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In Reply to: RE: Best software posted by jrdoe on October 23, 2016 at 08:53:23
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Any suggestions on getting this to work? Will it work with a DSD-playing DAC, only?
Of course, I do not know what DAC you are referring to.You do know that DiracLive is PCM-only.
Edits: 10/23/16
*All* sophisticated DSP processing would have to be PCM based of course.
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Archimago's Musings : A 'more objective' audiophile blog.
HQPlayer is supposed to have a DSD-capable convolution engine. I cannot verify that nor prove otherwise.
Edits: 10/24/16
To the best of my knowledge, DSD is not an editable format.
Even the most simple kind of DSP like a fade-out requires conversion to PCM.
The Signalyst website says
"For digital room correction and other equalization purposes, selectable convolution algorithms are included. Convolution engine supports RIFF (WAV) format FIR impulse responses, which can be produced with suitable software, such asAcourate, Room EQ Wizard or DRC."
No claim it has a convoler for DSD.
Pyramix converts DSD into DXD for editing
DXD is 24 bits 352.8 kHz PCM
The Well Tempered Computer
I can also edit DSD Files I downloaded, tho I have no reason to do so.
I was told by Korg that no PCM Conversion is used.
I can also Convert any File to DSD 128, either real-time or Export.
So I guess there IS Software for DSD Editing, at least basic editing.
Aside from personal statements by the designer, here are some relevant quotations from published documents. Again, I cannot verify/deny these but they clearly indicate the designer's assertion that the program is capable of this function. I suggest you engage him directly about this.-----------------------------------------------------------
Selectable convolution algorithm (FIR) for equalization, such as digital room correction (2 options), for PCM/DSD content.- When "DirectSDM" is enabled, the internal delta-sigma processing engine for DSD content is bypassed. The engine is now capable of all the same functionality as is offered for PCM, including volume control, delay and convolution engine for digital room correction. But since DSD is about "Direct Stream Digital" (or probably originally Direct Sigma Delta before marketing department jumped on technical jargon), a direct path setting is provided.
"Direct SDM" is partially unrelated to the PCM and SDM default settings. If you don't need any processing (rate conversion up/down, volume control, multichannel speaker adjustments or convolution engine for DSD) select "Direct SDM" - it will just pass the data through from a file as-is.
3.13.2 released.
Fixed a regression in convolution/matrix processing of DSD sources.
Edits: 10/24/16
Jussi plays his cards close to the chest, but has suggested that he enables a multi-bit word-length for that path. This allows him to keep a DS signal-path, it just isn't a 1-bit DS signal.
I often feel like there are 15-20 people in the world that care about our little slice of the universe, Kal. But at least we have each other.
P
i have no idea what that means.
Sorry, i meant non-DSD-playing DAC. I'd though HQPlayer was an upsampling-to-DSD converter.
. . . I do not have a DSD capable DAC, so I use HQ Player exclusively in PCM mode. Even when you playback a DFF/DSD file (as I've done), HQ Player will sense whether you actually have a DSD DAC, and if you don't, it will convert the file on the fly to 24-bit high-sample-rate PCM. (I forget whether it's 176.4 or 192.)
Sounds good. Any suggestions on how to setup this software to work with Roon on a Mac? I downloaded it, but it's far from intuitive.
You first have to play around with HQPlayer and set it up. Making it work with Roon is very simple. I've run Roon + HQPlayer on my Mac Mini directly out to a DAC. And I have also run Roon + HQPlayer on the Mac Mini to the networked microRendu streamer then out to my DAC. I normally control it all via my iPad Mini.Roon allows you to choose HQPlayer as an audio device.
You first launch HQPlayer on your computer and choose various combinations of settings for what is most pleasing to your ears. HQPlayer is very versatile in this regard but it's interface for managing music is horrible, IMHO.
With HQPlayer still running, Launch Roon on your computer and in Roon Settings > Audio, you can choose HQPlayer as the audio output device.
So this gives you the best of both worlds. Roon for it's marvelous user interface that you interact with for library management, playlists, and music files, and HQPlayer as the audio player that sits between Roon and your DAC.
With Roon on your iPad you don't see HQPlayer at all. It doesn't appear as an application on your iPad. On your PC/Mac, HQPlayer just sits there hidden behind Roon on your computer screen (or minimized).
Screen shots of Roon are from my iPad Mini but look about the same on your PC/Mac.
Choosing HQPlayer within Roon settings
Edits: 10/24/16 10/24/16
I think I'm going to give up on this turd. It's all setup. Roon shows it's playing, the little equalizer next to the song is moving. I insured the volumes are all turned up. no music.
I hate this friggin' software.
Hate Roon or HQPlayer? They both work perfectly for me. The key is to make each one work on it's own before using both together. Make sure you have your DAC selected in the software in both cases.
How can I get HQP working with Tidal on it's own?
I have no idea if Tidal will work with HQPlayer. Tidal works with Roon though.
Right, but since I can't get all three of them working, I thought I'd try just Tidal/HQP.
Try Tidal/Roon. It's not like you're going to squeeze hi-res performance out of a CD res Tidal stream anyway, IMHO.Also, are you using a DSD-only DAC?
Edits: 10/26/16
Yes, that's what I'm using; Roon/Tidal. Just thought I'd try out HQP, since everyone raves about it. I doubt I'd hear a difference with Tidal, but you never know.
And FWIW, it makes a lot of the music I have ripped at cd quality sort of irrelevant. It is a lot more convenient to use Roon with Tidal. For me there is no question that it sounds better going through HQPlayer than standalone. The filters do have subjective and quite audible impact on cd-quality streams and files. That may well be where they do the most magic, in fact.
That's why I need to just try it. Hopefully I'll get it working.
I haven't dome any trouble-shooting on a PC for these products as I am using an iMac. With OSX, the audio midi setting can easily get screwed up and cause grief. The devices need to be set for certain default settings for input and outputs. If you activate and try to use the software while the output is set incorrectly the system remembers that and you will never get anything coming out. What platform are you on? There are people here that can help you troubleshoot a Win system.
I'm using a MAC mini.
Then the most likely thing causing your problen is the midi settings. Go to launchpad, find and click on the box of icons labeled "Other" then on Audio Midi Setup. Verify that your dac is connected as an audio device in the list on the left. USB class 2 devices are recognized by MacOS. There are two lille icons that show which device is set for default input/output, one of a little speaker and another of a microphone and they are to the right of the device in the list. There is also a face icon and that shows what is currently set for output. Ensure that your DAC is the current output device. You should enable Roon and HQPlater before you start.If everything looks alright in midi settings make sure that you have HQPlayer set up to output to your DAC in its configuration from the settings page. Check the volume level for the device in the midi menu as well, I had problems with Puremusic which uses the Soundflower interface where it would turn dwon the volume of the device to a very low level. Also make sure that you have added HQPlayer as a device in Roon. I have found that this order of operation makes everything work:
1. Turn on the DAC
2. Start Roon
3. Start HQPlayerThis initializes the software and hardware in the correct order.
Try this and post your results.
Edits: 10/27/16 10/27/16
I don't use Tidal with HQPlayer or Roon, or Tidal with Roon+HQPlayer.
He says Roon/Tidal work together with his DAC. I'd be curious to know if he's ever gotten HQPlayer alone to work with his DAC.
i am now trying to play a file directly from the hard drive; same problem. There's a task bar that just moves back and forth. It seems to lock up.
Well I'm not sure what to tell you. I had HQPlayer running fine on my Mac Mini on Mac OS X 10.11.6 "El Capitan" but I let the trial period expire and no longer have it on my system.
Do they have a support forum or contact?
I thought I read in one of your posts that you were very impressed with HQP? What I recall, was you were reviewing the microRendu, or some other device, and you compared the results to your evaluation of HQP, stating something like the HQP had a MUCH greater improvement...
Maybe I got that wrong...
I am impressed with HQP but I probably said something to the effect that the software, HQPlayer included, had a greater effect on my overall system sound quality than the hardware, i.e. microRendu vs Mac Mini.
Of the software, HQPlayer made a slight but noticeable improvement vs Roon alone. But it's not like Roon is lacking. I let my trial of HQPlayer expire but it still worked but would time-out. It would need to be relaunched every 30-minutes.
I no longer have HQPlayer on my system.
BTW, what DAC brand/model do you have?
Thanks for the reply.
I'm lucky to have a semi-dedicated listening room (also exercise room); essentially a man-cave; 15'X24'. I have Maggie 1.7i's placed about 10' from the front wall, and the listening chair about 5' from the back wall. Driven by Parasound Halo A21. Lots of acoustic treatments(first reflections at ceiling and sidewalls, corner traps, etc).
Currently using with a Tortuga Pre and Schiit Gungir multi-bit.
If there's a difference between the Schiit and the Parasound P5 I used before, it is slight.
The biggest improvements(by far) have been the room treatments, and Dirac.
Oh, and a pair of Rel subs.
There are threads on the integration of Roon and HQPlayer on both www.computeraudiophile.com and on the Roon community board.
OK. HQPlayer is unique for what it does with DSD but it is also great with PCM. I use it with DL at the output.
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