Print

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

[cantara256]

I've been using MC for a year or so no without no problems at all. I have my first DSD files to try out and after playing for a minute or two the output goes silent and stays that way until I either restart, stop/start playback again, or play another file type.

These same files play just fine on my Astell & Kern AK380.

I've tried:

• Bitstreaming none or DSD
• Output encoding DSD in DoP format or none
• Audio MIDI Setup for Hugo TT to 384 kHz but always goes to 176 kHz when MC is running

Always goes silent around 1:50 into any track, though MC shows the track is still playing, even the equalizer is doing its thing like normal. But no sound unless I restart/stop & play again/switch to a different audio format track and then back to DSD.

Any ideas? Thanks,

Raul

JRiver Media Center 23.0.90
Mac Mini 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 processor/2 cores, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Mac OS Sierra 10.12.6
Chord Hugo TT via USBH

[Awesome Donkey]

How are you playing back your DSD files? Locally or from a NAS or something like that? Are you using any of the memory playback features?

but always goes to 176 kHz when MC is running

If you're playing back DSD64 files, this is normal for DoP (which is the only way to playback DSD on Mac).

[cantara256]

All files are local. I'm not aware of the memory playback features and haven't played around with any of that.

[cantara256]

What are the ideal settings? Betwenn the wiki on DSD, the various posts I found, and what the current setting options are I'm not sure:

• Audio Device set to is HugoTT (Core Audio). What about integer mode and buffering (software/hardware at recommended 100ms/Hardware default)?
• Output Format: Sounds like Output Encoding should be DSD in DoP
• Bitstreaming: HDMI, S/PDIF, DSD or none?

Files are: DSD64, 1 bit, 2.8224 Mhz, 5.6 Mbps, 1 Area (stereo). Confirmed memory playback is disabled.

All output goes silent at exactly 1:52, for any DSD track. This happens even if I disable bitstreaming and set output encoding none. So weird.

[Awesome Donkey]

Unless you want to purposely convert everything (e.g. PCM) to DSD, I wouldn't mess with Output Format at all, just enable and use DSD bitstreaming for DSD files. Also integer mode and buffering settings won't matter much.

It's a strange issue, but you might want to see if the files themselves are "good" and not somehow corrupt. You could also try disabling DSD bitstreaming (and not use any Output Format settings) and see if the files play fully when MC converts DSD to PCM on-the-fly to rule out the possibility of bad files.

[cantara256]

Thanks for the help, I very much appreciate it.

I disabled bitstreaming and the problem is the same. However, if I disconnect the Hugo, the files play just fine through the Mac mini speakers.

Also, the same DSF files play fine on my Astell & Kern AK380.  So it looks like it's something related to the Hugo.

[Awesome Donkey]

How's the Hugo connected to the Mac? USB? It *could* be a bad cable, hmmm.

[cantara256]

USB to USBH input. All other file formats play fine and have been fine for two years.

[cantara256]

How's the Hugo connected to the Mac? USB? It *could* be a bad cable, hmmm.

So a few more hours of swapping cables, trying different USB ports and optical input through two Macs and an AK380, and the conclusion is that the USB board on my Mac mini is hosed.

The cable is fine; everything works perfectly through my other Mac. But two different cables from the "bad" Mac to either USB port on the Hugo give the same problem. On non-DSD tracks the problem happens too, it just takes a little longer to occur and doesn't stop the music completely, just starts pausing here and there. None of this was happening two weeks ago.

Of course, the warranty on the damaged USB Mac expired last month. Thankfully I can just swap them.

Anyway thanks for your help. Hope this helps anyone else.

Final settings:
Audio Device: HugoTT (Core Audio), Integer mode enabled
Output Encoding: none
Bitstreaming: Yes (DSD)

[mindwaves]

Hi guys, am facing exactly same issue as @cantara256. Hugo TT going silent after a few seconds or minutes depending upon the audio files format. Wasn't very clear on how the issue  was resolved by @cantara256. Pls can someone assist? Thanks a lot.
 

[cantara256]

Hi guys, am facing exactly same issue as @cantara256. Hugo TT going silent after a few seconds or minutes depending upon the audio files format. Wasn't very clear on how the issue  was resolved by @cantara256. Pls can someone assist? Thanks a lot.

It's either a bad USB cable, or the cable port on your Mac is hosed. In my case, it was the particular USB slot on my Mac mini. Just plugging in the USB cable to a different port on my mini solved it.