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More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 25 for Windows => Topic started by: Al ex on May 25, 2020, 09:54:07 am
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Hi,
I have switched from Laptop to PC in my office, and I am having problems to get the sound running, when I want to watch for example a youtube-video on Chrome browser, or when I want to use my Cam for Skype-confs.
My setup: PC USB --> Shiit Loki (DSD-device) --> Shiit Valhalla 2 --> Loudspeakers
Audio files from JRiver works without a problem - the zone setup is via DSD.
Audio from Browser: I have installed WDM, and in Windows, I have selected "JRiver Media Center 25"
In JRiver, I have set up a separate zone with rule "play IPC-files"
This zone is running with the driver "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)".
When I start a youtube video, then I see IPC starting and running and also stopping, when I stop the video.
Problem: I donīt hear any sound. All settings seem to be OK, the signal is there. But no output.
Anyone an idea, how I can get audio from Windows devices via a DSD-DAC?
On my laptop, I simply send the audio to the laptop loudspeakers. On the PC, there are no PC-loudspeaker by default, so I must use the DSD-DAC, where my loudspeakers are connected.
Thanks,
Alex
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Why are you outputting to the "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)"? That would be the HDMI output from the video card on your PC. Is that connected to anything?
Does the Windows Volume Mixer show anything is being played on the "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)"?
Why not just output to the Shiit when using the WDM Driver as well? Sure, you might want to set up a second Zone for it, and tweak buffers as per the Wiki. Based on your post I assume you have read the Wiki https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/WDM_Driver
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Why are you outputting to the "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)"? That would be the HDMI output from the video card on your PC. Is that connected to anything?
I was playing around with all options. With that, I got a responding signal.
Does the Windows Volume Mixer show anything is being played on the "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)"?
Yes, the equalizer and time is starting and stopping, when I start and stop a Youtube video in Chrome.
Why not just output to the Shiit when using the WDM Driver as well? Sure, you might want to set up a second Zone for it, and tweak buffers as per the Wiki. Based on your post I assume you have read the Wiki https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/WDM_Driver
Because it seems to be a problem, as I am using a DSP-DAC.
Thats why I was setting up a second zone, which is not configured as DSP.
Sure - WDM-driver wiki read.
"IPC" in Playing Now
The WDM driver's output appears in Media Center's playing now as a library item named IPC. It stands for "inter-process communication." If you see it in your playing now, it's proof that the WDM driver is working."
--> Yes.
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I was playing around with all options. With that, I got a responding signal.
Where did you get a responding signal? You said you didn't hear any sound. I assume you mean you saw the Progress Bar time progress, and the mini Spectrum Analyser in Player Bar in MC.
Well, that is all very good, and shows that MC is outputting audio, but if you don't have anything connected to the HDMI port on your PC that can play audio, you aren't going to hear anything.
Yes, the equalizer and time is starting and stopping, when I start and stop a Youtube video in Chrome.
I actually meant the Windows Volume Mixer, as shown in the first attached image. But having looked at it again myself just now, I remember that it doesn't show input from the WDM Driver in the form of the volume bar moving. My bad. However, the Master Volume in the Windows Sound Settings does show a moving bar (highlighted in the second image) when the WDM Driver is selected and audio is played to it from, for example, YouTube. That is just another way to detect that the WDM Driver is doing its job on the input side, while the progress bar and the mini Spectrum Analyser in MC show MC is outputting audio. If audio wasn't showing in MC, but was showing in the Sound Settings, then something would be wrong with the WDM Driver connection to MC.
But that is all good.
Because it seems to be a problem, as I am using a DSP-DAC.
Thats why I was setting up a second zone, which is not configured as DSP.
Yes, you should have a second Zone for use with the WDM Driver, as per the Wiki. But you can still point it to whatever output device you point it to for normal audio played from within MC.
Lookiing at the Shiit Loki (https://www.schiit.com/products/loki), it is a Preamp and Equaliser, and has analogue inputs. So it isn't a DAC. You must be using the onboard DAC in the PC and outputting analogue audio to the Loki. You have analogue cables connecting from the PC to the Loki, don't you?
Sure, you may not wish to run YouTube audio through that. But at least it would prove that the WDM Driver is working, and connect to an output device that is capable of playing audio.
I see you are using a Shiit Valhalla 2 (https://www.schiit.com/products/valhalla-1), which is an analogue Headphone Amp, to drive speakers. That is an interesting choice. But I guess it is capable.
So we come back to my first question.
Why are you outputting to the "AMD High Definition Audio Decvice (WASAPI)"? That would be the HDMI output from the video card on your PC. Is that connected to anything?
Also, so we understand your options, please post a picture like the third attached image, which shows all the Audio Device choices available for the Player Zone. That could help a lot.
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Lookiing at the Shiit Loki (https://www.schiit.com/products/loki), it is a Preamp and Equaliser, and has analogue inputs. So it isn't a DAC.
Schiit reused the Loki name. They made a DSD only DAC years ago using the Loki name that connects to any other DAC with RCA inputs, however it has a physical button on it you have to press to use DSD on it (otherwise it acts as a passthrough for any DAC connected to it). It's been long discontinued but I do have one.
If the Loki is being used somewhere in this setup, have you tried pressing the button on it to take it out of DSD mode? Otherwise you might have to convert all PCM to DSD, which I'm not sure is possible with WDM driver's output (as I've never tried that).
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Schiit reused the Loki name.
Well that's confusing! But now the above makes more sense.
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Schiit reused the Loki name. They made a DSD only DAC years ago using the Loki name that connects to any other DAC with RCA inputs, however it has a physical button on it you have to press to use DSD on it (otherwise it acts as a passthrough for any DAC connected to it). It's been long discontinued but I do have one.
If the Loki is being used somewhere in this setup, have you tried pressing the button on it to take it out of DSD mode? Otherwise you might have to convert all PCM to DSD, which I'm not sure is possible with WDM driver's output (as I've never tried that).
Yes, now. That seems to have caused troubles several times over the last years. Thanks for the hint!
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Thanks for all your inputs, RoderickGI, that was very helpful!
In the meanwhile, I was managing to get working everything: Audio/Video from my NAS, windows sounds - all with one setup.
And as Awesome Donkey already mentioned: my Loki is first gen - it is a DSD-DAC. Why they are re-using the name? It doesnīt make sense, but anyway.
All fine now :)
PS - some info about my Loki: https://darko.audio/2013/11/not-a-review-of-the-schiit-loki-dsd-dac/
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Cool. 8)
Thanks for the feedback.