SonicOrbiter - Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming

[vortecjr]

Introducing Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming on SonicOrbiter via Roon/RoonReady and MPD/DLNA on the Rendu series.

 

You guys remember CDs right? According to Wikipedia, "Compact Disc Digital Audio (CDDA or CD-DA), also known as Audio CD, is the standard format for audio compact discs." 

 

In the past computer audio meant ripping CDs and storing them on your computer or NAS for streaming at a later time. Well from time to time I get nostalgic and just want to spin my CDs. Sonore's new Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming allows you to pop a cd into an inexpensive USB optical drive connected to a Rendu and stream its content lossless to another Rendu on your network. You control playback via your computer or iPad as usual.  

 

Here is the flow diagram:

 

 

This is the USB optical drive ($29.99 on Amazon) that I'm using for testing: https://amzn.to/2Qxm3l0

 

CD-DA Streaming with Roon/RoonReady (refer below for UPnP/DLNA setup)

Prerequisites

1. USB optical drive connected to a Rendu on the home network. This Rendu needs to be running Sonic Orbiter 2.8 with recent updates via Software Manager. Note the IP Address of this Rendu for use below. *It might be a good idea to fix the IP address of the Rendu with the USB optical drive connected to it in your router’s configuration.
2. A second Rendu to stream to in RoonReady mode. This unit most me enabled in Roon and selected as the output device.

Setup

1. On the Rendu with the USB optical drive go to Settings / MPD DLNA and press Save.

2. On the Rendu with the USB optical drive insert the CD you want to play.

3. In Roon go to My Live Music

   

    

4. In Roon select Add Station +

   

    

5. In Roon under Manually Add Station select Add Station URL
   
    

6. Enter the following URL, but change IP-address to the IP address of your Rendu with the USB optical drive.
   http://IP-address:9095/upcd/dev/sr0/wholedisk
   example:
   http://192.168.1.172:9095/upcd/dev/sr0/wholedisk
    

7. You should now see a new My Live Radio station named Sonore local CD
   
    

8. Select the Sonore local CD station and press Play Now.

   

    

Enjoy!

 

CD-DA Streaming with UPnP/DLNA (refer above for Roon/RoonReady)

Prerequisites

1. USB optical drive connected to a Rendu on the home network. This Rendu needs to be running Sonic Orbiter 2.8 with recent updates via Software Manager.
2. A second Rendu to stream to in MPD/DLNA mode.

Setup

1. On the Rendu with the USB optical drive go to Settings / MPD DLNA and press Save.

2. On the Rendu with the USB optical drive insert the CD you want to play.

3. On the Rendu with the USB DAC go to Settings / MPD DLNA an press Save. 

4. On your controller select the Rendu with the USB optical drive as the server.

5. On your controller select the Rendu with the USB DAC as the renderer.

6. Select Upcd and press Play.

7. Enjoy! 

[vortecjr]

29 minutes ago, Tintinabulum said:

What would the SQ be like/depend on?

I have been listening all day and IMHO the sound quality is very good. I would say it depends on one using a CD in good shape:) 

[vortecjr]

3 hours ago, JohnSwenson said:

I'm actually very interested. I have a large stash of CDs I have never found the time to rip so they never get played. This should help a lot with the situation.

 

Is the control via an app or web page?

 

Thanks,

 

John S.

John, I sent you an email so you can try it out.

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, MrDerrick said:

Would connecting a USB optical drive to a Small Green Computer STi5 also work?

That is the plan, but I have to talk to Andrew about implementing this on his platform. 

[vortecjr]

10 minutes ago, Superdad said:

This is VERY cool!  I’m sure there are quite a few people who own both an original microRendu and perhaps an ultraRendu or newer.

Looking forward to learning more about this. 

Think how cool this will be with your new switch in the mix! 

[vortecjr]

10 hours ago, Tintinabulum said:

Very interested, just got a job lot of 2400 CDs...

Nice!

[vortecjr]

4 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

I have kept my Meridian 200 CD transport for this purpose. It feeds one of the Digital inputs of my Naim NDS network player. Yes, all of the CDs have been ripped and available in Roon, and most are without jewel cases, just the booklet and disc away in an archive box. It also serves if a visitor brings a CD to play without to rip, tag, upload, index before available to play.

 

What about if the playback of the CD was also simultaneously ripping a copy to an SD card on the connected Rendu device? This ripped copy can either remain on the SD card, or transferred to NAS or local USB drives.

I once had a 200 disk changer from Sony:) sonicTransporter can rip CDs, it has more storage, and a faster CPU so I think it’s best to keep that process over there. 

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, ecwl said:

In my mind, a more universal product would be a CD transport that can do wireless (and wired) Airplay. Rendus already support  Shareport, so obviously owners can play their CDs via Airplay to Rendus. And people who don’t own Rendus with AirPlay capabilities can still play their CDs off their Airplay enabled devices. That’s of course assuming that Airplay doesn’t degrade sound quality. I guess the main advantage of the current proposed setup is that it’s a matter of changing the firmware for Rendu to turn the attached CD drive into a transport. Maybe add the Airplay functionality too? Not sure.

Got lazy last night so instead of turning on my Roon server, I just Airplay music to my ultraRendu

This is not really a product but a feature being added to an existing platform so we have some constraints. I forget if iTunes will allow one to just play the CD. Airplay is not my favorite output mode though.

[vortecjr]

55 minutes ago, left channel said:

Cool. Wonderful idea, but that brings up a couple of questions. Does the player software include error correction? And how much can that improve results from a very basic USB disc drive anyway?

I've always wondered how much error detection and correction is in the CD ripper included with Sonicorbiter servers. I am much more comfortable with dBpoweramp because I don't know what's in Sonicorbiter. But in general, it seems to me that most of our CD rips may be of higher quality than results from actual CDs in this otherwise very cool playback chain.

Normally when I play a CD here — usually when someone, often a musician, brings their own CD — I rely on a Redbook error-correcting CD player connected to the DAC on my best system, with no streaming beyond that room possible. So this idea has me intrigued... 

I have used dbpoweramp a lot and I really like the software. It's very satisfying to see the AccurateRip feedback, but even my poorly treated CDs managed to rip without issues. So far no dropouts or pauses during playback. Let me clarify that the receiving Rendu is the player and not the Rendu with the USB drive attached to it so the player software will not need error correction at that point.   

 

There is a nice write up here called Spoon's Audio Guide: CD Ripping. 

https://dbpoweramp.com/spoons-audio-guide-cd-ripping.htm 

[vortecjr]

Here is a photo of my unit in action streaming Jazz at the Pawn Shop (disk 1) to my Signature Rendu SEopt. I placed the Rendu on top of the drive to give it some mass. I'm using an opticalrendu but a micro/ultraRendu will perform just as well. BTW This Dell drive is very quiet and so I was able to located the combination out in the open right in my audio room

 

[vortecjr]

On 9/26/2019 at 7:49 PM, Mike Rubin said:

Jesus, what is the server software on Rendu #1?  I assume you need to set up the Rendu as a server rather than a player. 

I'm ready to release in the information yet since we are still working on adding features. Right now we are working on adding Reference Recording HRX disk support. If we can implement this feature we can support user made DVDs with WAV files on them.    

[vortecjr]

I suppose you could use iTunes and Airport/Shairport. However, it's not the best sounding protocol on the Rendu;) 

[vortecjr]

5 hours ago, matthias said:

 

Yes, I have seen this as well. It works in the same way with their less expensive Limetree series.

IMO, the disadvantage of the Sonore solution is that it needs TWO Sonore devices.

It would be more convenient to have a Sonore device with an additional USB input and the software to playback CDs from the Superdrive.

 

Matt

That is the advantage because playback is completely isolated from the source in our scheme. 

[vortecjr]

This is all wonderful general information, but let's keep the discussion on topic. 

[vortecjr]

We are still working on it so it's not presently available.

[vortecjr]

On 12/28/2019 at 7:24 PM, jjraffin said:

I’m still keen on this. Spare microRendu and drive at the ready. 🤤

I'm trying to release the code with Sonic Orbiter 2.8.

[vortecjr]

Here is a prototype I built streaming music to an ultraRendu.

 

 

[vortecjr]

8 hours ago, R1200CL said:

@vortecjr

I suppose the best Rendu as endpoint, but will the SQ vary depending on what Rendu you have available as transport ?

 

I didn’t understand how your plan was to control the CD. What SW is required on iPad ?

 

Any news regarding using the SonicTransporter as where to connect the CD ?

 

Another crazy taught:

If you had HMDI in and out on next generation rendu’s one could connect an AppleTV, (or anything else), and just cast from your cell 😀

No matter what I say and what the reality is someone will say it matters. All you currently need is an UPnP controller but we have a another scheme in the works. No chance of HDMI integration.  

[vortecjr]

Some updates

 

1. Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming has been added to Sonic Orbiter 2.8. This feature is limited to Redbock CDDA disks. For setup: Go to Settings / MPD DLNA and press Save. Then you connect a USB optical drive to the Rendu and it should show up as a new server on your DLNA/UPnP controller. Remember you need to select a different Rendu as the renderer. 

 

2. I have a working beta version that can stream to Roon / RoonReady as well.     

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, seaharp1 said:

Is the 2.8 software update SD card available?

Yes. 

[vortecjr]

2 hours ago, R1200CL said:

.......but it will be downloaded as an upgrade as usual ?

No. Hard copy on micro SD card only.    

[vortecjr]

12 hours ago, micbro said:

Do both rendus used need to be version 2.8 ?

No. Only the one that you connect the USB optical drive to. 

[vortecjr]

I have the Sonore Compact Disc Digital Audio Streaming via Roon / RoonReady now. This works a bit different compared to UPnP / DLNA and streams the tracks combined as a single track. 

 

[vortecjr]

Here is a specific use case tested by one of our dealers.

 

FYI This scheme bypasses the internal USB circuits of the Rendu with respect to playback to the USB DAC so not sure of the sound quality impact. 

 

   

[vortecjr]

I just added instructions on usage to the top post:

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/57261-sonore-compact-disc-digital-audio-streaming/