Hi

I read in a photo magazine that they considered W7 a major impovement over VISTA, in particular regarding memory handling, which provided for images loading much faster in Photoshop.
Does this improvement in memory handling aslo play a role to improve XXHIGHEND (0.9y-4)?   I am using VISTA 64x Premium on a dual AMD Opteron machine with 6GB of memory and often get a XXHIGHEND Out of Memory notice if I play for a long time while also using the computer for other tasks (such as loading CDs to disc with EAC).

Bjorn 

I bought a M-Audio Profire 610 to use as an interface with my laptop.

Although software and driver installed OK on my laptop, the sound was terrible.
After investigating the issue on the M-AUdio user board, and the answers provided, it became evident that M-AUdio Profire 610 set up to properly interface with Texas Instrument (TI) chipsets on the computer (laptop Vista 32 bit)) Firewire (FW) interface.
I asked Acer about the FW chipset on my Travelmate 8204 and was told the FW cahipset was some obscure Taiwanese kind.
I solved the issue by buying a SIIG FW 800 Expresscard/34 interface and now the sound is working OK.
I still have trouble with the SIIG FW 800 card not wanting to allow wireless communication, but this is less of an issue as I only install the card when litening to music, and I can then use wired RJ45 connection to my music library. I have also copied some of my favourite music to the hard drive of my laptop, so I do not need to worry about connecting to the music server all of the time.

One advantge of the Profire 610 is that it is a two-way unit - able to perform Digital to Analog (DA) for listening as well as Analag to Digital (AD) for recording LPs; both up to 192/24.

My main (floorstanding) PC (VISTA 64 bit) - used for recording LPs - has a M-Audio Delta 192 PCI card as music interface. I tried to install the M-Audio Profire 610 (64 bit) driver and that machine, but discovered that M-AUdio did not seem to allow both the Delta 192 (64 bit) driver and the Profire 610 FW driver (64 bit) to co-exist on the same machine.  Therefore I am using the digital SPDIF/RCA IN/OUT on the Profire 610  to interface with the M-Audio Delta 192 (PCI) SPDIF/RCA IN/OUT in my PC, which worksOK for me.
 
 
   

Peter

You are correct, I did not really pose a question, but my statement was based on my impression that I could use the M-AUdio Profire 610 as an interface only - similar to your use of the FF400 (if not in SPDIF, than through Firewire). However, given your statement, this may be subject to test and verification - I admit I assumed it was possible w/out checking this out in detail.

Bjorn

Peter

I am a serious music listener and therefore appreciate XXHIGHEND.
However, serious listener under a budget constrain.
I am fully aware that a product in $ 500 range is not the ultimate in sound quality, but I am taking your advice that "even a $ 100 external DAC is improvement over internal PC DAC".
Update:
I found out by trying to play LPs and convert to digital via internal M-Audio Delta 192 PCI card (although 24/193 capable) did not produce acceptable results - digital file contained (static electricity) pops and SQ not at acceptabel level. In other words AD function of M-AUdio Delta 192  card not up to par. Similar occasional pops occurs when listening to XXHIGHEND FLAC files through M-AUdio Delta 192 card's DAC - analog out to speakers. As similar pops are not occuring when listening through USB headphones, this indicates problem is with the card.
On the other hand, I have been told by Benchmark (who has tested M-AUdio Delta 192 card) that the digital RCA/SPDIF in/out on the Delta 192 card is good (if not absolute, almost bit-perfect).
I have therefore decided to get a M-Audio Profire 610, which can (either in AD or DA mode) interface both with my PC (through digital RCA/SPDIF to DELTA 192 PCI card) and my laptop (through Firewire).
In the first instance I will use the M-Audio Profire as the AD converter for transferring my LPs to digital on my PC (via Delta 192 card digital RCA/SPDIF), while also being able to monitor resulting digital file through earphones (once my AKG340 headphones are back from being modded/upgraded).
In the longer run, when I get a dedicated high quality (NOS) DAC, I can restrict the use of the M-AUdio Profire 610 to a Firewire/ digital SPDIF interface - while still making use of the headphone amp built in to the M-AUdio Profire 610.

Bjorn
   

Thanks Peter and SeVeRed for sharing insights.

1. I already have laptop (ACER 8204), currently running WIN XP, but about to upgrade to run VISTA (32x) - not just to run XXHIGHEND, current XP install unstable in operation. However, judging from your comments, I might view use of laptop as interim measure and consider (in long run) additional PC (with PCI M-AUdio Delta 192 - SPDIF audio card) in family room.

2. For interconnect btw computers, I will continue my attempt to replace current wireless with hardwired Ethernet btw study and family room.
Running hardwire Ethernet will eliminate need for external HDD and possible interference btw external HDD and external DAC (whether using FW or USB). 

3. External DACs I have had my eyes on (price range around US$ 500-600):
a. M-AUdio Profire 610 (Firewire) US $500; one reason, as SeVeRed said, is to use FW to avoid conflict with other USB devices, in particular if using laptop. Second benefit is that the Profire 610 is both an external DAC and an external ADC - useful for me to be able to use external ADC when transferring my LPs to digital and feed Profire digital out via SPDIF to SPDIF input at PCI M-Audio Delta 192 installed in main PC (should be improvement over using ADC function in PCI M-Audio Delta 192). Third benefit is Profire 610 has built in headphone amp (to feed my AKG 340, now being re-built, modded/upgraded).

b. My stereo equipment expert (Partsconnexion, Canada), who has extensive experience in selling and upgrading Benchmark Dac-1, has alerted me to the fact that MusicHall (N America distributor of Shanling) has introduced a very (on paper) impressive DAC - DAC-25.2 US$ 600; which seem to (although comparative listening tests not yet conducted) be able to challenge and beat Benchmark DAC-1, at about half the price. However, although it has a headphone amp built in, it does NOT provide ADC fucntion. Interface IN is SPDIF (192/24),  Toslink, XLR and USB (at present not clear whether USB restricted to 96/24 or able to cover up to 192/24 - tech details "i2s USB input with PCM 2704 chips" and "TI SRC 4192 asynchronous sample-rate converter, TI PCM 1796 192/24 DAC chip").  Analog unbalanced out (RCA) and balanced (XLR).   

Peter

I wanted to hear your views on how best to play music at moer than one location.
Some time ago you touched on this as I had included it as a side question to another more technical issue, but I thought best to clarify your views.
Currently I store my music on my main PC in my (upstairs) study , hardwired to my local wireless (Ethernet) router.
I will outline my assumptions, and you can correct me, if I am wrong.

1. Using Ethernet to send music files from Main PC computer to other location in the house and use XX on my laptop in my family room (on the main floor).
a. Sound quality (SQ) will  not be negatively affected by transfer of (EAC ripped) music files over Ethernet from PC in study to be played by XX on another computer (PC or laptop) in another location in the house.
b. Transfer over hardwired Ethernet faster and more secure than wireless transfer, but either mode of transfer OK (and does not interfer with SQ).
c. Laptop usually has built-in sound inferior to internal PCI sound card in desktop PC (in my case M-Audio Delta 192), but if hooked up to external DAC, laptop SQ not inferior to PC hooked up to same external DAC (using the same USB or FW interface, Vista and same associated driver).

2. If instead of using Ethernet/wireless, you copy music files onto removable hard drive (HD), both USB and Firewire acceptable interfaces.



 

Peter

Quality setting:
In my previous post, I commented on setting to 24. However looking back at the program I see that it was NOT Quality set to 24, rather Q1=parameter 24 in 09-w8.
However, in 09-w09b the Q1 Parameter setting is missing - this is what I was referring to as Quality setting missing - sorry my mistake (causing confusion).
Thus my question: Has Q1 slider been eliminated in 09-w09b, or am I in fact missing something?

Bjorn

Peter

1. Unattended - thanks for the clarification, I thought Unattended only meant that the program moved from song to next song in the playlist w/out the need for manual instruction. When running in Unattended mode, the whole program disappeared, i.e. was not available from the bottom task bar in Vista 64.
Running in Attended mode, I can easily minimize the program to the bottom task bar, call the program up again and make changes, Start playing again w/out issues and even have the progressing bar working. Only remaining sign of any problem is that I seem to have lost some of the progression bar markers.

2. Album covers as jpg pictures; the loading on the right hand only occurs when the album does not have a picture associated with it and XXHIGHEND seems to display all available album pictures (jpg) available. I have attached a print screen from an albun with jpg attached. Picture appears a bit small, but is otherwise functioning normally.

3. Problem of screen overlay at startup - nothing much to worry about, it fixes itself if I minimize and re-open the program in full screen.

4. Quality setting; I have played wih setting at high Quality (24) assuming that my PC (dual processors, 6GB of RAM) has enough power to handle such a setting. Thankful for your comments on this, if you disagree or would like to suggest other Quality setting.

   

Peter

A. 09-w8
I think you were right that extended the screen too far created some problems. However, re-adjusting the screen size did not solve the problem.

B. 09-w9b
I waiting for a new version to try out and did load 09-w9b over the week end. Unfortunately, I am still experiencing soem video issues.

1. Although 09-w9b supposedly included a fix for the disappearing Quality slider, I never had a Quality slider in 09-w9b.
2. I am still experiencing the start-up issue, where I have to minimize the program contol panel and open it agon to get the full panel visible - see two attachments.
3.I still experience the problem of the program control panel cloosing and disappering once music is fully loaded and starts to play. Although music (Engine 3) is still playing, I then have to open the program all over again to get the program control panel visible. However, although visible, the program control panel is static; the bottom arrow is stuck showing the location of the music play at the place where music was playing when program control panel opened the second time. Similarly, even if playing the next song (Unattended), the control panel stays static at the song playing when control panel opened for the second time. In addition, if I stop play and manully move to playing another song (or playlist), the control panel shuts down and disappears, when the new song is fully loaded and starts to play.
This control panel shut-down, disappearance is the same when palying CD FLAC files or hi-res FLAC files
On the other hand, I have nothing at all to complain about re. playing various music, including hi-res files - it is only the video/ control panel that is a bit of a problem. However, I very much prefer a player that plays music beautifully with some viseo issues to a perfect video/control panel playing music at inferior quality.

Bjorn 

Peter

Screen shot attached.

Bjorn

Peter

Remaining video problem in 09-w8:
Control functions for Unattended etc. normally located in lower right part of the screen does not show up on my screen after I experienced a program crash - thus unable to access these controls (and player seem stuck in Attended mode, although set for Unattended mode prior to crash). 

On another matter - if I may:
I need to migrate my laptop (ACER 8204, 32 bit Intel processor) from XP to Vista or WIN 7 in order to take advantage of XXHIGHEND Engine #3 when laptop used as a remote player (with my Vista 64x main computer as the music server). When migrating I will expand laptop memory from 2GB to 4GB (although I am aware WIN 32 bit only able to access max 3.5GB). Thankful for your thoughts whether best to go with Vista 32x (for money and with proven/tested drivers) or try out WIN7 32x (free Beta, but maybe unstable and not guaranteed Vista 32x drivers will work, although generally claimed that VISTA 32x drivers supposed to work with WIN7).
More specifically, if we set aside potential problems with using VISTA 32x under WIN7 - what are your thoughts on the pros and cons with WIN7 compared to Vista 32x?

Bjorn   

Pete

I have found the major problem.
After getting 09-w6 and 09-w8 working with 96/24 and 192/24 output through soundcard and speakers, I changed to (Logitech USB) earphones (as it was late and wife wanted to sleep in peace).
Apparently, when checking both SPDIF, speaker/amp out and earphones, it turned out that although both SPDIF and speaker out accepted 24/192, USB earphones was limited to 16/44.1 and 16/48.
When I reset to play through M-Audio Delta 192 PCI card and speakers, I can play 24/96, 24/192 (2L FLAC downloaded test files) as well as 16/44.1 with double and quadruple upsample.

This discovery is certainly a big relief. However, although video now working OK without additional crashes, I still have an issue with the video (missing lower Unattended settings), but that is not a major worry. I think video issue originally created by my (stupid) attempt to set DAC for 24/192 (thinking I was still routing sound through M-Audio Delta card) and play hi-res (24/96 and 24/192) FLAC files while the Logitech USB earphones only able to play max 16/48. I guess Logitech USB earphones playing through separate USB driver, and not through the M-Audio Delta 192 PCI card and driver (correct??)

I have not tried to re-install 09-w8 to fix video issue - rather I will wait for your next release and make a refresh install, which I think will adddress the video issue.
This gives me reason to look for a decent headphone amp (or DAC headphone combo) and hook up my old AKG 340 earphones to the earphone monitor (balanced) analog output from the M-Audio PCI sound card instead of the restrictive Logitech USB earphones.

Bjorn   

Peter

Running 09-w6 and 09-w8 with 100 MB (instead of 700 MB) split file has solved the problem.
Thank you for your dedication to continued improvement of XXHIGHEND.
Even if I am currently just playing 16/44.1, the player makes regular 16/44.1 sound so good that ability to play esoteric 24/96 and 24/192 less urgent (at least for now).

Bjorn
 

Pete
My problem with 09-w8, similar to when I ran 09-w6.
Video screen crash after a few uses - lost lower settings (Unattended), but was able to set to Unattended play before lost the settings.
Three sets of info from crashes attached.

I have also found from DAC Test that my M-AUdio PCI Delta 192 (with M-Audio Beta VISTA 64x driver) only plays at 16/44.1 and 16/48. Do you think that the fact that the M-Audio Beta VISTA 64x driver is not Microsoft signed plays a matter? Do you think best to send this issue to  M-Audio Beta driver team (although I am able to play both 24/96 and 192/24 files with MediaMonkey and ASIO driver)?

Crash 1:
Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
  Application Name:   svchost.exe
  Application Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Application Timestamp:   47919291
  Fault Module Name:   ntdll.dll
  Fault Module Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Fault Module Timestamp:   4791adec
  Exception Code:   c000071b
  Exception Offset:   000000000006010d
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
  Locale ID:   4105
  Additional Information 1:   8975
  Additional Information 2:   803d51a048d13ed597ff94fe6ba3464e
  Additional Information 3:   8975
  Additional Information 4:   803d51a048d13ed597ff94fe6ba3464e

Crash 2:
Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
  Application Name:   XXEngine3.exe
  Application Version:   0.0.0.0
  Application Timestamp:   496f6880
  Fault Module Name:   StackHash_fd00
  Fault Module Version:   0.0.0.0
  Fault Module Timestamp:   00000000
  Exception Code:   c0000005
  Exception Offset:   005a9bdc
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
  Locale ID:   4105
  Additional Information 1:   fd00
  Additional Information 2:   ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
  Additional Information 3:   fd00
  Additional Information 4:   ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Crash 3:
Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
  Application Name:   spoolsv.exe
  Application Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Application Timestamp:   4791a2af
  Fault Module Name:   ntdll.dll
  Fault Module Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Fault Module Timestamp:   4791adec
  Exception Code:   c000071b
  Exception Offset:   000000000006010d
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
  Locale ID:   4105
  Additional Information 1:   c29d
  Additional Information 2:   a9070e81a2764f16d8f1d0623c83bc6b
  Additional Information 3:   c29d
  Additional Information 4:   a9070e81a2764f16d8f1d0623c83bc6b

------
Tyan m-board - dual 2GHZ opteron, 6 GB RAM
2x dual SATA/mirror  HDs
M-Audio PCI Delta 192 sound card (M-Audio Beta Vista 64 x driver)


 

Peter

Engine 3 working under 09-w6, but have problem with screen and video.
Program, including video/screen and all setting shows up after initial install.
However, after some uses video/screen crashes the program (although Engine 3 continues to play music).
After restarting program, I have lost lower settings Unattended play etc.
Video/screen stays on while I paly music, but only as long as I do not change settings (volume, playlist).
When I initiate a change, the screen/video crashes again - but music keeps om playing, if playlist untouched.

Attached some details from 2 crashes:

Crash 1
************** Exception Text **************
System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values.
Parameter name: rowIndex
   at System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid.get_Item(Int32 rowIndex, Int32 columnIndex)
   at XXHighEnd.XXHighEnd.comboBoxEnumeratePlayLists_SelectedIndexChanged(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.OnSelectedIndexChanged(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.WmReflectCommand(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
XXHighEnd
    Assembly Version: 1.0.3292.34044
    Win32 Version: 1.0.3292.34044
    CodeBase: file:///C:/XXHighEnd-09-w6/XXHighEnd.exe
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Runtime.Remoting
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound
    Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
    Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
    CodeBase: file:///C:/XXHighEnd-09-w6/Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Data
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_32/System.Data/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
SoundsLike
    Assembly Version: 1.1.2624.38754
    Win32 Version: 1.1.2624.38754
    CodeBase: file:///C:/XXHighEnd-09-w6/SoundsLike.DLL
----------------------------------------
LogicNP.FolderView
    Assembly Version: 10.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 10.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/XXHighEnd-09-w6/LogicNP.FolderView.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Management
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Management/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Management.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.DirectX
    Assembly Version: 1.0.2902.0
    Win32 Version: 5.04.00.2904
    CodeBase: file:///C:/XXHighEnd-09-w6/Microsoft.DirectX.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1434 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------

Crash 2:

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   APPCRASH
  Application Name:   svchost.exe
  Application Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Application Timestamp:   47919291
  Fault Module Name:   ntdll.dll
  Fault Module Version:   6.0.6001.18000
  Fault Module Timestamp:   4791adec
  Exception Code:   c000071b
  Exception Offset:   000000000006010d
  OS Version:   6.0.6001.2.1.0.256.1
  Locale ID:   4105
  Additional Information 1:   8975
  Additional Information 2:   803d51a048d13ed597ff94fe6ba3464e
  Additional Information 3:   8975
  Additional Information 4:   803d51a048d13ed597ff94fe6ba3464e



-----------------------
VISTA 64x:
Tyan motherboard with dual AMD OPteron 2GHz
6 GB RAM (5GB available to VISTA)
SATA mirror 700 GB to boot
SATA mirror 230 GB for data (previuosly used for XP boot).
M-Audio Delta 192 PCI (internal) soundcard-with public BETA M-Audio VISTA 64 driver