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More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 18 for Windows => Topic started by: mkelly on July 27, 2013, 11:54:38 am

Title: ASIO vs DIRECT SOUND
Post by: mkelly on July 27, 2013, 11:54:38 am

Thanks to all who have commented in the past its been an education.

I am playing music from my computer via a USB port to an outboard DAC with a USB input. In other words USB to USB
In MC18 my Output Mode is "Direct Sound", but when you hover over the DSP button confirms that I am using Direct Sound but the drop down box says "Output:.....(not a direct connection)"....seems like an oxymoron......can someone explain to me what the Audio Path is in my case, and would I get more accurate bit perfect sound using ASIO or WASAPI.
To phrase my question differently, does JRIver use the sound card in the computer, or is it bypassed because I am going USB to the DAC? Can I remove my sound card and still playback music? For better quality audio should I upgrade my sound card (assuming that it is used somehow by JRiver)?

Thanks

Title: Re: ASIO vs DIRECT SOUND
Post by: InflatableMouse on July 27, 2013, 12:46:39 pm

Try reading the wiki on output modes (http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audio_Output_Modes), it explains it quite well.

Title: Re: ASIO vs DIRECT SOUND
Post by: kstuart on July 27, 2013, 12:53:32 pm

The USB DAC performs the exact same function as a sound card.

You can use a USB DAC on a PC that has no sound card at all.