bit 44.1 kHz WAV files from CDs are superior to compressed file formats and the same as lossless formats including WMA. Despite some of the
propaganda on the Internet, lossless really means lossless. Each can be converted to the other bit accurate. EAC makes no difference except
possibly on a very badly pressed or scratched CD.
When you play a lossless file in any format it is continuously converted back to original WAV format for use by the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in
your sound card, with accurate clocking.
Can BURWEN BOBCAT RE make 320 kbps MP3s for my iPod?
Yes, when ripping from a CD. No, when using the Burwen Audio Converter. It makes only 128 kbps MP3s from input files in any MP3 or WMA format.
If I convert a BURWEN BOBCAT processed file to FLAC or another format will I lose the Bobcat processing?
No. The Bobcat sound will be preserved. If you convert to other than a lossless format there will be some degradation, but BURWEN BOBCAT makes
the difference less noticeable.
In a Bobcat processed file it is part of the audio signal, the same as if Bobcat was a characteristic of the original sound that entered the recording
microphones.
How can BURWEN BOBCAT RE be used with my FLAC files?
Plug-ins are available that enable the Windows Media Player to play FLAC files. Get them at
http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html.
Another way is to convert your FLAC files to a format the Windows Media Player can play. For example Softe Audio Converter, www.softe.net, can
convert FLAC to WMA lossless. Since FLAC is also a lossless format, the quality will be equivalent to playing your original CD via BURWEN BOBCAT.
How can I make the BURWEN BOBCAT FILTER work in my editor?
Close all programs. Reboot your computer. Play a 44.1 kHz file with no other plug-ins. Insert the BURWEN BOBCAT FILTER and preview with it.
Then add other plug-ins. In WaveLab the order of insertion is important and Bobcat should be first.
BURWEN BOBCAT DX works at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. AUDIO SPLENDOR operates at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz.
Do Properties of the file show Bobcat processing?
No. The file type is exactly the same as without Bobcat processing. In a Bobcat processed file it is part of the audio signal, the same as if Bobcat was
a characteristic of the original sound that entered the recording microphones.
Bobcat processed files are identified by a Subtitle that shows only in the Windows Media Player (right click on the title bar) and by a red Bobcat icon
beside the file name in Windows Explorer or My Computer if the Subtitle is detected.
You don't need to install the Bobcat File Identifier to detect the Subtitle because you have it already as part of BURWEN BOBCAT RE. Files made with
BURWEN BOBCAT DX don't have the Subtitle.
How can I tell if a commercial CD is Bobcat processed?
Mastering engineers add a caret (^) at the beginning of each track name or the album name. The Windows Media Player with BURWEN BOBCAT TR
will play these tracks in Bypass. Clicking Process Audio in BURWEN BOBCAT TONE BALANCER.xls will produce a new sound until a track change
detects another caret.
What does the No Bobcat button do?
If you want to compare your selected Bobcat sound with the original which is Bypass, the comparison won’t be fair because Bypass is 5 dB louder. So
use No Bobcat which is the same as Bypass, but 5 dB softer. A louder sound often seems better even when it is inferior. The Bobcat selections,
except for Basic in the small window, are made softer than the original to avoid overload due to extreme low frequency bass boost.
In BURWEN BOBCAT TR the No Bobcat button is at normal 0 dB level to match the Pure and Smooth buttons.
Where are the Subtitle and the Bobcat icon?
To view the subtitle in the Windows Media Player, in each of your groupings such as Artist, Composer, Album, etc. right-click on the title bar and select
Choose Columns to show Subtitle and whatever else you want, in your desired order. That is where you will see BURWEN BOBCAT V2 for Vocal 2
processing if the file was made by converting or ripping with Bobcat open.
There is no icon in the Windows Media Player. It shows in Windows Explorer and My Computer.
If you play Bobcat processed MP3 or WMA files with other than the Windows Media Player and allow Windows to set that player as the default for that
file type, the Bobcat icon will no longer display. Simply right click on one of the files, select Open with Windows Media Player and set it as default.
How can I remove the subtitle so a file can be processed again?
Enter the file into the Windows Media Player Library. Go to the Subtitle Field and delete it. In Windows 7 you can right click on the file in Windows
Explorer or My Computer to reveal Properties. There you can delete the Subtitle.
At Start, Programs, Burwen Bobcat there is no way to open it. How can I run Bobcat?
BURWEN BOBCAT RE and BURWEN BOBCAT TR do not open from the Start button. Open the Windows Media Player by inserting a CD or DVD in
the drive or by double clicking its icon. Go to the menu item View, Plug-ins, Other, Burwen Bobcat and click to place a check mark at Burwen Bobcat.
The Burwen Bobcat window will open.
Bobcat can't convert my files. What is wrong?
The Burwen Audio converter works only on WAV, WMA, or MP3 input files. It won't convert to the same folder containing the input file because the
name and tag information are the same as the input file. Specify a different folder.
Get the latest Microsoft updates for .Net Framework.
The BURWEN BOBCAT button on my Taskbar does not open the Bobcat window. How can I fix it?
Right click on the Bobcat button on the Taskbar. Select Move with the left button. Release the button. Use the arrow keys to move the Bobcat window
on screen. It may have gone off screen due to a reduction in display resolution.
HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER IT IS REALLY ACTIVATED?
If BURWEN BOBCAT has not been activated, the Bobcat window will display in red just below the logo:
No valid license found. Click here to activate the software. Clicking opens the Bobcat Activation wizard which offers the three methods for activation.
IT DOES NOT WORK! HOW CAN I FIX THE PROBLEM?
If the software has been activated and you cannot find it, it fails process audio or convert files, or it stops the sound, something may be blocking
Bobcat. Check the options in your software for proper speaker and plug-in setup. Close all programs. Reboot your computer. Open only the software
BURWEN BOBCAT plugs in to. Play some music with no other plug-ins. Then insert the Bobcat plug-in to make the Bobcat window appear. With
music playing, click various processing selections and compare with no bobcat or bypass.
If you are unable to make it work, email a description of what happened and a copy of any error messages you saw to contact@burwenbobcat.com .
Dick Burwen
| burwenbobcat.com |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
