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cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO

41.183.0.21

Posted on May 5, 2008 at 12:31:58
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
cPlay

The open source high-end audio player using ASIO

May 2008

cPlay delivers high quality audio playback using ASIO 2. Playback is achieved using any ASIO compatible soundcard. cPlay is a minimalist audio player using the latest high quality SRC resampler (Best Sinc SNR 145.68db or 121.33db) or SoX (VHQ or HQ). cPlay's design offers state-of-the-art ASIO-only playback and caters for touch screen users. Installation, setup and use is easy. cPlay is built in c/c++ and operates on Windows XP SP2 Professional (32 bit).

FEATURES

  1. Resampling is sourced from LibSampleRate (version 0.1.5) and SoX 14.2.0 under GNU GPL license. LibSampleRate is aka SRC (Secret Rabbit Code) and supersedes the version as used in foobar2000. Best Sinc converter now offers a SNR of 145.68db or 121.33db (versus 97db). SoX VHQ offers better than 170db SNR. Resampling is bypassed when input rate matches output.

  2. Supports Steinberg's excellent ASIO 2 and is backward compatible to prior ASIO versions (as required by ASIO drivers).

  3. Offers high quality 64 bit double precision digital volume control (in 0.5db steps). This can be bypassed.

  4. Playback is achieved through .cue, .wav or .flac files. cPlay loads entire .wav or .flac (decoded) into RAM before starting. Playback is done directly from cPlay's internal buffer. Cue playback requires .cue files as created by EAC (single or multi file standard).

  5. Ensures efficient CPU resource utilization allowing for low specification processors or high levels of upsampling. This means CPUs can be underclocked / undervolted.

  6. Supports up to 3 ASIO soundcards with each having up to 100 output channels.

  7. Advanced optimizations are applied (if available from ASIO driver) during playback.

  8. Best results achieved when using cMP (i.e. cMP²). This allows for low level Windows optimizations. Use cMP release 1.0 final or later as this allows for bypassing RAM load in cMP (set RAM Load in cMP Settings to No) otherwise wav file is RAM loaded twice. cPlay allows for both svchost and lsass to be suspended during playback thus reducing the Windows footprint. Only exception is EMU's ASIO driver which requires both (svchost and lsass) to be operational. Set cMP's Optimize setting to Critical.

  9. Full remote control is achieved with cMP: offering volume control, track navigation, next/previous and stop/eject via (wireless) mouse.

USER MANUAL

Visit cMP² website (http://www.cicsMemoryPlayer.com) for more details and setup.

Screen Shot




GETTING STARTED

Download cPlay's installer here (1.3MB). Installation and startup is straight forward.

If you don't have an ASIO compatible soundcard, use ASIO4ALL. Note that ASIO4ALL does not support channel mapping (use default) and rarely handles above 48k sample rate.

Your feedback will help guide cPlay's future development. Source code (4.1MB) is available via email.

 

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cics web site back up at usual address, posted on January 3, 2015 at 10:11:17
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi folks,

It appears cics Memory Player site is now fully back up:
http://www.cicsmemoryplayer.com/index.php

This means that I may in the future take down my copy of it at:
http://www.tasteuk1.webspace.virginmedia.com/cicsmemoryplayer/index.htm
(I could do with the web space back!)

However, for those who want an offline copy (which can be used in cases of no available internet) or to safeguard should the site go down again, I will leave the entire site archive zip file available still from here:
http://www.tasteuk1.webspace.virginmedia.com/cics/CICS_website.zip

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on October 30, 2014 at 09:02:18
neutrino353
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Joined: October 30, 2014
I've been using cplay for long time. It's great. However there is no update for several years. And the home page and forum seems to have no more activity. As the cplay is open source, could any body have the source code of the latest version so that I can made some enhancement
(typically UI, e.g. the current UI window is non-sizable and not big
enough to show the song title if it is too long).

Thanks and regards

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on November 1, 2014 at 19:40:27
Bibo01
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: December 18, 2008
This is a link to an updated cMP shell made by Alexander, a Russian friend and cMP2 user, eight monhs ago.

It includes:
1. Complete keyboard support.
In the archive file there are some examples on the key commands for cMP.
It's particularly important for users with no mouse and PS/2 support.

2. Horizontal scroll in the list box.

3. No need for Winspool.drv.

Perhaps I should ask him if there have been any other developments, as he wanted to include support for [Date]

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on November 3, 2014 at 00:37:50
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
Perhaps I should ask him if there have been any other developments

I seemed to have missed that one - got it now. Many thanks for posting it.

D

 

Use Resource Tuner as mentioned here:, posted on November 1, 2014 at 04:19:27
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=pcaudio&n=103693&highlight=resource+riboge&r=&search_url=%2Fcgi%2Fsearch.mpl%3Fsearchtext%3Dresource%26b%3DAND%26topic%3D%26topics_only%3DN%26author%3Driboge%26date1%3D%26date2%3D%26slowmessage%3D%26sort%3Ddate%26sortOrder%3DDESC%26forum%3DALL

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on October 31, 2014 at 04:37:51
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
There actually is a way to change the window size and the font size so that more of titles will show. Search the thread as I try to recall what I did years ago. It involves modifying the resource files the application uses, but I haven't yet remembered how. Maybe someone younger around here can before I do.

 

CMP/Cplay web site empty?, posted on January 17, 2014 at 07:47:30
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Don't know who maintains CMP website but something happened and it is empty. I always go back here for ideas.

 

RE: CMP/Cplay web site empty?, posted on January 18, 2014 at 18:00:09
spkono
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Joined: January 18, 2014
I am one of them who have been greatly supported by this site. I learned a lot here, and have been reguraly checking any updates. I hope the site will be back soon, or this is a sign of commencement of another new project.

 

RE: CMP/Cplay web site empty?, posted on April 9, 2014 at 16:07:23
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Fear not my fellow enthusiasts. Last time this site went down, after being hacked, I went out of my way to create an archive of it (using cached files). I never bothered publishing the pages properly online because the issues got resolved and the site got restored. But as most of the pages are now blank I've posted my old archive pages for you onto my webspace.

On revisiting it some of the graphics look unreadable (displayed too small), so I've removed the resizing from all of them. To see a page graphics in its original size, scroll to the bottom and click the 'print' link. A new page will open set to original sizes. If the original site comes back up I'll check this problem out as I can't remember if some of the graphics were resized that small?

I am in no way trying to steal any credit for this work- hence the rather garish (in colour scheme) disclaimer page. If for some reason Cics wants me to remove it then I will comply. If the original site comes back up I will take it down again also.

In the meantime you can use my copy if it helps.

I could also zip up the entire site so you can put it on your own HDD to keep if this is useful (not posted that up though due to web space- if this would be useful too let me know).

The link to the archive is below:

 

RE: CMP/Cplay web site empty?, posted on April 10, 2014 at 06:07:39
spkono
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Joined: January 18, 2014
Finding your kind message and your archive, I am very much relieved. I thank you very much for your help. Could you send the zip file of the entire site to me? This is just for in case of.

 

Complete Cics Memory Player website archive zip file, posted on April 10, 2014 at 16:00:25
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Thanks for the kind messages everyone. I hear you!

I'm putting up a zip file of the entire site. The coding structure is a bit different regarding the source pages. On the original site the pages were served by php server scripting. Apart from the search feature, which I have not tried to emulate, the entire site has been converted to pure html. All links have been made local (apart from the ones to external web sites). This means that you will be able to unpack them to any folder on your hard disk and they should all work. Just double click on index.html or point your browser there (or double click any htm file). index.htm is my front page explaining the archive, index.html redirects you to the Cicsmemory player front page (your one -not the original site).

The pages will display initially with the original shrunken down sizes for some of the graphics. If you find some too squashed and unreadable on your monitor (as I did), then go into the folder, you have unpacked the web site in, and run the file called 'size_large.bat'. This will rename the .LARGE.htm files and name the current ones .SMALL.htm (this will only happen on some of the files which need this doing). The graphics on both normal and 'print' pages will now have 'some' of the images much larger. To convert them back to small again run 'size_small.bat'. (Note you can still open up any htm file with the SMALL.htm or LARGE.htm name in them and they will still open up okay, there are just no hyperlinks to them from the other pages in the archive if that makes sense?

The archive includes all the executables and a couple of large PDF files (included on original site), which is why the file size is 41MB! I hope quite a few people download this so we have a plentiful supply should anyone need a copy as it looks like the original site has died a death or got hacked / corrupted?

If anyone can work out why the SMALL (i.e. original structure) pages graphics look too small on some of the screen shots please let me know? Maybe they looked like this originally or maybe I made some error converting the html? The graphics are large, but for some reason they seemed to have been scaled very small in some cases on the original site pages (from about 1400 width to 640!)... This is why I've added the extra html copies (with different scaling) and included the two batch file converters (mentioned above).

Good job I kept this archive... Took quite a while to compile it up. Maybe the original site will re-appear one day hopefully!

Link to zip file below:

 

RE: Complete Cics Memory Player website archive zip file, posted on April 11, 2014 at 08:06:17
spkono
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Joined: January 18, 2014
Thank you very much. I have successfully downloaded and opend it. It works nicely, and the site is back for the first time in three months. I greatly appreciate your effort and concern.

 

RE: CMP/Cplay web site empty?, posted on April 10, 2014 at 02:39:17
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Thankyou!

 

How to make an auto-install Minlogon and WFP disabler batch file, posted on October 6, 2013 at 15:46:02
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi folks,

I know Theo was wondering if this is possible and it is (see title).

If you want to see a guide on how to make your own batch file (without myself needing to distribute minlogon.exe or the completed batch file containing the minlogon.exe code) then just click on the link below.

Thanks.

All the best,

Mark

 

The strange alternative Minlogon and a very naughty script!, posted on October 4, 2013 at 03:34:52
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi folks,

While trawling through the cPlay archives I stumbled on a recommended way to install Minlogon, cics suggesting a post by Seger:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/4/40869.html




There is a link on Seger's post for the Minlogon download:
http://thuun.boot-land.net/index.html



Now if you download it and open up the cabinet file you see 'minlogon.exe' 24384 bytes. This is exactly the same version that Microsoft distributes from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9bdf1dea-a37e-4d25-83df-aabbaa78914f&displaylang=en


However, if you look inside the boot-land cab file (use Winrar) there's another cab file called 'minlogon209170.cab'. If you extract / open up this cabinet file there's another 'minlogon.exe' that's only 17408 bytes in size!

The question is, what is this version? Does it still work and is it better for being smaller? Has anyone else tried it...?


Now onto the other part of my post- the 'naughty script'!

I've written another batch file. With this you run it, within 5 seconds it installs Minlogon, disables WFP (including the registry changes needed for both files). Then after a reboot all is ready, it will then boot to SYSTEM account and WFP will be turned off. No extra files are needed- not even Minlogon itself! This is because it is actually encoded into the batch file text, then the file gets created on the fly. Again, it uses Debug and Reg to do its dirty work (these are built into XP, so unless you've deleted them all it should work). Nothing needs to be installed, no temp files should be left behind. Once the batch file completes, you can delete it as it's not needed afterwards. XP Service Pack 2 or 3 only.

Now the dilemma (and why I say 'naughty'). I'd love to post this here to help others, it's all printable text so you could copy and paste it again into a notepad and save as minlogon.bat (or maybe a link to it would be better, as it's quite big at just under 100k). BUT, I guess as it effectively creates a M$ file that I'd be breaching some kind of legal rule book by doing that? It doesn't seem to stop other people distributing it though, like the bootland site (link above).

Any ideas about this? Anyone want to try the script out?

 

RE: The strange alternative Minlogon and a very naughty script!, posted on October 4, 2013 at 06:44:40
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I just checked my minlogon and it is the 17kb version.

 

RE: The strange alternative Minlogon and a very naughty script!, posted on October 4, 2013 at 07:52:37
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Thanks for the info Theo, I might have to try this other version to see what differences (if any) there are...

Interestingly enough, if you hover over the files (or right click and choose properties, then choose version tab- then choose 'file version'), you get the following information (larger file first):

File Version: 2.0.1024.0
Size: 23.8 KB

File Version 2.0.917.0
Size 17.0 KB


So the 17KB one is an earlier file. Makes me wonder why the later one is nearly 7KB larger? Could it be that the smaller one uses less resources when starting the system, or loads up less of Windows? I wonder if these are the only two versions around, there may well be dozens of different builds of Minlogon file then? I'm assuming yours is the 2.0.917.0 file too then?

Just as an aside, I can alter the batch script easily to install the 17KB version, if this proves to be the best one to use.

 

WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 16, 2013 at 18:48:06
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi fellow cMPers!

Have to say this is quite an amazing forum. Been trying to read every post here but taking a very long time. Fascinating though how cPlay has developed and evolved over time, especially the introduction of gapless playback and the teething problems which were sorted along the way.

My name is Mark. I would like to write some software over time which may help others using cMP2. Either utilities or ways of automating set-up. Thinking of using Auto-it for most of it. Why that language you may ask? Well it's free, no restrictions on license, creates stand alone executables (ok if you've stripped every single dll out then I can't guarantee these projects will all work? After-all, Windows applications are all basically a load of calls to various dll modules). Also Auto-it is powerful enough to manipulate other Windows software (like clicking a button for example). I am very wary of sound quality issues software could create, so these will mainly be 'sleeping giants' so to speak. Most of the time you probably won't run them, unless you need their function, so it won't get in the way of that sublime cMP2 sound.

As an example, Serge (steppe) found a way of stripping out resources from cicsMemoryplayer.exe creating the infamous 1.exe! This had an improved sound and removed the need for winspool.drv module. The unfortunate side-effect is that we lost our options page. Well I've managed to re-create this in an Auto-it gui. This directly writes to the mysterious cicsMemoryPlayer.ini file. If you want to know the structure of the ini, pretty much worked it out. It is in binary so you can't edit it in a normal text editor. The options can be adjusted outside of cMP (XP mode) too if you wish with this gui program. Still need to finish all this off, but if anyone is interested or wants to know how the ini file works please let me know.

Another thing I intend to do is automate some of the reduction methods (software strip-down) others have come up with. Doing this manually proved horrendous! The pc can do much of this for you with the right script ;). Finally was working on a little script to do all the cMP setup. Initially this did mainly registry changes, but I was always left disappointed with the end sonic results. So the new version actually stripped down XP, as if you were clicking all the gui buttons yourself, including the re-boots! Took about 20 minutes but you could just leave it going... So maybe another project there for the future (still some bugs to iron out there).

Anyway, a final taster- and on to the topic of this post at last!

Disabling WFP (Windows File Protection) has always been a bit of a pain. I've always thought that a nice little batch (.bat) file would be the best way, if possible? So spent a while trying to research it. Well hopefully the solution is below!

Okay here's what you need to do:
1. Open up notepad.exe
2. Copy and paste the script below- everything inside (in between) the two - - - - - lines (but not the - - - themselves!) into the notepad window
3. Choose Save-As from the notepad file window. Make sure you change save as type to 'All files' as we need to save this as '.bat' and NOT '.txt'
4. (Choose a folder you can find again.) Type in the Filename as: Disablewfp.bat and click 'Save'

Then you can either double click this file to run it, or preferably run this from a command (cmd) prompt so you can see the visual feed-back. (You can add a 'pause' line to the bottom of the script if you want to use the double-click method though).

What this will do is disable WFP permanently after the next reboot. Okay, we've all done this one way or another, but this is an easy way and might help someone new to setting up a cMP machine and configuring it?

The script uses two command line programs which are built into XP. reg.exe and debug.exe. Script should work okay, but I strongly recommend you run this on a clean machine (with nothing to lose!) to test. If you want to know how it does it, I can explain all (big believer in supplying source code to projects, so others can edit or improve on the work).

Just a final note:
This is for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 only. It will exit without modifying anything, if run on any other versions. This has not been tested on anything other than Professional, though it should work if sfc_os.dll is the same file on those versions- proceed with caution! If your XP is a different language to English, the checking part of the file (at the start) may need to be edited, as it's looking for English text (like 'Service Pack 2' for example). Please let me know if you find any issues.

Hope this is useful for somebody anyway. I apologise if somebody else has already done this in the past, but not got to that part of the forum yet as starting at the beginning working towards the present (and reading only the cPlay forum currently).

All the best,

Mark


Copy the text below to create the bat file:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
@echo off
:: Disablewfp.bat written by taste in September 2013. Freely distributable
:: Function: To disable Windows File Protection system for use in a cMP environment
:: Only for Windows XP Professional SP2/3. Not tested on XP Home or other XP versions!
:: Creates backup copy of %windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll stored as: sfc_os.dll.bak
:: Patches sfc_os.dll so this registry key\value will operate correctly:
:: [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
:: "SFCDisable"=dword:ffffff9d -Disable WFP, "SFCDisable"=dword:00000000 -Enable WFP
:: Reboot required to take effect when setting above value, initially set to Disabled
:: Use at your own risk. No liability for loss or damages accepted!
setlocal
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in (
    'reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v ProductName'
) do (
    set productname=%%a
)
if not "%productname:~-10%"=="Windows XP" goto incompatible
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in (
    'reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CSDVersion'
) do (
    set servicepack=%%a
)
if "%servicepack:~-14%"=="Service Pack 2" (
    set patchaddress=EDE9
    goto startprocess
)
if "%servicepack:~-14%"=="Service Pack 3" (
    set patchaddress=ED89
    goto startprocess
)
goto incompatible
:startprocess
    if not exist %windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll.bak (
        copy /b %windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll /b %windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll.bak /y
    )
    copy /b %windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll /b %windir%\System32\sfc_os.bin /y
    echo E cs:%patchaddress% 90 90 90 > %temp%\disablewfp.tmp
    echo W >> %temp%\disablewfp.tmp
    echo Q >> %temp%\disablewfp.tmp
    type %temp%\disablewfp.tmp | debug %windir%\System32\sfc_os.bin
    del /q %temp%\disablewfp.tmp
    reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" ^
    /v SfcQuota /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000000 /f
    reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" ^
    /v SFCDisable /t REG_DWORD /d 0xffffff9d /f
    reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" ^
    /v SfCScan /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000000 /f
    reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" ^
    /v SFCDllCacheDir /t REG_SZ /d "%windir%\system32\DLLCache" /f
    reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" ^
    /v SFCShowProgress /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f
    reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" ^
    /v AllowProtectedRenames /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001 /f
    reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" ^
    /v PendingFileRenameOperations /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d ^
    "\??\%windir%\System32\sfc_os.bin\0!\??\%windir%\System32\sfc_os.dll" /f
    echo.
    echo DONE. Please reboot computer now for WFP to be disabled permanently
    echo Do not try renaming/deleting any files in System32 folder before the reboot!
    goto cleanup
:incompatible
    echo.
    echo Aborting- This is only for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 Or Service Pack 3
:cleanup
    endlocal
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

If you need source files..., posted on September 29, 2013 at 16:25:56
Bibo01
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: December 18, 2008
I have source files for both cMP and cPlay (latest version) in case you need them. There are a few features that could be implemented in either of them.

 

RE: If you need source files..., posted on September 30, 2013 at 04:13:24
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Yes please Bibo, I'd love to see the source code, mainly to see how cics implements some of the Windows trimming and footprint reduction on cMP.

Does the cPlay source have the four versions, or is this just a compiler directive to create the sse2, sse3, ssse3 and sse4 varieties?

I'm assuming this is in C or similar language?

I can send you a PM with my email address.

Thanks.

All the best,

Mark

 

RE: If you need source files..., posted on September 30, 2013 at 13:31:18
Posts: 7
Joined: November 16, 2012
Please, send me code cmp and cplay.
I love cplay 2.36 sse2

 

RE: If you need source files..., posted on September 30, 2013 at 18:24:08
Bibo01
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: December 18, 2008
I will send code to both of you. I just have to put my backup back online.

Oleg,
if you are interested in AMD optimized cPlay, I have cPlay_2_0b7 which is the last AMD SSE2 optimized version.

 

RE: If you need source files..., posted on October 4, 2013 at 01:48:24
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Thanks again Bibo01.

I also will try the AMD optimized version (I have an Athlon 64 processor). Hope the features of 0b39 are mainly present (at least gapless playback)?

Many thanks,

Mark

 

RE: If you need source files..., posted on September 30, 2013 at 21:40:32
Posts: 7
Joined: November 16, 2012
Thank you Bibo01! An important goal is to transfer control to the keyboard cmp (very important to turn off PC). I will take you to any (all) of the information

 

Far easier to make an nLite disk, posted on September 20, 2013 at 12:48:32
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
and then you can get rid of lots more useless stuff.

 

RE: Far easier to make an nLite disk, posted on September 23, 2013 at 08:37:15
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi Rick,

Yes I agree, Nlite sounds very interesting. I've tinkered with it in the past but never quite worked out how to create the best stripped down image. One time I removed so much stuff, that once the image was installed, it just seem to sit there with a blank background screen and nothing else :(

Only problem is obviously a stripped down image file containing Windows could not be distributed directly. I'd be very interested if you've got some set-up scripts for Nlite configuration though?

This forum is huge so my apologies if this has all been done to conclusion in the past...


All the best,

Mark

 

Just seeing your reply - tell me more about what you are using, posted on September 26, 2013 at 18:54:25
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
and what you expect and I would be glad to give you my advice.

One can strip almost everything with nLite. And once you get everything running you can strip out A WHOLE LOT MORE.

But it depends on how much of a purist you are and what you are using for a sound card. At the moment I am using the WAVE-IO usb card instead of JULI@.

 

RE: Just seeing your reply - tell me more about what you are using, posted on September 27, 2013 at 04:09:53
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Well I have tried a full specked cMP machine, pretty much what cics recommended, apart from I had 2 fanless PSUs. Now it may have been to do with the PSUs, but I could never get it to match the sound of an AMD machine I had used previously.

The AMD one just outputs to a USB dac, Russ Andrews DAC 1, using AQVOX USB ASIO drivers. This is the machine I still use.

It could have been that the DACs input was more geared up for USB than COAX / Optical (has those inputs too). I also had some issues with the Juli@ and that awful breakout cable, the weight of this cable used to sometimes cause a bad connection, resulting in a sound that was a bit like Theo's distortion / metallic sound problem I suspect?

So the AMD PC is the one I still use. Even after preparing the recommended cics board and using it's USB output, I could still not match the AMD board for some reason, no idea why though! I still have both machines available to experiment with.

So the build I would need would contain no network, would use internal graphics card, no sound card, USB output to dac and I use a wireless USB keyboard with a adaptor that plugs into a USB port. Also I seem to get better results with XP SP3 than SP2. AMD unit I have can only use the first sse2 version of CPlay due to it being Athlon 64 CPU.

I do use my own software to do the software modifications, but I get variable results. Occasionally it really sings, often doesn't though. The sound also seems to 'go off' and sound a bit sloppy and vague after 5 days or so, not sure why either!?

My amps are about 12 years old though now so probably all needing a service, I think that this is the main reason the sound isn't fulfilling most of the time (using Naim amplification, bi-amping, this system can be very revealing, which has its good and bad points).

Thanks for your assistance. Please let me know if you want any more specifics about my system. I can probably find the model / type number information of the PC components if that helps...


All the best,

Mark

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 17, 2013 at 06:58:16
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
While this is remarkable work I must say this approach would be invaluable for migrating to minlogon. I did the hard way 2 times before I got it right...had to reload windows and reset everything.

Well done!

 

Ping: Theob. I think this will do what you mentioned..., posted on October 7, 2013 at 07:21:51
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Hi Theo,

I believe this is something you wanted all in one script- minlogon install and WFP disable without the need of additional files or manually setting up.

I have now managed to come up with a batch script that both installs minlogon and does the WFP disable all in one go. Just needs a reboot afterwards. Unfortunately it will need building as below, as I am wary of giving out anything directly that creates the file.

TO CREATE THE BATCH SCRIPT: Just place my createminlogonbatch.exe file in the same folder as a minlogon.exe file (it must have the name minlogon.exe NOT renamed to winlogon.exe). Run it and it will create the batch file in the same folder.

After this you can just store the batch file and forget about the other files (minlogon.exe gets 'built in' to the batch file and will be created just by running the batch file).

Run this and it will install minlogon and do the WFP disable- including all registry patches needed. Then re-boot.

See the link below for where to get the files (all you'll need is the createminlogonbatch.exe file as you have minlogon.exe already- just see step 3 and 4).

 

RE: Ping: Theob. I think this will do what you mentioned..., posted on October 7, 2013 at 07:33:44
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
While I appreciate your effort, for me it is unnecessary. I am already there plus I have many copies of my OS on Snapshot files which always allows me to recover after an attempt to 'process improve' my OS goes awry. For newbies though this is a very useful thing to have.

 

RE: Ping: Theob. I think this will do what you mentioned..., posted on October 7, 2013 at 08:09:41
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Yes, I thought you'd be sorted regarding this, no worries.

But you can take the credit for coming up with the idea. Only ever thought about just making a script to disable WFP. But this one is much better.

For anyone tinkering with their cMP builds though, I suggest making yourself a copy of 'The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows'. [Not my work this time.] You just need an XP installation disk and the software from their webpage (link below). It builds an ISO which can be burnt as a bootable CD.

Whenever any tweeks cause the cMP machine to not boot up, and safe-mode fails, boot to this disk (takes about 5 minutes) then you can rename files and even edit the registry without needing a working hard disk image. Saved me from re-installing many times while developing tests. Also contains DriveImage XML (I think it's called) for making / restoring partition backups.

Just one caution though: You need to have your PC set to IDE mode as AHCI will cause a blue screen on booting to the CD.

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 17, 2013 at 06:44:04
andy222
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Joined: February 3, 2012
Anything that eases the task of getting the various optimisations under way for cMP has got to be good news. A set of scripts that ensures that the right steps are taken in the right order is something that I for one would love to have. Just one suggestion. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have complimentary scripts to undo the optimisations. Just a precaution!

Not directly connected with the sonic optimisation, but something that I think is badly needed. Has anybody figured-out how to have the monitor switch off until it's re-called by mouse action. I find it a big distraction to have the monitor constantly glaring at me.

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 17, 2013 at 07:02:16
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
You can minimize the cplay window for the monitor to minimize the effect. Also there were some posts by jack wrong who showed how to reset display colors to simulate a totally black screen. This also improved sonics by minimizing emi/ rfi.

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 17, 2013 at 10:20:55
andy222
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Joined: February 3, 2012
Thanks for these pointers. It would be nice, though, if the screen blanked during inactivity and then woke-up at the touch of the mouse.

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 19, 2013 at 03:17:51
taste
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: August 1, 2011
Thanks Theob and Andy222 for your positive feedback! I'll discuss a few of your comments below.


Andy, I've been looking into your 'screen always on' dilema. It started out as a rather mind-boggling problem. Even if I set power management to 'turn off monitor' after one minute, it stayed on all the time. At first I thought it may be to do with disabled services so I re-started a few (of what I thought might be) relevant ones back up again. No luck!

Then I started looking at Device Manager and re-enabling some system devices, still no joy. Even in Windows XP mode the power management still would not turn off the display! I even tried sending commands to user32.dll and still the display remained lit.

I tried, on one of my spare PCs, a fresh XP build with no drivers installed and this is what I've discovered. It's all to do with us 'disabling' / not having display drivers installed for the graphics card in use. With no driver (or indeed with or without if the device is disabled) the system call to turn off the monitor is effectively ignored, Windows cannot communicate that command to the hardware.

So here are your options:

1. You could re-enable and re-install all the graphic card display drivers. Then set up power management to turn off the display on inactivity. Now, if you wanted a shorter timer, like say 10 seconds, I can find you a way of achieving this (usually one minute is the quickest time as an option). But the downside may be that the sound quality suffers by having the graphics devices installed? You'd have to test it and see?

2. Look into Jack Wong's method. I haven't seen these pages so have no idea what Mr Wong did. But if it was changing palate colours that may be a great solution, without adding any extra system load which may degrade sound?

3. I am in the process of writing a solution for you. I'd be interested if you wanted to try it. It will be an application that starts up when you boot and runs in the background. It will mainly wile away doing nothing so as (hopefully) not to add load. This will (every 1/4 of a second by default) look at the 'inactivity timer' in Windows (Kernel32.dll). After 10 seconds of inactivity the screen will appear to go black. What actually will happen is a window with a black background will cover you entire display so making it look like the screen has switched off. Bear in mind that the backlight will still actually be lit though as there seems no-way (without display drivers) of turning this off (I could write similar software to do this otherwise, or leave it to 'power management'). On moving mouse or touching keyboard display will re-appear as normal (for a key press, first press will make screen come on, 2nd will issue the command to cMP/CPlay).

Now the downside to no. 3. This may or may not effect sound quality with the program running, though it has been made to be low on resource use. Something you'd have to assess maybe? Last thing I'd want to do is upset the sound in any way! Maybe it won't?

If you want to give it a go, I'll make sure it will have a method of clean install/uninstall and it will activate in cMP mode, in XP mode will exit, as otherwise will drive you mad going blank so quickly when you're adjusting something! Of course 10 seconds is just an idea of how long I'd have it lit for, if it was for me. Could do it for any length of time you like, also the amount of 'inactivity checks' per second could be adjusted. Bear in mind that if it's not checking often, then when you move the mouse it may appear sluggish to bring the screen 'back to life'?

Theo, the 'disabling WFP' batch file could easily be modified to do the minlogon swap (though for licensing reasons the user would have to obtain 'minlogon' file as that can't be distributed legally by one of us). I could update this if you want? But the minlogon file would need placing in the same folder as the batch say (or in System32 folder as another example), then the script could be made to do the swap.

Andy, On your point of making automated cMP set-up scripts, the software I put together does do this but before releasing, I'd have to polish it up and make it more functional.

The problem is two parts:

1. A 'one item fits all' dilemma! Some people are using juli@, some USB dacs, some others ASIO sound cards etc. All these would need to be accommodated for. Some have system boards which blue screen if some devices are disabled, others are fine. Then there's the people who use networks, the people who don't etc. I think we could safely create something where it works with XP or nothing, so to speak. As it seems the general consensus that XP sounds better in a fully stripped down set-up?

2. Some of the files needed to achieve the results (e.g. the command utility that disables devices) are freely obtainable, but are Microsoft products, so cannot be directly distributed with the program / script files. These could though be maybe automatically downloaded by the setup software, assuming that user's pc is set up to access a network and the links to the items remained consistent. My cMP machine though was never put on the network, to keep it as clean as possible, so this would need to happen on another PC which was!

Anyway, both those points I think are pretty minor, and it would be good for something to automate the, let's face it, tedious process of all the Windows adjustments that need to be made. I think last time I did it manually, it took something like about 4 hours of grief lol.


Just a question too... Does anybody find that the sound of their setup goes off after a few days using cMP/CPlay (this includes re-booting / powering on / off over that period of time)? I find after about 5 days a rebuild / set-up 'freshens' the sound up again (starts sounding a bit loose in timing / grainy). May be my set-up, or something to do with using USB? Also, think my amps are needing a service desperately, so may all be to do with that? I'm using the AQVOX ASIO usb drivers. Not cheap, but they sound amazing! There's a free trial on their site for anyone who wants to give them a go (you just have to put up with it making an annoying 'beep' once every minute while in trial-mode, goes if you purchase license key).

Anyway, thanks again for the feedback. I'm a bit of a hobbyist on the programming side, but find it so enjoyable none the less. Is the cMP2 project still 'open source' as I've never seen the source code to any of this? Wonder where you get it from? Looks like cics hasn't been posting here for a long time too... Still, his (or is it her?) legacy lives on! This forum and the cMP one is huge and still growing!

All the best,

Mark

 

RE: WFP (Windows File Protection) disabling batch script- the 'really' easy way!, posted on September 19, 2013 at 11:21:38
andy222
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Joined: February 3, 2012
Thanks for the explanation for the monitor not turning off. I am slightly reluctant to get the facility back by re-enabling the display drivers because I fear for the sonic impact. Minimising cPLAY and playing with the palate colours is an option, as Theob has highlighted, but a big problem for me is that minimising only works once following the launch of a file. Once the window is maximised again (to take a quick peek at the track listing, perhaps) it stays that way until the file is closed and re-opened.

Your possible solution sounds pretty interesting and I’ll be more than happy to try it. Just as soon as you’re ready.

I fully appreciate the difficulty that differing hardware poses for automated set-up scripts. I myself have deviated a little from the “classic†cMP hardware. I started with the juli@ sound card, but I’ve moved across to asynchronous USB because I thought it sounded a little nicer.

If you do get around to producing some scripts, please count me in as a willing body for trials.

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on September 13, 2013 at 23:43:33
Gaston
Audiophile

Posts: 13
Location: Rotterdam
Joined: July 8, 2012
Hello All!

Is this anything the communities sound quality could benefit from?
It has shielding, ELNA caps and such.. all on the mother bard..

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_VI_FORMULA/

Gaston

 

The modern day cMP installation refuses to die!, posted on August 1, 2013 at 09:25:25
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
With apologies to Varese ...

Having been without any digital since my third JULI@ died and having no desire to buy another one I started reading so much good about Lorien's WaveIO (not to mention Jack Wong saying he had got one) I decided to get it and see what could be done with a minimal XP Pro install.

Jack's ISO was missing too much USB stuff to get this to work and as much as I love Jack and his brain I remain slightly doubtful there is that much difference between XP and HOME when you get it down to almost nothing.

I am in the midst of assembling Doede Douma's DDDAC1794 so all of my minimizing has been done silently. I have no idea how it sounds! My premise remains that the smaller the OS the better so I see no need to listen to it along the way.

One can get rid of most everything we could get rid of before. Of course, there are the USB entries and since USB has dependency on PCI there is still much of that remaining. The registry ends up being larger. At this point I think I have removed all that I can. I am at 44kB.

I did find, and have no idea if it is something we missed the "first time", that isapnp.sys can be removed from the drivers folder and all mentions of it in the registry. Not enough to balance out all of the USB related stuff that must remain.

In deference to Serge I used NTFS for this install. He feels strongly it is superior to FAT. The NTFS.sys is significantly larger than fastfat.sys which leads to a larger OS "size".

So my windows folder is 17.2 mB mainly because many of Jack's special .dlls and .syss will not work with USB or something. Luckily the micro-shell works just fine.

Into the project I was contacted by Dave Bruce who has been working with WaveIO since the spring with a minimized windows install and he is very pleased with what he is hearing.

SO, if anyone is still looking at this thread I hope this will inspire others to use cMP within the USB "craze" and due to devices like WaveIO it is most likely the way to go.

Hope to have my DAC working this weekend and be able to tell how good it is. Too long ago to be able to make comparisons to JULI@/cMP but hard to beat the LP reference for judgement.

 

Re where did they all go, posted on October 6, 2013 at 16:40:13
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
Hi Rick
Looking forward to hearing your sound impressions. I was one of the early adopters of WaveIO... first on CMP, and then on MPDPUP. I continue to be very happy with WaveIO. Run it with good linear power supply.

I really love my WaveIO driving a TDA1541A with tube output. Next step is to rebuild the DAC, WaveIO, and ALIX into an integrated music server to keep signal wires short. All power supplies fully tricked out with salas shunts on the digital and all film cap and choke dual mono tube section. All electric parts collected and now building the chassis. keeping a build blog at http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/blogs/wlowes/

 

RE: The modern day cMP installation refuses to die!, posted on August 2, 2013 at 20:37:31
Bibo01
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: December 18, 2008
We are still listening :)

 

RE: The modern day cMP installation refuses to die!, posted on August 3, 2013 at 10:19:03
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Only reason I will switch from cmp^2 is for dsd playback capability. If cics or Serge ever updated cplay for dsd playback I would be done.

 

Not going to happen, posted on August 4, 2013 at 08:51:05
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
You will have to have two set-ups.

 

RE: Not going to happen AND what to do in the future, posted on August 10, 2013 at 15:58:27
whodat06
Audiophile

Posts: 58
Location: gulf coast
Joined: March 22, 2006
Guys, I have been worrying a lot about about some day in the future when I won't be able to run my cmp..even if it is 10 years from now. I assume the only cause would be that pci asio sound cards or motherboards will fail and new ones won't support xp. Is this a real problem and if so, how many years away is that?

Can you send some links to other forums where the other main contributors went so I can see what they are tinkering with now? I'm sure I won't defect, mostly because I don't have the time. I just don't want to be lost someday and not be able to find the people I already trust and have all the expertise I've benefited from (leeching is another word)over the past six years or so. You just can't find a new forum and believe someone who says, "This is the best computer based audio set up I've ever heard".


I also have a bunch of dsd albums but have yet to make a cmp install with the only software I have to play it. jriver. It requires directx, which I removed with XPlite. I know you've all got your xp installs really small, and used other applications to get there, but after doing xplite I was only able to do some slimming. I'm sure directx would be a big no no. For those doing dsd, is there slimmer software other than jriver I can use until the software theob has been asking for magically appears? I'm also a bit sad not to have something that can recognize the sample rate and set the output to match.

Lots of questions in here that may not have an answer. Just thought I'd post while those of you that are left happen to be looking.
Mike

 

RE: Not going to happen AND what to do in the future, posted on August 10, 2013 at 18:01:25
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I understand that there is a juli@ pci-e card available that is very similar if not identical functionally to the juli@ pci card. So don't worry . I also hope there is some white knight out there that can adapt cplay to dsd.

 

Cplay dsd playback capability, posted on March 25, 2013 at 13:26:58
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Anybody try to substitute a dsd capable player into cmp? I doubt it will work with uber slimmed os's but there seems to be more and more dsd stuff available. So it would be interesting to try. Better yet dsd capability with cplay would be great.

Just a shot in the dark question.

 

RE: Cplay dsd playback capability, posted on March 25, 2013 at 23:54:44
JBen
Audiophile

Posts: 3082
Location: South FL
Joined: May 18, 2008
Contributor
  Since:
July 26, 2010
T, it is not a shot in the dark, or at least you are not alone. I am beginning to worry about this also.

 

The Three Tweaks + is ready and here, posted on March 17, 2013 at 16:24:52
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Well, almost.
Hello, everybody. It is finished. It is in pdf format and will be uploaded shortly. Some inmates are already getting it.
Serge.

 

RE: The Three Tweaks + is ready and here, posted on April 2, 2013 at 18:40:27
internethandle
Audiophile

Posts: 42
Location: CA
Joined: November 30, 2011
Any updates on this, steppe? Been a while, nothing's been posted.

 

Is this the place to request an upgrade...?, posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:36:58
finvarra
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: Oregon
Joined: March 15, 2013
I just discovered this project -- and am ready to start building. However, it seems that many of the suggested components are discontinued (e.g., that beautiful Zalman HD160XT home-theatre PC case). I have build a couple of PCs... but would like some direction as to how to build a like-sounding system in 2013... keeping to the same under $1000 price. Can someone please help me? Thanks so much!

 

I have this case, but, posted on March 16, 2013 at 09:08:52
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
I think it was wrong to get one. Its choice was explained by the idea of using a touch-screen display to control the server, this idea, though elegant, died, so don't pay such money for nothing.
Hello, and welcome to cplay-cmp.
First, go to corresponding site and download all materials on building,
next - hardware - I am sure many inmates will answer as for current hardware., but find here on AA the cmp thread - it is mostly on hardware.
All I can eagerly recommend is a simplest gigabyte micro itx mobo, that accomodates the Core I3 5** processor of the second (or is it third) generation. These processors, though faster, use less power and coldstart from lower voltages - both are critical.
Get Yourself such memory - Kingston HyperX KHX1333C9D3B1K2/4GB - it is a lit of two 2Gb modules, that unlike the recommendations, sound best of several I have tried, though they are 2 GB. It turns, it doesn't matter much - the size, that is.
Get Yourself the SIMPLEST and OLDEST pci express videocard you can get among the used video cards. It won't be more than 20 dollars (usually less.
The perfect example is Asus Nvidia g7300 le or any other based on 7300 chipset - passive cooling, no need of drivers, absolutely stable and perfect for our purpose)
See the upcoming tweak post, I shall post it shortly. There You will learn more.
Try to get a English only version of xp 32 bit, preferably the vl version - less troubles when slimming down.
Get a good power supply - the recommended Zalman Heatpipe is very good, but Thermaltake is better - They had a now oop fanless version for 350w - more than enough. The main thing is to have a psu with active cable changing capability or whatever they call it - it has receptacles for cables, that You can plug and unplug as needed. it is easier, and cleaner inside the case this way and after installing windows and settling on Your final configuration, You will want to unsolder a lot inside even such a psu.
Very important and convenient thing is to get an EXTERNAL box for hdd that has both usb AND ESATA-SATA connectivity. - Saves a lot of trouble when slimming and allows to externally power Your HDD. I use Thermaltake Silver River II and cannot be happier - about 35 usd.....
Decide on the capacity of your hdd. If You are going to have less than a thousand cds on it, get a 500 gb Seagate Barracuda ES.2 - it is expensive, but You don't want to waste your ripping efforts. Rip only to cue and image.wav, no ripping multiple wavs for every song - just an album image (to be explained).
Ask often, inmates will help.
Serge.
Get a simple mobo with a PS/2 port, or, even better with two - such modern mobos still exist and it will save You alot of trouble when tweaking after You disable the hateful USB inside BIOS. Get the best pci sound card possible. Try to get a used Lynx l22. It, the hdd and a PSU will be Your biggest investments.

 

RE: I have this case, but, posted on March 16, 2013 at 09:47:47
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Omg you had my heart thumping...I thought this was the big one but alas it is not. Anxiously awaiting your next post. You ought to be in advertising Serge. You know how to deliver.

 

Observation and question on Cplay, posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:34:37
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I do not resample when I listen to Cplay but because I used to upsample with SRC that box is checked on Cplay settings. When I checked the SOX box (but still not up sampling) and Alias box (which allows aliasing)the sound changed for the better. More extension on the highs. Since I still do not upsample I am wondering if I am getting aliasing. What does Aliasing mean? If I had to speculate aliasing means no digital filtering. No digital filtering means no brick wall filter effects. Can anybody confirm this or said another way, why do the sonics change? BTW try it I think you might like it...whatever it does.

 

Juli@ ASIO Driver and Software, posted on February 5, 2013 at 08:42:02
Vince$
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: August 31, 2001
Hello All,

Just received the Juli@ PCI card yesteday and installed it. There is audio output using the ASIO4All driver. With it, I can see the 1/2 and 3/4 output seections as well in cPlay settings. However, cPlay does not see a juli@ ASIO driver from ESI software CD.

Let me preface by saying, the juli@ card took 3 weeks to arrive, so I began using cPlay and cMP with the on-board sound card. It sounded very nice. The Juli@ with the ASIO4All driver sounded much better. Anyway, before installing the Juli@ drivers on first boot, I went into the BIOS and shutdown the integrated sound card, then removed the ASIO4All driver.

XP Pro 64-bit found the Juli@ card, then proceeded to manually install the two drivers: Juli@ Controller and Juli@ Audio (I think it was Juli@ Audio.) I did not install any other software to avoid anything unnecessary from going into the system. Device Manager show no warning of missing drivers.

Reading through this thread, I still need to check if the Juli@ card has its own dedicated IRQ. Is there anything else I can check to see why cPlay is not finding the Juli@ ASIO driver? Maybe the juli@ ASIO driver needs to be dropped in a folder somewhere? Are there any other software requirements?

Thanks in advance,

Vince

 

RE: Juli@ ASIO Driver and Software, posted on February 5, 2013 at 13:31:31
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
try toggling between 1/2 and 3/4...one id digital one is analog.

 

RE: Juli@ ASIO Driver and Software, posted on February 6, 2013 at 06:23:53
Vince$
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: August 31, 2001
Theob,

Thank you for the reply. I will try it tonight. Didn't see this message earlier. Email notification was off.

Do you have any recommendations on moving the sound card IRQ?
Juli@ shares IRQ 19 with the SATA controller. The Gigabyte MB only has 1 PCIe and 1 PCI slot. The card is PCI. Had to wait a month for the PCIe Juli@ card.

While using the on-board sound card, there was break-up in the audio playback. It doesn't happen with the Juli@ card, but that doesn't mean the SATA controller is not adding noise to the bus. Might try to move IRQ via BIOS, but read the OS takes over anyway, regardless of the BIOS setting. Might also try moving the SSD SATA drives to another connector, but that might not work because of boot requirements. The BIOS had some adjustments, so it may work. If it works, I can shutoff the offending SATA controller.

Might look at a more "advanced" motherboard. The Gigabyte board I'm using allows for under-clocking, but it's missing some fine tuning.
The CPU temp in the BIOS reads between 28C-35C. Most of the time, it's at 32C. Using an i3 Ivy with 22nm technology.

Thanks for your help.

Vince

 

RE: Juli@ ASIO Driver and Software, posted on February 6, 2013 at 06:53:37
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I think you can reset irq in bios but follow all the instructions in the cmp web site. This will give you all the tweaks necessary for initial sonic benefits

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:09:33
michaelagiles
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Location: toronto
Joined: December 6, 2012
Gentlemen,
I am new here - and hope someone can help me.
I have been using cPlay for a couple of months very happily, and then added 2gig of ram to my XP 32bit system for other programs.

All of a sudden, when trying to play 24/96 files (ie large) I have "memory allocation failed" in cplay diagnostics.
The message shows 3g physical memory, 2.5g available and 780m required!
As usual windows error message are mystifying!
I can't be the first - can anyone help with this?
Thanks!

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on December 7, 2012 at 01:21:10
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Is the message from Cplay diagnostics? Are you using ram load option in Cplay? If so unchoose this option and try again.

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on December 7, 2012 at 04:46:56
michaelagiles
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Location: toronto
Joined: December 6, 2012
Thanks!
As far as I can see this option is available only on cmp not cplay. I have been so happy with cplay and had so many other issues to resolve with the whole system that I have not taken the plunge to cmp. I suppose its time!
Thanks for your help!

 

After fixing your current issue you really owe it to yourself to go the ..., posted on December 7, 2012 at 05:54:58
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
...full CPLAY/CMP route.

 

Welcome, michaelagiles... And Further to What theob says..., posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:42:42
gjwAudio
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Location: Toronto
Joined: March 11, 2006
...you should create a separate installation to host cMP/cPlay. It will repay huge dividends in better performance(s). (sorry, couldn't resist the pun)

If you cannot manage to build a dedicated machine, then I urge you to consider rebuilding your present computer for dual operating systems - one for general needs, the other strictly for hosting cics's software. That is how I began when I discovered these threads years ago, and was curious enough to "check it out". Later I built a machine dedicated to music playback - and cMP^2.

While there are a few ways to organize dual-boot on a Windows computer, my time-tested method is based on a handy bootup utility called Smart Boot Manager (available at no cost -> http://sourceforge.net/projects/btmgr/). It allows you to define more than one primary partition on your HDD (ie: multiple "C:\ drives") and choose which one to run with when you boot up or restart.

The advantage is, your OS installations are completely independent from each other, and can be backed up and restored without impacting anything else. The rest of the drives on your system can be seen by both copies of the OS, so access to the rest of your stuff is unchanged. This leaves you free to slash away at your cMP copy of XP, safe in the knowledge your "regular" computer still functions normally.

As you can read here on AA, the more you reduce your XP OS in size and complexity, the better the platform you provide for cMP^2 to do its thing.

It is a testament to the quality of cics' programs, that something so obscure as clearing out data values in selected "(Default)" fields of the Registry, should cause a change in SQ. This is indeed a high performance player which responds to fine tuning of the environment.

Welcome to the cMP Game michaelagiles, and I hope you can catch up with us soon !

Cheers,
Grant

That's not a Toy... IT'S A TOOL !!

 

A Big thing to do, posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:15:51
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006



Hello, everybody! This is not one of the promised tweaks that will follow very soon, but this thing came unexpectedly and seems SO GOOD, I decided to break the order of things.
So, here goes.
Open
1. system hive
2. default
3. software
4. SAM
5. SECURITY
and do the following:
at the very top of every entry You will find a STRING VALUE (REG_SZ) and it has a name smth like (Default) and a Value Not Assigned or closest to it. Well, see the pic and sure, You won't mix things, as this thing is everywhere and it is the same.
So doubleclick on this value to edit, type 0 and then press backspace to remove it, say OK
You will get this field EMPTY.
Perform it on ALL values in system exept
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\Environment
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Services\MountMgr
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Services\Npfs
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Services\Npfs\Aliases

Do it everywhere in default
then comes software
Well, You can remove this value everywhere, however, I suggest for sonic reasons not to touch ASIO, Classes, CMP and CPLAY. I thought that removing this value in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\Microsoft\Windows NT only gives better sonics.
SAM - there are only three such values, - empty them all
Security - There are NO such values.
The picture shows how it looks BEFORE You empty the value.
Next post shows the same string value EMPTIED.
Serge.

 

Progress, posted on December 5, 2012 at 15:08:00
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
In an effort to move this along I imported a key (thanks Grant) back into Control\Enum\Pci which I had deleted over the weekend. Doing so allowed me to edit the defaults in all my PCI entries in Enum. Unfortunately after I additionally editted the ACPI key I got a no boot black screen. So slowly but surely I am making progress.

 

FWIW re NTregopt, posted on December 5, 2012 at 11:40:35
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I was able to edit down through Control the Steppe stuff except for Session Mgr and got a 256kb sized System hive. Even though Serge believes it does not make a difference I compressed it anyway and it compressed back to 32kb and sounded better IMO.

 

Another inexplicable tweak!, posted on December 5, 2012 at 10:39:17
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
Wish we knew someone with an intimate familiarity with WINDOWS so we could know what is happening with this stuff!

As soon as I get working amplifiers and digital system ...; I can't wait to hear it.

Are you still anti-regopt? I wonder if this results in a smaller size of the hives?

Take care,

 

Grant says it is all you say it is, posted on December 6, 2012 at 06:48:52
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
Just heard from him.

I think he stayed up all night doing the tweaks.

Is this becoming the way we spend our Christmases? Seems to be.

Can't wait to hear it for myself.

Take care,

 

All finished and it was more than I reported earlier, posted on December 6, 2012 at 07:45:09
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I was hung up on Control\Enum\acpi so I skipped that and did all the
others. In collaboration with Grant I did not do the DEFAULT hive but
did edit the one element in Security and it boots fine. I also
refrained from doing Session Mgr\Environment and the others in
Services that Serge recommended not to do.

Bottom line....Wow...sounds great...richer, less edgy, soundstage is
killer. This cmp^2 version is a game changer. I have one Joe Lovano
piece entitled Rushhour with Joe on alto sax and he is backed up by several
other brass players...all of which are in their own distinctive
space...now. The sense of acoustic space around vocalists and percussion is phenominal.

Serge was absolutely brilliant on this tweak.

 

New message from Steppe, posted on December 5, 2012 at 08:14:38
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
WELL, ONLY (do) CONTROL, ENUM and SERVICES, do not touch select, setup and mounted volume - the system won't boot.

 

I restarted the whole process today with a rigorous sequence and ..., posted on December 5, 2012 at 06:57:19
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
... I got all the way through Control but not including Enum, Sessions Mgr and the rest. Funny I did Enum yesterday and it worked but today it hangs.

BTW so far it sounds scary good!!

 

RE: A Big thing to do, posted on December 4, 2012 at 16:41:07
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Got all the way through Control but could not get it to boot with any of Session Mgr edits even while leaving environment. Should I stop there?

 

once again EVERYBODY, posted on December 4, 2012 at 23:06:19
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Hello, inmates, Read this with care:

After You are finished with CONTROL and ENUM, do the session manager and only AFTER that go to the services.
read, please, my How to do it post once again.
Serge.

 

RE: once again EVERYBODY, posted on December 5, 2012 at 02:46:26
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I did do control then enum then I tried session mgr and still got a no
boot. Still have not done services or the other hives. So I was asking
should I not do services, then default, software, security, and sam? In other words do the rest depend on session mgr being editted 1st or are there some others that can be done w/o session mgr?

 

Tried it on Default and got a 'no boot' black screen, posted on December 4, 2012 at 13:14:28
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
I found 4 such (Default) Reg_sz (value not set) 'values' and editted as you indicated in regedit above and got a no boot. I wonder if this does not apply to the G31M mobo?

 

please, posted on December 4, 2012 at 13:18:01
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Hello, Ted! Please, send me Your default hive and, please, read, the order of hives to be processed in the OP.
Serge.

 

Ok I did not do the System hive 1st...my bad, posted on December 4, 2012 at 14:32:08
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
So just that I am clear:

1) Do System hive 1st
a) do Control bottom up (dont do session mgr yet)
b) then do Enum
c) then do Session mgr in Control
d) then do Services

2) then do other hives Default, Software, Sam, Scerurity

Should I compress hives along the way after each step?

Also let say I do the System hive in 4 steps a), b), c) d). Should I boot after each step?

 

some answers, posted on December 4, 2012 at 14:40:44
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Qestion
1) Do System hive 1st
a) do Control bottom up (dont do session mgr yet)
b) then do Enum
c) then do Session mgr in Control
d) then do Services
Yes, except all entries in control, enum, services should be done from TOP to bottom.

2) then do other hives Default, Software, Sam, Security

Yes

Should I compress hives along the way after each step?

No need

Also let say I do the System hive in 4 steps a), b), c) d). Should I boot after each step?
I did it in 50-60 steps. I'd boot and check after every 5-7 entries...
Do not be in a hurry, inmates! It takes full day or two.


About the SIZE of HIVES
as soon as we reach 256 kb limit for system and software and 24 kb for sam security and default it's NOT THE SIZE, but the remaining strings that matter, because let it be known, that our hives swell to those limits during a cmp session anyway, and the size of memory allocated for them is always 2 mb, so it is what's inside, that matters....
Serge.

 

IMPORTANT - How To Do It, posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:41:26
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Well, inmates, You should consider this order with care. I do not know why it has to be that way, otherwise the thing won't boot.
It is relevant only for SYSTEM hive, all other hives can be done in one jump.
So
First empty in the LOWEST ORDER entries of CONTROL, like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\your hive\ControlSet001\Control\Video\{23A77BF7-ED96-40EC-AF06-9B1F4867732A}\0000
Go from top to bottom, but do not touch session manager at all
next go one level highier, like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Control\SystemResources, also, go from top to bottom
next go even highier, like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Control\Arbiters

DO NOT YET TOUCH SESSION MANAGER

Next go to ENUM, get to the deepest level, like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Enum\ACPI\PNP0A03\1\Device Parameters
Perfort from top to bottom, then get a level highier, like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\000\ControlSet001\Enum\PCIIDE\IDEChannel
And so on.
After You are finished with CONTROL and ENUM, do the session manager and only AFTER that go to the services.
It will take a day or two, but a hundred entries is a lot of good sound.
See the order of hives in my original post.

The whole thing sounds now, as if not a veil, but several woolen blankets came off, seriously.
Don't be in a hurry, save Your hives first, do not stop midway.
I am sure, that other inmates with a lot of experience in slimming the registry will help anyone, who has doubts.
Serge.
P.S. Will be back in a couple of days.

 

After the field was emptied, posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:20:48
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006



only a pic

 

What it gives, posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:24:29
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Well, removing all these values from our super-slimmed registry means removing MORE THAN A HUNDRED LINES.
Try it for yourselves, I am sure the sonic resolution will attain a level literally "unheard of"
Serge.

 

Came back to turn off the lights - it was fun while it lasted, posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:52:27
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
After this long one can only assume that I am writing this post to no one but myself.

All good things come to an end.

One would think there was something to add to this but I cannot think of anything and I guess no one else can either.

Short of a perfectionist audio motherboard and a sound card with the same mission this probably has gone as far as it can.

Take care,

 

No use to waste electricity, when it's POSSIBLY dawn, posted on November 30, 2012 at 05:44:03
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
Hello, Rick! Hello, everybody.
The first hour back to AA and I see that the mood is bleak indeed.
Well, small wonder, for we were silent for so long, however...
There is one more tweak, one more hardware change (very easy, cheap AND IMPORTANT) and one more bios setting to be published in a day or two. All produce very big change for the better.
For now only two "confessions" -
first = I HAD TO LISTEN TO YOU AND GRANT more attentively
second - At the current stage, after the tweaks announced above to be "voiced" , any doubt and experiments with kernels ARE OVER, - native XP kernel IS BETTER.

A teaser now -
READ this http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2005/07/24/running-windows-with-no-services.aspx
and You, inmates, will know what I am working on now.
It's a hard thing and expensive (for me) as I am not a coder myself and had to find, hire and PERSUADE a man to try it for us. No definite promise as yet, however, my experiments with UNSLIMMED windows show fantastic results. The work is slowed much due to the absence of cPlay source code.
Will write SOON.
Serge.
P.S. I apologize for being silent, but I was off internet for some personal reasons, so I will start answering Your letters only tomorrow, please

 

I thought you had gone the way of dear old Clementine ..., posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:43:47
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
the one that is lost and gone forever! (hope you are familiar with this bit of Americana). I think I have used it before when you disappeared. I stole it from Harry Pearson of THE ABSOLUTE SOUND magazine. From one of the early issues when it was a very exciting magazine like this thread has been at times! He was speaking of some distortion that was ameliorated by some bit of magic but more likely a circuit refinement.

Grant and I have wondered aloud many times - WHERE THE HELL IS SERGE?

Not that we wanted more stuff from you, just to enjoy the interaction on many subjects.

Hope things are working out better for you.

I had feared you were in the cell next to PUSSY RIOT! Knowing you like cats so much ...

Take care - I will send you a letter this weekend.

 

RE: No use to waste electricity, when it's POSSIBLY dawn, posted on November 30, 2012 at 06:53:17
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
You are the light @ the dawn. Cannot wait for your upcoming posts.

 

6 MOONS reviews JPLAY, posted on August 20, 2012 at 06:59:43
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/jplay/1.html

I have never heard what this can do and my skepticism it about equally matched by my curiosity.

Seems like the reviewer experiences a few revelations due to this software but has not yet made any attempt to minimize his WINDOWS.

I am not too interested in buying a copy of SEVEN so I could try out JPLAY but if I had nothing else to do I could be tempted.

One wonders what this reviewer (whom I must admit I have not read many of his reviews so I have no idea of his biases, etc) would think of a WONG/Serge cMP set-up? He did make the step to eliminate the bells and whistles and is on the path to a minimized interface.

If the thing did not require SEVEN I would give it a try just to see where it is in comparison to where WE are.

ADMISSION - I do not have a working computer at the moment so I have not had the pleasure of hearing Serge's new cMP. I have been listening to LPs only through a phono preamp I just finished assembling.

There are important differences, as we all know, between the two approaches. Both are noisy in their own ways. Many of my LPs are almost as old as I and some can be crackly even though the music shines through the noise. With digital, as Jack Wong has brought to my attention, there is this "stuff" that is everywhere which is what we have tried to minimize. I do not think it can eliminated any more than LPs can be pop-less. But there is no question that you can learn to ignore the pops and crackles where the digital noise is so interwoven that it preys on the subconscious at all times.

I find myself listening to whole LP sides and the time flies by. Was it the convenience of skipping around that made me change selections with the computer? Well, in my setup I still had to get up and walk across the room to get to the computer to make a change so I do not think a lack of convenience is at work.

There is something about LP's.

When the computer is back up (JULI@ died and I have to re-mod the new one to get back - too busy with the preamp) a comparison will be easy to make.

There are just as many things digital does well as analogue. Both formats
are needed for the music lover.

Amazing how much one has to pay for an LP these days - they do seem to be of a better and more consistent quality, though.

 

RE: 6 MOONS reviews JPLAY, posted on August 21, 2012 at 23:05:52
audiodan@tiscali.it
Audiophile

Posts: 108
Location: Cagliari - Sardinia
Joined: July 7, 2009
Do you remember Marcin_gps? I'm pretty shure that he's the poland author of jplay sw.
He wrote here and in AA Computer Audio until last year but no mention to cMP2 in his interview.
Well done marcin! Ah money money......

 

I had heard one of the "creators" was once a contributor, posted on August 22, 2012 at 06:12:30
Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
What I thought was interesting about the review was the reviewer beginning an understanding of what has been described and implemented here.

Hoping this same reviewer might find it worthwhile to listen to a minimal WINDOWS/cMP setup.

JPLAY sounds like something for the more casual audiophile but might begin a path for those more inclined to find something better. It all sounds too EASY to be true to my way of thinking analogous to adding amplification stages to an amplification chain and finding it sounds better - that doesn't happen very often either.

 

WE NEED REAL UPDATES ! -urgently, posted on August 15, 2012 at 15:02:48
play-mate
Audiophile

Posts: 948
Joined: November 21, 2008
Hi guys.
-dear (happy) cMP´ers

Thanks for your recommendations. Much appreciated. -and always helpful.
Really !

However : Since the cMP² venture began with the slimming DLL`s, drivers and step 1-20.... things have become much more fragile and wobbly.
Especially our (limited) way of communication of following suit on our forum structure.
It´s almost impossible to recapture what´s going on when one gets behind.

I miss (and I´m sure a lot of cMP followers too)that the development get´s summarized from time to time.

Problem is, that when one has missed out a detail, further "tweaks" become un-manageable because a detail might not be implemented from a previous tweak.

We have to address this somehow, and improve our communication skills in this development.
Otherwise it will get obsolete very quickly and only in the hands of very few only...
-This can hardly be in spirit of cics, who gave way for this incredible democratic high-end project.

Any suggestions on this ??


kind regards Leif

Hysolid // Mytek Brooklyn // Spectron Musician III // Analysis Audio Omega

 

changing direction, posted on September 10, 2012 at 13:49:32
Douwe01nl
Audiophile

Posts: 71
Location: Amsterdam
Joined: September 29, 2011
Hi Guys,
After almost 6 years of AOB and cmp(2) i decided to take another route and would like to thank you all for all i've learned.
Like Walter i changed from PCI to usb-i2s. I could not follow the last series of tweaks. I had great results with Jolida's iso and bitchbatch (@Jolida: i didn't respond because i used Juli@), but didn't manage to create time for further tweaks and experments.
This summer i changed to a usb-i2s/spdif interface, and PuppyLinuxMPD (mpdPup) as OS. I experimented with Alix, but chose an Asrock Atom board. Nice thing about mpdPup is that it loads via usb and than functions in memory. When it is started up, i pull the usb-stick. No HDD/SSD/whatever (well yes, there is one: in the NAS). Great sound, similar to Jolida's iso and Bitchbatch, BUT: streaming from NAS (very convenient) AND: i can play -yes- mp3 files!
A Raspberry Pi is waiting for further experiment this winter, when i planned to learn more about linux.

Again: very very much thanks to you all!!

@ Greg in mississippi: since i do not use my Juli@ anymore: PM me your address and i will send it by mail.

Douwe

 

Moving on, posted on September 28, 2012 at 02:22:42
Hi Douwe,

Right now I’m considering the same but for me it doesn’t feel as ‘Changing direction’. More like ‘moving on’.

Thankx too Cics cMP + cPlay project and the improvements suggested by other inmates I learned a lot. But I don’t like too severely cripple my XP installation close too dis-functionality.

So I’m now also looking at (puppy) linux distro’s geared towards audio. Unfortunately this only means: fully packed with software that is somehow related too recording and playback. So quantity over quality.

Untill now all these (puppy) Linux audio distro’s sound less too my ears than a fully ‘Steppe slimmed’ cMP+cPlay machine. But I still haven’t tried HQplayer from Signalyst on Linux yet
May be these linux audio distro’s can also be further optimized too equal of even pass the sound quality of a crippled cMP+cPlay machine.

Unfortunately untill now I still haven’t found a linux-audio forum on which inmates strive for real audiophile quality.

Do you know such forums or inmates on the net?

Mark

 

RE: Moving on, posted on September 29, 2012 at 09:24:50
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
Hi Mark,
Have you tried MPDPUP? Pretty well slimmed down, plus low latency core. I have posted some settings that to my ear take it to a good place.

 

RE: Moving on - New MPDPUP - take another look, posted on November 11, 2012 at 19:42:02
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
If you have tried comparing linux .. specifically MPDPUP or if you have never tried it..

Take it for a test drive. The author just put up a new release 9.3. OMG!!

Really nice pop in quality. On my system a level never before contemplated.

My Alix/WaveIO/TDA1541A rig loves this new release. I am ready to take on vinyl challengers. Bring it on!

 

yes I'm almost there. RE: Moving on, posted on October 1, 2012 at 03:57:24
Hi Walter,

yes I'm almost ready getting there.

For half a year I already have a GA-D525TUD Atom mobo lying arround.
I used it too test if the hardware and chipset had better SQ than the standard socket 1155 cMP Gigabyte MoBo's.
I could not detect any differences. So I continued using the 1155 socket mobo with with Celeron processor.

Seeing you, Douwe and others moving on this summer, made me curious how this GA-D525TUD Atom mobo would sound on Puppy-Linux.

But I don’t want too highjack Cics cMP thread. So I’ll start a new thread ‘How too get best SQ from Puppy Linux’.

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=pcaudio&m=114482

So I continue in that thread.

Mark

 

RE: Moving on, posted on September 29, 2012 at 06:35:38
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
Sorry to se you move on (not for you but for me). Pls come back and let us know how you're doing from time to time. Good luck.

 

I hope a Puppy Linux for dummy's thread will emerge. RE: Moving on, posted on October 1, 2012 at 09:36:20
Hi Theo,

I’m not planning too leave the audioasylum. I just need a new challenge. There is no progression in the cMP thread any more. I expect not many new software tweaks. I also don’t t like too cripple XP untill it almost breaks down too get good SQ from it.

Reading Wlowes and Douwe10NL moving on too Puppy linux inspired me too do the same.
I now notthing about Linux. It’s al new too me. But may be I learn just as I learned from Cics cMP project.

I notice a gap between the Puppy Linux’s newbie forum and the audioasylum PCaudio forum. The newbie threads on the Puppy Linux are still way too complicated for me. I don’t understand what is writen.

May on the audioasylum I can start a thread too brigde that knowlegde gap. Kind of: ‘How to get best sound quality from Puppy Linux for dumm’s’.

I already got an enthousiastic reply from Wlowes. But (again), like on the Puppy Forum - it’s much too complicated / cryptic for me too understand it.

I plan too periodicly report what I’m doing and what my progress is. I hope other inmates will respond or follow into experiments with Puppy Linux. This way there is chance we will all learn how too setup a Puppy Linux Distro and get very good Sound Quality from it.

WLowes, Douwe10NL, and I believe also Ryelands, already toke the plunch this summer. I follow now. May more inmates like too follow if there a thread on the audioasylum.

Mark

 

RE: I hope a Puppy Linux for dummy's thread will emerge. RE: Moving on, posted on October 1, 2012 at 16:37:12
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
hfavandepas,
Have you explored mpdpup? It is designed to get you up and running without really learning linux. You will need to go through a relatively frustrating learning curve if you want to modify the various config files. mpdpup is a good way to get started without making changes and then read everything you can about beginners guides.

http://208.109.22.214/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=70052&sid=3d93dcb742a75f80aa0c8624ad187360

I did find a good manual describing the basic concepts of file system which i'd be happy to email.

 

RE: I hope a Puppy Linux for dummy's thread will emerge. RE: Moving on, posted on October 2, 2012 at 07:06:25
andy222
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Joined: February 3, 2012
My own experience with MpdPup is one of mind numbing frustration. I think that you probably need a very special mindset to figure it out. It’s supposed to be the simple route to linux-based audio, but I certainly couldn’t get to grips with it.

I’ve kind of given up on Linux as a possible direction because most of the stuff I’ve looked at is just way too flaky and seemingly dependant on the user being able to master a whole new language in order to comprehend the cryptic screen messages.

Cmp/Cplay still seems like a nice approach to me. What I think it needs is further development in areas like the user interface.

 

RE: changing direction, posted on September 15, 2012 at 18:53:09
GStew
Audiophile

Posts: 633
Location: NE Mississippi
Joined: September 21, 2001
Douwe,

Thanks for the bounty of a Juli@! I've responded separately. I'll hold it in reserve for someone who needs one (perhaps after a botched mod!).

Please don't be a stranger and keep us updated with what you're doing, especially your innovative HW mods.

I personally am also interested in what you're doing from a player perspective with PuppyLinuxMPD... and also your experience with an Alix board. I've been interested in trying some different player setups and have been looking at an Alix 1D (with PCI so I can use a powered-Juli@) to try as a headless NOS cMP player as well as a server for the Squeezebox Touch I recently bought and also as a PuppyLinuxMPD player. Maybe post your experiences in the 'Tuning Linux/MPD/Alsa for best sound on ALIX processor' thread? Or if you already put them somewhere else, point us to them.

Greg in Mississippi

P.S. I forgot to mention that with the latest slimming tweaks, the slimmed version that works with Juli@ is STUNNING!
Everything matters!

 

RE: changing direction, posted on September 29, 2012 at 09:37:28
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
Hi Greg
If you play with Alix, I'll point you to a couple of key tweaks that bring out the best. One inmate suggests the 1d over the 3d2 I use as it has bias control you would enjoy. I had good success with replacing a couple of caps and of course had to add some blackgates. Sounds like you have CMP really perfected. Interested in your comparison. Of course, stay clear of Alix if you want to upsample in real time. Now way it has power for SOX or SRC. It is strictly NOS.. fine by me as that is my preference but each ear is different. You should consider WaveIO with the Alix. You could reserect your 1541 dac + WaveIO as an alternate to current rig?

 

RE: WE NEED REAL UPDATES ! -urgently, posted on August 17, 2012 at 00:46:24
n_vincent
Audiophile

Posts: 34
Joined: November 27, 2007
Hi guys,

I red your idea, I completely agree.
I have myself problems following some evolutions because I just don't have the time to be here every days and to test all the new tweaks.

In order to better communicate, I think It could be great to have a structured web site, like a wiki.
The project could be seen like an open source dev project where everybody can contribute on what he like.

I have in mind http://www.rockbox.org. This site is very well structured, with a lot of contributors from the rockbox community.

This is just a idea, but I hope you will succeed in it. For Myself I don't have the time to contribute, but why not a small financial contribution in order to help things.

Nicolas










 

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