PGGB: Intrigue at the End of the Universe

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For those unfamiliar, PGGB is an offline upsampling /downsampling software program. It bills itself as using “advanced algorithms, optimized to maximize reconstruction accuracy to near theoretical limits*.” Imagine the software version of the Chord mScaler only 10x as powerful. Sounds kinda cool huh?
Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (PGGB) gets its name from the Douglas Adams book series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. Its website is full of fun references to the books, and even the developer calls himself Zaphod Beeblebrox after a character in the book. But unlike Rob Watts of Chord, Zaphod of PGGB, remains anonymous. What could be the reason to remain anonymous, you might ask?
Let’s explore that question……

I too, love the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. (My son is named Ford btw)
In the books Zaphod Beeblebrox, the ex president of the galaxy, steals the “Heart of Gold”. It is the best and fastest starship in the universe, getting its power from advanced algorithms, and mathematics.

While researching the audio software program PGGB I stumbled onto this 2019 Stereonet forum thread. It was an eye opening read: https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/261591-extreme-filtering-software-upscaling/#comments

Huh? Hmm?!? What is this?!? It seems to be exactly PGGB, but a few years before PGGB even existed! Within the thread, it explains exactly how you can do this upsampling for yourself, for free!!

My actual favorite part of the thread is a few messages down, where we meet a forum member named : a.dent.
No way?! a.dent (Arthur Dent)
Arthur Dent just so happens to be the main character from “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” Weird?! Coincidence?
WOW!!
Personally, I don’t believe in coincidence. I equally don’t believe that “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” is so popular and/or relevant enough to be finding random references all over hifi audio threads!

[moderated]

The last page of the above Stereonet forum thread says this about PGGB and might shed some light for us:

“They’re missing a lot of detail about just what and how; I hope they’re not just using my free software patches and charging to upscale files. I’ll do it for free to an even higher level than they offer, as I’ve always offered.”

Part 2 to follow……

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More popcorn required at this thread!

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Do you the processing power of Deep Thought to run it ??

The effect of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is described as “like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon, wrapped 'round a large gold brick.” It has also been described in the novel as “the alcoholic equivalent to a mugging; expensive and bad for the head.”

Self confessed HHG Addict, I even lived in Brentwood , Essex where Douglas Adams went to school :smiling_imp:

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Interesting stuff. Thanks for posting.
Hate to come across as a pedant, but it’s Beeblebrox.
Yep, I’m sad. I even have THHGTTG on vinyl :blush:

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IMG_07633023×3760 2.87 MB

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Thank you fixed!

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