Dirac 1.2 (not Roon) update = occasional buffer static again

Support
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  1. see attached settings for Dirac Audio Processor 1.2 running on Mac Mini.

    Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 11.24.09 AM.png1060×1088 68.3 KB

  2. Dirac 1.1 + Roon 1.2 - no issues afaik.
    Dirac 1.2 + Roon 1.2 + “power-of-2” disabled - completely unusable across all content
    Dirac 1.2 + Roon 1.2 + “power-of-2” enabled - works for most content, but occurs on occasion. Have not noticed any correlation with sample rate.

  3. Dirac Settings - Maybe the most important thing to note is that this occurs even with Dirac Filtering turned off in the Dirac Audio Processor. i.e. it’s not the Dirac filters but just sending the audio via the Dirac Driver in and of itself. See attached.

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Dirac audio processor - latest - OS X 10.9.5
RoonServer, latest.

Not used it much but have tried unchecking power 2 buffer and it’s unusable as mentioned above. With it checked I haven’t noticed any issues with tidal or redbook but it’s only been setup since weekend.

Pretty sure settings are same as above.

Thanks for having a look.

image.png2048×1536 484 KB

(Ps miles Davis isn’t my usual listen but it does get an outing sometimes, tonight over dinner - hope that’s not sacrilege)

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Hello guys,

So we did some tests and we can’t reproduce the reported issue. We were using the following setup: MacBook Pro with OSX 10.11.4 + Dirac 1.2. As an output device we tried built-in speakers and several DACs (Meridian Explorer, iFi iDSD). During our test we tried to playback all file formats / sampling rates through Dirac virtual sound card with and without Dirac filter.
More info from @Cantodea and @miklats about their setup might help us to reproduce this issue.

Thanks

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I use a Macbook with the latest Operating System as an endpoint. Roonserver is a Windows PC setup, some distance away.
I use Dirac 1.2 with a RME Babyface Soundcard and DAC setup or an Oppo 105 as DAC.
I didnt have any static noise problems with Roon 1.1 and Dirac 1.1 on both Dac.
The Rme Babyface with Roon 1.2 and Dirac 1.2 produces only digital noise, doesnt matter which setup option I choose.
Roon 1.2 with the RME Babyface alone works perfect.
When I use the Oppo as DAC noise problems with PCM files are fixed with the solution provided here. Static noise problems came up when I switched listening to .dsf files. Roon converts the .dsf files to pcm. Here after 2 minutes or so static noise appeares… Not as severe as with the RME Babyface, still clearly audible. When the Oppo is used without Dirac there is no static noise problem.
Hope this helps.

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The better solution would be allowing the use of AU plugins so you could use Dirac AU plugin directly. I’ve followed the discussion on that and noted that there are issues regarding the AU architecture and needing to open a GUI, and that this would be a problem for headless “devices” running Roon/Dirac. But if my understanding of what I read is correct it wouldn’t be an issue for single machines running both server and playback (i.e. not using multiple zones), and personally I’d be happy to use AU plugins in this scenario and accept the limitations that would impose.

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I use a mid 2011 Imac with the latest OSX. Latest Roon is in use and Dirac 1.2. My DAC is an Audioengine Wireless D2. Before the upgrade To latest Roon there were no problems. Sometimes the systems plays good for a few hours. Then sometimes it begins after a few minutes. The problems occurs with my own music and with Tidal content. It does’t matter if it is Hi-res or not. With same setup I tried Audirvana, Itunes and Jriver no problems here.

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Any progress with Roon 1.2 build 142? Someone tried it already?

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Roon 1.2 (latest build) and Dirac 1.2 now work perfectly with the RME Babyface Dac.
No digital Noise.
Kudos to the Roon Team !

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I was a bit premature.
The playback is working for files up 24bit/48kHz.
All above that (88.2 up to 192) does not play. It simply refuses to be played.
Tested that on some files I play frequently.

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Yesterday evening I could test the Oppo with Dirac and the latest Roon build.
Nothing has changed here. Digital Noise appears after some play time.
That problem still needs some attention.

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Did the Roon update this week and now it is much better, however every now and then static noise appears. Simply restart the song does the trick. Anyway, it must be a Roon thing and let’s hope with next update it will be solved.
Long time ago, I can remember that Audirvana had the same problem with Dirac. Eventually they solved it too.

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I have the same issue. My settings are identical to the two already posted. Random pops and clicks .

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< Yes, another one here with the same problem. Having finally got a version of Devialet AIR that sort of works, I wanted to implement Dirac but the combination of Roon/Dirac/AIR is not stable. I have tried every permutation of Roon settings, but it alway turns into a Dalek at some point. Note that Roon to AIR seems OK, so of course the problem may be on the Dirac side.

(iMAC/El Capitan/Roon 1.2/Roonbridge/Dirac 1.2 trial/AIR 3beta)

Would be great if you could sort this one.

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Hello Roon,

Any progress? Right now I’m using Roon 1.1, because I can’t use Roon 1.2/Dirac. Hope, you can find a solution.

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Dear Roon team,

I’ve just updated to the new version of Roon and the latest Dirac
and for me it’s a disaster as every time I change sampling rates the music is played
with this chopped digital noise! If I stay within the same sampling rates, than
I have no problem.

To fix the problem I have to close Dirac and open it again
while Roon is playing a song. As a matter of fact I always have to open Dirac
after Roon has been opened first and playing a song, if I open Dirac while Roon is set
to pause or if I open Dirac first and then I open Roon, on pressing play I hear
digital horror.

However once the system works, and I stay within the same sampling
rates or I stay in Tidal I have no issues.

How disappointing… is there a way to revert to the earlier version?

I am surprised I don’t see many other complaining about this
problem…

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I just received a fast and polite response from Dirac suggesting that switching sample rates was the problem. However, I get the same issue even when my system is playing just Redbook files.

Given that Dirac sits between Roonbridge and the dreaded AIR3beta on my iMac there are plenty of places for things to go wrong, and Roon directly to AIR seems to work just fine, so I certainly don’t hold Roon responsible for this issue, but they seem by far the smartest and most responsive of the various SW teams involved (and we know that Devialet are a bad joke with regard to software) so I am hoping that the Roon dudes will spot something here that they can fix for us.

I have to say that when it works, the combination of Roon/Dirac/Devialet D 400 sounds stunningly good to me. I also have to say that I would sooner give up on the D400 and pick different hardware rather than move away from Roon at the moment.

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Well finger crossed then! I remember that they had already fixed
this problem at the very beginning. I am the kind of guy that just wants to
listen to music, a lot of it in the most efficient way. I have completely lost
all need or lust to upgrade; all I want is my Mac, Dirac, Roon, my DIY DAC, the
Tortuga preamplifier, the Mark Levinson amp, and my DIY loudspeakers. If all
that could last until the end of times… As soon as this problem is fixed, I will
no longer update anything! Mac included.

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Hello guys, last 5 days I was listening music only via Dirac virtual sound card, using various setups and I didn’t have glitches at all.

At this point I would like you to do test on your side:

  1. Can you reproduce this issue using a built-in sound card ?
  2. What do you usually do in Roon when this issue is happening?
  3. What do you usually do on your system when this issue is happening (youtube watching, internet browsing, making a back up) ?

Answers to these questions may give us ideas where to go next with this issue.

Thanks

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Hi Vova

Great that you are looking into this!!

I will try using a regular sound card in my iMac, and post immediately if I get the problem. However, from necessity, all serious listening needs to be via Devialet AIR.

I am doing absolutely nothing else when the problem arises - no other app, no keyboard or mouse input, no screensaver. Just crackling/stuttering out of nowhere. It usually clears right away, but can come back at any time.

Roon is just playing to a single zone, typically just redbook files. I have Roon on a Win10 NUC going to RoonBridge on my iMac which hosts Dirac and then AIR. Everything is connected by Cat6 cable. AIR WiFi is just the same as via cable too.

I could believe it was just a local network problem, but a few others report the same symptoms, so I guess not. Dirac support have been politely helpful, but have just told me to keep checking future updates. I know already that asking Devialet for help is a complete waste of time. You are my only hope!

I will post my findings regarding the regular output.

Thanks

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Thank you so much for looking into this problem!

  1. yes, I get the same exact result if the sound is sent to
    the built-in sound card (from the Dirac options) or to the Amanero.

  2. Nothing in Roon, I just close Dirac and open it again
    which fix the problem 99% of the times.

  3. Nothing, the Mac in question is exclusively used for
    playing music via Dirac and Roon.