Peter, If this is not the right place for this message please move it to...
I have an idea that should make it much easier to track down XX related problems; it should be fairly easy to implement, and it will have some added benefits.
Create a 3 way button/switch that sets all XX's myriad values (like upsampling, sfs, Qs, cover art, and several hundred others ) to their least computer intensive and simple settings. A three way switch for normal, a minimal Engine 4, and minimal Engine 3 setting. Further more, if you choose either of the minimal settings you are forced to reboot, because you, Peter, make sure that XX is not operable until the system is rebooted. Why? So that if the problem still appears after all this, you (the customer) will know exactly what the state of affairs is, as will Peter, assuming you tell him a bit about your computer. (This should bypass the endless back and forth just to get to a common ground).
How to use. You shouldn't necessarily use minimal at the first sign of a problem, but rather when you're frustrated because you can't figure it out yourself, because you haven't a clue about computers and this sort of thing, or because you just feel like it.
The benefits to all:
1. If you're an enterprising type it gives you an easy and basic way to do your own trouble shooting.
2. You'll know what the least computer intensive settings are.
3. It very likely will give you a way to play music on XX (a setting to revert to) while you're trouble shooting the more elaborate settings--sometimes you just want to listen to music even if it's not perfect
4. Similar to one above, If your troubled XX works at "minimal," you can just add a setting at a time and see how far you can push it until it crashes; who knows, you might end up being satisfied until the newest and bestest XX comes sauntering into your neighborhood.
5. Similar to four above, It's a good way to experiment with listening to the various settings since it's the most basic starting point. Where better to start when doing an true and meaningful evaluation. (Who can remember when attempting this now, what exactly their ealier settings were. (A few truly anal types maybe, but that's about it.)
I can just hear you thinking Peter, "Chris, there is no one simple starting point for all." Well I beg to differ, first that's why 2 engine settings. And it is not your concern what kind of audio hardware the computer is driving. If the output is simple unadulterated and bit perfect digital, that's what it is and that's the best you can do re a person's equipment. If for instance it's a question of dac buffer size, then the option that needs buffer size specified should not be part of minimal. I assume there is a setting that will allow XX to send data to even the simplest dac.
If you're not thinking the above, I apologize. I really didn't think that you were, just covering all bases, cuz I'm done with this subject.
Chris
