<center><b>Help on Quality Settings XXHighEnd Model 0.9g July 25 2007.</b></center>

<b># Engine</b><br>
<br>
Three Audio Engines exist :<br>
<br>
<ol>

<!--- Engine #1>
<li>This #1 Engine is dedicated to bitperfect playback for XP.<br>
It makes use of non-certified audio drivers, like the MME drivers from RME.<br>
<br>

Pros :
<ul>
<li>Bitperfect if the appropriate (non-certified) drivers are used.
<li>Allows selection of the driver from within the Player.
</ul>

Cons :
<ul>
<li>Is very unstable (put the focus on another task, and at return to the Player the sound stops).
<li>No possibilities for DoubleRate and UpSampling.
<li>Over USB drivers, allows a maximum of 64MB tracks only. This is around 6 minutes of 44.1KHz stereo playback.
<li>Can virtually not be used with certified drivers, because then the 64MB maximum applies to all drivers (not only USB).
</ul>
<br>

<!--- Engine #2>
<li>This #2 Engine is dedicated to "general XP and Vista use", and is <i>not</i> bitperfect.<br>
<br>

Pros :
<ul>
<li>Stable.
<li>Runs on every available certified driver (except for ASIO which is more a "method" than a driver).
<li>Allows for DoubleRate (and UpSampling when available as a function) under XP.
</ul>

Cons :
<ul>
<li>Does not allow selection of the driver from within the Player (hence uses the primary sound device only).
<li>Needs proper tweaking OS of settings, in order for KMIxer does not interfere (resamples).
<li>Cannot make use of non-certified drivers.
<li>Currently no possibilty for Pause/Continue and no repositioning within a track.
<li>Currently no possibilities for proper DoubleRate and UpSampling under Vista because of Vista not allowing 88200 (see notes on this more below).
</ul>
<br>

<!--- Engine #3>
<li>This #3 Engine is a native Vista Engine, and is bitperfect.<br>
<br>

Pros :
<ul>
<li>Bitperfect. Also, not other means of interfering with "KMixer" is possible.
<li>Similarly, avoids Vista's resampler.
<li>Can apply Upsampling.
<li>Option for Crazy Dynamics if you like it (allows DoubleRate and UpSampling) but which may be less crazy with very good "tuned" speakers.
<li>Decent Gapless playback.
<li>Allows for virtually all processing needed (but where "DSP" would be out of line anyway).
<li>Stable for all devices.
<li>Uses generally half of the memory of them all, and even less at Doubling.
</ul>

Cons :

<ul>
<li>Currently can't use any other device than the Primary Device (but that will change and is not a real pain because no other sounds can influence the playback).
<li>Currently can't Pause or change the playback position (but that will change).
<li>Vista's resampler (upsampler) cannot be used.

</ul>

</ol>
<br>
<b>Double</b><br>
<br>
When the DAC used allows it, plays at double the normal rate (hence 88200 samples per second instead of 44100).<br>
Note though that even when the DAC not allows it, playing will be at double rate, and it depends on OS and soundcard<br>
settings whether you'll hear a low pitched (slomo) sound, or just normal sound. If, in the case the DAC does not allows<br>
it, you hear normal sound, it means that the OS sampled back to a for the DAC allowed rate. This could be 48000 !<br>
When the DAC allows all, the character of the sound will change, and it is up to you whether you like it better.<br>
<br>
DoubleRate is available with certifided drivers under Engine #2 and #3.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>UpSmp</b><br>
<br>
When the DAC used allows it, UpSamples from 44100 to 88200 with the result of twice the resolution.<br>
See the note on the DAC not allowing it under Double, above.<br>
Obviously this is done by calcultation, and thus is fake. Nevertheless you may appreciate it better<br>
(like with video you sure will).<br>
UpSampling currently is available for Engine #3 only. Therefore the checkbox is greyed out.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Note on Double and UpSmp :</b><br>
<br>
Under Vista Doubling and UpSampling does not work for Engine #1 and #2 because in Vista the playback samplerate<br>
is a fixed setting per driver (Rightclick on the Loudspeaker icon in the taskbar tray -> Playback Devices, Properties<br>
of the chosen device, Advanced tab, and then the Combobox. Choices are between 44100 and 96000 (and some more) but <i>not</i><br>
88200 (and, because these settings are fixed, Vista always resamples to the chosen rate). However :<br>
<br>
When the Double/Upsample checkboxes in the Player are NOT ticked, Vista *will* upsample decently to e.g. 96000 when chosen at the device settings.<br>
The thing "wrongish" by Vista doing it herself, is that 96000 is not a multiple of 44100 (which is not the best), but you still might like it better ...<br>
<br>
For Engine #3 this is okay.
<br>