cmason16

Thugs are starting, the hallway discourses regarding everything have started. The Benchmark and Empirical audio rooms look very interesting. I am going to quiz the pure vinyl and armara folks with regards to comparisons. Elevator waits are already long, time for the stairs. Till later CM

I am taking Chris up on his wish for comments on the show. Sitting in the lobby waiting for badges to be available, two hours to wait! I have my plan and rooms to see, my focus will be finishing off my Mac mini based server and final decisions on speakers, cables, and how to best feed 196 into my Benchmark dac. I will keep you posted. If any one would like feed back on a particular item let me know - I am here Friday and Saturday. Chuck

Thanks, I thought I was missing something truly simple!! Brain fog. Chuck

Well I have just finished reading this whole thread, my head hurts and my eyes are crossed. I would like to ask Chris to add provide a primer on how to get iTunes to deal with artwork on CDs ripped via Max in AIFF. Just what steps do you go through? Regarding my opinion on the question - I am an engineer, but not an audio engineer, so I am really an audiophile novice, but - The less work any system has to do to get the job done is better. As hardware and systems have evolved the processing power requirements for the background systems / software have gone up. I will normally go with the solution that takes less processing effort. The issue for me is the availability of bells and whisles such as art work and ease of use for play back (iTunes). Between explosions and riding in helicopters in the sandbox I doubt I can hear at that level anyway. By the way, I am not a spelling bee champ, so I applogise for my typing. Chuck

Ok, I am easily confused I guess. I am on the road with my Intel MacBook thinking I would use some down time to continue converting my CDs. I just noticed that when I open Audio Midi Settings, in the place of the audio output setting on my G5, there is greyed out stating audio output not supported. On my G5 I can select up to 96/24, But here I have nothing. What does that do to playback through iTunes? I am ripping via Max as Apple Lossless. I was going to use AIFF, but simply cannot get iTunes and art work to work, oh well. Comments would be appreciated as I think I am missing something simple??? One up date - I have met with Apple engineers and they are contacting their Apple audio counter parts and asking my questions regarding terminal command line control of audio midi settings. Spend enough money with them and at least they will think about it.

Chris,<br /> <br /> I will pass along all the questions I get up the visit day. <br /> <br /> Chuck

Chris,<br /> <br /> I have two Apple engineers visiting. Any questions other than iTunes sample rate? Cannot be assured of any solutions or information, but I do get to ask questions.<br /> <br /> Chuck

Chris,<br /> <br /> Any thoughts on a system that would support both 2ch and 5.1 / 7.1 materiel? I am seeing 5.1 and 7.1 stuff at 24/96 and would think it will just be a matter of time before we see higher sample rates available. Based on discussions with Lynx today it does not seem that the AES16e would be pratical method, doable, but not pratical.<br /> <br /> Thanks,<br /> <br /> Chuck

I just got off the phone with Lynx and the result of the discussion is that the AES16e would not be a pratical method of supporting multichannel materiel. Other possbilities would be (on a Mac) would be using the optical line out to direct feed the AV system, not sure what else might be needed and I suspect jitter would be rough. Any thoughts on tweeking the audiophile refrence server to support both 2ch and multi channel materiel? Just a matter of time before multi channel offerings show up at higher levels that 24/96.

Gordon,<br /> <br /> I have Jack on my G5 and am having issues with getting the sample rate past 24/33. I have not played with it a lot, but it seems to be somewhat buggy.<br /> <br /> Chuck

In browsing through download sites I saw that 2L offers downloads in a number of formats. I understand (I think) how 24 bit 196 stereo FLAC would output on a Lynx AES-16e with a single AES cable to a DAC then to the Amp. How would you get 5.1 surround FLAC 24/96 out of the Lynx and into a 5.1 home theater system? Will the AV processor work off the DAC when fed 5.1? I though all that would be passed is 2ch stereo from the DAC. Bottom line, how would you make use of a 5.1 surround FLAC 24/96? Thanks, Chuck

Chris,<br /> <br /> I am talking to some Apple engineers to see if there is a command line ability to set Auido Midi. From reading the Core Audio stuff in the Apple developers site it should be doable. If the command line parameters exist it will be a very simple script to change settings. I should here something back this week.<br /> <br /> Chuck

My Apple contacts are looking into the ability to use terminal commands to set Audio Midi Setup. This enable the process to change sample rates to be greatly simplified, down to a one button click. I should have some feedback this week. The auto sensing should be doable via an AU to iTunes, but I do not know if I have the time to come up to speed on writing it.

Thanks for the comments, I currently am using airtunes to transmit to an airport express that feeds the DAC via optical. The Airport limits out at a 96 sample rate. I checked and the MAC audio drivers for ALL outputs on the built in audio max at 96. No issues at all what I have now, but I guess I am a closet audiophile, I just have to hear what the HRX from refrence recordings sounds like. To do faith to the quality of the materiel I need to take it up a noch. Just wish I could swing a Berkley DAC, oh well maybe later. One question - I have read a bit here about the sampling rate in regards to frequency that a human can hear. I thought the sampling rate is the number of times per second that the audio source is sampled and a digital "copy" in 0s and 1s of that moment in time is recorded. The lower the sample rate the less total information when compared to live. Although I have not heard just what sample rate the human ear / brain runs at for comparison. We "see" at about 4,000 dpi (I think), what do we hear at? So just what is sample rate? My stupid question of the hour. From my reading of the DAC manual it appears that I do not need to worry about the clock issue. I just need to get the AES16 to output on a single XLR 110 ohm cable. I did pickup that my G5 Quad 4 with 16Gig of memory can support the AES16e, which would also work in an Intel Pro if I go there in the future. Hopefully someone drops me some info on the AES16 configuration process if there is something not obvious in the install manual. Till later, Chuck

Well I am about ready to make the plunge. My planned system will be: Mac G5 Power PC (already own it) Lynx AES16 Custom cable (20 feet long) from Redco Audio AES16 feeding a Benchmark DAC1 USB (already own it) I am working on voicing the living room in accordance with Jim Smith's book "Get Better Sound" and will be using a Intel MacBook based real time analyzer (either FuzzMeasure or RoomEQ) along with my ears. My system is set up for home theater with a Sony DA5200ES reciever. I may switch my Rotel RSX 1065 back in once I get it worked on. Mourdant Short speakers. Not the ideal based on Jim Smith's book, but what I have. I will look at changing out components once I have these working at their best. I initially started re-ripping my CDs to Apple Lossless, but my switch to AIFF since I am not that far along. I will be starting off with a 500GB Lacie drive for file storage. So the questions I have from reading here and other places are: Any pointers regarding the Lynx set up for feeding the DAC1 USB? The clock discussions have me a bit confused. Options other than the Lynx that would work with an Intel based MacBook? I ask this since Apple may not be releasing the next version of OS-X for PowerPCs. But the above should still work fine for several years and by then who knows what the hardware market will have. One thing I am looking into (I have access to some of the Apple engineers) is if there is a command line ability to set the Audio Midi Setup. If I can get that working I could set up a single mouse click script that would switch itunes from sample rate to sample rate. I am also looking into the possibility of an Audio Unit plugin for iTunes that would enable auto sensing and setting of the sample rate. From Apple Core Audio developer documentation it should be possible, but then I am not a developer either. Look forward to comments on my two questions and feed back on the sample rate conversion effort. Till later, Chuck