HQ Player

[Rasmussen]

I am currently running Roon on a Mac mini (mid 2011) 2,7 Ghz intel Core i7, 8 GB and it often stumbles a bit when doing upsampling to DSD128. I was wondering whether using my iMac (late 2012) 3,2 GHz Intel Core i5, 32 GB RAM would make a difference? I would need to connect the latter with a firewire cable around 4,5 meters long and also use a thunderbolt to firewire adapter. But I hope that will work despite the length of the cable.....But do you think it is worth it - will the iMac do a better job with HQplayer?

[pkane2001]

8 hours ago, Rasmussen said:

I am currently running Roon on a Mac mini (mid 2011) 2,7 Ghz intel Core i7, 8 GB and it often stumbles a bit when doing upsampling to DSD128. I was wondering whether using my iMac (late 2012) 3,2 GHz Intel Core i5, 32 GB RAM would make a difference? I would need to connect the latter with a firewire cable around 4,5 meters long and also use a thunderbolt to firewire adapter. But I hope that will work despite the length of the cable.....But do you think it is worth it - will the iMac do a better job with HQplayer?

 

I have an old Macbook Pro with a 2.8 GHz I7 and it can play DSD256 without stuttering. I don't think it has to do with more memory. Could be some settings you can adjust in HQPlayer (such as multi-core, different filters, etc.) Check CPU utilization while the files are playing. If it's not more than 50%-60% for all the cores, then it's probably not the CPU causing this.

 

Also, check your USB cable. I started by using some generic USB cable and it caused stuttering and drop outs. Switch to a different, quality cable to see if it makes a difference, also try a shorter cable if your current one is long. Try a different USB port on your Mac, as sometimes ports stop working properly.

 

Consider where the music files are stored. A slow hard disk or a network drive could easily result in stuttering and drop-outs. Try creating a RAM drive and copy a file there and see if it plays without stuttering.

[AnotherSpin]

5 hours ago, pkane2001 said:

 

I have an old Macbook Pro with a 2.8 GHz I7 and it can play DSD256 without stuttering. I don't think it has to do with more memory. Could be some settings you can adjust in HQPlayer (such as multi-core, different filters, etc.) Check CPU utilization while the files are playing. If it's not more than 50%-60% for all the cores, then it's probably not the CPU causing this.

 

Also, check your USB cable. I started by using some generic USB cable and it caused stuttering and drop outs. Switch to a different, quality cable to see if it makes a difference, also try a shorter cable if your current one is long. Try a different USB port on your Mac, as sometimes ports stop working properly.

 

Consider where the music files are stored. A slow hard disk or a network drive could easily result in stuttering and drop-outs. Try creating a RAM drive and copy a file there and see if it plays without stuttering.

 

I believe stuttering disappeared after Miska upgraded to recent HQP builds. Also, even I upsample everything from PCM to SDM I increased limits in PCM settings to maximum, and it seem improved sound and functioning further. I know it against logic.

[Miska]

22 hours ago, Bob Stern said:

 

Since poly-sinc and poly-sinc-shrt are your most recommended filters, it would be nice if you offered versions of those filters intermediate between minimum and linear phase, similar to "asymFIR".

 

Yes, I will add it at some point. I have most of the code done already.

[blue2]

11 hours ago, pkane2001 said:

Try a different USB port on your Mac, as sometimes ports stop working properly.

I've often found on PC's that all USB ports are not created equal. Before spending any cash it's well worth trying all of them to check if the stuttering disappears then identify the port. Several times after taking kit for a demo I put the USB cable back in the wrong one  

[Kilauea50]

I have the latest update.  I can play an album but it will not go to what is next in queue.  Sounds wonderful though..lol 

[AnotherSpin]

4 hours ago, blue2 said:

I've often found on PC's that all USB ports are not created equal. Before spending any cash it's well worth trying all of them to check if the stuttering disappears then identify the port. Several times after taking kit for a demo I put the USB cable back in the wrong one  

 

Also it would make sense to check the usage of USB ports. Open Apple>About This Mac>System Report>USB (Hardware). Be sure your DAC is not on the same bus with IR Receiver and Bluetooth USB Host Controller. I am telling about this only to remind well known, but would be forgotten thing.

 

[leftside]

I've been trying the various settings and combos with both my DACS (McIntosh D100 and Lampi Atlantic). The upsampling and filters work well with both DAC's. The only forms of music I prefer without HQP are electronic and music with a lot of bass and/or heavy drums. The bass with HQP seems to flatten out a little on both my systems with all the filters I tried.

For PCM upconversion to 176 and 192 I seem to lean more towards poly-sinc and poly-sinc-ext + NS9

For PCM unconversion to DSD256 I seem to lean more towards poly-sinc, poly-sinc-ext and poly-sinc-xtr-2s + DSD7

[elcorso]

From HQ Player web site:

 

Note!  If you have audio problems when using USB audio device with default settings, try increasing buffer time to 100 ms. This will most likely help.

 

Roch

 

[Dr Tone]

1 hour ago, leftside said:

I've been trying the various settings and combos with both my DACS (McIntosh D100 and Lampi Atlantic). The upsampling and filters work well with both DAC's. The only forms of music I prefer without HQP are electronic and music with a lot of bass and/or heavy drums. The bass with HQP seems to flatten out a little on both my systems with all the filters I tried.

For PCM upconversion to 176 and 192 I seem to lean more towards poly-sinc and poly-sinc-ext + NS9

For PCM unconversion to DSD256 I seem to lean more towards poly-sinc, poly-sinc-ext and poly-sinc-xtr-2s + DSD7

 

You don't mention mp filters at all.  Have you tried any of the mp filters with electronic and bass heavy music?  They shoukd help preserve transients.

[leftside]

Yes - I've tried them all. Let me try the mp filters again though.

[Dr Tone]

39 minutes ago, leftside said:

Yes - I've tried them all. Let me try the mp filters again though.

 

Poly-sinc-mp or poly-sinc-short-mp.

 

I also find upsampling to pcm to be tighter and more focused down low.

[Solstice380]

7 hours ago, Dr Tone said:

Poly-sinc-mp or poly-sinc-short-mp.

 

I have also found the mp filters to be really good with most of my music.  The non-mp filters seem harsher in the upper middle to top end.  The xtr-mp is also worth listening to.  

[firedog]

Another example of playlist playback stopping in Roon. Playing 16/44 track. Next one is 24/96

 

 2017/05/20 14:27:20 Discovered network audio: name='default' version='Signalyst Network Audio Daemon 3.5.1'  @192.168.1.168:43210
& 2017/05/20 14:27:20 Discovered network audio: name='default' version='Signalyst Network Audio Daemon 3.5.1'  @192.168.1.168:43210
  2017/05/20 14:27:21  Network endpoint: Mytek Stereo192-DSD USB2: Mytek USB2 (hw:0,0)
- 2017/05/20 14:27:49 Network engine stopping...
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 libDSP version 18.4.3
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 Number of processor cores: 4
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 DSP thread pools disabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 Pipelined DSP enabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 Audio engine: network
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 Network Audio IPv6 support disabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:49 Discovery from 0.0.0.0
& 2017/05/20 14:27:49 Discovered network audio: name='default' version='Signalyst Network Audio Daemon 3.5.1'  @192.168.1.168:43210
& 2017/05/20 14:27:49 Discovered network audio: name='default' version='Signalyst Network Audio Daemon 3.5.1'  @192.168.1.168:43210
  2017/05/20 14:27:51  Network endpoint: Mytek Stereo192-DSD USB2: Mytek USB2 (hw:0,0)
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Discovered 1 Network Audio Adapters
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set channels: 2 (2)
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 SDM packing: 1
+ 2017/05/20 14:27:51 Connect to 192.168.1.168:43210
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 44100/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 48000/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 88200/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 96000/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 176400/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Network format: 192000/32/2 [pcm] 
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Volume limit: -3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Automatic rate family disabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 DirectSDM disabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 SDM conversion parameters (6, 5)
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 DSD 6 dB gain enabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Initial parallel threads: 8
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Number of logical cores: 8
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set filter: 9
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set dither: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Automatic output rate switching enabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set filter: 9
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set oversampling: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set dither: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set modulator: 6
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Automatic output rate switching enabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 AutoSDM disabled
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 IntegratorM: IIR
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Audio engine SDM mode enabled
& 2017/05/20 14:27:51 Stop
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set oversampling: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set modulator: 6
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set filter: 9
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set oversampling: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set dither: 3
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set modulator: 6
  2017/05/20 14:27:51 Automatic output rate switching enabled
& 2017/05/20 14:27:51 Stop
& 2017/05/20 14:27:51 Playlist clear
& 2017/05/20 14:27:51 Set transport (240): C:\Users\Danny\AppData\Local\HQPlayer\current.m3u8
# 2017/05/20 14:27:51 clPlaylist::AddURI("http://127.0.0.1:9102/cacd5fbf71d74ecf838659277e8cddaf/stream.raw"): clStreamReaderHTTP::GetHead(): 404
# 2017/05/20 14:27:51 clMainWindow::setTransport(): clHQPlayerEngine::SetTransport(): failed
  2017/05/20 14:28:03 Store GUI state
& 2017/05/20 14:28:03 Playlist save: C:\Users\Danny\AppData\Local\HQPlayer\current.m3u8
  2017/05/20 14:28:03 Shutting down...
- 2017/05/20 14:28:03 Network engine stopping...
* 2017/05/20 14:28:03 Exit
 

[scintilla]

Is there a way to hijack a Pandora stream for playback through HQplayer using the AnySource functionality? Is that available on the desktop app?

[Miska]

3 hours ago, scintilla said:

Is there a way to hijack a Pandora stream for playback through HQplayer using the AnySource functionality? Is that available on the desktop app?

 

Generally anything you can output through S/PDIF (coax/opt) or AES/EBU to the HQPlayer machine can be used.

 

It is only available on the Embedded version.

[Miska]

8 hours ago, firedog said:

Another example of playlist playback stopping in Roon. Playing 16/44 track. Next one is 24/96

 

 

 

Please don't post logs to the forum thread, but instead send those over email. It is unnecessary pollution to the list.

 

I don't quite get what is going on there, I see part of startup sequence, then some stop command, HQPlayer trying to restore playlist from previous run and then exit. Or are you changing HQPlayer settings while Roon is connected. Because I don't see any playback attempt from Roon at all on the log.

[Outlaw]

Have max volume set at - 8 and still showing clipping ?

[yates7592]

My DAC takes 192kHz maximum sampling rate on PCM. I feed it various rates from 44.1 to 192. Is my best option to use one setting such as NS9 and some poly sinc filter with auto rate and auto family? Or would I have to change settings depending whether input is 44 or 192?

[bibo01]

2 hours ago, Outlaw said:

Have max volume set at - 8 and still showing clipping ?

That is very odd.

If you give us the exact track and precise HQPlayer setting, people can try to replicate it.

 

Did you rip music from a CD or did you buy the music?

[firedog]

9 hours ago, Miska said:

 

Please don't post logs to the forum thread, but instead send those over email. It is unnecessary pollution to the list.

 

 

Fine, but in the past when I've sent email you haven't responded. Happened on two different occasions.

[Miska]

10 hours ago, firedog said:

Fine, but in the past when I've sent email you haven't responded. Happened on two different occasions.

 

Yes, I think at one point you said you sent a log file to me, but attachment was missing. I read all emails, but don't always respond. To respond to every email, develop HQPlayer and deal with all the bureaucracy I would need more than 24 hours in a day and stop sleeping altogether... I just don't have capacity for more, sorry...

 

[Outlaw]

19 hours ago, bibo01 said:

That is very odd.

If you give us the exact track and precise HQPlayer setting, people can try to replicate it.

 

Did you rip music from a CD or did you buy the music?

I ripped my CD collection using dbpoweramp.I will have to watch what songs  trigger the clipping.Also have bought music and also use Tidal.

[wwaldmanfan]

I’m using HQPlayer for Mac to upsample mixed bit-and-sample rate PCM files to 24/192 PCM. Computer is a dual-core i5 with 8GB RAM. I’m feeding files in real time from an external FireWIre 800 HDD. The problem I am having is occasional random dropouts during playback.

I can’t imagine that I am unduly taxing the CPU. How do I correct this? Do I check “Auto Rate Family”? Or, should I copy the album folders to my internal SATA III SSD drive before playback?

[Outlaw]

20 hours ago, bibo01 said:

That is very odd.

If you give us the exact track and precise HQPlayer setting, people can try to replicate it.

 

Did you rip music from a CD or did you buy the music?

First song played from Tidal was clipping ?