RE: One place that can trick people...

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Posted by Tony Lauck (A) on September 15, 2008 at 13:58:52

In Reply to: One place that can trick people... posted by Presto on September 15, 2008 at 13:20:36:

"In Windows, we now all know (hopefully) that 50% volume is really 0dbFS"

If you use a 24 bit DAC this becomes a non-issue. I run a digital volume control, set to about -2 db with the most quiet classical recordings when I want to hear them play loudly. With normal jazz and classical recordings, the range is down to -8 db for critical listening. I have some compressed recordings that require the gain to be set down to -15 db or even more, but these don't sound good no matter what. These recordings were ruined in their production process.

It can be advantageous to use a digital volume control, as some program material has intersample peaks over 0 dbFs and may create distortion during playback without a digital gain reduction. The analog portions of a DAC may also have problems with some inputs, and a volume reduction can help.

I don't use the Windows volume control, I keep the device volume control at 100% when using cPlay or Foobar2000, and I keep the Windows audio mapped to a throw-away AC97 DAC. cPlay and Foobar2000 are using ASIO4ALL to my device driver. This may not be the best way, but it seems to work on my system.

Tony Lauck

"Perception, inference and authority are the valid sources of knowledge" - P.R. Sarkar

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Winamp with ASIO Plugin - kbamhi 05:48:59 09/15/08 (13)

RE: Winamp with ASIO Plugin - Presto 12:22:56 09/15/08 (7)

Periodic Bit Perfection Re-tests Advised - Tony Lauck 12:32:16 09/15/08 (6)

One place that can trick people... - Presto 13:20:36 09/15/08 (5)

Not all of us knew that "50% volume is really 0dbFS" - rick_m 21:01:40 09/15/08 (2)

Once again, the DTS test... - Presto 05:05:24 09/16/08 (1)

RE: Once again, the DTS test... - The Sound Guy 10:27:51 09/18/08 (0)

RE: One place that can trick people... - Tony Lauck 13:58:52 09/15/08 (1)

I do the same thing - Presto 14:54:46 09/15/08 (0)

I use Otachan's ASIO plugin to much satisfaction. My suggestions: - carcass93 07:46:59 09/15/08 (4)

Re: I use Otachan's ASIO plugin to much satisfaction. My suggestions: - kbamhi 15:06:48 09/15/08 (3)

That's what I was talking about in #1 and #4 in my reply - you're using bad plugin, and ASIO4ALL. - carcass93 18:00:08 09/15/08 (2)

I can vouch for Ploytec driver - Presto 05:17:40 09/16/08 (1)

RE: I can vouch for Ploytec driver - kbamhi 05:35:53 09/16/08 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: One place that can trick people... - Tony Lauck 13:58:52 09/15/08 (1)

I do the same thing - Presto 14:54:46 09/15/08 (0)

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