Sonicorbiter - The Operating System

[vortecjr]

5 hours ago, bobflood said:

 

Tim at Holo/Kitsune is pretty sure that this would require a kernel update. Currently the only way is Windows/ASIO.

That doesn’t tell us what Kernel it requires or how they qualified it. This is not Windows or ASIO. I hope they qualified it on Linux and can tell us exactly what is required. 

[vortecjr]

We are currently working on SonicOribter 2.8 and all the apps will be updated for it. It will be available for purchase soon. When this work is complete we will look at circling back to the current version. We may or may not update the applications. Can’t make any promises.

[vortecjr]

4 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

So what’s planned to be in SonicOrbiter 2.8?

Is it a new SD card purchase, as 2.5 was, or an on-the-wire as 2.6 & 2.7 were?

Modernization of the Linux kernel, fix Spotify support, update all the other apps, switch to version of SqueezeLite that has on going support from it's developer. This is an SD card purchase because the jump is significant and complex.  

[vortecjr]

3 hours ago, R1200CL said:

AirPlay support in the pipeline ?

No.

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, Melvin said:

 

Wish I knew this before I purchased the High Capacity SD Card in August .. I would have waited for the update. Will you have an upgrade path for those of us using the HC SD Card? 

You can send it in, but it will be wiped out and the new Operating system installed. 

[vortecjr]

On 10/19/2019 at 1:43 AM, simon_pepper said:

Any update on availability?

Coming soon.

[vortecjr]

I closed it down because our website was not working properly. You can pick one up here:

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/cart

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, bobfa said:

Sonicorbiter-MPD 

 

I am starting to play with MPD on my Signature Rendu SE Optical.  I have my music on a SMB mount point (QNAP NAS).  

 

Is there any indication anywhere in the OS of the progress of MPD scanning the folders on the NAS?

 

 

Bob

 

 

I am not aware of a client that tells you this information. As a tip I can warn you not to press it more than once because that will delay it from finishing.

[vortecjr]

5 hours ago, André Gosselin said:

Do you know if the linux kernel modernization will include support for native DSD through usb on the ESS  ES90186 Sabre 32 chip ? Up to now on SonicOrbiter, DSD must be streamed in DOP on usb, which limits DSD streams to dsd128. Native dsd256 streaming on usb is possible on  Windows, but with the use of a special ASIO driver. Being able have the same for linux would be nice.

Regards

André

Where did you get that information:) Linux supports both Native DSD and DSD via DoP. No proprietary ASIO drive needed.

[vortecjr]

1 minute ago, André Gosselin said:

My question was not about whether Linux can support streaming in Native DSD vs DoP. My question was about the future SonicOrbiter 2.8 linux kernel support for native DSD on USB DACs equipped with the  ESS  ES90186 Sabre 32 chip,like my SimAudio 780Dv2. Currently, in SonicOrbiter 2.7, native DSD is not supported for this DAC, and SonicOrbiter must be parametrized to stream DSD using  DoP, which means streaming at most DSD128 given that this DAC cannot go above 386 kHz.

 

I hope my concern is clearer now, and that native DSD will be supported on my SimAudio 780Dv2 DAC in SonicOrbiter 2.8.

Regards,

André

Andre, native DSD support on your DAC is strictly up to the manufacture of your DAC. If your DAC does not support the correct streaming format only they can fix that issue. Contact them and tell them to get with the program. FYI SonicOrbiter 2.8 will have the latest auto discovery code which they should take advantage of.   

[vortecjr]

2 minutes ago, bobflood said:

Will 2.8 support 1.536 Mhz PCM/1024 DSD?

I'm not aware of a limitation on this. I also have no way to test it.

[vortecjr]

15 minutes ago, bobflood said:

I will test it and let you know when 2.8 is released. Currently 768 PCM/512 DSD is as high as my uRendu will go. My HOLO Spring 2 will do 1,536/1024 but my HQPlayer computer will only go to 512 DSD but 1.536 PCM is no problem. When I try 1.536 PCM now it is garbled. The likely problem is that the bitrate for 1.536 should be about 100 Mbps but 70 Mbps is all that gets thru. I have no idea where the bottle neck is. I will test the new kernel when I get it. This is not a big issue as 768 PCM is probably all that is needed. 

Do you have a switch between the server and Rendu? If so, do you have flow control enabled? The opitcalRendu has a switch built in and set to support flow control by default. 

[vortecjr]

8 minutes ago, bobflood said:

The uRendu and the server are both connected directly to the RTAC88U router with no switch in the middle.

It's hard to say if flow control is available on a router.   

[vortecjr]

29 minutes ago, bobflood said:

There is no setting for flow control that I can find in the router. I did verify that it is activated on the server machine (Win 10/64/1909) PC. Let's see what happens with 2.8 when you have it ready. It could be the HQP NAA (there is a newer version) or the Linux kernel. I have not asked Jussi but I did ask Tim at Kitsune and he thought it was the Linux  kernel. He said that he has seen it before. Several months ago I suggested that you contact him about it. I forgot about it since then as it is ultimately not very important to me. I just thought that at some point down the road that it may become an issue for you. BTW, are we getting close on 2.8? If you want to send me a prior to release version of 2.8, I will test it for you or I will just wait for the release.

 

Thanks

It may not be enough to have it on the server. Jussi really is the best person to ask about this. As you say...it's not very important. 2.8 is moving along, but it can't be rushed because it has to be right.   

[vortecjr]

12 hours ago, Axiom05 said:

Will SO 2.8 contain an update to MPD? Current version of MPD is 0.21.17 (Dec 2019), Rendu's are still on 0.20.20 (May 2018). MPD is still the best sounding player in my system, I always come back to it.

All apps will be updated for 2.8.

[vortecjr]

On 1/1/2020 at 12:38 PM, Foggie said:

When 2.8 is released will it be available as an "upgrade" option from SO menu or will it require purchasing a new SD card from Sonore? For the latter, specifically, if one just purchased an OR for example will this be an additional purchase or be included as part of a "new" purchase or whatever?

2.8 will be on new SD cards and new products shipping after its release. No eta yet.   

[vortecjr]

On 1/4/2020 at 3:21 PM, R1200CL said:

@vortecjr

 

With reference to this review, is it possible technically to implement the  Home Audio Fidelity - Room Shaper SW into the Sonicorbiter for SonicTransporter HW ?

 

I personally wouldn’t mind even pay a reasonable price to have this implemented and avoid another PC in the digital chain.

I have not discussed it with him, but for now the feature set is fixed.

[vortecjr]

5 hours ago, Matias said:

@vortecjr could you please tell us what are the new features of 2.8, at least the confirmed ones? Even if release date and pricing is unconfirmed. Thanks.

New modern Kernel, updated apps, return of Spotify (beta). I'm also trying to include Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming as discussed here: https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/57261-sonore-compact-disc-digital-audio-streaming/

 

 

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

Will there be better device discovery for USB connected DACs?

We are doing our part. DAC manufacturers also need to do there part.

[vortecjr]

9 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

What packages are updated with the 2.8 release, and with what additional features/functionality?

 

I am primarily interested in the SonoreUPnP Bridge and any changes that affect SQ in a Roon environment.

Not interested in Airplay, Spotify, CD Streaming between Rendu units.

 

Some level of Release notes would be appreciated given you are charging for this update.

 

Thanks,

Simon

SonoreUPnP Bridge is the same just recompiled against the Kernel. 

[vortecjr]

8 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

Yes, that listed "New modern Kernel, updated apps, return of Spotify (beta). I'm also trying to include Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming as discussed here"

 

So kernel updates were made with the 2.5 update, which was physical delivery, but since then there was the 2.6 & 2.7 which were download based updates.

 

"updated apps" - which ones, and with what additional functionality/features?

 

With the replacement SD card with the 2.8 release at $29 plus shipping - what is included and what difference to an existing system will this update make?

 

What is the impact of not making paying for this update?

 

These details are normally covered in Release Notes - what bugs are fixed, what new functionality is introduced, what are the known renaming issues etc.

Don't confuse patching a Kernel with updating to a newer Kernel and Fedora version. Sonic Orbiter 2.8 is a newer Kernel and Fedora version which was a significant amount of work to get it all working properly.   

[vortecjr]

3 hours ago, Mike Rubin said:

Not trying necessarily to cheap out, but I own four rendus of three different types and am looking at a bit of an upgrade expense for multiple cards.  I understand that the sd cards may be customized for the specific model, but, if not, is it possible to buy one card, copy it at home to new sd cards, and run the same version of the OS on all devices?  (I don’t know if the model identification information on the home screen comes from the OS or ROM, so I understand that copying might not work without root access and Linux skills, but, if the identification information displays accurately on each device, copying the card could get the new OS into more units quickly, promoting uniformity in both the specific user’s experience across different products and in Sonore’s support of the rendus.)

We plan to offer a promotion to Signature Rendu owners. I can't condone what you are proposing and we also can't provide you support if we think you are doing what you propose.

[vortecjr]

12 hours ago, R1200CL said:

@vortecjr

In order to get future updates, like Roon, do I need the 2.8 version, or will the present 2.7 be maintained with updates for the various apps ?

 

What about SonicTransporter ?

How or when will SonicTransporter be upgraded ?

Sonic Orbiter 2.7 will get critical updates for a while. You have to email Andrew about SonicTransporter. 

[vortecjr]

I'll try not to be to controversial:)

 

Sonic Orbiter 2.8 is for sale and we have shipped a few and are shipping more each day. This is a big update and we are doing this slowly on purpose incase odd things pops up as we move along. FYI this is typical of any of our releases. 

 

The reason for the new OS is as previously discussed...update apps, fix broken apps, add a new feature(s), and modernize the OS. I recommend people update to Sonic Orbiter 2.8 and keep the older OS as a backup.

 

SQ wise it sounds great...enjoy! 

[vortecjr]

1 hour ago, Mercman said:

I just received 2.8 for my Signature Rendu SE Optical. Guys, I cannot get Roon to see the Rendu. The Rendu is coming up in the Sonicorbiter software. The settings seem correct and I restarted the Roon app on the Rendu. My DAC is recognized by Sonicorbiter and the DAC is indicating a connection with the Rendu.  I have restarted everything multiple times, but no success.
 

When I change out the card to 2.7, Roon recognizes the Rendu.

If you see your DAC in DAC Diagnostics and you pressed Save in Apps / RoonReady then in Roon go to Settings / Audio enable the Rendu.