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Author Topic: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP  (Read 5089 times)

gwoolfolk

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Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« on: February 23, 2012, 08:23:23 pm »
I had kernel streaming working and it sounded better to then ASIO.  I tried playing a high rez cd and it locked up.  Now I can only get sound out using AISO. Any thoughts, I rebooted but don't know what else to try.  Would any of the other audio settings, buffering, play from memory be causing this?
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glynor

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Re: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2012, 08:29:37 pm »
If your sound card has a real ASIO driver, that's the best thing to use.  If ASIO is messed up, try uninstalling, rebooting, and reinstalling your audio driver.  Changing the buffering setting could help.  If you have trouble with the Play from RAM setting, you can disable it safely (MC is bitperfect either way), and you might want to test your ram with MemTest86+.

Playing from RAM with high-resolution stuff might just be difficult to use on XP though, which is going to be limited in RAM to less than 4GB (unless you are using the 64-bit version of XP, which is flaky all on its own).

If you are using ASIO4All, then you should remove it and just use MC's Kernel Streaming mode because ASIO4All is just Kernel Streaming itself wrapped in an ASIO "shell".  No need to use the shell (which could be flaky) when MC can do it directly.

Lastly, Windows 7 is much better.  If your box can run it, get it.
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gwoolfolk

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Re: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2012, 08:41:18 pm »
I have an ASIO driver that came w my usb converter(berkeley).  Your saying asio should sound better than kernel.  I may have been dilusional buy in the brief time kernel was working it seemed to have a much blacker background and less compressed.  It could have the time of day perhaps as it was midnight.  I will try and uninstall the asio4all and remove the play from memory. Where should I set the buffer
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glynor

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Re: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2012, 09:07:37 pm »
I don't think ASIO sounds better (or worse) than Kernel Streaming.  They should sound the same.  It is more about reliability.  If you have nice gear and a real ASIO driver, then that is where you are get the best reliability.  I think Kernel Streaming can be flaky.  It is a good backup option to have, but it is mainly for poor souls with crappy old soundcards or onboard audio on XP.  (There, it is better than being stuck with not-bitperfect Direct Sound.)  But if you have nice gear with an ASIO driver, then presumably the manufacturer cared about quality and actually put some time in on it, so it probably is the best (optimal) way to talk to their hardware.

I mean, if they are going to bother to pay the licensing fees to Steinberg, it only makes sense that they would actually... Try hard.  Most of them do, I think.

More info here:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audio_Output_Modes
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Blaine78

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Re: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2012, 05:41:14 pm »
I'd choose ASIO. more reliable, and does sound marginally better.
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Phil_C

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Re: Kernel streaming vs ASIO on XP
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2012, 06:59:00 pm »
gwoolfolk,

I am also an owner of the Berkeley Alpha USB.  I noticed that in its User Guide v1.1 it says:

"For Windows XP, ASIO must be used to connect the music player to the USB output to get bitperfect data.  The Alpha USB ASIO driver identifies itself as “TUSBaudio ASIO driver” in the music player’s output select setup dialog.  A “Kernel Streaming” output may also appear.  Do not select it.  Kernel streaming is an experimental protocol that is only loosely specified, and it does not work with the Alpha USB. Media Monkey, Foobar and JRiver Media Center all support ASIO for Windows XP."

Hope this helps,

Phil_C 
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