Dear jsa307,
We have been concerned about DSD-PCM and PCM-DSD conversion for 4 years. We can provide software for DSD-PCM conversion as well as PCM-DSD conversion. We have collected really much experience about this issue and also made several studies and tests in this field.
Contrary to the misconceptions it is important to know that DFF can be tagged. It is possible. Loading a DFF saved with TraX, e.g. into Mac Audirvana, tags get visible...
There is one more key factor. Due to basic operation of algorithms when DSD is converted to PCM (decimating, filtering), the first filter-long section of the material will not be usable (for those more interested, we will find links deeper), this part is noisy as well as filled with improper data (which will make an unlucky perceivable click ). For solving this kind of problem several options are available.
Additionally, in other cases a click occurs as the extractor is bugged (sacd_extract, foobar), the beginning and end of the tracks are not exactly or well-defined and pauses between tracks (gaps) are not handled properly. Software listed above can cope with discs using DST compression the least.
Options:
1. Conversion into DSF or DFF using DSD DAC that does not convert to PCM during Digital-Analogue conversion. This is one of the good ways. Plenty of such DAC is available. However, there is such a DSD dac advertised as native that accepts DSD, but the analogue signal is generated by making PCM from DSD signal flow initially... Click will happen there... or a few frames will not appear at the beginning of the track, therefore clicks will appear successively between the tracks...
2. removing the noisy (click) part out of the beginning of the track with some kind of algorithm. Only after the conversion to PCM. (DeClick algorithms). They are good, but not the real solution always, e.g. during a concert or live records, clicks will remain in some cases.
3. simply cutting the unwanted noisy (click) part. The worst possible solution as the size of the track will not be the original and noise (click) is sure for a successive disc.
4. Use the method successfully applied for SACD record players. Saving the DSD tracks on SACD directly and immediately to PCM. This is the best solution for those using PCM dacs and those owning ‘tricky’ DSD dacs described in point 0. This can be used only for SACD iso disc source. If your source is a DSD file (DSF, DFF), point 0 is advised, while if you have a PCM or PCM converting DSD dac
option 1 is suggested.
TraX uses a completely new method to define the frames (beginning, length) of the tracks, it is frame-punctual. It does not rely on the codes of basic software (sacd_extractor, foobar, sacd plugin). This part was tested for long. It works perfectly even in case of DST compressed discs, although it is much harder to define the exact beginning and end or read out time. None of the frames will be lost out of the disc, mainly if the gap is also saved and not cut in case of gapless treatment. (pre, post gap)
TraX also supports gap treatment. A generally 2 sec of pause at the beginning of a disc may be skipped or linked to the beginning of a track (disc gap include/exclude). Skip is advised. Sometimes these gaps between tracks contain audio material (in the case of successive discs, e.g. concert records, live tracks)
Skipping gaps between tracks and linking them to the inclusive track is possible.
1. gapless - parts between tracks are left out. In the case of discs that do not contain usable data, only silence, between the tracks, this setting is advised. (unfortunately, it can be defined only by listening to the original sacd disc if the gap is needed or can be skipped)
2. post-gap, the part between two tracks is linked to the end of the previous one. This setting is advised for successive (e.g. concerts or live records). At the end of the last track there is not such an extra track so it is not significant there (as in gapless mode the same file is resulted, identical bit by bit) It is advised to perform a trial described in the previous section with this setting.
3. pre-gap the gap data is linked to the beginning of the track following the gap. This will not link the data (generally 2 seconds) at the beginning of the disc to the first track, it is not significant at the first track. (in gapless mode the same file is resulted, identical bit by bit) This method can also be tried for successive discs. In fact if the entire disc is played at once, it will not make a difference concerning playing compared to the previous point.
TraX provides the immediate conversion to PCM of SACD material. This option is advised for non-native DSD dac users. In this case, using the track managing algorithms of SACD players, the COMPLETELY PUNCTUAL FRAME data will be provided. No more clicks, no more noisy data, only clear music. This function has not been experienced in any of the extractors or converters we know, except for the players. It can be tried by saving a random track from an SACD in DSF with TraX, then converting it to PCM with any of software (e.g. Wav or Aiff) and saving the same track with TraX directly to PCM (the same format as previously).
Please check TraX SACD Extractor at: TRAX Audio SACD Extractor
regards,
Gergely