It’s been over 2 years since the last release of Fidelizer version 8.11 to public. At first I was planning to release version 8.12 to address some remaining issues but disappearance of WMIC before finalizing Erawan Flagship Streamer made me realized a change is needed.
So, I tried to work on 8.12 update with changing requirements from WMIC before moving forward to version 9 milestone but Fidelizer heavily relies on WMIC features for most of core optimizations. It turned out I need to rewrite the whole software package to resolve this.
I decided to focus into developing Fidelizer 9 from scratch and have these issues resolved. I took spare time to develop Fidelizer 9 bits by bits since past year. There’s a lot of new cool features, improved user experience, and more potentials to explore as below:
Fidelizer Intelligent software detection
Browsing for media player application to choose is one of biggest pain point I noticed based on user’s feedback. Some don’t know where to look for executable file or can’t access restricted area like WindowsApps section manually.
I spent most of development time in past year designing how I should resolve this issue and developed software detection algorithm. This will detect supported software from installation record and verify the software location and put on selection box.
At first it was quite a struggle because different apps having different installation records and detection methods. RAATServer.exe file exists in Roon/RoonBridge/RoonServer returning multiple results. How should I detect the right one reliably?
After a successful implementation, it’s very easy to choose media player application for end user now. You can choose Audirvana/foobar2000/HQPlayer/JRiver/Media Player/Roon in version 9.0 and I will add more in future updates. Stay tuned.
Native Universal Windows Platform (UWP) support
Fidelizer 8.7 added Audirvana support to allow selection of Audirvana.exe file to be executed. It was a make shift solution that can work with Audirvana and some UWP apps with the same structure. I didn’t have time to implement this properly due to high complexity with so little time.
I spent my free time in developing native universal Windows platform support for a few months last year and finally got a working prototype with tested UWP apps that didn’t work before. I can’t say for sure it’s 100% working but tested applications like Media Player is working now.
With native universal Windows platform support, I can add more UWP version media player applications in future so feel free to request your favorite media player applications and I’ll see how I can integrate them into Fidelizer’s intelligent software detection.
Reworked core isolation policy in media player application
Core isolation policy used to be picked based on advanced configuration option for all three apps automatically. This can some complications and limit options to apply core isolation policy or not. I took this into heart and redesigned core isolation policy to work separately.
In this reworked version, you can pick 6 different core isolation policy options which are:
Default: This won’t apply change to process priority for self managed application
All cores: This will enforce selected application to run with all available processor cores
Endpoint: This will make application focus on audio cores similar to Transparency policy
Performance: This will make application focus on most cores similar to Performance policy
Transparency: This will make application focus on avoiding main audio/non-audio cores for optimal isolation
Idle: This will put application on lowest possible non-audio cores to reduce interference to audio playback the most
With free selection, you can integrated supporting audio application to work with main application and diverse optimizations. You can also put non-audio application to work with minimum interference. You can compare between Endpoint/Performance/Transparency and pick the most suitable one too.
Also, media player application’s priority and affinity is now handled after execution with wait time so this can apply to all instances with the same name and improve effectiveness to cases like JRiver running as Media Server or RoonServer on startup too.
You can apply 3 different Priority and Core isolation policy to three different apps like HQPlayer + RoonServer + RAATServer optimizations. For self managed software like HQPlayer, I recommend setting all options to Default.
Improved non-audio process tuning with efficient core support
At first I was going to address this since some clients prefer the older approach to manage non-audio processes for better sound quality. Since I decided to move forward to version 9.0, it’s important to address the situation of this case again.
In version 8.11, non-audio processes beyond the last 1-2 cores to half of total cores excluding physical cores and put physical cores on media apps. This caused strange sound signature in some systems.
In version 9.0, core isolation policy is handled separately and user can choose suitable options without worrying about isolation issues with non-audio processes. Using “Enforce non-audio process to use only one core” option will also work too.
Reworked core optimizations based on Windows 10/11
When Fidelizer 8.0 was released on 25th December 2017, Windows 10 was still fresh and optimizations are reworked based on past 10 years experience. Things have changed a lot during past 10 years, and also personal journey of developer too.
Fidelizer’s concept of real sound has been evolving to reach its maturity with 3 main principles as below:
Precision: Reproduce digital audio faithfully according to principles of engineering and physics based on product’s design.
Emotion: Bring the record to life and feel the real sound of the recording in your listening room.
Relaxation: Find the right balance between performance and musicality that makes you want to keep listening for timeless session.
It’s no longer about chasing the extreme fidelity that focus on a single dimension of quality after 20 years of audiophile journey. Fidelizer 9 will focus on finding the balance of these three principles and deliver the what feels “Real” in all aspects, not just one.
So, all audio profiles have been reworked from scratch including “General Purpose” in Free version. Plus and Pro version also have additional core optimizations in API level to further improve audio performance in more aspects.
Improved Fidelizer Pro’s system configuration based on CoreStreamOS development
One of Fidelizer Pro’s biggest point is the ability to apply changes on system configuration permanently. Once this limiter is lifted off, Fidelizer Pro is going all out. Behind that one line of option lies a lot of deep technology as a core feature.
While developing version 9, CoreStream was launched and prototype of version 9 development was put into good use of CoreStream. At that time there wasn’t full scale of software package like NimitraOS and ErawanOS so this is a showcase to test in big projects.
After successful audio shows with CoreStream that can perform very well as both Roon core and uPNP endpoint in multiple rooms, it was certain Fidelizer 9 will bring next level of real sound to make music feels more organic and lifelike.
You could say Fidelizer 9 has inherited the foundation from CoreStreamOS that shares similarity in sonic performance with NimitraOS and ErawanOS at the same time too. If you’re not ready to try CoreStream / Nimitra / Erawan yet, Fidelizer Pro 9 is the closest thing to them.
Pricing
Fidelizer 9.0 is a major version upgrade after 9 years from Fidelizer 8.0 release, 12 years since Fidelizer 6.0 first release with Fidelizer Upgrade Program. The price never get changed after 12 years and 9.0 has a lot of hard work into it.
Since version 9.0, Fidelizer Plus / Pro version will have price adjustment as below:
Fidelizer Plus Full License: $39.95 -> $49.95 USD
Fidelizer Pro Full License: $69.95 -> 89.95 USD
Fidelizer From Plus to Pro: $30 -> $40 USD
Fidelizer From Older Plus to Pro: $39.95 -> $49.95 USD
Refund discount for returning customers: $5-10 USD -> $10-20 USD
Fidelizer 9 Upgrade price still remains the same so you can upgrade from Fidelizer 6-8 licenses to version 9.0 at the same price $19.95 – 29.95 USD as before. This won’t affect existing customers. Additional licenses will receive extra discount too.
Existing customers can purchase “Fidelizer 9 Upgrade” option in Fidelizer Upgrade Program page to receive Fidelizer 9.0 updates of purchased licenses and feel free to contact author to ask about instructions of Fidelizer 9.0 upgrade.
Changelog for version 9.0
Free
-Advanced configuration options except OS Timer are disabled for safety purposes
-Changed OS Timer recommendation info with default set to 1.0ms (Can still change to 0.5ms manually)
-Process affinity tuning of media player application can be used outside core isolation policy
-Optimized core optimizations based on current testing with Windows 10/11 for general purposes
-Added Media Player Application selection list to choose detected Music apps starting with Audirvana/foobar2000/HQPlayer/JRiver/Media Player/Roon
-Added Default option in Priority and Core Isolation Policy options to not tinker Media Player Application’s priority or core affinity
-Changed Apply Core Isolation Policy option to use selectable options with All cores/Endpoint/Performance/Transparency/Idle
-Changed media player application tuning to apply tuning after startup instead launching with custom priority/affinity
-Improved compatibility with Windows 10/11 to use PowerShell when WMIC is not present
-Improved compatibility with Windows Store apps to support more applications with Fidelizer
-Improved core affinity optimizations to support more than 16 processor cores
-Improved core isolation policy optimizations to support modern processors with efficient cores better
-Improved graphics and user interface for better ease of use
-Improved process optimizations to perform faster and improve optimization time on lower user levels
-Improved memory detection algorithm to apply more optimal optimizations based on available physical memory
-Improved reliability of process priority tuning during core optimizations
Plus
-Added all audio profiles from Fidelizer Pro license to maximize non-permanent solution
-Added Media Player Application selection list to choose detected Music apps starting with Audirvana/foobar2000/HQPlayer/JRiver/Media Player/Roon
-Added Default option in Priority and Core Isolation Policy options to not tinker Media Player Application’s priority or core affinity
-Added DWM (Desktop Window Manager) to be handled in API level optimizations
-Changed Apply Core Isolation Policy option to use selectable options with All cores/Endpoint/Performance/Transparency/Idle
-Changed default audio profile to “Network Renderer”
-Changed media player application tuning to apply tuning after startup instead launching with custom priority/affinity
-Improved compatibility with Windows 10/11 to use PowerShell when WMIC is not present
-Improved compatibility with Windows Store apps to support more applications with Fidelizer
-Improved core affinity optimizations to support more than 16 processor cores
-Improved core isolation policy optimizations to support modern processors with efficient cores better
-Improved core optimizations to be more effective on Windows 10/11
-Improved graphics and user interface for better ease of use
-Improved process optimizations to perform faster and improve optimization time on lower user levels
-Improved memory detection algorithm to apply more optimal optimizations based on available physical memory
-Improved reliability of process priority tuning during core optimizations
-Updated all audio profile options with reworked optimizations based on Windows 10/11 standards
Pro
-Added Media Player Application selection list to choose detected Music apps starting with Audirvana/foobar2000/HQPlayer/JRiver/Media Player/Roon
-Added Default option in Priority and Core Isolation Policy options to not tinker Media Player Application’s priority or core affinity
-Added DWM (Desktop Window Manager) to be handled in API level optimizations
-Changed Apply Core Isolation Policy option to use selectable options with All cores/Endpoint/Performance/Transparency/Idle
-Changed default audio profile to “Network Renderer”
-Changed media player application tuning to apply tuning after startup instead launching with custom priority/affinity
-Changed OS Timer recommendation info with default set to 1.0ms (Can still change to 0.5ms manually)
-Improved compatibility with Windows 10/11 to use PowerShell when WMIC is not present
-Improved compatibility with Windows Store apps to support more applications with Fidelizer
-Improved core affinity optimizations to support more than 16 processor cores
-Improved core isolation policy optimizations to support modern processors with efficient cores better
-Improved core optimizations to be more effective on Windows 10/11
-Improved graphics and user interface for better ease of use
-Improved process optimizations to perform faster and improve optimization time on lower user levels
-Improved memory detection algorithm to apply more optimal optimizations based on available physical memory
-Improved reliability of process priority tuning during core optimizations
-Updated all audio profile options with reworked optimizations based on Windows 10/11 standards
-Updated system configuration optimizations based on CoreStreamOS tuning
Download: Fidelizer 9.0
Upgrade: Fidelizer Upgrade Program
You can download latest version of purchased Fidelizer software from the same download link that we sent in email before. If you are not sure where to download purchased Fidelizer software, feel free to contact us and request software download link.
