Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[klweds]

I have a Pioneer N-30 streamer. MC sees it and streams to it fine, generally.

I want MC to send 16-bit and 24-bit FLAC files in their original FLAC format and have MC convert DSD to 24-bit PCM on the fly. Why is this not possible?

When DLNA Server mode is set to 'Original' my FLAC files are sent as FLACs. This is my desired result. I just also want MC to convert DSD to PCM.

I assume it should be simple enough, just set my DLNA Server to 'Mode: Specified output format only when necessary'. But here's what happens:

- when set to PCM L16 No header... the N-30 plays 16-bit tracks fine, and throws errors on 24-bit tracks. [This is expected, no problem.]
- when set to PCM L24 No header... the N-30 throws an unrecognized format error on all tracks. [This is expected, no problem.]
- when set to PCM 16 bit... MC sends all formats and bitdepths as 16-bit WAV.
- when set to PCM 24 bit... MC sends all formats and bitdepths as 24-bit WAV.

Why does MC insist on sending everything as WAV? Why isn't a 24-bit FLAC file sent as FLAC when no output format change is needed? (All Stereo Downmix, Volume Leveling, sample rate changes, and DSP effects are set to disabled.)

If you're wondering my reasons for wanting this... FLAC sounds noticeably better when the streamer decodes it rather than my computer, for whatever reason. Theoretically I imagine there shouldn't be a difference but it's plainly there. And regardless I don't want my computer to carry the unnecessary decoding overhead. MC is much more responsive when sending original files.

I know this issue has been discussed several times before (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=101980.0) but I cannot seem to understand the behavior I'm seeing here. I'm running in MC 21.0.72, Windows 10 Pro.

[Arindelle]

How did you set up Output format on DSP studio? This should be checked and configured.

There should be no issue sending PCM files using the native sample rates. Encoding should be set to none. If you need special handling for DSD files, then you might need to create a separate zone and choose an encoding option; then use zone switch.

Can't say what DLNA setting you should be using .. or if your Streamer is 100% capable to handle all functionality, but it shouldn't be sending wav files if the output format is configured.

[klweds]

How did you set up Output format on DSP studio? This should be checked and configured.

There should be no issue sending PCM files using the native sample rates. Encoding should be set to none.

DSP Output format is disabled (unchecked) because I don't want any conversions for FLAC. In any case, when it IS enabled (with no sample rate or channel changes specified) and 'Convert only when necessary' and '24 bit PCM' are selected MC sends everything as 24-bit WAV, including Redbook FLACs. This is the problem.

Thank you for responding. However I'm not sure you're fully getting my issue. To clarify... I want MC to transmit the original FLAC as FLAC (not as decoded WAV) and only convert DSD files. 'Convert only when necessary' should accomplish this, but it simply does not. And further, forcing me to choose either 24-bit OR 16-bit PCM as the criteria for conversion will always trigger some needless conversions in a typical library that includes a mix of high-res and Redbook.

I can only guess the reason for this behavior is that MC treats uncompressed PCM (WAV) as a fundamentally different format than FLAC.

Btw, a user would only know MC is behaving this way if the DLNA renderer displays what format it's receiving. When MC is set to 'Original' my renderer shows that it's correctly getting a FLAC file. When set to 'Convert when necessary' my renderer shows it's always receiving WAV data.

I believe this is a flaw in the program. (And probably undiscovered by owners of an Auralic Aries, Sonore Rendu, BelCanto Refstream, etc. who don't see the incoming format displayed.) 'Convert only when necessary' is doing no such thing.

If you need special handling for DSD files, then you might need to create a separate zone and choose an encoding option; then use zone switch.

Smart idea which I already tried, but that doesn't work unfortunately. A DLNA network device can only be associated with one zone, its own. If a DLNA device could be selected as a regular Audio Device in any zone then ZoneSwitch could be used... but it can't currently.

Further, a DLNA network device can only be associated with one DLNA server's settings unless it is manually changed. So I can do a manual 'server switch' to toggle my DSD playback settings, but that's a bit of a hack.

There are many 24/192 max PCM-only renderers out here. It would be nice if MC could just convert DSD and send everything else in its original format. (More granular output settings would be appreciated, of course.)

MC is so accustomed to treating Output Format as a post-decoding event that this framework has created an oversight when it comes to DLNA devices and the need to selectively send original files. At least that's my take.

Am I missing something?

[AndrewFG]

I have been suggesting for years that MC needs more flexibility in the target audio formats that it streams to; either with or without transcoding. The current options of Native, MP3, or WAV/PCM are not sufficient. Ideally it should - on a track by track basis - look at the destination renderer's SinkProtocolInfo and select the highest common denominator format between MC and the renderer for each particular track (obviously giving precedence to native formats to avoid unnecessary transcoding).

[Arindelle]

Ok I get it now. I never use streamers or dlna devices - only JRiver as the final renderer. Sounds like another reason for me to keep on doing so.

Side point though -- its always been by understanding that is recommended to always check the output format, regardless if you have all sampling set  to no change, and encoding to none ... is this after all these years not necessary? or is this a remnant of my config ported over from old versions?

[AndrewFG]

If you have the output set to Original, then the output settings are irrelevant.