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cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player

41.183.0.21
Posted on December 30, 2007 at 05:42:01
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
cMP

The open source high-end Memory Player

December 2007

Music delivery is perfected. cMP (cics Memory Player) delivers memory playback (without RAMDisk or other utilities) thereby eliminating disk interference during playback.

In creating cMP, its critical objective was the implementation of fundamental designs that:

  1. Remove disk traffic interference during playback without having the inconvenience of manually loading files into a virtual RAM drive, etc..
  2. Ensure time critical sample delivery to the external DAC. Streaming of samples from precision upsampled (to 24/96) sound buffers to the soundcard must be fast, lean and mean! There's no room for any bottlenecks or overheads here, otherwise we risk increasing jitter and compromise Bit Transparency.
  3. Provide better power supply and remove the need for a ferrite core on the mouse connection.
  4. Provide flexibility to choose any player (Foobar2000, Winamp etc.).
  5. Further minimize the Windows footprint to that more optimal than XP's Embedded SP2 operating system as used in large scale commercial applications. This provides the foundation for the 2nd design goal.
  6. Offer a CD/DVD-ROM drive without impacting sound quality.
  7. Offer proper remote usability as locating that mouse cursor from a distance is cumbersome.
  8. Contain costs but also allow for a complete elegant one box solution.

Such designs in theory should render a stunning sonic experience. Its implementation however was a massive challenge. Did this theory meet the sonic expectations? Yes as evidenced in cMP's bit perfect performance and ultra low jitter.

How does it sound? The most descriptive word that comes to mind is emotional. cMP's sonic purity is truly profound. It grips those musical lines across any genre with remarkable precision. Soundstage improves, there's better layering and even more ambient information. Bass is tighter, with natural vocals & instruments.

FRONT



BACK



More pictures and screenshots are available from the cMP documentation link provided below.

FEEDBACK

Pre-release testing by music lovers located all over the world yielded further insight and perfection of cMP.

  • A music lover based in the US with limited or no computer training:

    This has been a great way to learn about computers in addition to making something very useful for enjoying music.

    Compared to my ###### (read expensive high-end traditional CD transport), even with some tweaking and learning left to do, this sounds much better. Dynamic, yet relaxed (effortless?).

    I started listening last night at 7:00 and had to force myself to go to bed at twelve. Amazing spaciousness. It is truly getting close to GREAT analog and is much better than average analog already. It is simply amazing.

    I found your instructions easy to follow ONCE I understood what I was being told to do. To repeat, I have never done anything like this before, so your instructions were clear without resorting to "hand holding". I think the process was easier than you warned. I kept saying to myself, "that wasn't so bad!"

    After cMP:

    My only audio friends are very analogue-centric. Sometime in January I am going to have them over to audition the cMP. I think they are going to be amazed. Of course, I am confident that JULI@ is going to be the icing on the cake. If this takes the whole thing another step closer I think they will be grateful that one can enjoy listening to CD's as much as LP's. Of course, in many ways your approach does things even LP's cannot do. It is becoming a toss-up, but the best kind; one can enjoy either one equally well!

  • A music lover based in Europe with more than 2000 CDs:

    the quality of sound reproduction is quite amazing. My motivation for building was that I am not wealthy and could never dream of, let alone buy, a high-end CD player. Even this project was considerably more than I could properly afford and I began it with some trepidation. But it's been well worth it.

    After cMP:

    I spent several hours last night testing the latest cMP. I did several A/B runs with cMP on the one hand and Foobar launched via old batch files and reading direct from disk on the other. There is no doubt in my mind that the sound using cMP is a significant improvement even with my modest setup.

    The quality is quite stunning, significantly better than previous. (My partner agrees with this - she's no audio junkie but she is an informed music lover.)

  • A music lover based in Australia:

    I have been wanting to relay to you my own experience with your methods and give you some feedback . So far, I have found your approach produces very good results so I must convey to you my thanks and appreciation. At some point soon I will formalise my thoughts and send them to you or post them. I believe what you have done has become an excellent resource/asset to people interested in PC Audio.


FEATURES

  1. Disk traffic interference during playback is eliminated. Advanced RAM playback is based on available physical RAM (as reported by Task Manager or Process Explorer). This means up to 4GB (XP's limit) can be used allowing for 24/192 RAM playback. Recommendation is to use 1GB RAM (which yields available physical RAM of ~830MB - enough for any CD at 16/44.1). cMP achieves memory playback via the system cache and not through a simulated virtual drive. This approach removes Windows disk I/O overheads (irrespective of whether disk is physical or virtual) hence, it's more optimal.

  2. Extensive Windows & Player (Foobar2000 or other) optimizations yielding much lower jitter and bit perfect delivery. System level optimizations are done at runtime (which cannot be achieved using .bat files and utilities like Process Explorer). cMP is designed to work with 32 CPU cores!

  3. Open architecture. cMP allows for any player to be used: Foobar2000, XXHighEnd, Winamp etc. (player just needs to handle .cue files like foobar2000 otherwise play entire .wav). Any ripper software can be used (as long as it conforms to .cue single file standard like those created by EAC). Additional flexibility is provided, for example use cMP to drive your HTPC playing any movie from any genre (a .cue file for each .iso file is needed).

  4. All .cue files are processed by cMP which means the player focuses only on playing the CD. In Foobar2000, the album list control component is not needed. In techno speak this is called separation of concerns.

  5. Power delivery to the mobo is improved by further reducing interference. The need for a ferrite core is removed.

  6. Full function remote control using a wireless mouse is achieved. Your entire library can be navigated: play any CD, eject it, jump to any track or change volume. This is achieved using just ONE mouse button: the Wheel! Use the mouse as a normal one (left-click) or hold it in your hand (like a remote control) and wheel away using your thumb. Of course other buttons are used for more convenience. There's no need to find that tiny mouse cursor and left click! (You can still do this if needed).

  7. Your entire library that you so diligently ripped is fully compatible with cMP. No proprietary / lock-in stuff here which forces you to re-rip. Just point cMP to your music folders containing .cue and .wav files (or flac or other). cMP supports any content file as long as cue files are defined for them. For flac content files, the known EAC bug of adding an additional .flac suffix to the content file's name must be removed (otherwise your cue's content file directive will not be found).

  8. CD/DVD-ROM drive is implemented without compromising playback quality. For the purist, this can be unplugged without opening computer or rebooting.

Bottom line: cMP is a (one box) highly advanced memory player that's easy to setup and use. cMP's core strength lies in newly developed operating system software components (built in c/c++) that uses XP SP 2 as a foundation. Windows Explorer is done away with while cMP takes over and more. Bit perfect delivery is achieved yielding an ultra high resolution of more than 23.5 bits (a limitation in measuring instruments prevents measuring cMP's perfect resolution). DAC's have yet to achieve this resolution (as a minimum of 141db SNR is needed)! For cMP's bit perfect measurements, see (Bit Perfect Measurement & Analysis ).


GETTING STARTED

Visit cicsMemoryPlayer.com where you'll find detailed easy to follow instructions and much more.

Ensuring clean AC power delivery to equipment is very important. For DAC, pre-amp and amplifiers, use a dedicated AC circuit. For source equipment, use another AC circuit as this is where cMP's main PSU should be powered from. Use another less important AC circuit for powering cMP's 2nd dirty power inlet. Use of quality power cords and line conditioners is recommended.


Special thanks to those that provided such brilliant feedback and suggestions during pre-release testing. cMP's software is at version 1.0b as more feedback is desired. Your input, insights, criticisms, experiences and suggestions all help.

Thank you.

 

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    ...
RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 19, 2009 at 14:29:41
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 Hi,

Cics seems to suggest that as long as I can boot into CMP mode, have CMP start my playlist editor, and have my playlist editor start CPlay, CPlay should be optimized.

"One, but probably not the most efficient, way would be to have a routine that decides to best playback rate then changes the cPlay ini file to specify that rate so that when cMP calls cPlay it will use this amended ini."

Hey, this is a pretty good idea. The only problem is that there is nothing in my program that keeps someone from building a playlist out of songs with differing sampling rates. Maybe I'll start by trying it as a manner to automatically configure the sampling rate of CPlay based on the sampling rate of the file, as I don't care for upsampling so much. Also, the only time I read sampling rates is when I am reading the embedded tags of FLAC files. I have to see if I can get the sampling rate of WAV files.

Thanks for the idea,
Alan

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 19, 2009 at 15:07:46
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 You should be able to get samplerates for WAVs as foobar certainly can and lists it under properties. I just added a column for it that works for WAVs in playlist display using %samplerate%.

You're right that if the playlist lists files with different samplerates, you would probably just get that of the first file entered into cPlay ini, but that is better than nothing since cPlay has a fixed rate in any case, so suboptimal for many of the files either way. This way at least one file will be played the way you want. You can't get cPlay not to upsample unless you are willing to see any files in the playlist at greater than 44.1 downsampled. for an upsampler like me, it is just a matter of selecting 176.4 or 192, whichever is a multiple of the samplerate.

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 19, 2009 at 15:26:15
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 "You should be able to get samplerates for WAVs as foobar certainly can and lists it under properties. I just added a column for it that works for WAVs in playlist display using %samplerate%"

Foobar is written in C++. My app is written in Java and is using the JAudioTagger library to get tagging information from FLAC and other files that support tags. I don't really want to write my own library to go poking through WAV files if I don't have to. I can find a bunch of supporting libraries in C++, but not much in Java. If I were a C++ programmer I would be writing the player, not the playlist browser.

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 19, 2009 at 17:03:19
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I hadn't realized that. I see now why you are reluctant. All I can do is plead on behalf of the many who use flacs with cPlay that adding the dynamic rate setting to what you are working on would be a much appreciated improvement. Also, perhaps cics or somebody else can suggest a manageable way to obtain samplerates for WAV files as well.

 

RE: Ive found some decent examples, please tell me..., posted on July 19, 2009 at 17:57:05
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 Ok, I take it that you want the sampling rate info on Recursive Cue Creator, because it already exists for FLAC files in CPlaylist Editor.

I found some examples of Java code that deal with WAV files. I can probably get the sampling rate info but I need to know where this information should be displayed in the CUE file. Prepended to the title?

Alan

 

RE: Ive found some decent examples, please tell me..., posted on July 19, 2009 at 18:37:47
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 Well, I most want the play rate to be dynamically set in relation to the files samplerate. Second to that, I would like as simple and short an indication of the samplerate prepended to the title, yes. For me personally, all that's needed is a 1 for 44.1 or 88.2 or 176.4 and a 2 for 48, 96 or 192--to keep it as short as possible since displaying the title is already given too little an extent in cPlay's display. Others may want it to be more specific, so the first two numbers of the samplerate could be prepended.

 

RE: Ive found some decent examples, please tell me..., posted on July 19, 2009 at 19:02:48
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 Riboge wrote:

"Well, I most want the play rate to be dynamically set in relation to the files samplerate. Second to that, I would like as simple and short an indication of the samplerate prepended to the title, yes. For me personally, all that's needed is a 1 for 44.1 or 88.2 or 176.4 and a 2 for 48, 96 or 192--to keep it as short as possible since displaying the title is already given too little an extent in cPlay's display. Others may want it to be more specific, so the first two numbers of the samplerate could be prepended."

Last time we discussed this I thought you wanted sample rate for the cue sheets generated with Recursive Cue Creator. Your first sentence seems to be referring to CPlayList Editor. Your remaining sentences seem to refer to Recursive Cue Creator. Do I understand you correctly?

I don't think putting a 1 or a 2 in the cue sheet title is a universally effective manner of showing the sampling rate for those who want it. If I allow an option to prepend the sampling rate, I would probably take the sampling rate, divide it by 1000, and prepending the result to the cue sheet title. Would that be acceptable?

Regarding CPlayList Editor, it can already show sample rate in the track list for FLAC files, and you can name the resulting playlists anything you want, so you can already effectively add the sampling rate to the playlist title. However, it would make sense to update the ini file before launching CPlay to dynamically set the sampling rate. I'll try that when I have some time to fiddle with it.

Alan

 

RE: Ive found some decent examples, please tell me..., posted on July 19, 2009 at 20:44:42
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 If the playlist creator can bring dynamic rate setting about there is less need for the rate to be prepended in the cuesheet creator. In the meantime, yes prepend the samplerate with cuesheet creator. I was just trying to shorten the prepend from the 5 characters of such as 176.4 to something abbreviated to one or two characters, but if you feel it has to be the full monty, okay.

 

A headless CMP box works great except for one thing..., posted on July 20, 2009 at 06:40:47
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 Hi,

I have my headless CMP machine booting into CMP mode with CPlay fully controlled by the network version of my CPlayList Editor application. I have no need for VNC server except for one issue. My front panel power button shuts down windows and the computer when booted into XP mode, however it does not work in CMP mode. This leaves me with no way to shut off the computer. Any suggestions?

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 20, 2009 at 07:21:29
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 Minlogon implementation for SP3 is a problem - haven't seen one yet. Improvements are very significant and I would suggest installing SP2 on your spare partition. Minlogon benefits:

"Windows security overheads is reduced significantly and there's no logon prompt at startup☺ Boot time is faster. Sound improves as Windows footprint reduces (less overheads). Windows operates using '.Default' user. All user settings (Desktop, Appearence, foobar, ?) will need to be redone. It's worth rechecking all optimizations again."


Windows security subsystem causes each device IO to be secure - this includes audio output. Reduction in runtime overheads is significant.

Task Manager entry is not available in .pth file (as cMP internally uses Windows version). Your problem with Process Explorer is a surprise - be sure to use quotes for the program and there are no typos as cMP will not report on an error (something I want to fix in next release). #H/N/H is only applicable to RIPPER, CUE_PLAYER & PREP_PLAYER. I get cPlayListEditor to work without a .bat using the following:

PROCESS_EXPLORER "java" -jar "C:\Program Files\CPlayListEditor\CPlayListEditor.jar"

Power button is not available in cMP Mode. I have a HTPC which I shutdown by just holding the power button for a few seconds. Yes its a hard shutdown - I've been doing this for 1 year+ without any problems.

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 20, 2009 at 07:53:26
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I use minlogon with sp3 running cMP2 without problems on my Lenovo laptop as optimized as possible.

 

Can you confirm Minlogon implementation steps for SP3 is same for SP2?, posted on July 20, 2009 at 08:32:31
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 That's very good to know.

 

RE: Can you confirm Minlogon implementation steps for SP3 is same for SP2?, posted on July 20, 2009 at 09:01:15
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 Yes: boot from second non-cMP drive and substitute minlogon for winlogon all after running the registry change application. Then boot to cMP drive. Done. I suppose making the substitution when booted to safe mode from cMP drive would work just as well.

 

RE: Thanks Seger, posted on July 20, 2009 at 09:26:29
seger
 Autologon is great while you get everything set up, and do various optimizations. When everything is tested and running well, do minlogon last of all. Here's the link to the short way - (the safe mode option is best) http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=pcaudio&n=40869&highlight=Easy+Minlogon&r=

Be careful, a mistake will tie Windows in a knot. Good thing to have multiple systems on the computer - you can correct most mistakes from one of the functioning systems.

And yes, it should be fine with SP3 - I have a couple of SP3 systems running minlogon.

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 20, 2009 at 10:09:49
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 If I remove cicsRemote.exe from the cMP installation folder will this help sonically? Also I don't use touch screen either is it useful to remove this as well?

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 21, 2009 at 10:39:58
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 cicsRemote.exe provides the remote automation using a wireless mouse. If you remove this, you won't have remote control. However, it won't matter if you're not using a mouse, i.e. you can remove it. I tested this a long while back and found no differences. Its worth testing again - let us know.

There's nothing to remove if you don't have a touch screen.

 

RE: Finally built a CMP (of sorts). Long post with some questions., posted on July 22, 2009 at 05:50:05
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I tried this (eliminating cicsRemote.exe from cmp folder) and although there is one less process in task manager it does not sound different to me after one day of listening.

 

While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 22, 2009 at 10:56:42
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ...instead of numeric data processor under IRQ. Everything seems to work (cmp,cplay, loading new files into hd from fd etc) except when I left click on the mouse to index to next track.This does not work. Now
I can definitely live with this but I fear there may be other things that may not work. So should I just leave it as is or try to fix it? BTW it shows up in Device Mgr under IDE ATA.ATAPI controllers but not under IRQ.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 28, 2009 at 12:41:42
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 The right click on mouse functionality (to index a track) was restored when I put cicsremote back in the cmp folder. I have been searching the internet and Microsoft Knowledge Base to find an answer and have concluded the following:

--it is probably my cd drive that was unistalled but I don't know how to check this. Any ideas?

--the recommended way to reinstall drivers is to uninstall drivers in Device Mgr then reboot twice. This did not work for me,

-- the last method given in the Microsoft knowledge Base is to go in the Registry and reset some values. Has anybody else here tried this?


I appreciate any feedback. I don't have any trouble running cplay/cmp and no trouble loading in new wav files from a flash drive but would like to get primary ide channel back up and running.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 02:24:29
seger
 In BIOS - Integrated Peripherals, is "On Chip Primary PCI IDE" Enabled? Or Secondary?

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 05:17:29
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 It is Enabled.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 08:30:15
seger
 OK, I looked back to your earlier posts and you said the Primary IDE Channel shows up in device manager, just without IRQ. It's enabled but you can't use your DVD drive, is that the problem? Check Primary IDE Channel properties to see if the drivers are there and working, then check the resources tab (in properties box) to see if there's an IRQ assigned.

Also it may be that the IDE controller is disabled by BIOS - Integrated Peripherals "On-Chip SATA Mode" being set to non-combined. Try changing to "Combined" and see if that alters anything.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 09:32:41
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 " OK, I looked back to your earlier posts and you said the Primary IDE Channel shows up in device manager, just without IRQ."

correct

"Is enabled but you can't use your DVD drive, is that the problem?"

I can't tell. I put a cd in the drive and it seems to rotate but nothing happens but I don't get an error message.


"Check Primary IDE Channel properties to see if the drivers are there and working, then check the resources tab (in properties box) to see if there's an IRQ assigned."

Checked propperties and it says device working properly. No irq assigned. Under Advanced Settings it says Not Applicable under Current Transfer mode for device 0 and 1.

"Also it may be that the IDE controller is disabled by BIOS - Integrated Peripherals "On-Chip SATA Mode" being set to non-combined. Try changing to "Combined" and see if that alters anything."

Did not change anything

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 11:18:24
seger
 With setting still on Combined, try the driver uninstall and reboot routine that you did before. Apart from that, I'm out of suggestions.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 13:36:34
Frodan
Audiophile

Posts: 43
Joined: May 24, 2008
 Try to install the Intel drivers from the motherboard CD. You will probably have to redo a lot of the windows optimizations over after that.


Daniel Gauthier

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 14:29:59
seger
 You might want to try one more thing before taking the leap to reinstalling chipset drivers (I wouldn't do that without leaving minlogon). Your report: "Under Advanced Settings it says Not Applicable under Current Transfer mode for device 0 and 1." suggests that you might try to get the transfer mode settings to DMA (I'm assuming DMA controller is enabled) Here's a link to the subject that suggests how you might do it: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/check-your-transfer-mode-to-boost-computer-speed/ Hope you get it sorted out one way or another.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 29, 2009 at 16:35:27
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Yes I already found that link, tried it, didn't work. Also unistalling the driver while On-Chip SATA Mode setvto Combined/rebooting did not work.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 02:46:32
seger
 cics has said that we should start DCOM,COM+ Event,COM+ System, Event Log, and WMI before installing software - I would try this in conjunction with driver installations you are attempting. Also, when I am not sure about the effect of minlogon on system changes, or have an unexplained problem, I get out of minlogon to sort it out, that's why I mentioned it before.

The driver for Primary IDE Channel is atapi.sys, which I think is from the Windows driver cache, and probably won't be renewed from the chipset driver reinstall, but you would be hoping to trigger a reorganization that solves your problem, so still worth a try.

I am hoping to learn something new from this puzzle, so would prefer to try specific changes first. I use a SATA DVD drive so can't try for myself. So if you don't mind here goes again:
1. The services (above) running and try what you've already tried before.
2. Check your physical DVD drive connections - to IDE 0 or 1, and master/slave setting
3. With On-Chip SATA mode set to Combined, you can check and reset PATA IDE to the correct channel if necessary.
4. You could try the On-Chip SATA mode set to AUTO

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 05:00:45
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I tried this , within minlogon, and nothing changed. What puzzles me is that I have a sata dvd drive as well but I think you assumed I had an ide drive. What does this mean?

Ok I have the properties of one of my 2 ide channels showing not applicable for current transfer mode. I assumed it was my dvd drive because the hd works ok (boots up, plays cplay, allows tranfer of new music into hd from fd). How do I definitively tell which one is 'not applicable'?

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 05:19:48
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I tried one more thing--disconnected cable from dvd to mobo, rebooted and nothing changed but now under 'My Computer' I don't show the dvd player, whereas before it did show. So I guess that confirms that indeed the dvd plasyer is not working.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 06:46:20
seger
 A veritable wild goose chase. The whole idea of the Combined setting was to try to allow the computer to manipulate the IDE device, which turns out to be a SATA drive! LMAO!

Can you install the DVD drive in another computer and see if it works, or perhaps install a different DVD drive in your computer. If the suspect drive can be shown to work elsewhere, the search for a culprit starts again.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 06:55:29
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I know the drive works(its brand new)and it just stopped working when I deleted my primary ide channel by accident. I found this on a google search

OR... IF THAT DOESN'T WORK TRY THIS RegEdit Option:

Following is the mechanism that has worked for me, please try it at your own risk, it involves making changes to the registry:

Open RegEdit
Find the following KEY:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
Class\{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\000x
The last four digits will be 0000, 0001, 0002, 0003, and so on.
Under each key, delete all occurences of the following values:
MasterIdDataChecksum
SlaveIdDataChecksum
Reboot the computer. Windows will now redetect DMA settings.


Does it make sense to try this? One of my checksum keys does have a value. I didn't delete w/o some assurance this will cause no damage.

 

RE: While booting up I accidentally uninstalled my primary ide channel..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 07:19:32
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 This is getting more bizarre. I checked the registry values for checksum keys and there was one set to a non zero value but it was for the secondary primary channel (not primary) so I checked within control panel for properties of my secondary ide channel and indeed device 1 for the secondary channel now shows not applicable for current transfer mode (so I guess I am getting worse). Primary Ide Channel properties still shows not applicable for both device 0 and 1. All I did different was shut sys down/pull dvd sata cable from mobo/reboot/shut down and reset cable/ reboot in an effort to trey to get dvd device recognized by system.

 

I put O Chip Sata mode back to non combined..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 07:50:42
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ..and now Primary IDE Channel is back up showing DMA ultra 5 as Current Transfer Mode for one device (not other device though). So now I am making progress. Also Secondary IDE Channel shows DMA ultra 5 as Current Transfer Mode for one device(not other device though).

I guess I leave it alone for awhile and NOT UNINSTALL PRIMARY (OR SECONDARY IDE CHANNEL) AGAIN.

Sometimes I think Fmak is right, this stuff is very unpredictable.

 

RE: I put O Chip Sata mode back to non combined..., posted on July 30, 2009 at 11:46:18
seger
 Well done! The old turn-it-off-and-on-again works again! You just needed to tickle the Microsoft dragon in the right place. I've had this with soundcards, where physically removing and replacing seems to wake up the drivers - perhaps an engineer can explain this phenomenon.

 

Questions about EAC and a touch screen monitor, posted on August 2, 2009 at 13:14:38
Nikola
Audiophile

Posts: 13
Location: So.California
Joined: January 20, 2005
 Hi guys,
I have two questions that probably have been answered already, I did my best to search the forum but I am not very computer hardware literate and might have missed them... Apologies please, will appreciate a link to get me to some reading.

Now about EAC - is there a full description on how to make the most accurate rips of audio CDs? I prefer .wav format, FLAC is probably as good but somehow I feel more comfortable to start with the wavs and later experiment with FLAC.

Second question - I found a 12" touch screen monitor for a reasonable price but the requirements are that I have a PCI slot and a COMM port. As far as I understand the monitor has its PCI video card integrated. So is it possible to use it with the cMP?I will find a way to make it work if it is not contradicting with the principles of the cMP hardware. If it is too hard I will just skip it and go for a regular LCD monitor. I am not sure if it needs to have a USB output or just a VGA connector so a word about it will be much much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

RE: Questions about EAC and a touch screen monitor, posted on August 2, 2009 at 16:50:37
Frodan
Audiophile

Posts: 43
Joined: May 24, 2008
 This is a pretty good site to get the best settings for EAC: http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_Drive_Configuration

I would recommend you don't add a PCI card to your player, as it will affect the audio coming from your sound card, unles you are using a USB or PCI-E based sound card. There are other touch screen monitors out there that work on a standard VGA port. They also use a USB port to do the touch screen instead of a comm port, which is preferable as we wish to disable as much of the legacy hardware we can get away with.

Daniel Gauthier

 

RE: Questions about EAC and a touch screen monitor, posted on August 3, 2009 at 03:18:58
Nikola
Audiophile

Posts: 13
Location: So.California
Joined: January 20, 2005
 Many thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for :)

 

current cMP hardware recommendation question, posted on August 4, 2009 at 18:22:49
alba63


 
Hello, I am new here, I would like to build a PC transport as described, however several of the parts originally mentioned in 2007 are hardly available anymore, in particular:
1. Mainboard Biostar P4M890- M7 PCI-E
2. PSU Enermax Noisetaker II 485

Eventually it may be possible to get one used on Ebay, but are there more recent components that are easier to get and allow the same tweakings necessary for the cMP as described?

Thanks for a pointer in the right direction, the thread here is too long to find the right things specially when new to the topic.

thanks and regards
Bernie

 

RE: current cMP hardware recommendation question, posted on August 4, 2009 at 20:34:31
Frodan
Audiophile

Posts: 43
Joined: May 24, 2008
 If you go to the cPlay thread here you'll see that the hardware has changed a lot. We use a Gigabyte motherboard and a more powerful cpu.

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/3/31286.html

Daniel Gauthier

 

RE: current cMP hardware recommendation question, posted on August 4, 2009 at 20:49:07
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Alba,

Welcome.

Here is a link of a list of some recent hardware that I purchased.

I have the Enermax noise taker but I think if you look the Antec Earthwatts is recommended or something with low ripple.



Cut to razor sounding violins

 

battery power, posted on August 8, 2009 at 03:51:44
play-mate
Audiophile

Posts: 948
Joined: November 21, 2008
 with battery driven power there is much to be gained....

is there anyone who have tried this ?

http://www.oceanserver-store.com/modules.html

it seems that could be a quite promising turnkey solution.

-keen on comments !
Hysolid // Mytek Brooklyn // Spectron Musician III // Analysis Audio Omega

 

RE: battery power, posted on August 19, 2009 at 13:20:44
Bertel
Audiophile

Posts: 83
Joined: February 12, 2009
 Hi mate! ;-)

I have neither tried this nor do I have any particular knowledge about this product/solution, but it sounds interesting from the charging/handling side of things. It combines a number of battery packs with a regulated voltage output, and it provides ATX signaling, a VERY interesting feature.

However, there's two aspects to take care of:

- When it comes to proper voltage supply for digital circuits, providing the power as quickly and as exactly is of utmost importance, thus internal resistance of the power supply is key. But when adding battery packs like NiMH, internal resistance soon goes over the top - I know that because in my experiments with NiMH packs I have easily reached levels well into the thousands of mOhm...

- This is not a problem when combining the packs with appropriate capacitance - but the regulator needs to be able to handle huge capacitance. For this reason I use THEL regulators, they deliberately have a somewhat higher internal resistance and react quite "slow" providing a "weak" power supply which can successfully feed and load even huge capacitance of several ten thousands of uF.

- As for 3.3V, I prefer direct supply with LiFePo packs which have unmatched internal resistance and usually last very long when sized properly. So in my system, I boot up with a regular ATX power supply to get the ATX boot timing etc. right and then switch over to clean battery power - a modular, non-integrated, quite "old-fashioned" approach that in turn gives me full control and exchangeability of all components involved, I think that's what I prefer ;-)

Regards,
Robert

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 21, 2009 at 17:01:37
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 Hi all.

been a long time doing other things. Now just want to wrap up a few lingering questions.

Not sure if this should be here or in the cplay thread. Just found my post's and added to it...I just cannot get my head around this forum format, sorry.

Will be brief to save peoples time.

One.Last time I tried to change the latency setting, I selected a 'wrong' option. Cannot remember exactly what it was called...something like 'opacity'???? anyway, end result is that (whatever the menu was) now cannot be seen. So the 'opacity' or whatever the correct word was related to the visibility of the menu. It has gone.

Can I get it back? If I can, I may then be able to find the latency again.

I cannot remember what it was set at...but not the lowest available. I kept getting dropouts at any lower setting.

Does this mean I should (if it is available) get an updated software for the mother board? (beware, I am a computer idiot so that may not be the correct term)

I just want to get the lowest latency possible, set the computer and forget it. Not really interested ion future upgrades, basically am too dumb to get the benefit. so set and forget.

Can you help me get the lowest latency? Do I need an upgrade on the mobo software, and how do I get the 'screen' back that I stupidly turned off (loading a new software might fix that problem anyway?)

Last question, to do with eac.

For the life of me I cannot work this out. I want to ONLY have tracks 2, 7 and 9 (say) from a fifteen track cd.

How can I ONLY burn them (well have worked that bit out) BUT get a cue sheet that reflects that selection only?

Editing cue sheets to be frank is not worth the headache, surely there is a way to do it in the first place without having to go in and edit a cue sheet that has ALL the tracks in it?

I apologise for my stupid questions, about the only comfort I can offer you i9s that when these are sorted you won't have any more stupid questions from me!

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 22, 2009 at 20:14:00
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 TJ,

I certainly dont understand your first question, but the 2nd I think I do.

In eac highlight the files you want by holding down the control button and left clicking on the files you want.

Then hit F5.

This should start ripping ONLY the tracks highlighted.

To get the cue sheet, use Alan Jordan's RECURSIVE CUE CREATOR. It sounds daunting, but it is a simple program to use and will make a cue sheet of only the files you have ripped if the folder they are in is in the right format.

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 22, 2009 at 21:46:07
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 thank you dawnrazor. I will give that a go tonight, and let you know. I have managed to copy ONLY some tracks, but to get the cue file seemed to be the bug, so will try the one you linked to.

I hope my first point was clear tho, presume you mean the 'opacity' bit. That could be the wrong term, was quite a few months ago. I was trying to re-find the latency thing again, I had played with it previously, and IIRC the thing I clicked on had a series of percentages. I must have chosen a low percentage, which I think meant that 'it faded away' and can no longer see it.

I hope there are enough clues in there that someone can work out what I am talking about. I want to get back into the latency menu, and (maybe by changing the mobo software??) be able to use a lower latency.

Tho I had dropouts when I last tried it, felt there was better ambience at the lower latency. WHY would that be?? Is not latency just some sort of delay before playback starts? and if so, why should it sound different with different latencies. There must be something, else why have options and recommendations to have the lowest latency possible.

But why should they be different?

Anyway, that is 'off topic' and for now I'd like to at least get back into the menu, which has dissappeared due to my stupidity.

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 22, 2009 at 22:27:12
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 Well it kinda worked, but I can see problems.

Did I ever say I am an idiot with computers?? Ahh, good then.

I must have things filed wrongly. I copy the discs on my main computer, and save them to E/terry/eac rips (or whatever), then later I transfer them to the cmp via memory stick. The cmp is not connected to anything bar the stereo system, and I have even unplugged the cd player within it so can not/do not use the player itself to burn discs.

So when I use the recursive cue creator and browse to E/terry/cue sheets to be created, then the cue sheet comes up as artist terry!! album 'cue sheets to be created'!!

Then of course, I realized that it will not transfer to the cmp as it was created on another computer, so the path will be incorrect.

Grrr.

The recommendation to use the cue sheet creator, is that 'proof' that EAC itself does not/cannot create a cue sheet for selected tracks??? That can't be right can it?? Ouch, major oversight if true.

I don't expect anyone to give me a crash course on how to use a computer, so I hope that within EAC itself there is a way to do this and someone has the answer.

thanks.

BTW, should my other question be in the cplay thread rather than this one??? The two are pretty intertwined so if this is the wrong thread hopefully it will still get answered.

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 23, 2009 at 09:19:33
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Get eac to create a new folder and name it in the Artist-ALbum format.

See it uses that format so when you use it it thinks the artist is you!

But eac can make a folder named for the actual artist and album.

If the Folder was named "The Police- Synchronicity" then it would work if the album was "Synchronicity" by The Police.

You are very close to getting this to work.

ANd I would say that this is proof that I don't know how to get it to make a cue sheet for only the selected tracks. And besides the cue creator is easier.

As for the path, you can fix that in the cue creator I think and not give a specific path. It has been a long time but I am pretty sure that was fixed. If not, you might want to see about changing a drive letter if you can.

Hopefully someone with a better memory will help. or contact alan.



Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 24, 2009 at 03:31:18
seger
 Untick "Use Custom Output Directory" to get a simple path cuesheet from the CuesheetCreator.

Don't forget to look at the Options settings, and try different settings till you get what you want.

 

RE: cMP and HTPC, posted on August 24, 2009 at 03:42:18
flipper
Audiophile

Posts: 13
Location: Qld
Joined: August 1, 2009

J River media centre has ASIO output with DVD's.

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 24, 2009 at 07:42:27
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 arrrggghhh, I hate computers!

I tried something else tonight, it is a site that converts the 'report' that also gets printed with the rip to a cue file.

http://eachelper.okamihost.com/php/convloghtml.php

You paste the 'report' into the space and convert it, then download it back. You need to use notepad and then 'save as' and it becomes a cue file in cplay.

Ha, I can get it to work with a ONE track rip, but get error reports in the cplay diagnostic (incorrect file paths and whatnot) if it is more than a couple of tracks.

grrrr.

AND, I went back to see how to make new folders etc in the eac options, I can't find it! Only stuff like artist/track number/ etc etc.

I will keep looking....so appreciate the help so far but this is turning from what should be a simple option in the eac program into a nightmare.

Another plaintive cry for help with the other problem...maybe if I re-word it it may help. How do I access the latency menu??

I am sorry, but I cannot even find my own posts within this thread/forum format! Only got here by linking in the e-mail reply!! So the chances of me finding a post that tells me how to access the latency menu again will be nigh on impossible.

But I fear I have 'dimmed' it somehow....fingers crossed on that question.

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 24, 2009 at 21:13:51
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004



In eac set it up like the screen shot and it will create the folder properly and insert single named .wav files there.

Put %A-%C\%T in the naming scheme option.

Also what are you talking about with the latency menu? Which program is that in?



Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 24, 2009 at 23:19:23
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 Hi dawn

first off, just successfully created a cue file for selected tracks!!!

It is only one burn, so will do a few more before getting too confident.

I mentioned about after using the 'log to cue' site, and that it came up with 'no path file' or whatever it was. I had a look in note pad at it, and there were (from memory) '* track "" *', then maybe '* track 3 *' etc etc.

simply editing out anything with the '* "" *' and saving that made it work fine. In contrast, any time I tried to manually edit a cue file before it ALWAYS had problems, a lot of grief. Ok, there is a tiny bit of editing still, but no thinking required and it works (last time there seemed to be problems with 2 second tracks and things, prob to do with the gaps??)

AND, thanks to your tip, I made a folder with the artist first, then saved into that. Hopefully (as I do it on one computer and transfer it) the other computer (the cmp) uses the same file path!!

So thank you to the two of you for your help. (am quite proud of myself that I worked it out ha ha, as I hate computers and am a dummy with them)

Ahh, the latency. I use cplay on the cmp, and (maybe in cplay??) there are latency settings. A long time ago I managed to find that option and experiment with lower latencies...got dropouts on the lower settings BUT felt I heard better ambience within that.

Later when I tried to do it again, well that was when I went to ''''20% opacity''' or whatever it was, and those functions/windows dissappeared.

So, maybe I am asking this question in the wrong thread and it should be in the cplay thread? Still, would have thought that the knowledgable would still see it even if in the wrong thread.

Will give it a little more time before I re-post in the other thread.

A) how do I get back to the latency options? (think I have made them 'opaque' and B) even once there, do I need to update the software so that I do NOT get dropouts at lower latencies.

(think cics addressed this a bit a year ago, but I cannot even get back to my posts in this thread to go over it again!! Dunno how you guys manage to navigate this place, I am completely lost)

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 25, 2009 at 06:57:19
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 OK, managed to find my earlier posts in this looooong thread. Ha! it seems I was asking the same questions a year ago! 'how to make cue sheets for selected tracks'. Well think I have finally sorted that one. (yep, fast worker eh?)

Dawn asked what the hell I was talking about with latencies, which program etc.

Found this in one of my earlier posts

[I]I have always noticed the very low latencies demonstrated here, yet mine is 256 or something. And only this afternoon I noticed the little symbol at the bottom which in fact is the juli@ card. and within it I did find the latency listings,[/I]

So I was wrong in my memory, seems it has nothing to do with cplay oir cmp, but with the julia@ settings somewhere.

I have been madly clicking on everything in sight after finding that, but for the life of me I cannot find anything that 'looks like a symbol for julia@ at the bottom'. Just backs up my suspicions that I 'dimmed' it somehow.

Maybe that will help clarify the question for people...how do I access the julai@ settings again?

Re the latencies, the answer back then was (just looked, can't find it now grrr) something about F6 (???) that is to make sure the latest software is running.

Umm, what do I do and what does that tell me???

 

RE: cMP - the open source high-end Memory Player, posted on August 25, 2009 at 07:20:14
terry j
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: NSW
Joined: June 13, 2008
 Hold your horses!!! Found the julia@ symbol again!! YeeHAH!

It looked like an EAC round symbol actually (even with my glasses on it is that small on the box screen).

Well I hope you got chuckles at my stupidity rather than anger at my inane postings.

All I gotta do is find out about the software/latest program bit. The F6 thing (surely that is not the row of buttons on the top of the keyboard???)

The reaaaallly embarressing thing? Nope, can't find anything even remotely approaching 'opacity'. So dunno what the hell all that was about, do you? hahaha.

 

Motherboard grounding question, posted on August 27, 2009 at 18:46:31
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 I just finished assembling the wooden computer case I will be using to house my new cmp2 system.

Looking at the mobo, I see that the screw holes seem to have some conductive elements and since normal computer cases are metal i am assuming that the motherboard in a normal case gets grounded when one screws it into the case.

Is this true, and if so for those of you who have also built a case of wood, how did you handle the grounding?

On a similar note I was thinking of using t-shield for some shielding and it was recommended that I tie the shielding into the ground on the psu. Is that correct, and would I also tie in the mobo at this point too??

And did you screw the mobo right into the wood, or did you use some kind of stand off so the mobo was slightly above the wood? If so what did you use for a stand off?

TIA

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

Display Brightness of Zalman HD160XT Plus case, posted on August 28, 2009 at 00:00:33
nagual19
Audiophile

Posts: 37
Location: Vienna
Joined: July 4, 2003
 Hello CMP builders, I've finally bought the Zalman HD160XT enclosure, because I am extremely impressed by the performance of a CMP 'squared' computer transport and I think this should deserve the nicest 'wrapping' possible.

So far the transfer of the components from my old antec tower case to the Zalman went smoothly, only thing that I find very distracting is its display brightness (this seems at 100percent like all new LCDs).

@ Cics, gstew, can you eventually tell me how to turn the display brightness down? I searched via google, it seems this is only possible using Zalmans lousy windows software - even then, is it that the display is at the default (100%) brightness" until the software is loaded after Windows login and finally turns the brightness down?

I would be extremely happy if this software is able to write the brightness setting in some sort of firmware, then I'd have to install it only once (using a second Windows partition since i don't want these crap to spoil my CMP installation)

A big thank you to cics and all the other people's hard work in making this possible! The sound produced by CMP2 and my modded Zhaolu DAC is the BEST I ever experienced, a dream come true also from a price standpoint. I am spreading the word to all my friends --

 

RE: Motherboard grounding question, posted on August 28, 2009 at 03:39:36
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I have my cmp in a metal case and all I can say is that when I grounded the mobo to a wall mains outlet screw another level of transparency was achieved. At first I thought I was hearing things so I asked my wife to choose a preference (sonically) between grounded and ungrounded and she heard what I heard. So try it for yourself.

 

RE: Motherboard grounding question, posted on August 28, 2009 at 09:23:19
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Hey Theob,

How did you ground it?

Run a wire from a screw to the screw on an outlet?

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

Bios Question, posted on August 28, 2009 at 13:13:14
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 I remember that Cics was able to get a special bios written.

Do I need this, and will it work for the GA-G31M-ES2L??

And where are the latest bios settings and what about nopae? Wasn't that ditched and then reevaluated? What was the verdict?

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Motherboard grounding question, posted on August 28, 2009 at 17:30:58
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 yes make sure its a screw on the mobo.

 

Special BIOS and new documentation!, posted on August 28, 2009 at 23:12:02
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 Special BIOS is only available on the discontinued mobo (M-S2L).

See new website for full build details.

 

Adjust brightness using buttons below LCD screen (menu, etc.), posted on August 28, 2009 at 23:15:28
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 Menu > Color > Brightness

Definitely don't need the software.

 

Anyone with the GA-G31M-ES2L know which, posted on August 29, 2009 at 07:55:37
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 driver on the disk will make the PCI Device warning in the device manager go away?

Since I don't have internet and all the other devices seem to be installed, I am guessin that those missing drivers have something to do with the PCI DEVICE error.

I know, just put in the disk and install it. But they made it on a DVD and my external drive is cd only. SO I guessed and copied files from the disk to the usb thumb drive and that found most of the missing drivers.

I do have a dvd drive in another pc and while it is a pain I can put it in the new rig if I have to. I just thought I would ask if anyone knew which folder to copy to save some time...or if this will make the internet work anyhow.



Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Motherboard grounding question, posted on August 29, 2009 at 09:40:59
GStew
Audiophile

Posts: 633
Location: NE Mississippi
Joined: September 21, 2001
 First I want to say I'm no EE or grounding expert.

With that said, I'm slowly working towards a wood support for my cMP2 (not really a case) with separate metal shielding enclosures for the motherboard and the power supplies. I intend to tie the metal shield around the motherboard to the board. I also bring all my power supply grounds to the motherboard via the PS connections, making the motherboard ground plane the star (since that's where most of the circulating currents are created).

Theob, I keep meaning to respond to your original post about connecting to the wall socket gound and just haven't... I've been doing that too since going with the separate linear power supplies and also noted a difference (slight and subtle, but noticable).

On standoffs, I'd use either wood, brass, copper, or nylon, in that order of preference. I have damping rings from Herbie's tube dampers around the aluminum standoffs in my Zalman case and that also makes a worthwhile difference. An interesting thing about this is that at one point, I another 10 or so dampers just setting between the motherboard and the case bottom in addition to the dampers on the standoffs... that was WAY too dull. It was one of the first times I've ever gotten something over-damped.

Later!

Greg in Mississippi <- working on separate I2S-connected DAC cards now.
Everything matters!

 

NEW DOC IS GREAT!!!, posted on August 29, 2009 at 09:50:40
GStew
Audiophile

Posts: 633
Location: NE Mississippi
Joined: September 21, 2001
 Thanks cics!

Greg in Mississippi
Everything matters!

 

RE: Anyone with the GA-G31M-ES2L know which, posted on August 29, 2009 at 09:56:36
GStew
Audiophile

Posts: 633
Location: NE Mississippi
Joined: September 21, 2001
 It may be a bit late for this trick, but the last several times I did installs (from when I was trying this board and the GA-EG45M-UD2H board), I went into the BIOS aand disabled all extraneous devices BEFORE installing Windows... this reduced the number of drivers I needed to install from the disk.

I don't remember for sure (heck, that was almost three months ago!), but I don't think I had to do any driver installs because the optimizations took care of the rest of them.

Greg in Mississippi

P.S. I believe I got this tip originally from Ryelands in a private communication.
Everything matters!

 

My cMP 100% batterie feeded, posted on August 30, 2009 at 02:58:42
hanssatink
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Joined: September 13, 2008



Hi all,

Here is a picture of my cMP batterie project. Yesterday i'll added a SSD disk. It was the last part. Sound is incredible clean with 100% batterie supply.

Case: Antec, Mobo: EG45M, Proc: E7400, RAM: Mushkin EM2-6400, Sound:Juli@ (only digital part)

Power.
I have one switch for 'playing / off / charge'. The PicoPSU is used for 5 and 3,3 V and when it starts it also activates the 12 Volt low drop regulator and the relais for feeding 3,3V to the Juli@. All 12 Volt lines are feeded by a LOW drop Regulator (Micrel MIC29502BT), straight from the batterie. The batterie is a 45AH traction type. For charging the lipofers i used my THEL regulator. I used an variable s-psu for the THEL input (6V). 13,7V input from the batterie charger generated a lot of heat in the THEL. It can play all day without having to charge. Total current (main Batterie 12V) is 1,9 Amp. My Buffalo DAC and AMP4 are also feeded with batteries. NO 230V mains at all!

Feel free to give comments or questions.







 

RE: My cMP 100% batterie feeded, posted on August 30, 2009 at 05:07:41
theob
Audiophile

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

 

RE: My cMP 100% batterie feeded, posted on August 30, 2009 at 07:48:54
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 Nice work!

At 22.8 watts you can definitely drop the CPU fan and use Thermalright's fanless option.

Power can be further reduced - what voltages/frequencies are you at? See here (and Greg's follow-up). Set CPU host to 140 if possible.

 

cMP vs Linn DS?, posted on August 30, 2009 at 07:50:27
wcvb


 
Has anyone compared the cMP to the Linn DS? I'm particularly interested in comparison with the digital outputs of the Linn Sneaky DS and Majik DS.

These two Linn DS models can be used effectively as Ethernet to SPDIF converters. I'd be interested in people's thoughts on Ethernet to SPDIF as compared to USB or FireWire to SPDIF conversion.

wcvb

 

RE: cMP vs Linn DS?, posted on August 30, 2009 at 22:13:35
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 WC,

i doubt you will get an answer.

Those are drastically different products.

Anyone who has built a cmp2 box is too busy listening to compare something so ridiculously expensive as the Linn gear to their cmp2 rig, and i doubt anyone who can afford a Linn solution would "slum" with a mere $1000 pc transport.

Also most are using pci to spdif for their dacs and my hunch is that anyone using USB or Firewire probably isnt running spdif out to a dac, but is using a USB or Firewire DAC. AFAIK this avoids spdif all together as does the analog outs of a soundcard.

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Anyone with the GA-G31M-ES2L know which, posted on August 30, 2009 at 22:16:06
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Thanks.

I just borrowed a DVDrom drive and got it going. I needed the internet to authorize windows.

Everything went smooth once I found the driver for the ethernet.

I do remember Ryelands telling me about the bios first trick. That is a great trick...

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: My cMP 100% batterie feeded, posted on August 31, 2009 at 07:57:09
hanssatink
Audiophile

Posts: 79
Joined: September 13, 2008
 Thx for the suggestion. The CPU fan is a next step!

Edit: ill tried it, but without fan the mobo won't start.. Whats the trick??

I collect my mobo settings and report them here. The most are equal to Greg's reports.

 

Bios says one thing and Cpuid says another, posted on September 3, 2009 at 13:43:36
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 which one is right?

The bios shows 6*140 or 840hz and .83 volts, but cpuid 1.46 shows 6*266 or 1600 at .80 volts.

Which one is right? I reboot to see if the bios changes are still there, and they are.

Do I need the new version of cpuid?

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

Update, posted on September 3, 2009 at 18:33:55
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 This bios in the GA-G31M-ES2L is a bit different than I remember other bios being.

I set it to the correct settings and then it seems to reboot and change always to 6 X 266.

Cpuid is right.

What do I need to do to have it go lower than 266??

What am I missing?

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Update, posted on September 3, 2009 at 18:58:03
edward
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Joined: September 28, 2007
 If it resets itself to the default FSB (266), that indicates that whatever you tried to set it to was too unstable. I've had that happen to me on the GA-G31M-S2L board as well. IOW, you're probably not going to be able to set it to 140 right off the bat with a new board and cpu. Try playing with it at 266 for awhile (possibly days) and then reduce it slowly. So try 200 and play with that for awhile and then try 150 and play with that and then finally go to 140. You may not get there until you've "burned it in" for awhile - perhaps a week or more.

I should also add, you're kind of lucky that it just changes the FSB and then continues to boot. With my board, if I pick an unstable setting (like voltage too low or something) then it doesn't boot at all and is completely hosed. I then have to remove the CMOS battery and reset the CMOS and start all over. Using the CMOS reset jumpers doesn't even work.

 

RE: Update, posted on September 3, 2009 at 20:04:12
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Hey Edward,

I thought it might be my impatience and that it takes time for the components to settle. (when I asked my gamer computer geek he said that things usually got worse over time and when I asked, "...wouldnt it be the opposite because I am underclocking things?" he just scoffed and we agreed to disagree...

I will have to go slow then. Thanks for letting me know.

FWIW, I DID have to use the cmos jumpers a few times when I set the voltage too low.

Bummer that your board behaved that way, but sounds like you have it where you want it.

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: Update, posted on September 3, 2009 at 21:11:25
ecir38
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: LOUISIANA
Joined: May 9, 2007
 It looks like we are at about the same progress on a cMP, I am using the S2L.

I had to set CPU Host Frequency to 170 to get my M.I.T setting to stop resetting. VID at .85000 wouldn't allow reboot and had to clear CMOS so put it at .95000 for the time being to move forward. I figured I would try lowering once chapters 5-12 are done. So far all is stable through half of the optimizations.

Using the website for your build sure makes you appreciate the hard work that was put into it, thanks to all that were involved.

Brad

 

RE: Bios says one thing and Cpuid says another, posted on September 5, 2009 at 10:52:45
RayBan
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: Vegas
Joined: February 12, 2009
 There have been a couple new versions recently published.
RayBan

 

RE: Bios says one thing and Cpuid says another, posted on September 5, 2009 at 13:22:05
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Yeah I tried cpuid 1.52 or 56 whatever the latest is. It wasn't cpuid, it was me.

The bios would reflect my changes and I guess they weren't stable so it would load one that was without me knowing it....

We'll see how it goes.

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

CPU temp, posted on September 5, 2009 at 21:51:22
ecir38
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: LOUISIANA
Joined: May 9, 2007
 What is a safe CPU temp with a E7200 and the GA-G31M-S2L?

Has anyone looked at changing the heatsinks for the north and south bridge?

Brad

 

RE: CPU temp, posted on September 6, 2009 at 03:21:00
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 Heatsinks on mobo chipset are fine. Undervolting FSB and underclocking also reduces power in Northbridge.

CPU temp can go to ±75°C without any problems.

 

Window Activation, posted on September 14, 2009 at 11:51:03
ecir38
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: LOUISIANA
Joined: May 9, 2007
 I performed bios mods before installing XP SP2 and chose note to use networking functionality. I thought that windows activation would go away after performing chapters 7-12 but I keep getting the message that it needs to be activated in so many days.

Not sure if I missed something along the way and now am wondering if this may be a problem.

Brad

 

RE: Window Activation, posted on September 14, 2009 at 13:32:34
RayBan
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: Vegas
Joined: February 12, 2009
 I reloaded XP numerous times and had to activate everytime by phone. If you don't it will quit when the number of days arrives.

Maybe someone knows a method to avoid this as one day XP will be "No More" and if you have to reload you will be SOL!!
RayBan

 

RE: Window Activation, posted on September 14, 2009 at 13:47:17
edward
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Joined: September 28, 2007
 The last time I set up a cMP machine, I never activated XP. IIRC after I went through the minlogon process it stopped asking me to activate. I've been using this machine for 6 months like this.

 

Thanks, posted on September 14, 2009 at 14:59:09
ecir38
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: LOUISIANA
Joined: May 9, 2007
 So either I call microsoft or carefully replace winlogon with minlogon. Thinking I will try the later since all other steps have been performed.

Brad

 

Minlogon, posted on September 16, 2009 at 05:51:46
ecir38
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: LOUISIANA
Joined: May 9, 2007
 Installed minlogon without a hitch, I used seger's method. For preperation I read all previous post about minlogon here and on the cPlay thread. Thanks to all that were involved in what I thought was going to be tough into a fairly easy process. From all the reading on the subject it sounds like this makes a dramatic improvement but I haven't done any listening yet. Installing minlogon for me is recommended because it cut my boot time in half!!!

As recommended recheck your optimizations since some things do revert back after install. This took longer than installing minlogon.

Thanks Again,
Brad

 

Implement MINLOGON, posted on September 19, 2009 at 18:59:23
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 and you never be prompted again

 

Should have read all of the posts!!!, posted on September 19, 2009 at 19:00:11
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Sorry

 

Can we retest E5200?, posted on September 19, 2009 at 23:40:23
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 With new BIOS settings (esp disabling EIST), it would be very interesting to see what the E5200 offers.

 

Somehow I missed it but: the new documentation is great !!, posted on September 24, 2009 at 03:34:04
hfavandepas
 Hi Cics,

Somehow I missed it: http://cplay.sourceforge.net
but the new documentation is great !!
Thanks to Cics and everybody who contributed.
Paragrafs, content, lay-out, ect look good to the eye and are clear.

Now I don't hesitate any longer to point audiophiles with less PC skills to the cMP2 project and encourage them too try it and 'take the dive'.

There will be many more happy cPlay and cMP users on the way. :-)

 

MINLOGON -where will my .vbs threads go ?, posted on September 27, 2009 at 18:34:21
play-mate
Audiophile

Posts: 948
Joined: November 21, 2008
 to all of you having implemented MINLOGON :

my music server is not entirely a data server only, but a XP based cPlay>JACK audio connection>thuneau ALLOCATOR crossover>lynx twoB -music mashine.
-in order to keep this rather tricky combination running smoothly, I´m dependent on a .vbs script to connect all the components and "fooling" the ASIO drivers.
this script was a nerve breaking task to get figured out, so I´m cautious to do it any harm, but I´m keen to implement MINLOGON and wonder which changes MINLOGON does to the functionality of this crucial script command.

-will MINLOGON still "acknowledge" the desktop ?
-which threads|accounts does MINLOGON alter ?
-where to put this .vbs script and it´s dependencies before implementing MINLOGON ?

give me encouragement !
Hysolid // Mytek Brooklyn // Spectron Musician III // Analysis Audio Omega

 

RE: MINLOGON -where will my .vbs threads go ?, posted on September 28, 2009 at 02:18:18
seger
 1. You will be using the Default User desktop, and will need to redo many of the customisations you did for cMP.
2. It would be easier for you to try with what you have than do the research to catalogue all the system differences with minlogon.
3. I've used simple vb programs with minlogon without difficulty, but couldn't say if yours will work - again, try and see.

I like to experiment on a separate machine before messing with my primary source of musical enjoyment, but if you can't do that, you should be able to revert from minlogon back to your usual desktop if necessary. Proceed carefully, and read all the threads about minlogon.

 

RE: MINLOGON -where will my .vbs threads go ?, posted on September 28, 2009 at 02:48:21
ForgotPassword
Audiophile

Posts: 87
Joined: September 21, 2009
 Is it convenient to back up your system drive with something like TrueImage? I think it's alot less tedious than researching every detail about minlogon.
"We should no more let numbers define audio quality than we would let chemical analysis be the arbiter of fine wines." N.P.

 

RE: MINLOGON -where will my .vbs threads go ?, posted on September 28, 2009 at 03:22:10
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 Is it convenient to back up your system drive with something like TrueImage?

Agreed. I'd go further and say that creating image files of the system partition at key points in a cMP^2 build is mandatory, especially if you have a bespoke setup as play-mate does here. Recovery from a howler takes minutes, not hours,

Finding optimal network settings for a "headless" cMP^2 system (there were surprises), I must have restored a "last known good" twenty times or more. Without image backups, I'd never have managed.

I think it's a lot less tedious than researching every detail about minlogon.

Again, I agree but, when seger says "read all the threads about minlogon", I'm not sure it's necessary. Follow the procedure at:

http://cplay.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php?n=CMP.ApdxBAdvanced

which was, well, first described by seger. It's rock solid. (The manual method is best left to those atoning for sins.)

Th minlogon tweak is very effective but acquired an early reputation as flakey. With seger's method and provided a backup is made first (to guard against user error), I don't think it's true any more.

Go for it.

Dave

 

forum thread navigation - and renewed request to cPlay, posted on October 2, 2009 at 19:48:41
play-mate
Audiophile

Posts: 948
Joined: November 21, 2008
 starting a new thread in the cMP forum seems to be...eh, just another answer to the previous.
dear administrators, -is that intended web-design or just a missing link ?

with aljordan coming up with playlist in java script and numerous beautiful improvements of cics phenomenal efforts to our all delights, I´m just a little humble to forward my question again, about the eventual possibility of designing the cPlay´er without asio. i.e. in kernel streaming output.

well knowing that this wish is based on the rare configuration with thuneau´s allocator VST digital XO software, I´m just plain curious if the double ASIO request can anyhow be configured differently.

I´m not a ++CC computer programer, but maybe there is just somehow a way to link cPlay with allocator and obtain cMP2 ?
-it just seems to be such a straightforward task.....

-or maybe not !







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

 

Just saw your request, posted on October 3, 2009 at 07:44:49
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 so little happens here I only look at it occasionally.

My E5200 is now in my office computer and not easily (I am lazy) accessed.

Though, remember, it would not allow the same settings as E7200 as far as RAM timing. I, of course, do not know how important that is in absolute terms, but I do remember it to be significantly different.

My guess is that it is not worth the trouble. Even way back then, when switching back to E7200 I remember there was a robustness to the sound in comparison to E5200. I do think I really heard this because I wanted E5200 to be better!

It would run on very low voltage, though, but, again, I wonder if that would be running into that old audio bugaboo of the diminishing return?

I have not taken the chance to compliment you on the website. Very nice and should make it simplicity for the motivated music lover to use your handiwork. Though one wonders how much easier, than free, should one make it? cics, you are quite a fine fellow!

Bye,

Rick McInnis

 

RE: Just saw your request, posted on October 4, 2009 at 06:25:57
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 E5200's attraction is the smaller L2 cache (2MB vs 3MB). We only need 2MB.

Anyway, I think the new Core i3 32nm CPU may be even better (but this needs new mobo and cooler). Although this beast comes with 4MB L3 cache, with right BIOS settings, power consumption could be significantly lower than E7xxx. We could possibly see ±10 watts consumption doing 192k@SRC145db!

 

RE: forum thread navigation - and renewed request to cPlay, posted on October 4, 2009 at 06:31:21
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
 It would be nice is to get a feature to see latest posts to a thread - that way all posts can be easily picked up. Hopefully sometime soon...

cPlay doing KS can be achieved using ASIO4ALL. In ASIO4ALL, set sound output device to Lynx. This way, we get cPlay > ASIO4ALL > KS Lynx.

 

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