for what i have understood works like this: an hard cut will enable with a given time of low sound and a subsequent sudden sound increase upper threshold, i guess they should be enable for a smoother visualization. i will wait on your tests however
TEST RESULTS ARE IN
SETTINGS
Winamp > Options > Preferences > Plug-ins Visualization > Milkdrop > Configure [BUTTON] > common Settings [TAB] > Start in > Fullscreen
PLAY
Winamp > Play > Play Bookmark > Line Input > Visualization (
wish I could that to start on launch)
TRACKS
Always - Atlantic Star
Equinoxe Part IV - Jean Michel-Jarre
Long Way Down - Bass Mekanik
Mediocrity Wins - Leprous
VERDICT
Some presets seem to have no reaction to the sound whatsoever, so I picked a few that looked good and kept going back to them (using Backspace key).
Those presets that reacted with the most visual impetus seemed to be when the Loudness threshold was set to about halfway and Hardcuts disabled (checked).
Not sure there is a lot of difference with any combination of settings to be honest..
Freddy