Advise on audio interface

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
The solution I have found to playing external SPDIF source using a convolver is not satisfactory. The resampling and routing to JR WDM device causes cracks and glitches and impairs the music experience.
I am considering ditching the RME ff400. Yet now I want to be cautious. There is a used MOTU UltraLite AVB 18-In-18-Out USB2 for about 400$. Does anyone have experience with this device using external input and JRiver Asio line in functionality?
 

mccarty350

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2021
Messages
80
Have you thought of just using a simple proven sound card that is under 100 bucks new? Asus Xonar U7 Mk II usb 2.0 soundcard? Does 192/24 out of 8 channels, asio drivers, proven to work on audiolense, etc. I use one in my office and Bernt also owned one (that died recently unfortunately).

Only issues is that two of the inputs are RCA out on the card, the other 6 are mini out's so you need to buy those little mini to RCA adapters to get 8 x RCA's out. Unless you require XLR then indeed an audio interface seems the smart play.
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
There are more issues. First the goal is to play external spdif source through the convolver, did you try that and it worked?
Second you stated that the output gain is low and preamp is needed. That complicates things as I already use a preamp to route my TV/CD to the computer. If the issue was only PC audio then it would be solved already.
 
Last edited:

whoareyou

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2021
Messages
179
More  
Main Amp
Benchmark AHB2
Additional Amp
ATI AT525NC
Computer Audio
JRiver
DAC
Exasound E38
Front Speakers
Psb synchrony one
Center Channel Speaker
PSB synchrony one C
Surround Speakers
Revel m105
The solution I have found to playing external SPDIF source using a convolver is not satisfactory. The resampling and routing to JR WDM device causes cracks and glitches and impairs the music experience.
Hi Ofer,
Have you tried adjusting any of the settings in JRiver i.e. for buffer size (I don't remember exactly where this setting is)? Honestly, from past experience YMMV with these settings, but once in a while they have solved issues for me.
If you haven't done so, I'd suggest asking over in the Jriver forum for advice.
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
I did. Adjusting buffer size in JR and RME improved the cracks and skips in playback. It is more of a principle issue. To have all this high end hardware and software and to resort to this workaround is annoying.
 

juicehifi

Audiolense
Staff member
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
697
There are more issues. First the goal is to play external spdif source through the convolver, did you try that and it worked?
Second you stated that the output gain is low and preamp is needed. That complicates things as I already use a preamp to route my TV/CD to the computer. If the issue was only PC audio then it would be solved already.
Whad kind of spdif source and do your sound card handle regular spdif properly? Not all professional interfaces is designed to account for regular SPDIF, running on its own clock...
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
Hi Bernt,
Not sure I follow. The spdif is visible in the Total MixFX console and is played to whatever physical channels I assign to it in the console. It can also works with the workaround of listen to this device. It is just the ASIO that fails. I am now trying to do it in Reaper to no avail, yet.
 

juicehifi

Audiolense
Staff member
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
697
Well, I was just throwing something out here. I know for a fact that some of the Lynx cards of the past were unequal in how they handled incoming SPDIF. Does your sound card resample the incoming SPDIF or what?
 

mccarty350

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2021
Messages
80
I don't have any answers on SPDIF handling on this platform since I'm just using the 8 channel analog outputs. I believe I get around 1 vrms of output out of this sound card which is fine until you're losing 10db or more based on how your convolver file shakes out.
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
Well, I was just throwing something out here. I know for a fact that some of the Lynx cards of the past were unequal in how they handled incoming SPDIF. Does your sound card resample the incoming SPDIF or what?
When using ASIO it doesn't resample but if the signal is outputed to windows sound, what is called a wdm device in the settings, then it resamples to 48khz/
 

juicehifi

Audiolense
Staff member
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
697
When using ASIO it doesn't resample but if the signal is outputed to windows sound, what is called a wdm device in the settings, then it resamples to 48khz/
It is common with asynchronous resampling at spdif inputs or something of similar effect. It used to be the norm with conventional hifi dacs. But in the pro world, everything is synced by the same clock, so no all pro sound cards have this. If may make a huge difference if you're e.g. using a cd transport. But yes, the windows mixer may help here.
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
That is why I want to go the asio route. It seems that another card is in order :mad:. What do you mean "the windows mixer may help"?
 

juicehifi

Audiolense
Staff member
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
697
Maybe your incoming signal needs resampling.

What type of external source are you hooking up with spdif?
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
miniDSP 4x10HD. I use it as a digital preamp, It resamples everything to 96/24. I also tried it with a CD. In either case it was always resampled to 48khz/
 

juicehifi

Audiolense
Staff member
Joined
Feb 5, 2018
Messages
697
This sounds like some driver issue.

Have you tried Asio4All in the middle? It works underneath the windows mixer.
 

Ofer

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
244
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
miniDSP 4x10hd
Main Amp
Emotiva XPR200 midrange amp
Additional Amp
Crest audio 2001A bass amp, Crest audio 8002 sub
Other Amp
Rotel RA930ax twitter amp
Computer Audio
Sony Bravia android TV
DAC
RME FF400
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Marantz original 5E CD
Front Speakers
Andromeda MkII
Subwoofers
18" OEM powered subwoofer, 18" Martycube Dayton A.
Screen
Sony bravia 65XF9005
Streaming Subscriptions
Deezer HiFi
Other Equipment
HP i5 running W10, HLC convolver for Audio Lense filters
Not my miniDSP. The USB is just to change the settings. My unit is connected to the computer via spdif only. From all I have read it is probably a FireFace issue. This is a unit that was discontinued in 2013 but is still being used so there are drivers for W10. The guys at the JRiver forums also had issues using asio line in. For some reason these units FF400 and FF800 don't play well with JR.
 

mccarty350

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2021
Messages
80
Yeah Bernt, the smaller minidsp's act as usb dac's but the larger ones the 4x10's just use usb for configuration and are not used as dac's.
 
Top Bottom