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DC Blocker Software Implementations

In plain C, the difference equation for the dc blocker could be written as follows:

  y = x - xm1 + 0.995 * ym1;
  xm1 = x;
  ym1 = y;
Here, x denotes the current input sample, and y denotes the current output sample. The variables xm1 and ym1 hold once-delayed input and output samples, respectively (and are typically initialized to zero). In this implementation, the pole is fixed at $ R=0.995$ , which corresponds to an adaptation time-constant of approximately $ 1/(1-R) = 200$ samples. A smaller $ R$ value allows faster tracking of ``wandering dc levels'', but at the cost of greater low-frequency attenuation.

A complete C++ class implementing a dc blocking filter is included in the free, open-source Synthesis Tool Kit (STK) [15]. (See the DCBlock STK class.)

For a discussion of issues and solutions related to fixed-point implementations, see [7].


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``Introduction to Digital Filters with Audio Applications'', by Julius O. Smith III, (September 2007 Edition)
Copyright © 2023-09-17 by Julius O. Smith III
Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA),   Stanford University
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