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How to setup native DSD playback on the MFA board

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:36 am
by Choughtosh
I'm using the Multi-function Audio board to test DSD playback.  How do I play DSD files through the MFA platform from Windows?

Thanks,


Answer 2681

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:52 am
by Ross
I use the foobar player with the SACD plugin


Answer 2682

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:12 pm
by infiniteimprobability
Native DSD is only currently available on Windows platforms using the foobar SACD plugin and the Thesycon (ASIO) driver. For DSD playback on other platforms (OSX, iDevice, Linux, Android..) please use DoP (DSD over PCM).
 
To setup DSD native playback on Windows machines:
 
1. Install the Thesycon USB Audio 2.0 driver. If you are an end user, please use your supplier's provided driver. If you are an XMOS developer using XMOS kits, you can use the evaluation driver available http://www.xmos.com/published/usb-audio ... er-windows
 
2. Install Foobar 2000 if you haven't done so already. It is available for download here http://www.foobar2000.org/download. When prompted, click "standard installation"
 
3. Install the ASIO Proxy and SACD input plugin, downloadable from http://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/. This single download contains everything you need. Double click on the zip file to view it's contents. To continue with install:
 
4. Run ASIOProxyInstall-x.x.x.x.exe and follow instructions on the dialogue to install.
 
5. Double-click on the file foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component. This should open foobar 2000 and take you to the components dialogue. When asked if you want to continue to "install foo_input_sacd", click "YES"! Then click "APPLY". Foobar will ask if you want to restart, click "YES"
 
6. Download and Install the official ASIO output plug-in for Foobar2000 from http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio.  Double click the file foo_out_asio.fb2k-component.  When asked if you want to continue to "install foo_out_asio", click "YES"! Then click "APPLY". Foobar will ask if you want to restart, click "YES"
 
7. All installation is now done. Next configure foobar to playback DSD. Start foobar2000 and click to File->Preferences
 
8. In Playback->Output Choose "ASIO: foo_dsd_asio" and click Apply.

 
9. Expand out the tree to Playback->Output->ASIO. Double click on "foo_dsd_asio". In the window following, select the final output (in this case it's your DAC or XMOS/Thesycon ASIO driver).

 
10. Make sure you select "ASIO Native" in the DSD Playback method. If you select DoP Marker 0x05/0xFA it should still work, except that transport will be over DoP instead of DSD native.
 
11. Close the foo_dsd_asio window and go to Prefrences->Tools->SACD. Ensure you choose ASIO Driver Mode "DSD" rather than "PCM", otherwise foobar will do a DSD->PCM conversion. Selecting DSD will send DSD direct to you XMOS-based sound device.

 
12. Click OK, select your DSD track and enjoy DSD native audio!!!
 
Final notes. You can verify what mode you are running in easily by adjusting the volume in the Thesycon control panel. (All Programs->Thesycon->TUSBAudio Driver->TUSBAudio Control Panel). If running in PCM mode, volume will scale up and down as you change the sliders. If you are in DoP mode, playback will mute down to very quiet noise if the level isn't set to maximum (sclaing trashes the DoP headers and so DoP isn't detected). If you are in DSD native, you will hear loud noise if the level isn't maximum. DSD signals cannot be linearly scaled like PCM so it generates noise as scaling destroys the DSD sigma-delta coding. This should probably be disabled by the driver as it is invalid..
 
 

Re: How to setup native DSD playback on the MFA board

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 1:06 pm
by infiniteimprobability
This is out of date now as the SACD plugin has changed.

However, a very good guide for the one (including pictures) can be found here:

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/di ... n-v-0-9-x/