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Author Topic: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work  (Read 1572 times)

mikroski

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Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« on: April 20, 2014, 12:17:31 pm »

Got North Star DAC impulso for two weeks. Try to make it work and desperately now.

My Settings are

Audio Device = PCM-DSD USB (ASIO)
Buffering = 500 ms
Use large hardware buffer = Yes
Device Uses only 24 bits = No
DSD bit stream in DOP format = No

Bitstreaming = DSD

DSP & Output Format
Output Encoding = None

With above setting, I can't play flac file. I can play only DSD files

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Change
Bitstreaming = None
with this setting I can't play both flac and DSD files

------------------------------------------------------------------
switch back
Bitstreaming = DSD

Output Encoding = 2 x DSD in native format

Now it play both flac and DSD with output show "DSD 5.6 MHz 1 bit 2 channels Using ASIO"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The problem is my notebook is not fast enough to encode flac files on the fly and jiggle all the times

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Other Audio Device options are
Audio Device = PCM DSD WASAPI

Bitstreaming = DSD

DSP & Output Format
Output Encoding = None

Now it play flac and DSD file in native format, except for it don't play DSD multi-channels file

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 What I want is
1. Play flac or DSD files in its native format, no encoder

I'm very tried and desperately now. Please help
Thanks
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6233638

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2014, 12:32:24 pm »

If you run Help → Benchmark the overall JRMark score will give us an idea of how fast your PC is. It sounds like it is not enough to handle what you are asking of it though.
 
 
If you enable DSD Bitstreaming, native DSD files will be sent untouched to the DAC, and this should require very little CPU.
If DSD Encoding is disabled, your PCM tracks (FLAC) should also use relatively little CPU for playback.
 
 
Unfortunately, you cannot bitstream multichannel audio to a stereo device.
This is not a Media Center limitation, but simply the way things are.
The only way to play these files to a stereo DAC is to decode them to PCM audio, and apply downmixing. (conversion from 4-6, to 2 channels)
 
With DSD audio, this is very CPU intensive, as you are decoding six channels of DST-compressed audio, and it sounds like your system cannot cope.
 
 
Your best option for these files would be to use Media Center's conversion tools (Tools → Library Tools → Convert Format…) to convert these multichannel DSD files to stereo PCM for playback. (e.g. 176.4kHz PCM)
 
Be sure to enable the "Apply DSP" option and set the Output Format to 2-channel with JRSS mixing enabled.
I would also set the bit-depth to 24-bit when doing this conversion.
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mikroski

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2014, 07:59:48 am »

If you enable DSD Bitstreaming, native DSD files will be sent untouched to the DAC, and this should require very little CPU.
If DSD Encoding is disabled, your PCM tracks (FLAC) should also use relatively little CPU for playback.
Dear 6233638, very appreciate for your comment. What I want is exactly as you wrote above
I want PCM file send to DAC as PCM format
I want DSD file send to DAC as DSD format



Unfortunately, you cannot bitstream multichannel audio to a stereo device.
This is not a Media Center limitation, but simply the way things are.
The only way to play these files to a stereo DAC is to decode them to PCM audio, and apply downmixing. (conversion from 4-6, to 2 channels)
 also set the bit-depth to 24-bit when doing this conversion.
When I select ASIO, Bit Stream = DSD. Output Encoding = None. JRiver show that they send either 2 channels or 6 channels DSD 1 bit direct to my DAC, and it can play flawlessly in both two or six channels.North Star DAC can handle 6 channels DSD directly input without problem

My Jmark is only 1900.

In summary
1. My DAC can handle 2 or 6 DSD bit stream, ASIO, Output Encoding = None.

2. In above setting, it will not play flac file at all, Question is, Why?

3. To play both FLAC and DSD I have select between
  3.1 ASIO, Bit Stream = DSD. Output Encoding = 2 x DSD in Native format, Problem is my computer to slow to handle, and I don't like that my FLAC file encode to DSD
  3.2 WASAPI, Bit Stream = None, Output Encoding = None. Problem is it send DSD file by encode it to DOP, I purchase DSD DAC so I want to use it at full capacity
 

Please accept my apologize, if my above question seem silly or idiot. I truely don't understand why my DAC can't play multi-channels DSD and Flac File at the same time
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6233638

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2014, 08:42:15 am »

When I select ASIO, Bit Stream = DSD. Output Encoding = None. JRiver show that they send either 2 channels or 6 channels DSD 1 bit direct to my DAC, and it can play flawlessly in both two or six channels.
I misunderstood - I thought that you had a stereo DAC, which would not accept a 6ch bitstream.

2. In above setting, it will not play flac file at all, Question is, Why?
Try reducing the buffer from 500ms. That's too high for a lot of devices. Try 25 or 100ms.

  3.2 WASAPI, Bit Stream = None, Output Encoding = None. Problem is it send DSD file by encode it to DOP, I purchase DSD DAC so I want to use it at full capacity
I think what you meant is that it converts DSD to PCM - Media Center would only output DoP when bitstreaming or using DSD encoding.
 
DoP is no different from the native DSD stream.
It simply transmits the 1-bit 2.8MHz signal as a 16-bit 176.4kHz stream. (176.4 x 16 = 2.8MHz)
This is still 1-bit native DSD audio.
 
So if you meant to say that when you use WASAPI with bitstreaming enbled, PCM audio (FLAC) works, and DSD is output as DoP, then everything is working correctly.
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mikroski

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2014, 11:41:48 am »

Dear 6233638

I spent last weekend try to set all combination on ASIO mode without successful.

So I stick with WASAPI now. I just order all-in-one-pc i7 to use with JRiver only, hope that it will fast enough :)

Thanks very much for your help

Have a good days!!!
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mikroski

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2014, 11:44:34 pm »

Got my new computer yesterday. It's weird because I set every thing and the same (that didn't work before)

Audio Device = PCM-DSD USB (ASIO)
Buffering = 500 ms
Use large hardware buffer = Yes
Device Uses only 24 bits = No
DSD bit stream in DOP format = No

Bitstreaming = DSD

DSP & Output Format
Output Encoding = None

Now it plays both flac files and DSD without problem.

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6233638

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Re: Please Help, Don't know how to make it work
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2014, 08:17:30 am »

Very strange - but I'm glad that you have it working now.
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