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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. cMP). 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 cMP 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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You can edit the batch files to suit individual needs, posted on October 7, 2011 at 13:34:44
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I did that for the batch files already available. Just eliminate any line that removes something that should stay in your case.

 

RE: BATCH FILES, posted on October 7, 2011 at 14:13:58
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Yes. Absolutely !! To me, 1 to 9 plus 16 was way superior sonically then all the way from 1 to 16. That's exactly why I started to make batch files so that I & others may benefit from that experiment of re-evaluating what actually contributed to what...

Junaid

 

RE: BATCH FILES, posted on October 7, 2011 at 14:35:20
amolan
Audiophile

Posts: 22
Joined: March 6, 2007
 Hi Jolida,

Any chance to get these fantastic batch files ?

Alexandre

 

RE: BATCH FILES, posted on October 7, 2011 at 14:51:57
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 What specifically is superior...highs,mids, lows, dynamics? want to know whether I should restore 10-15. If its just tonal balance I find that difficult to chase.

 

RE: BATCH FILES, posted on October 8, 2011 at 02:34:04
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Sonically superior in terms of dynamics, involvement & presentation..

Junaid

 

BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 8, 2011 at 06:32:55
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 When i had decided to go with the Batch file method, i had no wild idea what it actually is, or how its written, as i had no knowledge in writing any software or programs. This was my first time. Since i had made up my mind to follow this route, i struggled for nearly 3 full days, READING n reading web pages of tutorials as to how one could go about making them. With numerous errors in doing the same, i somehow managed to create a batch file for step 9. Upon its success, i thereby went ahead in writing the other parts. The batch files i had made did not include Registry modifications, as i had no knowledge in intergrating them. So i had to READ about it again & now i think i can finally go ahead with writing them up for all the steppes, as i managed to gather quite a bit of information regarding Batch Commands & their syntax.
I had to RE-DO the entire set of Batches i had made, to make them more accurate. I now have an UPDATED set of Batch files from steps 8 to 16. The previous Batches that i had made (and sent to inmates who had requested me through email), also work the same, but the Updated sets have more accuracy in their search paths, so now there is absolutely no room for errors. It takes a real long time in writing the data into the files, so i have managed to do Part 8 to Part 16 since this morning, without taking a break. I intend to make the rest of the Batches (1 to 7)as well in the coming week.
Those interested in using the Updated sets, may email me..

Regards,

Junaid...

Junaid

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 8, 2011 at 10:09:30
GStew
Audiophile

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

I want to join the chorus of 'THANK YOU's for doing this.

I'd started down the road of making batch files for the Steppe Mods starting at Steppe 5, but have not had the time to make much progress on them yet. So I'm very happy to hear of yours (and sent a request for them via Asylum email).

Without seeing yours, here are some thoughts on what I was working towards with mine:

1. Knowing that a particular file might show up in multiple places inside of the Windows directory structure, I was planning to put in multiple 'removes' for each file, one for each of the directories where I'd found these DLL's & other files.

2. I had scoped out in my head a process that MIGHT work to make creating the batch files easier using MS Word and Excel, but hadn't worked out the details. If you are taking a break before finishing the rest, let me know. If so, I'll go play with that and see if I can make the process of creating them fairly easy.

3. I had thought about doing batch files for registry entries too, but decided that it might not be as good as going in and searching/exporting/deleting. This is because I suspect that the registry entries will vary a bit computer-to-computer depending on the initial Windows install disk (SP1 vs SP2 vs SP3 at least), how the person installed the op system & did the standard optimizations, what other components they use (Juli@ vs other sound cards, PCI sound card vs USB vs firewire, etc.).

I SUSPECT that a set of registry deletes for one person's computer at best might not get everything on the next person's and at worse might brick it. Does anyone have experience with this?

I've got a bunch more thoughts on the Steppe Mods and hopefully I can get to a post that's been rolling around in my head for a couple of weeks. But in short, these mods have been a revelation in my system's performance (and I'm only up through #4 so far!) AND I think there are some implications for those who want the ultimate best sound out of their systems that were not clear before or even were not possible before.

Later!

Greg in Mississippi
Everything matters!

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 8, 2011 at 11:44:00
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 The toughest part was getting to add the various paths to the filename to be deleted. DOS is pretty cranky. It would not accept an extra Space as a character as well. Thats why my efforts of modifying the batches via Excel were wasted. Most of the commands Like 'PATH' & 'IF NOT ELSE', are very critical with their Syntax. I wasted a real lot of time trying to use Excel for this... Try using TextPad. Its way better. U need to download it..
   SO i went ahead & manually added an ENTIRE set of files to EVERY single path which may have housed those files.. A pain really. But it worked well...
I intend to finish Steps 1 to 7 in the next 3 to 4 days max, God willing..
   I take this opportunity to congratulate & thank u for all the work u have done in improvizing the cMP project. I have copied all my Linear PSU designs from ur posts. Worked very well...

Regards,

Junaid..


Junaid

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 8, 2011 at 12:41:47
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Great idea about the steps 1- 9! Also thought about this but as always the time are missing out on all. Propose those files that you and I have proposed to remove as separate steps too, for example, in the form of steps 3.5 and 4.5. It would be cool to take account of all the files to delete proposed by the other users.
Thanks again for your work.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 9, 2011 at 02:58:35
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Yes. That's exactly how I was able to maintain USB thumb drive functionality even after part 16... Also, xplite changes things quite a bit. I felt that the performance suffered a downside after the xplite stage, then re-gained a better balance at step 9 ( just a bit better, but still step 5 was the winner), & again kept on varying erratically all the way till part 16. Now I'm back to step 5 again & carefully observing where we missed out on what. Batch files makes this process a piece of cake. But I want to spend some time auditioning each step & pinning down ONLY those files that are eligible to be removed, I mean only those which are CPU INTENSIVE..
This way, one can maintain a perfect blend of Sonics along with ease of use. I haven't started on the remaining batches yet, as I'm exhausted with writing batch processes yesterday. I intend to start over tomorrow. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to step 5 again. I am quite certain that I will be skipping the Xplite step altogether. My initial impressions were right. Let me know what Ur findings are....

Junaid...

Junaid

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 9, 2011 at 06:42:17
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 I went up to #7 and didn't quite like it so I am back at #5. I am now at #5 post XPLite.

I thought I had lost the natural attack, decay, sustain, and release of each notes in the music.

When time permits I would like to try from #8 to #16 and see how that fare.

Thanks for all works you had done and let's know your findings.

Best Regards

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 9, 2011 at 06:58:33
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 U wrote "I went up to #7 and didn't quite like it so I am back at #5. I am now at #5 post XPLite."
Xplite comes after steppe 5. U mean u have gone one step before xplite right???
Im glad I have taken a backup of every single step before proceeding with another. So now I'm able to comfortably run steppe 5 which I liked. Post steppe 5 (after xplite ), I found the spectrum tilting one side or the other with every new set of deletions ( my assumption ). It never sounded good in one band without a downside at the other. The highs opened up at the cost of midbass dropping a notch. The bass became full at the cost of the upper mids getting laid-back more than they should. So I intend to start over from steppe 5 & proceed carefully. May be our findings are subjective as well. But this reminds me of a statement I heard once..."We build our systems to suit our tastes, not to satisfy the critics"..

Junaid

 

RE: BATCH FILES UPDATE..., posted on October 9, 2011 at 17:14:52
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 Yes, I just completed XPLite removal of components.

You could be right in your assumptions. I thought some steps favoured a certain frequencies over others too.

More listening required to ascertain these. Hope to find the time to do so.

Best Regards

 

BATCH FILES READY..., posted on October 10, 2011 at 03:39:03
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I have managed to create ALL the Batch files that were remaining. So Now i have the entire set of Batch Files (steppe 1 to steppe 16) ready. Was working on them Non-Stop since midnight, & finally finished a while ago. Now the only files that need to be made are the Reg files for the registry entries. I hope to get them done as well, soon...
At this stage, i feel my back is in two pieces & am unable to move my neck as well. But i intend to take a break ONLY after i finish the job i have taken up....

Junaid

 

ADVANCED COMPONENTS in XPLite, posted on October 10, 2011 at 08:16:11
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I hope I have got the name right. I know it had advanced in it and you engage it by clicking on the leftmost button where the "X" is at the top left of the window.

Quite a few additional components appear and I wonder if Serge used these and for that matter has anyone deleted these?



 

nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 10, 2011 at 08:24:19
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 After numerous attempts to get a good install disk of nLite over the weekend I thought I would give warning that if you want to go with the full STEPPE regimen you will likely find disappointment, as I did.

For all of the attractiveness of eliminating stuff at install, along with the magic of a fifteen minute install and the elimination of many optimization steps, it just will not allow all that is required.

If you go truly minimal, no AWE. If you go with a disk that allows AWE then you run into problems further down the line.

Gave up and just did it the old fashioned way.

Found that one MUST do XPLite when Serge said to because after ocmanage.dll and WBEM folder is deleted it won't work anymore. No big deal you just put them back in. It lets you know what is missing. It does not tell you one of the files it wants is in the WBEM folder. Good to have another machine around.

I did most of my XPLite after the cMP optimizations as an easy way to get WFP disabled and figured it would eliminate a few RED changes even though you still have to look for them just to be sure. I went too far with file and folder deleting before finishing up and found what I said above.

What a way to spend a beautiful weekend!


 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:46:07
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I went all the way to steppe 16 & was truly disappointed with the end result. So I backed out to steppe 5, which as I mentioned earlier, was the most Musical & Balanced overall. Xplite has caused a sure downside thereafter. No step after xplite can get that Balance corrected. Steppe 9 just makes it better of the worst.
I am now following the Xp slimming method by Bold Fortune after steppe 5, & it's in an entire different league altogether. The sound is of a different flavour. I can easily hear an IMPROVEMENT, not just a CHANGE, which the steps 5.5 to 16 did. It's Worth to the core!!! I have just applied the Part 1 of the Bold Fortune's route, & it sounds so seductive & Musical. Wish I had done this earlier.
Xplite.... A big NO !!!

Junaid

 

I think you are on to something, posted on October 10, 2011 at 14:27:22
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I was intrigued by this after RYELANDS made mention of it.

I sent the fellow some money and got the batch files so my new install will revolve around Serge's recommendations and BOLD FORTUNE's. Certainly cheaper than XPLite and his "stuff" has explanations of what it does.

I find many of the same files are deleted in both regimens.

I did not have a chance to listen to the XPLit modified installation long before it died but I know I felt I was missing some of the atmosphere I had heard before.

Thanks again for bringing this BACK to my, and our, attention.

This is an unending journey and that keeps it interesting.

 

RE: I think you are on to something, posted on October 10, 2011 at 14:49:50
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I don't understand why I get such a wonderful sound and you guys don't.

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 10, 2011 at 19:58:50
kclo
Audiophile

Posts: 68
Joined: August 21, 2010
 steppe 6 is very detail, but I found the sound thin, so I immediately went onto steppe 7 which restored some of the fullness but not much. And the bloom is gone. Reading your post I am now back to steppe 5 and relax.

I am very interested in your experience with BOLD-FORTUNE. Please keep posting.

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 10, 2011 at 23:35:46
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 >>>"I have just applied the Part 1 of the Bold Fortune's route,"

Did you just apply this part only:-Slimming Down Windows XP PART 1: Temp And Junk Files?

If you had created the batch files for this, would appreciate a copy from you.


Best Regards

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 11, 2011 at 00:45:01
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 My apologies. It was a typo. I meant to say I implemented just the Part 2 of Bold Fortune's xp slimming process. It's " Part2- Disabled services batch files".
This was what I did after restoring my cMp to steppe 5. One can easily sense how progressive the transformation gets from here. It does not alter the balance as xplite does.
I do not intend to move ahead with steppes 6 to 16 till I get done with the slimming process.... And I feel thereafter as well !!!

Junaid

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 11, 2011 at 01:17:09
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
Did you run the system32 Files Disabled Services.bat, and remove in one click, all 435 system32 files, for every Windows Service , or you only remove these Services individually, keeping some of them?

Regards

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 11, 2011 at 01:41:23
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 The Part I implemented consists of the following:-
1) disabling printers & faxes
2) terminating individual services (about 30 of them)
3) removing network connections
4) removing scanners & camera
5) removing schedule cast applet
4) removing 435 system32 files

These alone made a tremendous difference. The above mentioned is just one section of the slimming procedure. There are totally Nine sections in the slimming process.

Junaid

 

RE: I think you are on to something, posted on October 11, 2011 at 01:58:30
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Theob,
Im sure u do..!! As i said earlier, MAY BE its subjective. When one attains a stage where he feels that everything sounds Just the way he wants, then he sure has achieved his goal. But even after the huge ordeal of modifications, if one feels that "Something Somewhere is Just NOT Right", then it defeats his purpose. I presume we are of the latter category. Im glad your set-up sounds Good.
You said "I don't understand why I get such a wonderful sound and you guys don't". Its a big statement. You are lucky. I wish i could say that as well. But unfortunately not..
As i once mentioned in one of my posts, NO two systems, even though identical, can sound identical in different surroundings. Much is Boosted or Bucked by our Cabling, Speaker placement, Room Acoustics, Isolation Platforms, Room size, Listening tastes, etc etc...
Likewise, implementing the same set of steppes, may or may not yield a similar benefit. Its a sure possibility that it can sound as a downside as well. Which in our case, it has !!!!

Junaid

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 11, 2011 at 02:01:03
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 Thanks.

I have Part 2 to 10

2) and 4) are actually the same.

2) allows you a choice of what to delete.
4) is the option of deleting all the services in one go.

Did you delete everything or you kept some of the services?

Regards

 

RE: nLite and cMP and STEPPE, posted on October 11, 2011 at 02:05:00
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I Removed ALL the services in Part 2. In short, i did not omit anything from that Part. This was done after reverting back to steppe 5. I wanted to listen for a few days before i move on to Part 2. As it is, it sounds very promising....

Junaid

 

New tweaks and cmp regaining its honour, posted on October 11, 2011 at 02:40:04
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Hello, everybody. I am here today only for a short while. I have lost my cat and I am sorry that she didn't have an opportunity to listen to Diana Kall after tweaks part 19 and 20. She loved her voice, btw. I will post these tweaks shortly, but to do it, I have to switch in another hdd. No Notepad anymore. I'd like to point out that I initially suggested to change dvmt memory for 256 mb AND then to 128. I guess it works only for 1 gb memory. Also, if you would think the sound a little strained, don't be alarmed. After part 18-19 you will need less than 20 mb for windows. My windows folder is 79,5 mb and the sound is smooth like a calm after the storm. Even Alice Cooper is not a nightmare anymore. The step from 16 to 20 is really significant.
TO LYNX USERS and maybe for everybody. There is a dll called mfc20 or mfc 40. You won't miss it it's the only one with a name like this. IT IS necessary for changing Lynx mixer settings, but not for the sound, so don't delete it permanently. Also, after part 12-14 don't exactly know when, Lynx output will change to +4 dbv from -10 dbv (fit for consumer electronics) To reset it you need the abovementioned dll, that can be removed once you checked your driver.
Strange and illogical would be the things I propose in parts 17-20, but they seem to work. What You think is slightly too much now soundwise is a slight strain of the last effort to come.
Serge.

 

RE: New tweaks and cmp regaining its honour, posted on October 11, 2011 at 05:38:19
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Sorry to hear about your kitty. Take care. Remember all the life/joy she brought you. If you post her picture maybe we will all remember her too. I will listen to Diane Krall today in her memory.

 

Some experiments and a request, posted on October 11, 2011 at 09:04:38
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Since I am in the midst of trying to find the best foundation for my system I did an install yesterday with a mildly de-contented nLite install disk. It makes for a quick install and has WFP disabled.

I first installed chipset drivers, cMP, cPLAY, JULI@ and a few of the important cMP optimizations.

I went through and did all of the BF deletions. I did pick and choose serivces (and would appreciate knowing which ones you deleted).

Well, I lost CONTROL PANEL and the START button. If I hit the WINDOWS button the menu would appear but with most of the (few) items I had left on the menu still available. Luckily I could access WINDOWS EXPLORER and was able to engage cMP from there. And it still worked and played all night. My computer is not connected to the system so I have no idea what it sounds like. Wanted to get something stable before doing that because access to the computer is cramped when it is installed.

I know this doesn't tell us much but it is interesting.

Also, I am wondering if getting the best out of Serge's regimen is to use the LYNX card? Wish it was not so expensive. The fact that JULI@ seems to need more .dll's than the LYNX is intriguing.

 

RE: Some experiments and a request, posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:34:40
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 First of all I am unable to understand why do u need to install via nLite ?? Why can't u just do a clean install of xp & disable services according to the cMP website, take a back up & name it step 1. Thereafter u can proceed with whatever u want to. Now that batches 1 to 16 are ready, it's gonna take absolutely no time to work through till part 16 if u wish to.
As for my side, I'm doing a very very critical analysis of various combinations. And I'm very very happy with their outcome. One thing I understand now... There are no hard & fast rules !!! Something that may seem illogical ends up sounding way beyond u expect. Such is what's happening here :-)

Junaid

 

IDeep down inside I know you are right, posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:56:03
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Like I said I used the nLite disk just to bypass WFP and to see what would happen with doing all of BF's deletions.

And it loads so quickly.

SO tonight I put on my hair shirt and wait for WINDOWS to load and see what happens. (And grit my teeth while I slog through the WFP disabling)

By the way, I have not received the gift of your batch files containing 1 to 16. When you get the chance I would be most appreciative!

Thanks for your advice.

 

RE: IDeep down inside I know you are right, posted on October 11, 2011 at 11:03:05
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Oh is it?? I'm sorry. I dint know. Actually I get so many emails everyday for the batches that I don't remember to whom I sent or not. Check Ur email now...

Junaid

 

RE: Some experiments and a request, posted on October 11, 2011 at 11:48:58
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 I am unable to understand why do u need to install via nLite ??

Me neither. As I see it, the problem with programs like nLite and XPLite (although the latter is excellent for disabling WFP) is that they delete we know not what using rules we don't know to configure a system (cMP2) which the programs' authors know nothing about and probably wouldn't understand if they did.

Add to that the fact that, while the process of "slimming" XP is proving sonically very fruitful, no-one taking it forward, not even steppe who started it all by disabling a few codecs back in July and has done very fine work since, is quite sure why it's effective.

On top of that, users have different motherboards and soundcards. I, e.g., have two cMP2 systems, one running on a single-core Atom board, the other on a dual-core Atom one (both controlled via LAN). The boards use exactly the same drivers but a set of batch files that worked fine on one system gave me a "no boot" scenario on the other. Not sure why yet. Mihaylov's list of "network-safe" deletions was not safe on either even if I needed to reinstate only a couple of files.

I don't see any time soon a "royal road" to making this work though Jolida's current and impending batch files seem to offer a robust way of approaching things. It looks like being a slow, systematic process for almost all of us. With respect, neither nLite nor XPLite offers that.

Whatever, it's been fun has it not?

 

RE: Some experiments and a request, posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:11:32
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I too had used xplite initially, just to disable wfp. This was when I had started to set up my cMp, following instructions on the cics website. That's it. It did the job very well. But this time, when the same was used in the slimming down process, it proved highly disappointing.
Swapping over to steppe 5, & adopting the Bold Fortune route, was an eye opener. I'm glad things dint work out even after steppe 16, else cMp
Would have carried on with it's journey with a scar on it's face (xplite). No matter what we try to balance it with, it can only be partially masked like a make-up, but could never be healed. With the procedure I have followed now (involving three major steps), I feel I am almost done. Just a bit of fine tuning left. I do not know how the BF route is technically different from xplite. And I don't care to know as well. I'm just glad I'm enlightened at the right time, before things would have gone haywire...

Junaid

 

Batch 1 to 16 Network Versions, posted on October 12, 2011 at 02:19:40
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I have created an entire set of Batches from Steppe 1 to 16, for Network users of cMP. Thought it might be useful for those using Network functionality to have a seperate set for themselves.... I have already emailed it to users who had requested me for my previous Batches...

Edit:- How stupid of me. I made batches for all the steppes but forgot to create the ones for the two lists i had posted (Jolida1 & Jolida2) myself. Please excuse me for that. I just made batches for the two & added them to the archive. Please find attached sets of all the steppes including Jolida1 & Jolida2 in ur email...

Note that my two lists were implemented after Steppe 4 & before Steppe 5...

How forgetful can one be... :)

Junaid

 

REGISTRY MODS..., posted on October 12, 2011 at 06:17:21
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Since i have finished creating All the Batch Files for all Steppe's, Networking, & Jolida lists, the only thing left was moving on to the Registry. Trust Me...!! This is AS painful as doing the Batches. I am through with them, say just 20% of the work left. SO MUCH data involved in it as well. I have made all the Registry changes in One single file, which will execute them all at once. This way, the user need not intervene in the process. Gets done in a matter of say 3 seconds. But took 8 hours for me to write them :)
At this moment, im even unable to type. So exhausted. I think i sure need to take an X-ray of my neck. Im sure i have Batch modified its shape along with these files...

Junaid

 

Your pain in exchange for our ease ..., posted on October 12, 2011 at 07:27:16
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 the only thing we can offer is gratitude ... unless you can think of something more we offer in return!

Hope your neck starts feeling better soon.

Thanks for your gifts.

 

RE: Your pain in exchange for our ease ..., posted on October 12, 2011 at 07:38:56
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I just want us all to be content with the outcome of our cMP. It's upto all of us, as to how we put these batches to use with various combinations & achieve something which we will all cherish, for a long time to come...

Junaid

 

Try this.., posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:32:03
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Those who have gone past step 15, try restoring taskman.exe to the root drive & also everything back to the Win_sxs folder...
Also when going with the Bold Fortune route, be careful in it's Part 5, so as to not implement the win_sxs folder deletion & with taskman.exe.. I tried & it sucks out the ambience & body of the instruments !!

Junaid

 

RE: Try this.., posted on October 12, 2011 at 17:01:00
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 While admittedly skeptical about these recommendations (I tried restoring other files like wdmaud before and did not like) I tried them and yes they are directionally what you say. Adds body and and an aliveness that is not there without this restoration. I tried because I believe your dedication to sonics and although I did love Steppes 8-16 carte blanche its now better with these file restorations. Thank you Jolida!

 

RE: Your pain in exchange for our ease ..., posted on October 12, 2011 at 20:34:44
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
 A huge thank you from me as well. Your work makes it possible for us to experiment.
I ran your batch files for step 2 to 7 including the steps new steps after 4. I had missed quite a few files in my manual application. This brought back the air and texture that had been exchanged for detail in steps 9-16. I look forward to trying these next suggestions for fine tuning.

 

F I N A L L Y, posted on October 12, 2011 at 23:21:12
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Finally the job is done. I managed to finish the Registry as well. So now we have ALL the Tools ready to Review their impact on this project.
For those who want to start-over from scratch (the original cMP installation ), i suggest its about time u get handy with back-up tools like Acronis or Snapshot, so that if at a particular stage, u like the performance of a certain combination, its mandatory to Back it up, & then move ahead to the other sections. This makes less room for errors, since u can restore back to that exact state where things sounded best so far..!!
I have tried my best to edit entries in all these batches, so that USB thumb drive functionality is maintained even after part 16..
Move slow, & observe the changes. Just because one has all batches ready, usually is in a haste to jump to the next stage in minutes. Please try to avoid that, & give some time, NOT FOR BURN-IN, but to analyze what has changed, or 'WHETHER IT HAS CHANGED, OR IMPROVED..."
Once we are able to observe That Change from an Improvement, we cant go wrong..


Junaid

 

RE: Try this.., posted on October 13, 2011 at 00:15:11
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Theob,
We have no idea how many files, mindlessly removed, have contributed to what... Seems like we still have a long way to go, unless we go back ten steps & do the same but in increments. I mean not each steppe fully, but by slicing each step into sub-divisions, so as to maintain our focus on the sonical differences it makes...
Thats exactly why i jumped back to step 5, because its superiority over the other steps was apparent, when i proceeded thereafter. I am following a different route from that point & trust me, Its Worth it..!!!

Junaid

 

Has anyone used both the LYNX and JULI@ cards?, posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:59:44
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I have been happy with JULI@ but I have not heard anything else.

I like the fact I can access the I2S signals and have been using K&K AUDIO's version of the PSAudio system to take the signal from card to DAC.

I have soldered caps to the SMD pads on JULI@ and they are starting to fatigue after having to re-solder a few times.

Is there a compelling reason to replace this?

I like the fact that JULI@ is inexpensive enough to play around with. I scrapped the contact material from the "pins" so I can power it externaly but wonder if I would have the same bravado to do this to a six hundred dollars device.

So, I know I am asking the near impossible question - would a LYNX card be better than an optimized JULI@ setup. If anyone with a LYNX responds I would be curious to know if you have made any mods to the precious thing!

STEPPE using this card has got me thikning. Along with the fact that the LYNX needs fewer files to work compared to JULI@. One wonders if "we" (JULI@ users) are hearing what he is hearing?

Any comments are appreciated.

 

Gods bless your hard work, posted on October 13, 2011 at 15:37:52
audiodan@tiscali.it
Audiophile

Posts: 108
Location: Cagliari - Sardinia
Joined: July 7, 2009
 Hi Jumaid
you are a great man!
A lot of GRAZIE for your fantastic job, you are un example for all forumers.
Your batch files works properly and FAST! Now it will be easy to find best solution for everyone, in term of best step to stop.
I've deleted step 12, very disappointing, and I'm come back to step 7.
I've found that keeping msacm32.dll this improve SQ a lot and allows an excellent tonal balance. Very pleasant sound.
Thx again
Daniele
PS if possible send to me the regedit batch, please....

 

In defense of the Juli@... and what looks to be the best currently available alternative, posted on October 13, 2011 at 17:50:50
GStew
Audiophile

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

I can't answer your question of whether the Lynx would be better than an optimized Juli@. But I've been looking at the Juli@ again over the last couple of weeks with an eye to what is right about it and what can be improved. And I'm looking at what the next level of upgrades and modifications might look like.

For the the Juli@'s positives attributes, we have the following:

1. It looks to be designed pretty well, with a multi-layer circuit board and even stock, a fairly sophisticated power regulation and bypassing scheme. An example of this is how it is designed to work and sound good even though it's intended to be powered by the computer power supply via the computer motherboard power rails. That it works as well as it does in this environment means the designers did SOMETHING right!

2. It does provide a lot of flexability in being able to output I2S and SPDIF, along with being usable via it's analog outputs (in a pinch).

3. It can be modified fairly easily for better performance.

4. It is sufficiently inexpensive that one doesn't feel too bad taking the risk of killing the card while modifying.

5. And as a bonus, you have the K&K I2S interface which allows you to bring the I2S out of the computer and connect to a remote DAC. I'm not sure how well it compares to a short cable (<3") and a close DAC (an option not available for most), but I have a lot of respect for the K&K guys (and the PS Audio ones too) and know that they wouldn't put it out if it was bad.


But the Juli@ does have the following drawbacks:

1. It does a lot of things not needed if you are using it only for an computer-to-DAC interface, especially if you are using the I2S bus. This means you have components that you don't need that are potentially degrading the signal quality and is true both for the hardware and the driver software. It DOES help that you can remove the analog card and it's devices.... too bad you can't do the same for the driver processing associated with the analog output.

2. PCI looks to be end-of-life, as you found with the latest motherboards either not having a PCI slot or using a PCI-e to PCI bridge (which HAS to be bad for SQ).

I think that the Steppe & Jolida Windows Slimmings do some positive things to reduce the extraneous processing in the Juli@ (or any sound card) processing stream. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT that you'd be able to run the Juli@ Control Panel after you've gotten very far down the Windows slim-down path.

I also think that the mods that I and others have posted for the Juli@ digital section go a significant way in reducing the impact of the excess complexity AND also the impact of it being a sound card powered by the computer's power supply via the computer motherboard rails.

What I'm working towards right now are a further set of mods that can take the Juli@ a few notches better, building on the ones I've generally done in the past and the clock mods shown by Mihaylov.

I'll be starting a sub-thread over in the cMP thread about this soon.

But finally Rick, after saying all of this, if you are looking for the best available alternative today to getting an I2S stream out of the computer, look at an EXAU21. Reviews have been very positive (including a couple comparing it to somewhat-modified Juli@) and it costs $430 CDN, significantly less than the Lynx. AND being a USB interface, it won't have the PCI end-of-life problem. AND since it is designed to ONLY produce an I2S datastream coming out of the computer, it starts with a lot less extraneous complexity that can impact the SQ. And it will need less work than either a Juli@ or a Lynx to serve it's best in that role.

And I almost forgot to mention that the EXAU21 provides galvanic isolation between the computer and the DAC (and I don't believe the K&K I2S interface does this... NOTE that I was not correct on this, while the K&K interface does not provide isolation, the K&K RAKK DAC does have isolation at its I2S inputs. This is important as this is the DAC Rick uses).

Also, since it mounts at the end of a USB cable, it provides another way to bring the I2S to a remote DAC.

These are two more important benefits of the device.

The positive comments about this new interface are what have prompted me to take a closer look at how to get the best out of the Juli@.

This is probably more like $2.37 instead of my $0.02.

Greg in Mississippi
Everything matters!

 

RE: In defense of the Juli@... and what looks to be the best currently available alternative, posted on October 13, 2011 at 18:09:34
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Great analyses of the juli@. You bring up a real good point about pci as we go forward. I had been toying with the exau21 idea as a substitute for juli@ based on the great customer reviews on DIYaudio. You make a strong case for the exau21 vs another pci soundcard. One minor point though is I have gone pretty much Steppe 1-16 and I can still access the juli@ control panel fyi. What is the K&K I2S interface ?

 

The K&K I2S Interface..., posted on October 13, 2011 at 18:28:18
GStew
Audiophile

Posts: 633
Location: NE Mississippi
Joined: September 21, 2001
 Thanks Theob.

The K&K I2S interface is a couple of small circuit cards that transmits and receives the I2S signal across an HDMI cable. K&K Audio makes it (they also make the DAC that Rick McI uses). You can get more info in these threads:

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=kandk&m=8778

and

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=kandk&m=8609

and

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=kandk&m=8522

BTW, I forgot to mention the galvanic isolation between the computer and the DAC provided by the EXAU21 and also it's inherent ability (using the USB cable) to bring the I2S to a remote DAC... two other important benefits. I'll update my post above with these.

Later!

Greg in Mississippi
Everything matters!

 

RE: Try this.., posted on October 13, 2011 at 19:40:30
wlowes
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 18, 2009
 Junaid
Must agree. Restoring the WinSxS folders brings texture to instruments. I find it more emotionally involving. My toe is taping.

 

RE: The K&K I2S Interface..., posted on October 14, 2011 at 02:40:24
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Thanks I also saw your other post.

 

RE: Has anyone used both the LYNX and JULI@ cards?, posted on October 14, 2011 at 02:50:26
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I don't think anybody else has as much knowledge & expertise in all sections of cMP hardware, like Gstew. He knows his work, & we can close our eyes & follow his mods, no questions asked. His work is a masterpiece...

Junaid

 

You think one is better off with SPDIF?, posted on October 14, 2011 at 07:55:45
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Thanks for the help.

I have not compared the two though it would be easy enough.

As soon as I get something working I find myself more interested in listening than playing further.

Have you tried using JULI@ without CONTROLLER installed? That would be useful since it is totally useless when one is using the LUCY Latency thing.

Knowing how Dave has incorporated galvanic isolation with the SPDIF input I would be surprised if the HDMI approach does not offer this also, but I have no idea. I will ask him.

I started out with USB and found JULI@ a revelation so I am hesitant to go back to USB. If someone I trust says it is great, THEN that's another story; I am not going to give it a try until then.

My JULI@ sounds fine for the moment. I worry about its future. The price cannot be beat. I see them now for $125.00. I think I paid more for my first one.

 

RE: You think one is better off with SPDIF?, posted on October 14, 2011 at 08:42:13
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Happy you are back into music...what Steppe are you at? I had been using I2S (for about a year) but went back to spdif which I prefer. However I'm sure my I2S implementation was not the best.

 

Last night - after troo weeks!!!, posted on October 14, 2011 at 09:15:20
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I kept screwing around with "cleverness" and then took Junaid's advice and did it the old fashioned way.

Listening to STEPPE 5 last night to get a baseline and tonight I will go further.

Yes, I do think the implementation of I2S you were using was dicey.

I am intrigued by "losing" CONTROLLER. I guess I could give it a try but if Greg has already done the experiment ... I am a little shy of experimentation at the moment!

I wonder if SOUND requires setupapi.dll? If not, and doing without CONTROLLER works, then it would be good to be able to delete setupapi.dll.

I am assuming you had to put that one back, too, to get your system to work?

Let me know.

Bye,

 

RE: Last night - after troo weeks!!!, posted on October 14, 2011 at 09:55:58
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 So u made a fresh installation of xp, made all optimisations as per cics website, & implemented the batch files getting to steppe 5 ?? I hope u went in this order :-
1. Optimised cMP
2. Steppe2
3. Steppe 3
4. Steppe 4
5. Jolida1
6. Jolida 2
7. Steppe 5...

Is that right ??

Junaid

 

Probably ... but ..., posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:47:05
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 do you think it would make any difference?

I finally made an image of the cMP Optimized WINDOWS! I will make another of this STEPPE 5 version tonight before going further.

First I deleted the folders you have in Step 1!

Seems to me as long as deletions and registry changes are close to each other it would not make much difference.

Consider xmiprovi which you deleted early on and STEPPE delete almost at the end of his published recommendations AND looking at the files deleted with Serge's and your recommendations compared to BOLD FORTUNE who recommends deleting many of these same files all at once.

Just curious why you think the order, at the beginning, has importance. Towards the end I would tend to agree there is some merit. Just an instinctual assumption. I have no real idea one way or the other!

How far have you proceeded with BF? Have you deleted further files after STEPPE 5?

THANKS!


 

RE: Probably ... but ..., posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:00:18
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Well well... I'm in a moment of shock at the moment. Did something that made me realise how deceiving a human notion can get. If I post it here, it would raise a debate, because it's way beyond our expectation. But it's an eye-opener & a wake up call that displays a message that reads " My friend, u r a human, & u r bound to get carried away"...
I know what I've written above would puzzle u as well as others who read this post. But it's about time we get to reality.
In the meantime, I suggest u stick on to step 5, as u already have. I will keep u posted !!

Junaid

 

RE: Last night - after troo weeks!!!, posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:23:54
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 You said: '...I am intrigued by "losing" CONTROLLER. I guess I could give it a try but if Greg has already done the experiment ... I am a little shy of experimentation at the moment!...'

What Controller are you talking about?

You said: '... wonder if SOUND requires setupapi.dll? If not, and doing without CONTROLLER works, then it would be good to be able to delete setupapi.dll.

I am assuming you had to put that one back, too, to get your system to work?...'

I have put setupapi back in yes. I have left Sound and wdmaud.drv out. But wmdaud.sys is in. I believe it sounds better with this combination ims.

 

RE: Probably ... but ..., posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:34:19
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Do tell.

 

Is it something I said? (to quote Frank Zappa), posted on October 14, 2011 at 13:39:09
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I hope I did not say something offensive.

I cannot tell if you are having fun or being serious OR not really responding to my post at all O R have come across something close to "mind-blowing".

Talk about cryptic!

I will try to patiently wait for the explanation.

In the meantime I will make an image of FIVE and play with BF tonight.

 

RE: You think one is better off with SPDIF?, posted on October 14, 2011 at 20:02:11
GStew
Audiophile

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

Sorry, I think I gave two wrong impressions.

First, I do think I2S is the better way to connect to a Juli@ as long as you do it right... either a short connection or using K&K's setup as you are. SPDIF has to go through additional devices and processing to get out of the Juli@ & of course, goes through a conversion back to I2S at the input of most DACs.

I do agree with you that Theob's I2S setup was likely not optimal.

Second, I was only assuming that the Juli@ Control Panel would not run after one got far enough into the Steppe Windows Slimming-down... and Theob corrected me in that he has gotten through Steppe 16 and still could access the Juli@ Control Panel.

Then on galvanic isolation with the K&K I2S connection, while the connection circuits are NOT isolated, the RAKK DAC's I2S input IS. This is from pages 6&7 of the manual... and it has some additional grounding/isolation information that might be useful, but that I need to digest. I do intend to try isolation on my I2S lines at some point, but I plan to work other areas first including doing additional filtering on the motherboard (Ala JackWong) to reduce the need for that isolation.

And that your setup already has galvanic isolation on the I2S lines MAY mean that you are already getting better sound quality using the Juli@ than the rest of us with lesser DACs.

Finally, while I instinctively like PCI over USB as an interface, I believe that any number of recent USB interfaces, especially with some modifications, will work well. And as at least two people have commented, they found the EXAU21 a significant improvement over their modified Juli@ cards. I still think that the Juli@ can be raised to that level. But I can't discount their impressions.

(And for a very informative set of comments about the relative benefits of different interfaces for getting music out of a computer, read John Swenson's comments in this thread: http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=pcaudio&m=90268. If it doesn't make your head hurt, you are either much smarter than all the rest of us like John appears to be or you just didn't read it closely enough!)

Later!

Greg in Mississippi
Everything matters!

 

RE: Try this.., posted on October 15, 2011 at 06:42:02
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 Taskman.exe appear again in BF Part 10:Listed Alphabetically.bat file so watch out for it there.

There is a REGEDT32.EXE in BF Batch Files\PART 10 Individual system32 Files Batch Files\Individual PART 10 Batch Files\Various Windows Applications.bat.

System would always boot to XP and not into cMP even when the option Start cMP is chosen if this file is deleted.

 

RE: Try this.., posted on October 15, 2011 at 06:45:54
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 :)

Junaid

 

New tweaks part 21, posted on October 15, 2011 at 06:49:35
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Hello, everybody. This is tweaks part 21 and this is the first illogical and strange thing that I promised. Initially it was intended as a tail-end to part 20 but with the possibilities it had opened, I thought I should post it before, especially as it is large and significant enough to be an independent tweaks part. Also I feel that some inmates are becoming restless and possibly bored with part after part of just removing files without a “BIG” advance. Really, inmates, you are wrong because removing those files you are cleaning the ground for future tweaks (17-20). Yes, I know that from part 12 it may sound sometimes slightly grainy. Also I know that some instruments are shifting places – this is because processor and memory are getting less and less things to do and there is less and less electrical phase shift (you may laugh at this explanation, but remember that Cics implemented the phase shift button in the player. He is a far-sighted person and he knew what he was doing), but again I want to reassure that all grain will settle down with the soundscape becoming very clean and smooth.
Now the tweaks part 21. It’s all about BIOS. Not very dangerous, but be attentive and prepare a small screwdriver or the white jumper to shorten the cmos pins if the things go suddenly wrong.
They won’t IF YOU ARE CAREFULL!
Switch off your CMP machine if it is working. Reboot and enter the BIOS setup. If you have GAG31ms2l or, like me, have GA-H55M-UD2H mobo you have a wonderful capability to save bios profiles and load them without any trouble. F11 and F12 buttons serve to do it. So you have entered bios from the state of cmos that you usually listen to your music at. It works rock solid, I presume, so SAVE it now pressing button F11 an name it CMP 001. Exit Save utility and enter PC HEALTH STATUS, find there CPU SMART FAN CONTROL. Enable it and enter CPU smart fan mode. Set the mode to VOLTAGE. Get back to CPU SMART FAN CONTROL and disable it. Below, blued out should remain voltage. Exit PC Health Status.
Next Go to MOBO Intelligent tweaking M.I.T. (on the top). Enter and enter Advanced Frequency Settings (second from the top). Find third from the top Advanced CPU Core settings. Enter it and change all AUTO values to DISABLED. This will look like core 1, Multithreading - enabled, all other 5 settings DISABLED, not Auto. Mark for yourself C3/C6 state support and CPU Enhanced halt. You will possibly play with them later. Now exit Advanced CPU Core settings, exit Advanced Frequency settings and go to Advanced Voltage settings. My cpu (540) has an in-built graphics core. Hope yours has also. Enter Graphics Core menu and set voltage to 0,650. Press F10, Save, exit Bios, the system will start to reboot, enter bios again set graphics core voltage to 0,625. Save, exit bios and after that let the system completely reboot, but don’t listen to the music. Tell windows to shutdown-restart and enter bios setup again. Enter MOBO Intelligent tweaking M.I.T. - Advanced Voltage settings. With graphics core voltage reduced to 0,625, enter CPU Vcore end set the voltage to 0,68125. Save and exit and enter bios again and so on, set vcore voltage to 0,66875. Save, exit (I hope your system starts, mine does.) enter bios and press F11. Save current settings as cmp super (or cmp 002), exit save utility and back to M.I.T.. Set Graphics Core voltage (don’t mix things) to 0,612, Save and exit, enter bios, set Vcore voltage to 0,65625. Don't change the order of lowering down the voltages! Don’t attempt to go lower with voltages of both Vcore and Graphics Core. DURING ALL THESE TWEAKS YOU SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN!!! Save the bios values as CMP extreme or cmp003 and now go to M.I.T. Advanced Memory Settings. Set DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) to Expert. And now go to Channel A Timings. Here we tweak timings of our memory as follows:
This is the table of timings and how I changed them (a dash instead of a value means that I didn’t change the value in this time. Dash between values serves to separate restarts (about 8 steps) but not complete reboots) Save by pressing F11 to cmp extreme 2 (cmp003) often and restart but enter bios and go on.
TRAS 11 - 10 – 8- - - 7
TRRD 2
TWTP 14 – 12 – 10 – 9 – 8 – 7
TRFC 34 – 30 – 29 – 25 – 20 - 20 – 17 – 14
Static TRD - - - - - - - 5
TFAW - - - -7
TRC- - 11 - - - 8
TWR - - 9 - -6 - - 3
You Don’t need to follow this table exactly, but I recommend to follow it more or less.
This is not all. After You have achieved final values, saved as cmp extreme 2 (cmp003), you should know, that the system wont reboot from the “cold start” with these values. So reboot and listen to the music. Let the system burn in for 2 hours. Before attempting to shut down ALWAYS RESTART and ENTER BIOS SETUP. Switching the machine on should start with rock solid settings and only after 5 minutes of playback reboot to cmp extreme and after 15 minutes more to extreme 2. Otherwise the system will fail to start. Press F12 and load CMP001 (your rock solid values). Reboot and then shutdown completely. I Know it is a lot of trouble, but it is worth it. Technically it is like a soft on and soft off with big power amplifiers.
Serge.
P.S. The promised parts 17-20 are soon to be posted. I simply want to finish with Windows in part 20, but not yet sure how.

 

RE: New tweaks part 21, posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:56:05
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Aren't you saying in effect ...just lower voltages as much as possible while still maintaining stability? For those of us with e7200 intel cpu/gigabyte mobo's ... most of are there allready.

 

RE: New tweaks part 21, posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:17:52
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

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

Appreciate the effort and all the hard work. But if you are going to take us down this path, could you at least throw us a bone and include a screen shot or 2?

I THINK I get what you are saying about the memory timings, but that chart is a bit confusing. And it might help those of us who have different bios settings as each mobo is slightly different. For instance your "all other 5 settings DISABLED, not Auto" might be confusing. What if we have 4 or 6 in our bios. It would be nice to see exactly what those are called so we could account for off recipe hardware.

Please take this as constructive criticism and not any kind of detraction from your incredible work.




Cut to razor sounding violins

 

'U' T U R N, posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:56:01
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Ever since I got to step 5, it reminded me as to how deceptive changes could get. I was lucky to have taken a back up at this stage, so that it's state could be exactly revertible. Going all the way to steppe 16 was most definitely, undeniably, an enthusiastic experience, even though it was an ordeal to almost all of us to have reached till there. With innumerable file deletions, settings & registry mods, the sonic balance did change to a very great extent, later to realise that it was more of a tilt than an overall improvement. At a certain stage (steppe 5.5, if I'm not wrong), the emphasis was more towards bringing the 'Air' out of the music. Each step thereafter brought about more n more transparency, more ambience & as I would say 'moisture' in the presentation. Agreed..!!
   But.. !! As each steppe was done, & heard, we perceived a change, which had a sense of 'something new'. And it was said that each steppe be given some time for the so-called 'burn-in', which in another aspect made us Get Used to that new sound, thereby over-writing the sonic registrations which we previously had in our ears about our familiar music. This happens a lot to any of us. Atleast it has happened to me, inspite of trying to be careful. 
    After xplite, things started to change directionally. It was, as mentioned above, given Most emphasis on Air & Transparency. This Open sound was initially appealing, but started to show the downside it brought as steppes progressed, getting very Analytical by steppe 16. 
   I had always liked Steppe 5, amongst all the steppes starting from steppe 2 to steppe 16. So I decided to swap over to steppe 5 to cross-check if I was right. And Yes, it was ( atleast according to me).. Listening to steppe 5 for two days, & trying with the Bold Fortune route definitely gave a Plus. It was atleast not as bad as what xplite did. The sound was warmer, yet open. And the best combo was steppe 5 with The part 2 of BF. With Part 3, the bass was different. 
    All along this way, for about one full month, ever since I has started off with deletions, I was listening to a certain set of Music Albums. It was yesterday, when i felt bored listening to the same music all along, that I wanted to pop in another album which had been quite a while since I heard. 
   Very surprisingly, I felt many sections Missing in the presentation.  This was alarming. It was at this point that I felt something somewhere has been lost, altogether. 
   And there came this time, when I restored our Original Optimised cMP with b38... The one we had set-up as per cics recommendations. And what more could I tell myself other than "what have I done..!!! 
   The qualities of the original optimised cMp had their own class. The IMPACT in the bass, the SCALE of the piano, the ATTACK  in the drums, the BLEND in the vocals, the DELICACY in the treble, has totally been compromised along this route of Software-level mods. The FULLNESS in the mids is totally gone past the initial Steppes.   The only downside I could sense in this stage was a little boost in the Upper midrange & a little Upper bass. If just these two aspects get rectified, the whole spectrum will balance itself & the Air which is now veiled by the above two things, would automatically be released. 
   I mean how could we lose that Bone & Muscle just to get some ambience & transparency. The foundation itself is wronged here. 
   I initially did not want to post this, because it might directly or indirectly offend the hard-work Serge has put into all this. Two thumbs up for him. Hats off to his dedication in this project. It's actually not him who is to be blamed. He did it for himself & posted to make others benefit out of it, which is a good thing. But somewhere it went out of track... May happen to any of us..
    I don't expect anyone reading this post to agree with me. I know that Most of u will certainly disagree with my findings here. But whatever I have mentioned above, are my own personal observations. 
    So summing it up all, I intend to spend some time with the original Optimised cMp, & figure out a line of progressive implementations, that will give the best of everything. 
    This post has become quite long. That's all for now...
  Thanks for reading...

Junaid

 

My Tweak, posted on October 15, 2011 at 22:26:29
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 I want to offer the tweak in addition to the Steppe's tweaks.
My Tweak for COMPLETE/FINISHED system in which nothing should change. The idea is to make the fullest possible delete all that is not required for audio playback.
The size of the folder Windows became equal 58.3 MB. The sound is detailed and smooth. The mode Start cMP is used only. I don't use the mouse and the keyboards. I don't use any usb devices. I use english and russian fonts.
I shall explain that I remove files and folders from the system drive of cMP2 using another operating system from the external hard drive. Thus you can always get access to the file system of the cMP2.

It is necessary to remove following files and folders.
From the directory C and subfolders:
3com_dmi
1025
1028
1031
1033
1037
1041
1042
1054
2052
3076
Common Files
dhcp
Documents and Settings
DRVSTORE
export
IME
inetsrv
ras
Restore

From the folder Windows:
0.log
cmsetacl.log
comsetup.log
control.ini
desktop.ini
DtcInstall.log
EventSystem.log
explorer.exe
FaxSetup.log
GSetup.exe
GSetup.ini
iis6.log
imsins.BAK
imsins.log
NOTEPAD.EXE
MedCtrOC.log
msgsocm.log
msmqinst.log
netfxocm.log
ntbtlog.txt
ntdtcsetup.log
ocgen.log
ocmsn.log
OEWABLog.txt
regedit.exe
REGLOCS.OLD
regopt.log
SchedLgU.Txt
sessmgr.setup.log
SET3.tmp
SET4.tmp
SET8.tmp
SET25.tmp
setupact.log
setuperr.log
setuplog.txt
Sti_Trace.log
system.ini
tabletoc.log
tsoc.log
wiadebug.log
wiaservc.log
win.ini
WindowsShell.Manifest
WindowsUpdate.log
winhelp.exe
winnt.bmp
winnt256.bmp
wmprfRUS.prx
wmsetup.log

addins
AppPatch
Config
Connection Wizard
Debug
explorer
help
ime
Installer
java
msapps
pchealth
PIF
Registration
srchasst
Temp

From the folder system:
COMMDLG.DLL
IsUninst.exe
MCISEQ.DRV
MMSYSTEM.DLL
MOUSE.DRV
setup.inf
SYSTEM.DRV
VGA.DRV
WFWNET.DRV

From the folder system32 (be careful with the files *.nls):
acledit.dll
activeds.dll
adsldp.dll
adsmsext.dll
adsnds.dll
adsnw.dll
alrsvc.dll
appmgmts.dll
appmgr.dll
bitsprx2.dll
bitsprx3.dll
browser.dll
browseui.dll
c_037.nls
c_437.nls (don't remove for English Windows)
c_500.nls
c_737.nls
c_775.nls
c_850.nls
c_852.nls
c_855.nls
c_857.nls
c_860.nls
c_861.nls
c_863.nls
c_865.nls
c_869.nls
c_874.nls
c_875.nls
c_932.nls
c_936.nls
c_949.nls
c_950.nls
c_1026.nls
c_1250.nls
c_1253.nls
c_1254.nls
c_1255.nls
c_1256.nls
c_1257.nls (don't remove for English Windows)
c_1258.nls
c_10000.nls
c_10006.nls
c_10007.nls
c_10010.nls
c_10017.nls
c_10029.nls
c_10079.nls
c_10081.nls
c_10082.nls
c_20127.nls
c_20261.nls
c_20866.nls
c_20905.nls
c_21866.nls
c_28591.nls
c_28592.nls
c_28593.nls
C_28594.NLS
C_28595.NLS
C_28597.NLS
c_28598.nls
c_28599.nls
c_28603.nls
c_28605.nls
catsrv.dll
catsrvps.dll
catsrvut.dll
cdmodem.dll
certmgr.msc
cfgbkend.dll
cfgmgr32.dll
clbcatex.dll
cmprops.dll
colbact.dll
comaddin.dll
comrepl.dll
comsnap.dll
comsvcs.dll
comuid.dll
credui.dll
cryptui.dll
CSVer.dll
davclnt.dll
desk.cpl
deskadp.dll
dgsetup.dll
difxapi.dll
dmboot.sys
dsquery.dll
dsprop.dll
ersvc.dll
es.dll
eula.txt
eventvwr.msc
fdeploy.dll
fs_rec.sys
hid.dll
hidserv.dll
iasacct.dll
iasads.dll
iashlpr.dll
iasnap.dll
iaspolcy.dll
iasrad.dll
iasrecst.dll
iassam.dll
iassdo.dll
iassvcs.dll
icaapi.dll
instcat.sql
ipmontr.dll
ipnathlp.dll
iprtprio.dll
ipxmontr.dll
ipxpromn.dll
ipxrtmgr.dll
ipxsap.dll
ipxwan.dll
jsru.dll
licwmi.dll
lmhsvc.dll
localui.dll
logonui.exe
main.cpl
mfc40loc.dll
mfc42loc.dll
mmfutil.dll
mprdim.dll
mprmsg.dll
mprui.dll
mqad.dll
mqcertui.dll
mqdscli.dll
mqgentr.dll
mqise.dll
mqlogmgr.dll
mqoa.dll
mqperf.dll
mqqm.dll
mqrt.dll
mqrtdep.dll
mqsnap.dll
mqtrig.dll
mqupgrd.dll
mouse.drv
mqbkup.exe
mqsvc.exe
msdtclog.dll
msdtcprx.dll
msdtctm.dll
msdtcuiu.dll
msgsvc.dll
msi.dll
msiexec.exe
msimg32.dll
msltus40.dll
msports.dll
msratelc.dll
mstlsapi.dll
mstsc.exe
mstscax.dll
mtxclu.dll
mtxdm.dll
mtxex.dll
mtxlegih.dll
mtxoci.dll
newdev.dll
notepad.exe
ntkrnlpa.exe
nwapi32.dll
olecli32.dll
olesvr32.dll
olethk32.dll
perfts.dll
printui.dll
psnppagn.dll
qmgr.dll
qmgrprxy.dll
rasadhlp.dll
rasapi32.dll
raschap.dll
rasdlg.dll
rasmxs.dll
rasphone.exe
rasppp.dll
rassapi.dll
rastapi.dll
rastls.dll
rdchost.dll
rdpcfgex.dll
rdpclip.exe
rdpwsx.dll
rdsaddin.exe
rdshost.exe
reg.exe
remotepg.dll
rpcns4.dll
rpcss.dll
rsfsaps.dll
rshx32.dll
rsmps.dll
rtm.dll
RtNicProp32.dll
RTNUninst32.dll
runas.exe
sclgntfy.dll
scoru.dll
scrrnru.dll
seclogon.dll
security.dll
sens.dll
sensapi.dll
senscfg.dll
servdeps.dll
sethc.exe
setup.bmp
sfmapi.dll
shdocvw.dll
spmsg.dll
spoolss.dll
spxcoins.dll
srclient.dll
srrstr.dll
srsvc.dll
srvsvc.dll
stclient.dll
sti.dll
sti_ci.dll
strmfilt.dll
system.drv
taskkill.exe
tcpmib.dll
tcpmonui.dll
termmgr.dll
termsrv.dll
trkwks.dll
tsappcmp.dll
tscfgwmi.dll
tscupgrd.exe
tsddd.dll
txflog.dll
umdmxfrm.dll
unimdmat.dll
uniplat.dll
untfs.dll
url.dll
user.exe
userinit.exe
utildll.dll
uxtheme.dll
vbsru.dll
vdmdbg.dll
vdmredir.dll
vga.dll
vga.drv
vssapi.dll
vwipxspx.dll
w32tm.exe
w3ssl.dll
webclnt.dll
wdmaud.drv
wiadefui.dll
wiadss.dll
wiascr.dll
wiaservc.dll
wiashext.dll
wininet.dll
winlogon.exe.bak
wmimgmt.msc
wshatm.dll
wshbth.dll
wshru.dll
xolehlp.dll

CatRoot
CatRoot2
Com
ias
Microsoft
MsDtc
ShellExt
spool
wins
xircom

From the folder drivers:
acpiec.sys
AppleCharger.sys
dmboot.sys
dmio.sys
dmload.sys
drmk.sys
drmkaud.sys
enum1394.sys
fs_rec.sys
HECI.sys
hidusb.sys
hidclass.sys
hidparse.sys
i8042prt.sys
imapi.sys
keyboard.sys
mcd.sys
mnmdd.sys
mouclass.sys
mouhid.sys
mssmbios.sys
ndisuio.sys
ndistapi.sys
portcls.sys
rdpcdd.sys
rdpwd.sys
secdrv.sys
sr.sys
tcpip6.sys
tdpipe.sys
tdtcp.sys
tunmp.sys
udfs.sys

From the folder WinSxS:
x86_Microsoft.Tools.VisualCPlusPlus.Runtime-Libraries.Resources_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_ru-RU_b372f0f
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_x-ww_1382d70a
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_x-ww_468466a7
x86_Microsoft.Tools.VisualCPlusPlus.Runtime-Libraries.Resources_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_ru-RU_b372f0f9.cat
x86_Microsoft.Tools.VisualCPlusPlus.Runtime-Libraries.Resources_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_ru-RU_b372f0f9.Manifest
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_x-ww_1382d70a.cat
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_x-ww_1382d70a.Manifest
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_x-ww_468466a7.cat
x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_x-ww_468466a7.Manifest

From the folder Fonts It is necessary to remove all files of that are specified on a screenshot (instead of Russian fonts with letter "r" probably it is necessary to leave yours):



Launch the program Autoruns and delete records in the registry for missing files ("Files not found").

Now the system folder Windows is looked so:







See all screenshots below.


Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: 'U' T U R N, posted on October 15, 2011 at 22:32:38
kclo
Audiophile

Posts: 68
Joined: August 21, 2010
 The night before reading your post, I was listening to Van Morrison's "Too Late To Stop Now" (Remastered) and was very unhappy with the sound, no bass, too thin, and the human voice too artificial. Another bad remastered disc, thought I.

Then the next morning I saw your post and since I was never totally happy with any tweaks after 4.5 (steppe 4 + your first batch) I decided to go back to it. However, I discovered that I had deleted that partition image for lack of space! The latest version that I had was steppe 5.5 (steppe # 5 up to step (j)) so I restored that. Comparing steppe # 5 complete and partial (up to step j) is very educational. Yes, the partial brings the bass back, so is the bloom of a natural soundstage, and the human voice is human again. While the complete #5 has a very 'clean' sound, an expanded soundstage (quite intoxicating), tight but thin bass, and an edginess to the human voice.

Yes, the transition to artificiality begins with steppe 5.5.

KC

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 04:19:58
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Serge do you know which files/folders may be associated with keyboard, mouse, usb and monitor? Some may be easy to identify (for example the phrase 'mouse', 'keyboard' or 'vga' in the name). But others are not.

 

Three questions, posted on October 16, 2011 at 06:15:14
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 1. I cannot make out for sure what you are recommending with "From the folder Fonts It is necessary to remove all files of that are specified on a screenshot (instead of Russian fonts with letter "r" probably it is necessary to leave yours): " Do you mean: remove fonts in this screenshot except for ones with an "r"? English ones like the ones with "r" except for the "r"? or are these the ones you say to leave? Is it only the ones with "r" at the end or also marlett and micross?

2. My Weiss driver for DAC202 seems to degrade over time and need reinstall periodically. I gather that would not be possible after this tweak amd thus make this unworkable for me (save replacing the entire partition when that is the case). Or am I wrong?

3. You say it sounds "detailed and smooth" but don't say you feel it is a significant improvement or how much of one you find it to be. Comment?

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 08:29:03
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Hi Theo!
Perhaps the files mouse.drv, mouhid.sys and mouclass.sys are associated with the mouse, and the file keyboard.sys isassociated with a keyboard. The monitor work after my tweek now. Perhaps usb ports stopped working even after tweaks Steppe (I haven't tested it, I have turned off it in BIOS and system). Perhaps the files hidusb.sys,hidclass.sys, hidparse.sys are associated with usb.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 08:34:12
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Thank you Serge.

 

My experience (with recent rebuild), posted on October 16, 2011 at 08:40:09
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I agree with much of what you said.

When I got my regular, from WINDOWS disk, cMP optimized (what do you call it? What word should go here?) I was surprised by how good it sounded. The only thing that did stick out was that the high frequencies were now perceived to be grainy, very grainy in comparison to STEPPE 10. I never got to listen to anything past that.

I do not think you are being contrarian at all. There is always a compromise and as you put it this configuration (is that the word?) suits you better.

In my experience I perceived a greater impact and dynamics with #5 than with the baseline.

One can wonder are we doing things that are confusing the machine. I think of the AUTORUNS aspect which I assume is just a shortcut to registry changes. Of course, I do not know the details of these changes but one wonders if we are to do these file deletions and these registry changes, both STEPPE and BOLD FORTUNE, that we should not use AUTORUNS?

By the way, Mihaylov's tweak looks a lot like a full BOLD FORTUNE deletion regime. I went through number nine and lost my START button (again), RUN, and NOTEPAD. All of these can be lived without but one would like to know what it is that makes them go away so you could plan how to proceed with deletions and registry edits.

I continue to think there is much good in this idea. My mind finds it plausible that calming the veritable Tower of Babel that is WINDOWS in full has to make for a better device for playing music. This discussion is only a month old; there is much to be learned. The learning can be frustrating and is getting in the way of listening to music in my case.

I finally took the advice of doing images and made an image of the optimized basic cMP. I tried to use this image yesterday after a BOLD FORTUNE overreach and it was corrupted. Any ideas of what I did to do that?

Your comments are needed to keep this discussion going in the right direction. I must admit I was taking the easy way out assuming the more stuff you removed the better the sound would be. Rarely is anything that simple and your asking us to consider there is more to the process than simple subtraction.

Nonetheless, STEPPE deserves praise for getting us thinking about how to make this better. The forum has been exciting again. Something good is gong to come out of this. Just think how much we have learned about .dlls lately.

I think the BOLD FORTUNE approach is superior to XPLite. We just have to learn to tweak it for our purposes.

Bye,

 

JulaWDM.sys - is this the controller?, posted on October 16, 2011 at 08:47:57
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 After Greg's bringing up getting the controller out of the way - is this how you do it?

That is quite a list. It reminds me of a complete BOLD FORTUNE deletion with some extras just for good measure.

So you obviously still have your NETWORK capability?

What have you done with registry changes? You mentioned more AUTORUNS - have you kept to STEPPE's registry regimen?

Can you still access RUN and regedit with this configuration?

Bye,

 

RE: Three questions, posted on October 16, 2011 at 09:00:04
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 1. You should leave the files in the screenshot. The files 8514fixr.fon, 8514oemr.fon and 8514sysr.fon should be replaced by the corresponding English, for example.
2. My Tweak be used in a finished system. After my tweek you won't be able to change/reinstall anything in the system but also how you nothing can change in operating systems used in the industrial network players type Linn, Olive, etc.
3. I find it hard to clearly speak of the degree of improvement because the sound before was good. It seemed to me that some of the sharpness/pseudodetailness has disappeared and the sound became very analog but very detailed. In any case I would like to minimize the size of the system because I think this is going to benefit.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: JulaWDM.sys - is this the controller?, posted on October 16, 2011 at 09:13:35
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 The file JulaWDM.sys isn't used during playback in my system. (What drivers are used in the operating system currently can be viewed using the Everest/AIDA).

"So you obviously still have your NETWORK capability?" - Yes!
"Can you still access RUN and regedit with this configuration?" - No.

Full functionality is maintained in my setup without any concessions. I just deleted everything that did not participate in the work of my network player. ;)

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My experience (with recent rebuild), posted on October 16, 2011 at 10:40:54
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 I am not saying that the Original optimised cMp is the ultimate. What I'm trying to say is that, whatever Software-level changes we make, it's mandatory to revert back to the previous step to double-check if the upgrade is worth it. It's very easy to get carried away when we get to hear new details these changes make. An A/B comparison, I feel, must always be done after giving some time with the new sound. By this, I don't mean Burn-in. For eg. if we are happy with steppe 5 & then we delete some files, & if the new sound reveals more details & Air or whatever, we MUST go back to steppe 5 back again after a few days to be sure it's an Improvement. Else we would just keep going on n on leaving a lot behind. This was evident when I came back to the Original optimised cMp. The sound of the Original Optmised cMp may sound coarse or dry initially, because we are so used to the Ambience of the new steppes. But I stayed back & wanted to keep listening. And it made me feel, that there are so many aspects in the Original, which have been blown away with the mods we have made. The sound is fuller, more Blended, & Plays in the right Scale. Piano sounded more Realistic in terms of size & Scale. Also the IMPACT is lost after the initial steppes which I'm now hearing in the Original Optimised cMp. The sound of Barry White is so effective, which lost most of it's Body in the deletion process. The only thing I feel that needs to be rectified is the Upper Bass & the Upper Midrange. Because of the dominance of these two sections, it sounds coarse or grainy. And I'm sure, quite sure, that it does not need hundreds of file deletions & registry changes just to get those two things right. This is where our focus comes to play. We need to move very slowly & be extremely critical in our analysis. Just because we have all the Batches ready, does not mean that we go at light-speed implementing them. This will only lead to confusion & losing the sonic registrations we have in our ears.
For this reason, I have decided to choose only 3 tracks for this whole process. I am repeatedly listening to them so as to grasp the reproduction of each note being played.
Now at this point, where I have decided to start-over from the Original version, I intend to proceed very carefully, and go back & forth till I'm very certain, that the new sound is absolutely superior in every aspect to the previous one. I don't know if I would follow the order of the Steppes which I did before. In fact, I don't even intend to do each steppe fully. I know this may seem like a long procedure, but I feel it's high-time we get back on track. The qualities of steppe 5 are much superior to the Original version, but the performance of the Original version has so much more than Steppe 5.. The bottom line is that So far, every improvement made has been born with a compromise. And it's this compromise that I want to eliminate...

Junaid

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on October 16, 2011 at 13:48:36
Mysterious Mose
Audiophile

Posts: 222
Location: NYC, USA
Joined: March 2, 2010
 Where is ASIO4ALL? I don't have any sound card and this message says "If you don't have an ASIO compatible soundcard, use ASIO4ALL."
----- Dan

"Where the hell's all the f***ing kangaroos?", Thelonious Monk in Australia, circa 1965, during drive from Sydney to Newcastle

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 14:48:43
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Just bombed out on c_1257.nls. So dont delete this one. Does anyone know how to safe start and get into these files?

bombed out on c_1252.nls also ...don't know if my original post was based on my hand written notes (where often a 7 looks like a 2 or vice versa) or if both are needed.

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 15:12:44
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Sorry but I forgot to notify that the file с_1251.nls should be left for Russian Windows (as shown on a screenshot), but for English Windows it is necessary to leave instead of it the file с_1257.nls.(*.nls are Microsoft National Language Support Files)

If the system is failed to get access to its file system I boot from the external hdd connected to esata port - it is very convenient.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 16:21:07
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 no problem I just had to reload my snapshot image of Steppe16.

 

RE: cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO, posted on October 16, 2011 at 16:30:07
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Got to to do an internet search for it then download it.

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 16, 2011 at 16:36:14
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 OK.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

Are you able to run AUTORUNS in MINLOGON?, posted on October 16, 2011 at 22:42:21
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I see you are deleting WINLOGON.

Are you doing the AUTORUNS stuff and then returning to MINLOGON before deleting WINLOGON?

 

Autoruns runs fine in minlogon. , posted on October 16, 2011 at 23:20:34
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Why not?
I installed the program Autoruns upon the button T.Screen in cMP settings and launched it in the mode Start cMP.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 07:30:38
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Don't delete browseui.dll otherwise cant use explorer to get into C or other drives to further edit or to run cplay.

 

I guess I should just try it ...., posted on October 17, 2011 at 07:45:07
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I thought I remembered cics saying something about it not working there. Who knows where I think I read this!

Glad to know it is not true,

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 07:52:25
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Once again. My Tweak for COMPLETE/FINISHED system in which nothing should change. The idea is to make the fullest possible delete all that is not required for audio playback.  (anyone not will require access to the drive C in the Linn Klimax:)).
I shall explain that I remove files and folders from the system drive of cMP2 using another operating system from the external hard drive. Thus you can always get access to the file system of the cMP2.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 08:29:55
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I bombed out on another c_437.nls


I'm going to reload and skip these nls files.

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 08:47:29
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ok I'm done would not boot w/o crypt32.dll. Serge did your cmp boot w/o this ...oh maybe because you boot into cmp it works for you.

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:09:52
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Yes, Theo. My cMP2 runs fine w/o crypt32.dll. But the file crypt.dll should remain in system32.
Here are the content of the system folders of my system and screenshot of Autoruns (see link below; archive password: Serge).



Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: My Tweak, posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:42:06
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I did leave crypt.dll in system32. Its a mystery then why it works for you but not me.

 

Theory vs Practicals..., posted on October 17, 2011 at 11:55:34
Jolida
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Joined: June 26, 2009
 Have been listening to the Original cMp version since the past two days. Can't do anything but just laugh at myself. This plays like how cMp actually has to play. This was why we built our cMp for. Each n eveything sounds so "Correct". Sounds miles ahead of any step or all steps put together. Just a wee bit of fine-tuning is all thats required.   The settings in cPlay are more important & critical than any file deletion. Of all the files i had deleted in the past weeks, i feel that most influential of them is winspool.drv. But cMp would not start without it. And the equation is incomplete without cMp. If only Cics could release a new version of cPlay that will not use this file, then I would certainly delete that one file..
Have been totally lost in a different track since one month with these deletions. Feels like I'm listening to Music after such a long time. Cics really knew what he did.... I feel ( I FEEL ) its more wiser to wait for Cics new release than doing all this...
   I'm so so glad that atleast i realised & woke up before losing the faith in"Hi-End"....

Junaid

 

Finished cMP interface for cMP2 network player, posted on October 17, 2011 at 12:13:32
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Here are screenshots:






The only test program Everest which can be launched if needed is left. Certainly it is possible to leave any program but it is necessary to edit the file cicsMemoryPlayer.pth in notepad.(archive password: Serge)


Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: Theory vs Practicals..., posted on October 17, 2011 at 13:18:51
audiodan@tiscali.it
Audiophile

Posts: 108
Location: Cagliari - Sardinia
Joined: July 7, 2009
 Hi Jumaid
I've covered your same road, I've rebuilt cMP2 in all my three systems and I'm completely in agrement with you.
I've only a problem with a really good sensation I've felt when I've tried step 4. I remember a beautiful sense of spatial reconstrution, with open and airy sound. I can't remeber a lean sound in these phase, but now I want to try again, with and without registry change, with and without Bold Fortune step 2. I think that cMP2 is really the best sounding system but it seems to me that we can improve something. Or almost I'll try to improve.
Now, thanks to your job, I can try without effort. Maybe it could be a waste of time but I think there is a little margin to improve SQ.
Daniele

 

I differ, posted on October 17, 2011 at 14:01:19
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 Influenced by your most recent comments and facilitated by all your work I have set up three partitions on my ssd: 1. Basic, original cMP 2. cMP after the fifth step and 3. cMp after the 16th step.

After my first round of listening, I find 2. to be superior to the others. It has scale and dynamism along with spatial accuracy and openness better than 1. though still without a sense of sacrificing tonal weight as 3. does. It sounds the most accurate and clear as well.

I will see how this seems over time and repeated comparisons.

 

RE: Theory vs Practicals..., posted on October 17, 2011 at 15:38:20
kclo
Audiophile

Posts: 68
Joined: August 21, 2010
 In the process of getting back to musicality, I had restored and compared the followings:

1. steppe 5 complete
2. steppe 5 partial (up to step j)
3. steppe/jolida 4.6 (steppe 4 + 2 batches of files from Jolida), and
4. steppe/jolida 4.5 (steppe 4 + 1st batch of files from Jolida)

Item number 3 (steppe/jolida 4.6) is the best: bass, definition, sound stage--just play a live recording and you'll see-- and dynamics.

If you are now on steppe 5 (riboge?) may be a tiny step back?

KC

 

Worth a try on your sayso, posted on October 17, 2011 at 16:40:04
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I'll work on it and let you know what results for me.

 

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