Did you check that's it's not due to bad settings(e.g. too low 'WFIR cutoff factor')?

Please provide reproducable evidence before making such claims. The OpenMPT VSTi uses exactly the same rendering methods as OpenMPT itself, so it could just be that:

• You are using different playback settings (as relabs mentioned)
• EnergyXT has louder sound output (which is often perceived as better quality)
• You are using a different output driver.

I have had the WFIR cutoff to 150% and higher, but whatever setting I try it always is a bit muddy. I miss sound in the higher frequencies.

Its not based on loudness nor is there a difference in audio output driver. They all use my Onboard ASIO driver set to Front L/R (default)

The WFIR cutoff at 97%(default) is even worse than the 150%. Going higher adds unwanted noise. I'll try to figure out how to render an MP3 from EnergyXT or Renoise to compare with OpenMPT's output. I can even record a video to show that I'm not cheating.

Sucks... I did a windows 7 reinstall, and it messed up something. My sound now is terrible so I'll need to do another reinstall. Once done, I'll look into getting an example for comparison out.

Windows reinstalled, and everything is fine again. I have attached a screenshot that shows the difference in the wavefile with Sonogram information so you can see that the VSTi has more high frequencies.

I can't attach the wave files, so I uploaded them here:
http://files.lpchip.nl/temp/Chill_in_2_versions_wav.7z (94.4mb)

On a sidenote: If I load the VSTi version inside EnergyXT, and from whitin the VSTi version, I do file->export, I get the same quality wav file as from OpenMPT 1.18. When I render from EnergyXT however, I get a better quality song.

If I set the outputdevice in the VSTi to my HDMI (which is my television) I still hear the sound through EnergyXT and EnergyXT shows its meters that it receives audio. So its clear that the sound goes through the EnergyXT soundsystem.

My best guess at the moment is that you should try setting the volume ramping to 0. The OpenMPT version misses the attack on the drums, which is probably due to a too high ramping value.

It doesn't matter much. I have the ramping on 42 (default) and have also set it to 0 to try and improve it. No difference there.

But its mostly noticable in the clarity of the lead which goes on longer and where the ramping has no additional effect.

I have to check if this also applies to modules, but I believe it does, although that wouldn't be a total surprise.

I will see if I can make a test module either using free VSTi's, or samples if it works that way there too.

"I have to check if this also applies to modules" -- uhm what, you can do something else than modules in OpenMPT?

I seem to have missed the words "with samples only"

Modules with samples only. I haven't checked actively, but I have played modules with samples in them in the VSTi version, and I think (read: not sure, so will test) it sounded better too.

Yesterday, I discovered that EnergyXT adds some EQing to the OpenMPT VSTi, which seems to be generating this quality improvement.

When I disable that EQing in EnergyXT there isn't any auditable difference anymore.

There still is a matter that renoise produces superior sound, but its not a bug anymore. I suspect renoise to have a better resampling method or something.

ticket can be closed.

Seems to be a customer error. Nothing to fix.