Alpha USB and Kernel Streaming, how ?

[greywind11]

Earflappin and Peter,

Can you guys give me any suggestions for configuring 9z6.1 for the Sotm usb card-->Alpha usb converter-->Alpha Dac?

I currently have good sound streaming in all resolutions, but the player only works using the "Speakers: Alpha USB Interface" driver, which I assume is Wasapi. When I select the "KS: Alpha Dac" option, I'm not sure the Dac accepts KS. I get an error window and no music plays.

You guys have any recommended settings or tweaks? 

Thanks!
/Lee Mincy

[PeterSt]

Hi Lee - nothing different from here I suppose ? Re: No Engine#3 with Lynx ?
(never mind your own title in there, because this was about Engine#4 (KS))

So, what changed since then ?

Btw, what I recall from 1-2 weeks back is that you had a similar problem - I asked for the X3 and X3PB log files, but in the mean time you solved it (it seemed). It *can* be about 0.9z-6 though ...
(that's why I'd like to have the log files)


PS:
Maybe you wanted to post this in the topic accordingly, but it ended up in some W7 topic; I didn't see the relation so I moved it to its own topic.

[greywind11]

Hey Peter,

I pulled the Lynx card and am experimenting with a usb setup instead: Sotm usb card-->Alpha USB Converter-->Alpha Dac, on a Zalman machine running Win 7 and XXHighEnd.

I was getting great results using KS mode with the Lynx, but now I want to test this (above) usb configuration and was curious if anyone had any suggestions for config? My one main concern was that KS mode isn't working at all with the Alpha Dac. Has anyone had this issue? So I am forced to use Wasapi drivers "Speakers: Alpha Dac" as indicated in the XXHighend output device window.

Any other setting suggestions for this new config?

Thanks!
/Lee

[praphan]

Welcome back Lee!

I am pretty certain that there is no one on this forum apart from you who owns Alpha USB interface.

I assume that you have already tried direct connection of USB into mobo slot (not via SOtM tX-USB). Then, seems like this has to do with Alpha USB sound device driver - compatibility issue.  Pretty similar conflict of newer version of Lynx's device driver on XXHE. That's why you have to stay put with 18C. It is commonly known that Berkeley designed their USB interface around Mc's Amarra and Pure Music. I guess they only test their device driver with Window's WASAPI engine.  You may like to ask Berkeley guy for various versions of sound device driver used for the sound card inside their USB box. Then you can play around. I don't think there is anything you can do on XX player fix this compatibility issue. Peter knows better than me.

Good luck!
Praphan

[PeterSt]

Lee,

I guess I was more busy with your post being in that "strange" topic at first than that I read your post well. So, somehow I never got that USB connection, while it *is* all over ...

When I select the "KS: Alpha Dac" option, I'm not sure the Dac accepts KS. I get an error window and no music plays.

If you have the Device Buffer Size still at 4096, that can be the problem for sure. Try with KS Adaptive Mode first and a more normal Dev Buffer value of 1024. 512 maybe.
When it still doesn't work, let me know the error message.

Peter

[greywind11]

Hey Guys,

Just set Device Buffer Size to 512 (from 4096) and SFS is set to 400. The first error msg I get is
REPORTED FILE LENGTH IS 0; CAN'T PLAY; CHECK FOR DISK FULL.

then another one:
ENGINE #4 DID NOT START WITHIN EXPECTED TIME.

The I changed device buffer size to 1024:
DEVICE ALLOCATED BUT CAN'T PLAY; CHECK DAC SETTINGS, APPLIED SAMPLE RATE, ETC.

[PeterSt]

Lee,

Install XXHighEnd again to a completely new folder. Now make sure you unzip that first large zip first, and unzip over that the smaller one (see Downloads).

It is my esitmate that you mixed XX versions in your current XX folder. At least sure it looks like it.

Let me know,
Peter

[greywind11]

Peter,

This is exactly how I installed XXHighend the first time. Did it again and it is playing.

Using wasapi as I think KS is not supported by the Berkeley guys unfortunately. So I am happy with the Lynx setup using KS.

Using the Wasapi driver, many of the KS variables such as buffer size, etc. are grayed out. Are there any variables that you suggest I change using wasapi? Engine #? Q1=?

Thanks.
/Lee

[praphan]

This is exactly how I installed XXHighend the first time. Did it again and it is playing.

I am not quite sure I understand your senstences. You did reinstall XXHE player again following the right instruction. Then, after reinstallation, can you or can you not use Kernel Streaming with Alpha USB? Please clarify.

In fact, to prevent further confusion, the title of this thread should read "Berkerly's Alpha USB interface and KS".

Praphan

[PeterSt]

I changed the topic title. My bad (I created it, and never saw it was about USB at first).

WASAPI just *is* Engine#3. The Engine can be selected explicitly.

What you can further try is

- Play with Q1 with the notice that most (back then - now WASAPI is hardly used by anyone) end up with Q1 = 4.

- USB is a bit special, and you will see that Q1 can't go up all the way (things may day at 27 or above).

- Towards Q1 = 0 things can start to be strange, but you may like it.

- 0 and under that are special (in the software) and you may perceive *that* as better. But also try violins, because those may turn you back to the above 0 levels.

- The Clock Resolution can't be higher (for number, towards 15) than 10. But try all the available settings. They sure matter.

The above are the WASAPI specifics and all the other things count too as usual. And, because there's less to tweak on the buffers side (that's whay grayed out) you may want to test Q2=30 and Q3=30 (4=0, 5 = 0). Or Q2=28 and Q3=28. These are settings many people liked. Try a solo piano to judge.

I can imagine there's buffer or other timing stuff at the driver side (is there ?). Sure try varying those too when there.

More I don't know by heart.
Peter