,Hi gang;
I'm back on the great ASIO race (or is it just a game after all?).
Ran into something really weird. CD players operate at 44,100 Hz, the CD is cut at 44,100 Hz, and MJ should be set up for 44,100 Hz (for most normal playback of ripped CD's).
So I'm asking why does ASIO have to be set up for 48,000 Hz?
There's a story here... read on.
I loaded the kX Project drivers to get ASIO on my Creative Audigy soundcard. After much screwing around I finally got ASIO working... sort of. Had much clicking & popping with the 3528 drivers. Had better luck with the latest 3530 version. Also more things worked with the 3530.
However, some people have said they heard an immediate improvement in the sound with ASIO. I did hear a difference but not any apparent improvement... in fact I think it was a little worse if anything.
The last couple of days I have been playing a lot of piano music (jazz & new age) & noticed a pronounced sharp, tinny, unnatural sound to all the piano music especially the sharp hi-frequency attacks. This was not apparent with almost all other music that I heard although I did hear a difference..
This was driving me nuts as my new Logitech Z-680 speakers are a real jewel of a sound producer & it sounded just like a ripped speaker cone... all rattlely & irritating.
So the hunt was on for the cause.
* Replaced the Coaxial digital input from the speakers with a three wire analog input... no improvement!
* Un-installed the kX Project drivers & re-installed the Audigy software... no improvement.
* In MC changed the playback from ASIO back to Direct sound... no improvement.
* In DSP Studio changed the 5.1 Channels back to source input... no improvement.
Was about to pull my remaining hair out by the roots when I noticed the DSP Sampling Rate setting of 48,000 Hz. Changed it back to 44,000 Hz & all was well again in music land... finally!
Seems like the sharp attack of piano music really drives a system to its musical limits.
So, now I ask again... why 48,000 Hz with ASIO? It was the problem on my system all along.