Version 0.9y-1d feedback

[Eric]

Hello Peter.
My comments on version 0.9y-1d.
Unfortunately the 2 problems I reported before still exist.

1. Pressing Clear and Off does not permanently delete the playlist. The list will be back when XXHE is restarted.
2. Occasionally XXHE does not start. Happens with some tracks on C-disk. Error is persistent, can be recreated. Error occurs with both parameter ticked or unticked.

Other point: the AutoHotkey message keeps pointing to 0.9y-1c. How to change that?

In the mean time I will spend some time listening.
Cheers, Eric.

[PeterSt]

Hi Eric,

1. Pressing Clear and Off does not permanently delete the playlist. The list will be back when XXHE is restarted.

Well, I didn't say that this was solved, or ?
Next time. Some things were more important I think ? (of course if they weren't important there was no need to upgrade already !). Anyway, I',m sorry ...

2. Occasionally XXHE does not start. Happens with some tracks on C-disk. Error is persistent, can be recreated. Error occurs with both parameter ticked or unticked.

Well, I asked you that question about this, and I didn't see an answer. I tried ... . So ... next time also. But no problem, it will be solved.
Please try to make clear what type of file you are playing, from exactly where (folder) and what the name is. Additionally, what file type (etc. etc.) does play ? please give a similar example and use the same settings when you try.



AutoHotkey : Start XXHighEnd, then start AutoHotkey again. Then it should be okay, and you will receive a message which may help you. Otherwise its is all in here : AutoHotkey Install.
Let me know if you can't get it done.

Thanks,
Peter

[Eric]

Peter thx
1. N.P., just a reminder
2. Will do, tomorrow

AHK problem disappeared after reboot.
Cheers, Eric.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

short note,

still no luck with that Dreamtheater folder,
and come across more and more folders that refuse to play.

And get this error-message, when play is pressed.

logs attached

[Calibrator]

Hi Peter,

before I start my extensive testing of 0.9y-1d , I thought I would quickly highlight an issue playing back files across my network, but didnt have time to report. I noticed it with 0.9ya and 0.9y-1c at least so I expect it may well have been in all 'Y' versions so far.

Engine3 brings up an error message then shortly afterwards the failed message. See below. Logs attached also.

Accessing the same files using 0.9x-7 worked fine.

Cheers,

Russ

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Just found a crazy little glitch

Folders named B.B. (like in B.B. King or B.B.E)

just klik such folder in your gallery

xx doesn't like those names.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

And renaming a file in xx, destoys the file.

Don't hit right click on a pic, then rename function

So watch out !!!!!!!!!

Roy

[SeVeReD]

And renaming a file in xx, destoys the file.

Don't hit right click on a pic, then rename function

So watch out !!!!!!!!!

Roy

Hi Audiodidakt
Are you talking about just renaming a *.jpg and it "destroys" the pic? or all the files in the folder... like the wav and cue files??? Not going to try this myself yet hehe.  but curious.  As a side,,, I've always been a bit leery of having xxhe do deleting a file... don't want to make a mistake.... if I'm deleting/renaming wav/cue files I pull up explorer... but I've used the rename for pics, ie. back.jpg/folder.jpg.

I've listened to about 8 albums today (both 44.1 & 96) and not run into any glitches... but I treat things with kid gloves and reboot too much I'm sure, heh.  Just about to sit down to more listening... I think xxhe took a small step forward in SQ (purer/weightier highs... also turned down bass a smidgeon... so maybe a difference in 'balance'), but I may think that's a bigger step as I settle into the night listening,,, mostly today it's been background. 

...I only have two folder depths to get to my music ie.  Rock folder > artist1 - album1 folder > wav/cue.... Rock folder > artist1 - album2 folder > wav/cue ... and so on.... kid gloves.  The deeper you go in adding folders the slower I think things go... could that be why xxengine3 not starting on time for some?  I'll see if I can find a B.B. type album... but I avoid putting '.' in folder/file names.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

No, just that one pic.

Don't like to try either.
Normally I do things outside XX
Should make a dummy (copied) folder and try.

Speed and response time are REALLY GREAT with this new version.
faster starup, faster playback. (more responsive)
Add that up with resizing your folder.jpg to normal size.
And you find that this version of XX to be really fast.

About SQ, it sounds more sofisticated in the higher-ends. (but it takes good eares to divine the differences between those versions)

This version is sure TO STAY, just workout those glitches.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

And I already had an SQ update,

With that new GA-EP45-EXTREME motherboard,

overclockers board with better voltage and power regulation.
or maybe better power-plans on board, I dunno.
But it really does the job very well.

Now if only had a good DAC, Hmmm, Hahaha

[AUDIODIDAKT]

After more listening,

Start to get more amazed by the SQ, can't stop listening, help.
Surpriced how well it sounds.
What have you done?
Soundfield is much wider to the sides, and more into the room.
Just listen to trompets for eq.

Really worth waiting for a few months.
Must be a whole lotta work.

This version takes it to the next level (going in to that 1.0 version)

I do understand why everything is rewritten,
everything is implied better and faster 

THNX

[PeterSt]

Hey Roy, how does it sound now the sun is up ? 

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Quail

[PeterSt]

LOL

[PeterSt]

Peter thx
1. N.P., just a reminder
2. Will do, tomorrow

AHK problem disappeared after reboot.
Cheers, Eric.

Eric, as how I see it now, it may be sufficient to attach the log files (XX and X3) from a situation concerned. If I then need more I'll let you know.

[PeterSt]

Hi Peter,

before I start my extensive testing of 0.9y-1d , I thought I would quickly highlight an issue playing back files across my network, but didnt have time to report. I noticed it with 0.9ya and 0.9y-1c at least so I expect it may well have been in all 'Y' versions so far.

Engine3 brings up an error message then shortly afterwards the failed message. See below. Logs attached also.

Accessing the same files using 0.9x-7 worked fine.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Russ,

What I see in the log files, can't be explained other than this comes from an earlier 0.9y version (the first or maybe the second). Can that be so ?
If so, it might also be the reason that it fails by itself. It seems straight forward, but I can't let it fail (using your settings and file types).

Peter

PS: The next version incorporates the version in the XX log file.

[Calibrator]

Hi Peter,

before I start my extensive testing of 0.9y-1d , I thought I would quickly highlight an issue playing back files across my network, but didnt have time to report. I noticed it with 0.9ya and 0.9y-1c at least so I expect it may well have been in all 'Y' versions so far.

Engine3 brings up an error message then shortly afterwards the failed message. See below. Logs attached also.

Accessing the same files using 0.9x-7 worked fine.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Russ,

What I see in the log files, can't be explained other than this comes from an earlier 0.9y version (the first or maybe the second). Can that be so ?

I was definately running 0.9y-1d at the time. I have each version in its own folder, and the temporary folder where the logs reside was under my 0.9y-1d entry. It's the first thing I did this morning after downloading it. If you look almost at the bottom of the "XX-20090816-093241" log you will see the path structure I used.

Happy huntin' 

Russ

 

[boleary]

I've had the dreaded "engine 3 stopped working" error happen frequently with all versions of xx I've used, including 9x-7. Usually it happens about the same time that the gui and task bar disappear. I then "Alt/p and, usually, all is well, but its a little annoying to have to fuss with it to start. I have assumed that it's an issue with the external hard drive not responding quickly enough, a Wester Digital 500 gig. My directory structure, generally, is E/Music/ Artist/ Album. Though I have another folder between music and artist for classical and for jazz. I do not use galleries. Any suggestions?

[PeterSt]

How much memory do you have in there ? So, if this kind of not consistent behaviour occurs it is always good to watch TaskManager whether you maybe run out of memory. Note that although it can, this usually is not reported (Out of Memory).

?

[PeterSt]

Hi Peter,

before I start my extensive testing of 0.9y-1d , I thought I would quickly highlight an issue playing back files across my network, but didnt have time to report. I noticed it with 0.9ya and 0.9y-1c at least so I expect it may well have been in all 'Y' versions so far.

Engine3 brings up an error message then shortly afterwards the failed message. See below. Logs attached also.

Accessing the same files using 0.9x-7 worked fine.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Russ,

What I see in the log files, can't be explained other than this comes from an earlier 0.9y version (the first or maybe the second). Can that be so ?

I was definately running 0.9y-1d at the time. I have each version in its own folder, and the temporary folder where the logs reside was under my 0.9y-1d entry. It's the first thing I did this morning after downloading it. If you look almost at the bottom of the "XX-20090816-093241" log you will see the path structure I used.

Happy huntin' 

Russ

Russ, found it.
Eric, it is my guess that this is your problem just the same.

The length of the ":DATA:" line was read with a too low limit. So, it got truncated and some things can't cope with that.

Btw, it really takes a few coincidences to let this happen, like an unusual deep folder structure (read : lengthy, a share name attributing to that ), telling that coverart is needed, telling that coverart back is needed.

It is those latter which make the big change opposed to 0.9x-7, and although they were in there already, they were in there faulty because they referred to the original drive (hence no path was needed, because that was known) whereas now the reference to the Gallery it resides is explicit.
And so the line could get too long ...

Solved for the next version.


Eric, to be sure whether this is your problem too, please post the X3 log file from an occasion it happens.

[boleary]

4 gigs of memory, don't think it's a memory problem. There is, of course, the likelihood that this is also connected in some way to "user error of the marginally computer competent"

[PeterSt]

I think you will be ok with that one.

But I still like to know the useage at the time it goes wrong (must start somewhere). And to keep in mind : one process can't use more than 2GB anyway. So, if you see something around that area we must look into the why. If it is significantly lower (like 1.4GB or so) we must look somewhere else.

[boleary]

Also, still trouble switching between files of different bit rates in the same playlist. A "Wrong stream status" message now appears. You know if xx could play WMP files I wouldn't have to convert them to 24/96 wave files when they get included in playlists. I've found that converting 192 kbps wmp file to a 24/96 wave file substantially improves the sound of the file. Wishful thinking I'm sure....

[PeterSt]

Now you go too fast. First of all I wouldn't know what "a WMP file" is, other than just a WAV file. Second (but the same of course) is : what goes wrong ?
Or did I forget something you talked about earlier ?

About the Wrong Stream Status ... not here. Of course ... . So I guess I now need to know exactly from what to what you try to "switch".
And start praying that it can be solved.

[PeterSt]

Russ, found it.
Eric, it is my guess that this is your problem just the same.

The length of the ":DATA:" line was read with a too low limit. So, it got truncated and some things can't cope with that.

Btw, it really takes a few coincidences to let this happen, like an unusual deep folder structure (read : lengthy, a share name attributing to that ), telling that coverart is needed, telling that coverart back is needed.

Warning :

I am not sure how the status can get, but after I finally got it running (but maybe earlier, and it is about that !!) the file Played.dat in the XX folder contains the references to the shared drive. Allright. I've been just looking for over an hour why suddenly XX wouldn't start anymore after I earlier noticed that startup went *very* slow (think over 30 seconds). I just found the culprit ...

There's an official command that brings back the Dos 8.3 Short Name to the normal Long Name. This just doesn't work for a Share. Maybe it can work occasionally, but then very slow (see above), but it also can end up just doing nothing (or maybe stall the PC the Share is from, I don't know).
(btw, I have the feeling I already knew this, but anyway not for this part of the code).

So, when it happens to you that suddenly you can't get XX started anymore after playing (or attempts to do so) from a Share, delete the Played.dat file from your XX folder. Then it is okay again.

Of course this will be solved in the next version, although right now I don't know yet what the consequences will be.

Peter

[PeterSt]

Hi Eric,

1. Pressing Clear and Off does not permanently delete the playlist. The list will be back when XXHE is restarted.

Well, I didn't say that this was solved, or ?
Next time. Some things were more important I think ? (of course if they weren't important there was no need to upgrade already !). Anyway, I',m sorry ...

It's in for the next version.

[Eric]

Thanks Peter,
I will be happy to test when the next version will be released.
BTW: what's your plan for it ?
Cheers, Eric.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

XX is playing an album with 5 tracks on it

Can there be 7 unicode files in xx folder?

The thing that happens here is this:

Sometimes in the middle of a track xx starts to play a song from previous album
That is still in there (on C:) I guess.

Can this even happen or am I not hearing this good.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

I see how it works now,

there are always 7 unicode files in the xx folder,
and they are being written over. (so there can be tracks from like 3 albums in there)

So the thing that happens to me can really occur.


Right!

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Then you start to wonder,

Did you made use of a (sortlike) partition on C:
Pre-Reserved space or something.
(or clustergroups or adresses that are following up)
or maybe on the RAM.

Is this the foundation for the better SQ ??

[PeterSt]

XX is playing an album with 5 tracks on it

Can there be 7 unicode files in xx folder?

The thing that happens here is this:

Sometimes in the middle of a track xx starts to play a song from previous album
That is still in there (on C:) I guess.

Can this even happen or am I not hearing this good.

I guess this can happen at least with Attended, and maybe with Unattended too. Both are unintentional, but with Attended things have changed in this area and I guess I did not pay attention to it at all. Anyway, now at last it is clear what you meant by these "other albums". And I suppose you just don't know what you have played an hour ago because you are actually always sleeping. Hahaha. Whimp.

But please tell me whether you encounter this with Attended (thus, other tracks/albums start play at Attended only, no matter these old tracks/albums were from Unattended playback before). The knowledge that this happens with Attended only (that it goes wrong) will save me a lot of searching for the problem.

Thank you, and don't fall asleep.
Peter

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Really enjoying this,

Soundstage appears to be much bigger,
The pure bas sounds come out with so much control.
And I am talking about bookshelf speakers (but with homebuild X-over, Phase linear, high-grade parts, better then a 24db per oct tweeters up to 60Khz)
Not that big 300x230x400 or something like that.
But the sound really fills my room (and neighbours(go live somewhere else!))

Massive Attack for eq. has some sneaky basses - xx does music with big basses very well

Never heard a source perform this well.


I know Telstar is going te be a very happy person.
When he finished his build next week combined with this version of XX

[PeterSt]

Good good good.

Any chance answering the question ?

[AUDIODIDAKT]

occurs with Attented playback

[PeterSt]

Also, still trouble switching between files of different bit rates in the same playlist. A "Wrong stream status" message now appears. You know if xx could play WMP files I wouldn't have to convert them to 24/96 wave files when they get included in playlists. I've found that converting 192 kbps wmp file to a 24/96 wave file substantially improves the sound of the file. Wishful thinking I'm sure....

Now you go too fast. First of all I wouldn't know what "a WMP file" is, other than just a WAV file. Second (but the same of course) is : what goes wrong ?
Or did I forget something you talked about earlier ?

About the Wrong Stream Status ... not here. Of course ... . So I guess I now need to know exactly from what to what you try to "switch".
And start praying that it can be solved.

boleary, any news on this ? Let me at least know which format change to which other gives the Wrong Stream Status, so I can try to solve that.

[boleary]

WMP is really WMA (sorry about that) which is a windows media file.

I get the wrong stream status message when going from a 16/44 file to a 24/96 file and vice versa.

I also continue to get the engine 3 stopped working error when the gui disappears in unattended, if I immediately "alt/p" the file plays. Using task manager, used memory is 1.33 gigs so I don't think its a memory issue.

As others have reported, the sound quality is wonderful!

[PeterSt]

I am puzzled about the format switching. Here this is allright, but I already saw this is all very fragile. Hard to explain.

Assuming (and actually knowing) it all worked for you before, a theoratical solution is to let it -per special setting- work the same as before. But this would be a kind of giving in (me), while I'm sure it can go for everyone with the same code. One problem, I can't mimic your sound device, which now seems to play a role.
Also note that many more may be dealing with this, but they won't know because they never try. I never do either for normal playback, so why would I be alone.

I am not sure what to do right now ...
Let me think for a while.

[Telstar]

I know Telstar is going te be a very happy person.
When he finished his build next week combined with this version of XX

Wrong :D
I "finished" today. Just the irTrans software to install, then another restore point and add the music HDD and disabling services.

I had an old 500gb seagate disk that i wanted to use for backup but it's fricking hot (45°C) and would raise the internal temps, so it will go out and I'll get another disk. I have to see if the matrix raid can transform a single disk to a raid 1 in a second time (my guess is yes).

I had only one issue with my config and that was the BD drive not being able to boot when in AHCI or RAID mode. Had to put a dvdrom from another computer (still plugged to run memtestx86 all night) to install windows. I put W7 home premium x64 (msdn).

The rig has only one fan, undervolted and runs basically unaudible from 1,5m distance and open case top. So far i'm very happy.

[PeterSt]

I get the wrong stream status message when going from a 16/44 file to a 24/96 file and vice versa.

Ok, I found something which was changed, and which indeed may cause it works here and not with you. I undid that change, tweaked something else for it (the change actually was necessary) and now wonder whether it works again for you. Would you care to try ?

In below zip only XXEngine3.exe resides. Paste that over your current XX folder (maybe save the old one first) and give it a try.
(this doesn't solve your other problem, only the format switching (hopefully))

Peter

[boleary]

No luck, still get the "Wrong Stream Status (1)" message......

There is always the trick that seemed to work for me as a kid: take the broken toy, put it in the closet for two weeks and, viola, its fixed! Just sayin...... 

[PeterSt]

Sure didn't expect that ...

[PeterSt]

Okay, I just found that the "solution" I applied is without effect.
FYI : What I found this morning is that somewhere memory is overwritten, which by itself can't harm (no, this is never good, but within the process it's okay as long as you see what happens with it). In this case, however, it does harm afterall (unlike I thought this morning). So, something has to be "freed", but that can't work anymore, because what is to be freed is unknown since the address of it  is in that part of overwritten memory. Finding the cause will be very time consuming (well, generally it is).

Sorry for now,
Peter

PS: This only affects format switching without Stop in between. So no big deal for most I guess.

[boleary]

Thanks Peter. Will stay with the virtue of patience and continue to be blown away with xx.

[PeterSt]

Oh, but this one will work.

Please note I can't test it, because it goes allright in the first place here, but I found the problem of, well, just memory corruption. On that matter, please try whether your other problem is solved as well (the one with solution of Alt-P). Anything could have come from it.
A pure Bill Gates bug btw.

Hope it works now ...

[boleary]

Not yet. Maybe tomorrow...maybe not.

[LydMekk]

Morning,

Running very good, latest version.

1 thing doh,  every album the last track stops at 1 or 2 min before ending. (But could also be last 10 sec)

Roy

Inspiration

This is something known (to some) and I never could find it 6a skips the last piece of the last song in the playlist). And since so many things have been rewritten in this area, I kind of hoped it was away. So it is not. But :

Somehow suddenly a theoretical bug on this sprung to my mind. And, just checked it, and it is true. I never could mimic this myself so I can't check whether the solution helps, but I'm sure LydMekk can make some arrangements with Diana Krall and check. So, should be solved in the next version (0.9-y1a or 0.9y-2).

Hi folks!

Tried it now with the new 9y-1d version, placed 5 different songs from 3 diff. albums in a playlist and played them.

When the last song nears completion it plays audibly normal, but the track counter at the bottom stops about 10% from 100% but the track plays to the normal end as it should.

lol....

The counter also starts going away on each song BEFORE any sound emerges from that song. The counter is probably around 5% into the track when the song itself starts playing audibly.

[PeterSt]

Yes, this has changed. Not completely intentional but due to technical reasons, and when I saw it I deciced that the old means was as strange.

When time permits I will see if I can make it all the way good (logical).

Thanks for the feedback !

[PeterSt]

Not yet. Maybe tomorrow...maybe not.

What do you mean ? You didn't try yet or it doesn't work yet ?


PS: The function that may corrupt memory is used more often in the program and I need to work it all through.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Peter,

This just hits me 

If I play an album and load for eg. the remastered version after that (WITH THE SAME TRACK NAMES)
It can happen that xx will acually do the first album again (how do you know for sure that this can not happen???)

Now you don't !!
 

[PeterSt]

Yes, isnt' that nice ? you wouldn't know the difference eh ?

But I coincidentally solved it a few days ago for loading such an album right after you played the first. I'm actually not sure what happens when you load them both and then start playing the first.

Yes, that happens when you are comparing album versions like I know both you and me are currently doing ...

[boleary]

Sorry I wasn't clear about that Peter. I tried the most recent version and it still doesn't fix the issue of switching between 16/44 and 24/96 tracks in the same playlist. Am currently out of town and won't be able to test again till late Monday.

[PeterSt]

Ok, thank you again.
I have just gone through the process of adjusting all the calls to that buggy MS routine (which was at over a 100 places), and I see no memory corruption anymore.
I'll make an official upgrade of that today (0.9y-2), and I can only hope it works for you just the same as it does here for longer already. If not, we must proceed from there and I'll have to make a debug version for it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Peter

[Eric]

Peter,
it has occurred to me that the order in which the albums appear in the library area is different from the standard Windows way. It happens when the album name contains "special" characters. For example, the artist Özay appears at the end of the list in the library area which is different in Windows. Same for the nordic band with the name A-ha. So it looks like you use a sorting algorithm in the library area that is different from Windows.
Not a big deal, but I got confused when I was looking for albums and couldn't find them.
Cheers, Eric.     

[PeterSt]

Hey Eric, thanks. I am not aware that I do any sorting at all, and it is just "Windows" doing this.
I will look into it though, and maybe I can find some settings for it.

Peter