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Author Topic: Buffering  (Read 2583 times)

CaptainSensible

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Buffering
« on: May 13, 2015, 03:58:22 pm »

I have recently downloaded some .dff and .dsf files which I'm struggling to play with JRiver.
It will only play a few seconds at a time and then pauses with the message "Buffering".
Is this because I need a faster processor (AMD E-350 1.60GHz) or more memory (4.00GB, 3.50GB useable) or something else?
I have Prebuffering set to 6 seconds, Play files from memory.
Any help will be appreciated, thanks!
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fitbrit

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2015, 04:33:09 pm »

I believe you need a faster processor for DSF files, especially if you are converting them before playing. A modern processor will have speaking HappyTalk in no time.
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dtc

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2015, 05:06:37 pm »

Playing DSD/DSF is not compute intensive, converting to PCM is.

It sounds like you may be converting the DSF to PCM.  Are you using a DSD capable DAC? If so, you need to set up MC to feed the DSF signal directly or through DOP, rather than converting to PCM.
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CaptainSensible

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2015, 02:03:55 am »

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I'm converting to PCM as that's what my dac (actually a Devialet 250 amplifier) needs.
So a faster processor then!
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dtc

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2015, 08:10:43 am »

You can also convert your DSD/DSF files to PCM (flac) using the MC convert function and just play the resulting hi rez PCM files. This works if you have a small number of albums in DSD format. Just select the album, right click and choose Library Tools - Convert Format. Set the DSP Studio options to convert to whatever sample rate you want. I think your Devialet goes up to 192 KHz, so that might be a good option, at least for 2xDSD files. Since it is not done in real time, you don't need a faster computer to do it.

Converting DSD to PCM will produce high frequency noise which you want to get rid of. The default filter in MC is 24 KHz @48dB/octave, which I think is too aggressive, especially for 2xDSD. You can find the filter settings in Tools - Options - Audio - Advanced - Configure Input Plug-in - DSD. I turn the filter off and then use a low pass filter in DSP Studio - Parametric Equalizer set at 60 Khz @48db/Octave. Or you can use the permissive one (50 KHz@24dB/octave) in the DSD Input Plug-In setup.  If you want to see the frequency spectrum and the high frequency noise in the PCM file, you can download a little tool called SPEC which will show you the frequency spectrum of a PCM file. Audacity will also do it, but it is more complicated to use. I set my low pass filter passed on looking at where the noise started to increase using SPEC. For me, that is usually around 60 KHz.  Note that the DSP studio settings used in converting are different than the DSP Studio settings for playback. You need to set the settings in the Convert dialog when converting from DSD to PCM.
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Manfred

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2015, 09:24:25 am »

Hi
I have an D-200 and I installed the new Firmware 8.0 yesterday.

To make DSD working I had to do 4 things:

Options->Audio->Audio Device: Enable Devialet USB Asio Audio Driver (requires an USB cable to the Devialet :D :))
Options->Audio->Audio Device: Devices: Enable DSD Bitstrem in DOP Format
Options->Audio->Settings: Biststreaming: DSD yes enabled
Options->Audio->Advanced->Configure Input Plugin... to Safe (24kHz...

I bought my first DSD Album yesterday and it worked flawless.

I have an i7-4770T JRmark ~4300. DSD playing creates ~4-8% workload on my HTPC with 8 GB 1600 CL9 RAM. RAM usage is around 3 GB with Win 8.1.
Check your JRmark and extrapolate the workload to your CPU before you buy something new.

Have fun. Sound is great.
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dtc

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2015, 09:36:26 pm »

Clearly, if you can update your Devialet to do DSD that is the way to go. You do not need a lot of compute power to play DSD over DOP. I use an old Netbook with an Atom processor and 2 GB of memory with a JMark of 477 and it works with 2xDSD.

Manfred - I do not think the DSP Plug-in filter should have not effect when bitstreaming DSD directly to the DAC. As far as I know, it only comes into play when converting DSD to PCM.
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glynor

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Re: Buffering
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2015, 12:01:19 pm »

Manfred - I do not think the DSP Plug-in filter should have not effect when bitstreaming DSD directly to the DAC.

Correct. That's the entire idea of bitstreaming. MC does not decode the audio to PCM and so cannot filter it, even if it wanted to.

The Input plugin only applies to decoding DSD to PCM.
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