Vuvuzela

The reduction of disturbing noise, especially for mobile telephones and digital hearing aids, is one of the core competences of the Institute of Communication System (IKS). During the soccer world cup 2010, the deafening noise of Vuvuzelas turned TV broadcasts of the matches into an acoustic challenge until eventually an algorithm, which has been developed at the institute, was able to reliably suppress the disturbing Vuvuzela noise.

The program called VuvuzeLAUTLOS implements an adaptive comb filter according to the LTP principle (long term prediction) for the noise-relevant frequency range which consists of the fundamental frequency and the first five harmonics. The filter "strength" is controlled adaptively to minimize distortion of the remaining audio signal.

• Microsoft Windows: VLC 1.0.x, VLC 1.1
• Linux x86, Ubuntu 10.04: VLC 1.0.x, VLC 1.1
• Linux x86_64, Ubuntu 10.04: VLC 1.0.x, VLC 1.1
• Mac OS X: VLC 1.0.x

• Update V0.2:
  • better sounding speaker/commentator
  • more natural reproduction of the stadium atmosphere
  • no adverse effects in Vuvuzela-free sequences
• This plugin was tested with VLC version 1.0.5 and version 1.1 respectively

This software is provided as is. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

V0.3pre1

• Copy the .dll file to C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\plugins.
• Start VLC
• Activate/configure plugin:
  • Tools -> Preferences (or CTRL-P)
  • Bottom left: Show preferences: all
  • Under Audio -> Filter: activate VuvuzeLAUTLOS
  • optionally configure under Audio->Filter->VuvuzeLAUTLOS
  • Save
• Restart VLC

Have fun!

• Copy the .so file to /usr/lib/vlc/audio_filter/ (or /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/audio_filter for VLC 1.1)
• Start VLC
• Activate/configure plugin:
  • Tools -> Preferences (or CTRL-P)
  • Bottom left: Show preferences: all
  • Under Audio -> Filter: activate VuvuzeLAUTLOS
  • optionally configure under Audio->Filter->VuvuzeLAUTLOS
  • Save
• Restart VLC

Have fun!

• Open the folder Programs with Finder
• VLC -> right mouseclick -> Show Package Contents
• Copy the .dylib file in the new Finder Window to: Contents -> MacOS -> modules (check if you have to unzip the downloaded file. This is the case if your webbrowser is e.g. firefox)
• Start VLC
• Activate plugin:
  • VLC -> Preferences (or CMD + ,)
  • Bottom left: Show preferences: all
  • Under Audio -> Filter: activate VuvuzeLAUTLOS
  • Save
• restart VLC

Have fun!

Bernd Geiser und Florian Heese