XXHighEnd

Hi Peter,

I am listening more live recorded CD's these days which are split up in separated tracks during ripping. Using Foobar things play smoothly as one large track, XX adds a pause between tracks...  :(

How can I prevent this? In the very beginning (5 years back?) this was an issue but solved for a while...

Is it a setting?

Bert

Huh ?!?

Bert, you must have some very weird issue at hand there.
Since pre-history all is "gapless". And here it still is ...

Example that I might know ? The Wall maybe ?

Peter

Hey Bert, I use EAC to rip discs and the software has options for determining the gap between tracks. One option is to use the gaps, or lack of them, on the retail-store bought- disc. If I don't check that box on a live recording I get gaps between tracks that are not on the retail CD. If I check that box XXHighend plays the recording exactly as it is on the disc.

I am not getting the "skipping" that Bert described, but on something like Abdullah Ibrahim "Senzo" I am getting a very brief static burst between tracks.  This is very easy to hear.

I don't ... :)

But I do start to wonder what you guys do to incur for such things ?

Peter

Gapless.. that's the word! ;-)

Examples:

Eryk ah Badu - Baduizm Live & Pink Flyod - The Wall (Gold Disc)...

It is not skipping a track but skipping a buffer (?) with an audible "tick" as well...

See image...

I am using RAM-OS with your settings Peter.

EDIT:  My SFS is higher at 0.15...which I still have problems with playback stopping in between tracks on some albums.

Me too, I get a very brief micro tick between tracks.
Paul

Bert,

I recognize that. Just to see whether it matters, can you try with a higher SFS and a different Buffer setting in the NOS1 Driver Control Panel ? (it is allowed to change both at the same time).
First learn what that errorr number is between two specific tracks, then make the changes and see whether that number is (very) different. Ok ?

Regards,
Peter

PS: And if it does not matter, for fun try without Intona.

Changing FSF helps... at this moment SFS 0.4 (instead of 0.1) does not give hick ups anymore (didn't try values in between but 0.3 is too low).

Will try to see if changing the buffer helps as well or makes it worse again.

Bert

Does this means the memory is too slow or the PC? I can speed it up as it is now all minimal (800Mhz)

Changing USB buffer or ASIO buffer does not change anything...

In the meantime I had to set the SFS value higher to 0.5 because larger tracks still gave errors at 0.4

Bert

Ok Bert, thanks.

You started out with an implied "not gapless" - but are you sure you still refer to that ? I mean, those few KS errors will be audible as a small glitch or maybe tick. Not any silence that I know of. Or ?

Peter

Silence (audible gap) and a tick where the music should have been gapless without tick.

With SFS set to 0.5 no errors appear (visible nor audible) and not even a tick anymore...

Buffers set to 2ms (USB) and 12ms (ASIO) or 16ms vs 32ms does not change anything. USB buffer set to 1ms does not work... only noise and errors flying around.

Bert

Is this PC speed related or is the 80Mb/s NAS not quick enough? The longer the track the sooner the error... seems to be related to too little time to complete a task.

I will try a CD directly from the internal SSD to see if that matters...

Nope, exactly the same... minimal SFS 0.5 to prevent "skipping" or "gapping".

Bert

Bert,

The ASIO setting in the Driver is completely irrelevant (doesn't do a thing anywhere as it is for ASIO only and we don't use that).

Is it PC speed etc. related ? It should be, regarding your further descriptions.
But why is it suddenly bothering you ? I mean, I never heard you about this. Did perhaps something else change ?


Maybe there's something in that ...
Are you using a RAMDisk for playback ? you should as it is crucial for the "network performance" !

Peter

Not suddenly but starting to get frustrated about it (including the little tick in between tracks).

All problems gone now with SFS set to 0.5


Yes, I am using ImDisk for XX and another one as Playback drive.

Playing directly from the internal SSD (instead of the NAS) did not make any difference so the NAS is not too slow either.

Will check the BIOS for possible settings to improve the performance...

Bert

Speeding up the PC does not make any difference...

For my system the SFS has to be set to 0.5 being the only way to have error-less playback without ticks and gaps.

The PC sounds a whole lot better when slowed down again as well.  :)

Bert

Ok, thanks for the feedback !

I myself have the hunch that it is Intona related. So what occurs to me since a while is that when playback starts there's a small tick. This wasn't so earlier on, and I did not change a thing.
But I really don't care, with this sound I'm achieving now ...

Peter

Probably but the weird part is that I have no ticks anymore and no gaps but only when playing unattended (SFS 0.1).

This didn't work before? Still with Intona in between...  :scratching:

Must be the weather?

Bert

Peter,

I have the following SFS issues but live with it while investigating more closely. This is all in unattended min OS.

I prefer sound at .1 SFS for most 16/44 rips(Wave files) and downloads and a few 24/96/192 tracks and these play full albums with no problems.

Some particularly 16/44 cd rips(Wave files) will only play 1 track or 2, then stop dead. I have to stop play CTRL Alt X to rectify. They will play at .5 SFS as do some 24/96/192(these have been run through Saracon).

Most 24/44/96/192 downloads(mostly wave files) or rips will only play at 1.0 SFS or higher.

If I restart at next track it will only play that track then stop. At this point I'm forced to change the SFS higher.

I havn't noticed clicks or skipping tracks.

I have stopped using Saracon. Most recent downloads are 16/44 Flac and so far good at .1SFS.

I'm wondering if my early CD rips are an issue, with time I will re rip them using DB poweramp.

As for Hires downloads they are a mixed bag, and mine are mostly from HD tracks where some play at .1 or .5 or 1. or higher.

Whether my computer is not powerful enough or what in order to run low SFS .1 for all tracks and albums remains to be solved.

Robert



 

Hi Robert,

Thank you for sharing this.

Supposed you (could) have a situation which is sort of repeatable. Or recognizable over a longer period of time (while you change(d) no setting);
What happens when you choose another Core Appointment Scheme ?
I feel it may help (for the better or the worse).

Peter

Thanks Peter I will play with your suggestion. I have also read your original guide on SFS in Getting started under sound quality related. I was wondering if you can add more to this now?

Robert