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[Jozza]

I'm using an 8 channel Gigaport HD+ to drive four separate audio zones in a multizone configuration. With the "Playback Options -> Audio -> Output mode:" set to "Direct Sound", I can successfully output separate music streams to each Zone (i.e. each Stereo Pair) at the same time.

If I change the Output mode: to ASIO I can successfully output music streams to each Stereo Pair - one at a time. In the logfile I get these sorts of messages (showing success)

Code: [Select]

0018221: 6916: Playback: CASIOPlugin::StartASIO: Starting ASIO for device: ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD
0018221: 6916: Playback: CASIOPlugin::StartASIO: Finish (result: 1) (31 ms)
0018221: 6916: Playback: CASIOPlugin::Open: Set ASIO sample rate to 44100: 1
0018221: 6916: Playback: CASIOPlugin::Open: ASIO result (0 is success): 0
0018221: 6916: Playback: CASIOPlugin::Open: Finish (31 ms)
0018237: 6744: Playback: CWaveOutBin::CreateBin: Finish (47 ms)
0018237: 6744: Playback: CMJWaveFeeder::Thread: Preparing to feed data
0018237: 6744: Playback: CMJWaveFeeder::Thread: Running feeder loop
0018237: 6524: Playback: CWaveOutBinPlayThread::Thread: Start


As soon as I try to start music playing to more than zone, I get the message:

"Playback could not be started on the output 'ASIO' using the format '44.1kHz 64bit 2ch'

In the log file, the error at this point is:

Code: [Select]

0023853: 5364: Playback: CASIOPlugin::StartASIO: Starting ASIO for device: ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD
0023853: 5364: Playback: CASIOPlugin::StartASIO: ASIOInit(...) failed with code -1000
0023853: 5364: Playback: CASIOPlugin::StartASIO: Finish (result: 0) (16 ms)
0023853: 5364: Playback: CASIOPlugin::Open: Failed to start ASIO
0023853: 5364: Playback: CASIOPlugin::Open: ASIO result (0 is success): -1

Now, this device requires output format to be in 44.1kHz 16bit 2ch to support all 8 channels operating consecutively.

Is it possible to force the ASIO output to be in a specific format? When I look at the "DSP & output format..." settings it states for the Bitdepth setting "ASIO output ignores this setting and uses the hardware's native bitdepth." Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be true, as my hardwares native bitdepth is only 24-bit to start with.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree here and its a different issue altogether?

Jozza

[Matt]

Most ASIO drivers don't like opening more than one instance at a time.

And there's no way for multiple zones to share a single ASIO instance, so you'll have to use DirectSound.

[Jozza]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for this. So are you saying that unless the ASIO driver presents the discrete channel pairs to MC as something like  "ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD Channel 1+2", ... "ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD Channel 7+8" in the "ASIO Settings" dialog under "Device", then the driver won't support multiple channels with ASIO?

If thats the case, I'll have to live with it. I'll have to use Direct Sound. I was just looking to minimise any overheads in audio process for audio only zones on my HTPC.

Are you (or anyone else) aware of audio hardware (and drivers) that do support ASIO for multizone sound simultaneously playing?

Cheers

Jozza

[Matt]

Thanks for this. So are you saying that unless the ASIO driver presents the discrete channel pairs to MC as something like  "ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD Channel 1+2", ... "ASIO 2.0 - ESI GIGAPort HD Channel 7+8" in the "ASIO Settings" dialog under "Device", then the driver won't support multiple channels with ASIO?

It's easy to target any channels using either the channel shift in ASIO 'Output mode settings...' or using a 'Channel mixer' in Parametric Equalizer.

Instead, I'm saying you probably won't be able to use more than one zone simultaneously if you use ASIO.

[Jozza]

Yep, I'm using the "Channel Offset" feature with ASIO settings to get it to work one channel at a time.

So for a whole house audio setup to support simultaneous playback in each zone, is the most appropriate Output Mode to use "Direct Sound", or is there a better output mode that will require less processor resources on the HTPC's CPU?

I'll stick with and Direct Sound if there isn't.

Jozza

[Matt]

So for a whole house audio setup to support simultaneous playback in each zone, is the most appropriate Output Mode to use "Direct Sound", or is there a better output mode that will require less processor resources on the HTPC's CPU?

I'll stick with and Direct Sound if there isn't.

If you're on Vista or newer WASAPI - Event Style, not exclusive (so you use DSP Studio > Output Format to convert to the Windows mixer format), is also good.

This post might help a little if you're still getting it configured:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=71218.0

[Jozza]

Great, thanks Matt.

I've configured it to use an Output Mode of "WASAPI - Event Style". I'll play around a bit to see how it goes.

Jozza