Introducing foobar2000 setup assistant, turning your computer into a streamer with a single click

[Windows X]

 

After releasing Fidelizer 8.10 for a while, I noticed something about computer audio setup. It’s not easy to setup computer as a streamer for most people. Even Roon or Audirvana need some configuration to use Tidal / Qobuz and can be quite complicated for end user.

foobar2000 is free easy to be downloaded and installed to use. But to get streaming working with foobar2000, most people don’t know how to setup. JRiver is good and affordable solution that supports DLNA/uPNP too. But most people don’t know how to set it up.

Meanwhile in Rasberry Pi and other arm devices have Linux distro pre-configured with streaming feature ready to be used. It’s actually easier for beginner to select firmware image and flash on micro SD card to boot.

 

After realizing this, I checked foobar2000’s license terms again and prepare a separated installer software outside original installer called “foobar2000_setup.exe” This program will perform silent installation of foobar2000 and setup components and configuration after installing.

With foobar2000 version 2.0, WASAPI exclusive audio output is implemented by default so you won’t need 3rd-party components to setup. That way, it’s possible to redistribute unmodified installer and apply configuration file separately with high audio performance optimized.

Since DLNA/uPNP and SACD input components have GPL license, I hope it’s okay to redistribute those files outside foobar2000 installer for community’s benefits. With foobar2000 setup assistant, you can turn PC into an uPNP streamer with a single click.

 

Download: Fidelizer – foobar2000 setup assistant

Recommended apps: BubbleuPNP, (Android), JPLAY (iOS), mConnect Player Lite (Android), mConnect Player Lite (iOS)

[bogi]

3 hours ago, Windows X said:

Even Roon or Audirvana need some configuration to use Tidal / Qobuz and can be quite complicated for end user.

 

foobar2000 does not contain any Tidal or Qobuz related component and you didn't explain how do you want to connect them. I guess you want to suggest to use BubbleUPnP or mConenct Player on a phone as UPnP Control Point.

 

foo_upnp is very old 32bit component, last updated in 2015. It will be most probably never updated because of old libraries it is based on. But it still works, also with the latest 32bit version of foobar2000 2.x. Nice thing is it allows to run foobar2000 on low power mini PC totally headless. One can easily run also DSP or VST plugins on foobar2000 like room correction filters, headphone crossfed or anything else.

 

What's your idea how to use foobar2000 output? Send it to a directly connected DAC, or to other UPnP renderer, or ... ?

 

I see on your picture that automated foobar2000 setup is titled as Fidelizer. Is this setup part of Fidelizer setup or is it a standalone setup? Will it work also without Fidelizer, or is Fidelizer required for this setup to work?

[Windows X]

2 minutes ago, bogi said:

 

foobar2000 does not contain any Tidal or Qobuz related component and you didn't explain how do you want to connect them. I guess you want to suggest to use BubbleUPnP or mConenct Player on a phone as UPnP Control Point.

 

foo_upnp is very old 32bit component, last updated in 2015. It will be most probably never updated because of old libraries it is based on. But it still works, also with the latest 32bit version of foobar2000 2.x. Nice thing is it allows to run foobar2000 on low power mini PC totally headless. One can easily run also DSP or VST plugins on foobar2000 like room correction filters, headphone crossfed or anything else.

 

What's your idea how to use foobar2000 output? Send it to directly connected DAC, or to other UPnP renderer, or ... ?

 

I see you have integrated foobar2000 setup into Fidelizer. Do you plan to offer this foobar2000 automated setup also as a free option?

 

I recommended BubbleuPNP / JPLAY / mConnect Player app that can stream Tidal / Qobuz to foobar2000 directly from mobile phone yeah. foo_upnp is based on Platinum UPnP SDK code which is 32-bit only.

 

In this package I setup with primary audio device in exclusive and event mode with standard safe buffer around 25ms. You can install ASIO output plugin and use ASIO driver as an alternative to built-in WASAPI.

 

Personally I'd prefer connecting USB output to DAC directly using foobar2000 as upnp endpoint device. I didn't integrate foobar2000 into Fidelizer by the way. This is a separated setup assistant project to help audiophiles getting started with PC as streamer easier for free. :)

 

Regards,

Keetakawee

[bogi]

5 minutes ago, Windows X said:

I recommended BubbleuPNP / JPLAY / mConnect Player app that can stream Tidal / Qobuz to foobar2000 directly from mobile phone yeah.

Right! I somehow skipped the last line of your post.

 

4 minutes ago, Windows X said:

This is a separated setup assistant project to help audiophiles getting started with PC as streamer easier for free. :)

 

Very nice approach, thanks! :) I don't need it, but it can help others to build a working streamer based on free software. My Atom Z8350 mini PC where I am running such a setup was about 80 EUR some 4 years ago and it works without issues till now.

[Windows X]

6 minutes ago, bogi said:

Right! I somehow skipped the last line of your post.

 

 

Very nice approach, thanks! :) I don't need it, but it can help others to build a working streamer based on free software. My Atom Z8350 mini PC where I am running such a setup was about 80 EUR some 4 years ago and it works without issues till now.

 

Yeah. The main purpose for this project is I realized there're still a few people who can't get started with setting up PC as streamer due to not knowing how to setup to make it work properly. I hope this will help reducing pain points in this hobby.

 

Regards,

Keetakawee

[Jud]

4 hours ago, Windows X said:

Even Roon or Audirvana need some configuration to use Tidal / Qobuz and can be quite complicated for end user.

 

Thanks for showing another way to do this. I wanted to point out that with Audirvana, using Qobuz or Tidal just means entering your username and password - that's it. And of course you have to do that to use these services in the first place.

[Windows X]

7 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

Thanks for showing another way to do this. I wanted to point out that with Audirvana, using Qobuz or Tidal just means entering your username and password - that's it. And of course you have to do that to use these services in the first place.

 

Some people are computer illiterate and don't know where to setup those accounts or even configure bit-perfect audio output. I still see a lot of people using default System output without enabling specific device with bit-perfect configuration in Roon or use default Audirvana output with OS mixer. And let's not forget those apps aren't free.

 

Regards,

Keetakawee

[Jud]

2 hours ago, Windows X said:

 

Some people are computer illiterate and don't know where to setup those accounts or even configure bit-perfect audio output. I still see a lot of people using default System output without enabling specific device with bit-perfect configuration in Roon or use default Audirvana output with OS mixer. And let's not forget those apps aren't free.

 

Regards,

Keetakawee

 

Sure, but I thought we were talking about accessing streaming services. In any case, your explanation of a simplified method for doing this with Foobar on the OS most people are familiar with, Windows, is appreciated.

[Windows X]

7 hours ago, Jud said:

 

Sure, but I thought we were talking about accessing streaming services. In any case, your explanation of a simplified method for doing this with Foobar on the OS most people are familiar with, Windows, is appreciated.

 

With pleasure. It's not complicated for logging into streaming service but setting up platform to support one is not commonly known knowledge. I hope this single click solution will reduce another pain point in this hobby. :)

[Windows X]

 

After successful launch of the first release of foobar2000 – setup assistant project that helps resolving pain point in setting up PC as a streamer for so long, version 2.0 with more updates and optimizations is released with the following changes:

 

-Added ASIO+DSD Output 0.3.8 component to support ASIO and DSD playback
-Configured default theme to support music library browsing with album art
-Configured FidelizerServer to detect all music files in computer automatically
-Improved DSD playback with SDM type E modulation and streaming support
-Updated DSD Processor to version 1.3.2
-Updated Super Audio CD Decoder to version 1.5.10

 

If you use legacy device that doesn’t support 24-bit, you can click on File > Preferences > Playback > Output > Devices and change Bits on “Primary Sound Driver” to 16. I considered changing default bits to 16 but that’d ruin most people’s experience with hires DAC in market right now.

You can select native ASIO output by clicking on File > Preferences > Playback > Output menu and select ASIO output device for your DAC. You can use recommended apps in mobile/tablet device to stream Tidal/Qobuz and music files in local network to FidelizerRenderer.

 

Download: Fidelizer – foobar2000 setup assistant 2.0

Recommended apps: BubbleuPNP, (Android), JPLAY (iOS), mConnect Player Lite (Android), mConnect Player Lite (iOS)

[stereousa]

I am an advanced Foobar2000 user who uses DSD processor to upsample PCM to 512 DSD. Was wondering how much is the difference between SDM type E vs type D. I was using D as it was default. I like that you use ASIO+DSD. The latest version sounds much better, I feel.

 

BTW, what is Fidelizer Server and Renderer? Can we install this separately? Will Spotify see this as a separate device to stream through Foobar, so that even it’s stream is upsampled as DSD 512?

[Windows X]

On 12/6/2023 at 11:30 AM, stereousa said:

I am an advanced Foobar2000 user who uses DSD processor to upsample PCM to 512 DSD. Was wondering how much is the difference between SDM type E vs type D. I was using D as it was default. I like that you use ASIO+DSD. The latest version sounds much better, I feel.

 

BTW, what is Fidelizer Server and Renderer? Can we install this separately? Will Spotify see this as a separate device to stream through Foobar, so that even it’s stream is upsampled as DSD 512?

 

With pleasure. SDM Type E is newer release after standard A-D for years. There's also "Trellis E" which is used in Merging Pyramix. It's more intensive version and can only work as offline file conversion version.

 

FidelizerServer and FidelizerRenderer is configured DLNA/uPNP solution to work with mobile apps such as mConnect / JPLAY / BubbleuPNP / Audirvana and others that support DLNA/uPNP technology. Spotify doesn't support DLNA so it won't see this.

 

You can download DLNA component separately from website and configure from here.

 

https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_upnp

 

Regards,

Keetakawee

[stereousa]

Thanks Keetakawee for letting me know about SDM Type E and the FidelizerServer/FidelizerRenderer. So basically they are the foo_upnp component. I had installed them long time back and abandoned them, as they cannot do DSD.

[Windows X]

On 12/20/2023 at 4:28 AM, stereousa said:

Thanks Keetakawee for letting me know about SDM Type E and the FidelizerServer/FidelizerRenderer. So basically they are the foo_upnp component. I had installed them long time back and abandoned them, as they cannot do DSD.

 

You can still do DoP streaming but yeah Native DSD through uPNP isn't possible with foobar2000 uPNP. Maybe you can try sacd components to convert DoP back to Native and see if it can work.

 

This project is designed to help new audiophiles to transform their PC into streamer with single click since many can't configure software as uPNP themselves. Then again, paid solutions like JRiver and Audirvana might be more preferable for you.

 

Regards,

Keetakawee