Peachtree Nova and AudioMidi setup on Mac

[jordesign]

I have had my Nova connected to my MacPro for a couple of years via optical cable.... For my AudioMidi settings I used the Built In Digital preset, and just set it a 24/96.... I set it up and never gave it much thought since... Recently I bought Amarra HiFi and noticed that it would not play files with an 88.2khz sample rate... So I poked around the interwebs looking for some feedback and I read some references to selecting the NOVA preset in AudioMidi... Well I don't have that option. I am wondering if I should??? My previous DAC was connected via USB and it was an option, but that was USB, this is Optical... So now I am wondering if I am doing something wrong, that is keeping the NOVA AudioMidi setting from showing up??? I am using the OPT 1 input on the NOVA. I chose Optical because I wanted to be able to play 24/96 files.... USB is limited to 16/48 iirc.... Are you running a Nova on a Mac via optical (maybe even running Amarra)? Have any advice?

 

Thanks.

 

MacPro>>Amarra HiFi>>Peachtee Nova>>Kimber Cable>>ERA D4

[AudioDoctor]

IIRC the original Nova won't play 88.2khz files.

 

You can resample the 88.2 files to something else I suppose.

 

AS far as Amarra HiFi goes, go ahead and open its preferences and uncheck the "Follow Core Audio" setting and select the Nova as the output device from within Amarra. Also, read the iTunes 11.03 thread and the Amarra suport thread for tips and tricks.

 

None of that however will get the Nova to play 88.2 files. The Nova simply won't unless you up/down sample them.

[wgscott]

I have the nova. I decided the best thing was to up-sample everything (with Audirvana in my case) to 96KHz, and feed that to the DAC. The USB input on the nova I believe is limited to 16 bit, 48KHz, so SPDIF (optical or coax) is the way to go. I wound up buying a USB/SPDIF converter (Halide Bridge) because even with a glass optical cable, it seemed to have troubles staying locked onto the 96KHz signal).

 

I think I am eventually going to use my Nova with an Apple TV, where the 48KHz optical out will be ideal.

[jordesign]

Thanks for your reply... I must admit, that I have always thought that a DAC capable of 24/96 was capable of anything UP TO 24/96... Next time I'll pay more attention to the specs.... So do you think setting the MIDI at the Built In Digital setting 96k is the best option in this case?

[jordesign]

WGscott, I have wondered about The Bridge.... Did you perceive a significant change in the audio quality, or just stability? I have never had any stability issues, so I would be getting it solely for SQ....

[AudioDoctor]

Thanks for your reply... I must admit, that I have always thought that a DAC capable of 24/96 was capable of anything UP TO 24/96... Next time I'll pay more attention to the specs.... So do you think setting the MIDI at the Built In Digital setting 96k is the best option in this case?

 

I am not sure. It has been a while since I have had my Nova. If you do set Core Audio to 96k I think, but am not sure, that the mac will resample everything to 96k. If you set the Nova to not follow Core Audio, and set the Nova as the output in Amarra (independently from the system output) it will automatically change the outgoing sample rate to match that of the file being played. You can save the native 88.2khz files in a folder and resample them offline and put them in place of the 88.2 files in iTunes.

 

Peachtree has a USB > S/PDIF converter called the X-1. I bet it would make a difference in sound quality, whether or not it is better is up to you. The benefit as I understand it is twofold. First, the USB connection is asynchronous meaning it is not dependent on the computer generated clock info because it uses its own, lowering jitter. Second, because the outgoing S/PDIF info relies on the clock info on the converter which is dealing with much less jitter it can be of higher quality, improving output.

[Audio_ELF]

If you are using the optical connection, then the limitation (in what is listed in AudioMidi) is with your Mac's hardware rather than the Peachtree.

 

Eloise