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Tag Archive for DSD

Fidelizer – foobar2000 setup assistant 2.0 released with improved DSD support and automate library server scanning

 

Fidelizer - foobar2000 setup assistant

 

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)

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

 

Fidelizer - foobar2000 setup assistant

 

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 to be downloaded and installed to use. But to get streaming working with foobar2000, most people don’t know how to set it up. 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 2.0

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

Will DSD upsampling become a trend in 2016?

Since last year, Roon users start to adopt HQPlayer and use its powerful DSD upsampling algorithm. There’s also cheaper solutions from other software that offers DSD upsampling too so audiophiles can get the feel of what DSD is like if played from their favorite tracks.

In this year, some big companies are starting to adopt DSD upsampling into their flagship products too. The most recent I’ve heard is Emm Labs releasing DA2 with DSD1024 upsampling and Audirvana promises to bring DSD upsampling into next updates as well.

I also was a an upsampling lover and have a few runs with DSD upsampling from Esoteric and dCS gears. While I loved the smoothness of vinyl-like transients from upsampling, I also felt I missed something from originals at the same time too. That didn’t happen with original SACD playback though.

There used to be a fad about DSD upsampling in last decade. Will DSD upsaming become popular again in this year? Will it encourage producers to bring more DSD files into the market?