Basic Foobar configuration (1st&2nd posts)

[XTRProf]

Aug 21, 2012 6:12:22 GMT @sandyk said:

unless you count the occasional weekend Computer Fair at places like high schools.

Nope, I wouldn't consider the school fairs as computer malls. Real malls and in Singapore, we have 2 in town.

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 9:09:24 GMT @davek said:

Back on topic : -
Since doing the latest foobar upgrade a couple of days ago (thanks Javier ) my PC ocassionally stops dead at the start of a new track. In detail. one track ends and the progress bar appears at the start of the new track but fails to move without playing a note - clicking once on the 'Play' button returns everything to normal.
Does anyone else experience this or is it just me?
Cheers,
Dave.

Dave,

That's something I occasionally see when trying KS (as you said but mine then starts and distorts) or have forgotton to change the bitrate down for the device being used.


PS
Alex and Javier,

Both of your contributions are equally valid but being approached from different areas of expertise, no need to squabble

[Deleted]

PS. read your email but still nothing mentioned about the what and how. I have the suspicion analogue is involved but have no proof.

I expect that analogue, at least in the shape of a DAC may be involved. The point is however, that if the output from the DAC can be shown to be different when using different software players that are supposed to be "bit perfect",then there is something happening in the computer to cause that.


P.S.
Some "Off topic" posts in the thread have been removed.
Alex

[Deleted]

A new 0.6.0 version of the SACD plugin has been released which introduces an interesting new feature: customizable DSD->PCM filters. The plugin includes some FIR filter type samples with different cutoff points (30, 40, 50 and 60KHz).
I've updated the 2nd post of the 1st page of this thread correspondingly and also included how to set Foobar to output native DSD for the lucky ones with native DSD DACs.

Lastly, I've been experimenting with Korg's free Audiogate capacity of upsampling regular 64fs (aka DSD64) to 128fs (aka DSD128) which pushes the DSD "rubbish" from starting at 50KHz to an even better 100KHz while keeping the musical content intact. This should satisfy everyone except of course the PCM taliban. For those that think that noise at over 100KHz can still be heard or influence the "hearable" range, there are tools that can upsample to DSD256 or even DSD512, the downside is that size nearly doubles with each jump and there is little software or hardware to play them.

PS. Foobar beta 1.1.15 also available but IMHO nothing really interesting about it yet.

[Deleted]

Final (read stable) WASAPI 3.0 plugin just released, 1st post info and links updated. Highly recommended for those still using V. 2.1

[Deleted]

New Foobar 1.1.15 version available, change log and links in updated 1st post of this thread

[Deleted]

I'm sure Javier won't mind me posting this here (will you Javier? ), but I have a couple of questions that I hope some of you more foobar-savvy guys can answer: -
1) by mistake I DL'd a 6ch and a mono HiRes file when looking for stereo. When the 6ch tracks play they play extremely slowly and when the mono tracks play they play extremely quickly - any ideas why and how to avoid it (without deleting the files)?
2) when I play random selections from my tracks the variation in volume levels can be irritating, constantly having to adjust it to enjoyable levels - can this be set to give constant volume levels please?
Thanks for any help.
Dave.

[Deleted]

Another problem! Only slight though.

Using the music pc: Asus Xonar DS coaxial o/p,
coaxial in on the Mini-Ape (crap patch lead, not even 75ohm),
RCA analogue out to heahphone amp and only on SACD or DVD-A;

I'm getting infrequent but regular "pops" during playback (approx every 15 seconds or so) . Not loud, but there.

Where do I start looking?

TIA

[Deleted]

Hi Chris
See if you can get any clues from Windows Task Manager -Processes while playing music..
Regards
Alex

[Deleted]

I'd check output buffer size (try bigger and smaller) and DPCTool to check for latency probs (www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml).
If you latency is too high, ie lots of wellows and occasional reds, then you can reduce it a bit by using Timerreslution (www.lucashale.com/timer-resolution/)

If HDD is slowish setting up Foobar to play from RAM would also help.

Using ASIO and checking the high priority checkbox helps a lot.

[Deleted]

Thanks Javier,

I had ASIOs high priority set and had played with the buffer. So I'll check out those latency tools you linked.

Ta

[Deleted]

How many ms have you selected in Asus "ASIO control panel"? if you have left it untouched (default is 10ms) try changing to 30 or even 40ms.

[Deleted]

I've tried from 10ms to 100ms. It didn't seem to make any difference until I went higher, then it crashed out.


Sent from my HTC One S using proboards

[Deleted]

Hows CPU usage when playing DSD or high Res? when you say it happens with DVDA, doesn't it happen too with 24/192 FLAC or WAV?

[Deleted]

Yes, a bit of economical info I gave there! All higher res files have the problem when on Asio.
CPU usage is ranging from 35 to 60 depending on file type and busyness of.music. (approx 52500)

I have yet to slim down windows but saying that the laptop is running everything without such glitches.

I also need some decent sit-down-without-distraction-time.



Sent from my HTC One S using proboards

[Deleted]

If you are hitting 60% with WAV or FLAC I'm afraid your PC might be underpowered for Hi res.
Stopping other processes won't help with this unless they are constantly using CPU time.

You could try assigning real time priority to Foobar itself in Task Manager (as ASIO plugin) and see if it alleviates the problem somehow.

[Deleted]

I feared that may be the case when the cpu was going over 50 with regularity.

I'll give prioritising a whirl.

Thanks

[Deleted]

Having tried a few things now its becoming clear I need to cough up for a more capable board. I've just come from Mini-itx.com and been bedazzled by the choice.

Soooo, without busting the bank, is there a mini itx form that stands out in the crowd?

Fanless would be nice, as would USB3 if possible, along with being able to run Win7, so I'm a guessing a minimum 4GB ram for 32bit and ? for 64bit.

Suggestions on a postcard to the usuall address

TIA

[Deleted]

I guess you mean something more poweful than an Atom CPU, right?

[Deleted]

Dunno Javier

That's why I asked, I assumed a more powerful Atom would be OK ?

e.g. existing board is;
Atom 230 @ 1.60GHz Core Duo
1.60 GHz, 1.99 GB RAM (maxed)

[Deleted]

The diference in terms of processing speed between an Atom 230 and a modest Core i3 2100 is quite big, the only problem is "silent" for a i3 wouldn't fit in a small case. I have a not a "silent" but rather a "quiet" for my 2100 and is bl**dy huge.
I saw once a SFF case with a socket 1155 mini ITX board that came with a specificically designed passive heatsink, it was a very neat and good looking design but though I trioed I haven't been able to find it again.

[Deleted]

Do you mean the following;

Intel DH61DLB3 2nd and 3rd Gen Core Socket 1155 Mini-ITX Motherboard
6th selcetion down.

Plus the Intel Dual Core i3 2120T 2.6GHz 35w TDP CPU & Low Profile heatsink.

I assume a fan is also needed.

?

[Deleted]

Hope this is not too far off topic but some of you might be iterested in this: -

www.cantatis.co.uk/index.php?pag=productd&pid=15&cid=8

Cheers,
Dave.

[Deleted]

I had a quick read around on it. The pricing seems massively different to the link, coming in at nearly double that

What I've read is a year or more old, talking of problems with ASIO, not having its own drivers and only being able to cope with ASIO4ALL. There was a fix involving flashing the card with third party software to enable ASIO.

Other comments regarded poor to non-existant support.

As I said, all old chit chat I found. Maybe things are improved now. SQ is supposed to be very good though.

[Deleted]

Chris, the 2100 in real situations is as frugal in power consumption as the 2120T even if it is rated at 65W instead of 35W. They both use the same heatsink/fan. There are some reviews on the web comparing the power consumtion of both chips and the differences are negligible, certainly not worth the extra expense (£99 Vs £85).

With the saved cash you copuld well go for the 7th selection instead of the 6th as it has a much better I/O.

Intel MoBos are good and reliable but I'm keener on Asus ones. If you don't mind buying at Alternate they have a big range of mini ITX boards. If on a budget go for a xxxH77 if not go for a xxxZ77.