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Author Topic: Bug playing DSD (sometimes it work, sometimes not)  (Read 847 times)

jayla

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Bug playing DSD (sometimes it work, sometimes not)
« on: January 20, 2019, 02:31:37 am »

Dear JRiver-Team,

since sometimes (I don't know with which version update it appeares but clearly within version MC 24 (Masterversion using MAC-Mini)) following problem appears unconditionally: JRiver does not start playing DSD-files (DFF as well as DSF) reliable in my audio-chain. Instead of playing music, there is only a waving noise in my speakers. JRiver status however reports the start of playing and also the tracktimer shows the playing.
Bitstream option is enabled - Midiinterface is configured to the highest samplerate (before starting to play). If JRiver starts a DSD-file correctly I can hear this in the very first moment after starting playing - it causes at first a configuration of the USB interface in my Renderer. This is easily identifiable by some clicks that appears in the Renderer after starting playing a DSD-file (via PoD). If it goes wrong this configuration is not being done.
Two different things can fix the problem.
1. Shuting down the complete Mac-Mini and restart it (works mostly at first time at least always after doing this two or three times)
2. Stopping JRiver. Start Audirvana and playing the DSD-File (it always works in Audirvana!!!) - afterwords stop Audirvana and come back to JRiver - very,very often the DSD file can then be played correcty (clicking appears in Renderer and everything works fine again).
Something that is curious to me: Even though I used to configure The Midi-Interface always to the highest samplerate (32Bit,384kHz @ 2 Channels ),
JRiver reconfigure it to 24Bit, 176kHz@2 Channels for DSD and 24Bit, 352kHz@2 Channels for 2xDSD. However this makes sense to me regarding these file-formats but I would expect after finishing playing these files, JRiver should reconfigure the interface to the configuration that was configured before starting playing the file.
 
My Equipment:
Mac-Mini (Model Midterm 2011), OSX High Sierra V 10.13.6 (latest version); 1TB SSD HD - I always play directly from the internal SSD and do not have any external drives connected.
JRiver: MC24 Version 24.0.72 (Problem however occurs much earlier)
Renderer (Player): ESOTERIC K03x. Capable of playing native DSD up to 2xDSD (or 5,6 MHz). I do not have DSD Files with a higher rate at all
Interface in Use (MAC-Mini) and being selected in JRiver: ESOTERIC USB AUDIO DEVICE (Core Audio)
Midiinterface is configured, as your DSD white paper supposed for DSD, to the highest possible samplerate.
JRiver Configuration: Bitstream option is enabled,

From my impression JRiver has a serious bug in configuring the Renderer correctly or could you have any glue why this problem occurs?
Last but not least: I never use two players at the same time in the Mac-Mini (Neither JRiver, nor Audirvana, nor iTunes). Audirvana always works correctly, iTunes can not play these file-formats at all.  Audirvana is because of its poor interface not in anyway an alternative to JRiver to me (nor is Roon) - But if the problem cannot be found or fixed (if it is a bug) - I will always be in search of an adequate tool for playing my music library

Best regards and thx for helping
Joachim
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Awesome Donkey

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Re: Bug playing DSD (sometimes it work, sometimes not)
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2019, 05:52:30 am »

There's a couple things you need to make sure you're doing to get DSD playback working on macOS. How is the Mac connected to the K03x? USB, correct?

1) Of course, DSD bitstreaming must be enabled (which you already have).
2) Make sure you have both macOS' system volume and the internal volume in MC set to 100%. This is important and *can* lead to audible issues if volume, especially the macOS' system volume, isn't set to 100%.
3) Also with Mac you might have to open the Audio MIDI Setup app and set it to the highest bit-depth and sample rate (which you already have).

Finally, open up DSP Studio > Output Format and double check your settings there. If you're resampling some sample rates (or converting everything to DSD) I'd revert that stuff back to default just to test.
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jayla

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Re: Bug playing DSD (sometimes it work, sometimes not)
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2019, 04:24:07 am »

Thanks for your fast reply.
Sorry to say - but please read my issue again - I think every hint you mentioned in your answer to my issue is being checked seriously and also described - with the exception of the volume control - because this is that clear to me that I don't mentioned. I was talking about a "bug" in JRiver!
Why?
1st. the way JRiver uses CORE AUDIO Interface and the strong related Midi-Interface does not keep care about the necessary pre-configuration that has to be established to be able to play DSD-Files . This can easily being achieved.
2nd. JRiver should always take care about the configured Midi-Interface configuration before start playing any file (but especially in case of DSD). And once it stop playing it should do the necessary housekeeping, which means JRiver should reestablished the configuration of the Midi-Interface that it founds before starting to play.
This is IMO a question of solid and reliable software engineering and would all Mac Users help to come around of all the trouble with playing DSD, that you surely can find in this forum

Sincerely
Joachim

There's a couple things you need to make sure you're doing to get DSD playback working on mac-OS. How is the Mac connected to the K03x? USB, correct?

1) Of course, DSD bitstreaming must be enabled (which you already have).
2) Make sure you have both macOS' system volume and the internal volume in MC set to 100%. This is important and *can* lead to audible issues if volume, especially the macOS' system volume, isn't set to 100%.
3) Also with Mac you might have to open the Audio MIDI Setup app and set it to the highest bit-depth and sample rate (which you already have).

Finally, open up DSP Studio > Output Format and double check your settings there. If you're resampling some sample rates (or converting everything to DSD) I'd revert that stuff back to default just to test.
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