Hi all, I’ve been using HQPlayer + Roon for quite some time now and everything had been working great until I decided to reinstall Windows for a fresh system.
I’m using HQPlayer Desktop and have the Roon client on the same PC. But when I load both applications this time and hit play, for some reason the HQPlayer status just keeps flashing and all i see is “clHQPlayerEngine::Execute(): clASIOEngine::StartAudioClient(): ASIOCreateBuffers()” at the bottom.
My device is the Sony DMP-Z1 and I use ASIO playback.
Nothing plays and it just keeps doing the same loop. However, if i mess around by changing it from ASIO to Wasapi and back, or disabling drivers and re-enabling drivers, etc. - I can sometimes get it to work.
I’m at my wits end and hope someone can help figure out what is going on.
Thank you!
Oh and here’s my log:
2024/12/29 11:36:38 Starting…
2024/12/29 11:36:43 Restore GUI state
2024/12/29 11:36:45 Control server allow remote control
2024/12/29 11:36:54 Control connection from 192.168.1.161:41826
2024/12/29 11:36:55 Control started from 192.168.1.161:41826http://192.168.1.161:30000/72f4adc1cf9d437b8fc11c0a350c1efc/stream.raw
2024/12/29 11:36:57 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:36:58 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:36:58 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:36:59 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:36:59 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:00 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:00 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:01 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:01 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:02 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:02 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:03 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:03 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:04 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:04 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:04 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:05 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:05 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:05 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:06 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:06 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:07 Playback engine stopped
2024/12/29 11:37:07 Playback engine running
2024/12/29 11:37:07 Playback engine stopped
jussi_laako
December 29, 2024, 2:50am
3
If both are running on the same computer, have you checked that your DAC is indeed disabled under Roon Settings / Audio?
Hi Jussi, yes confirming that the DAC has been disabled…
I’ve also noticed another issue. If I just use the DAC (ASIO) with Roon, without HQPlayer, for some reason, it doesn’t play - almost like it has the same initialisation issue as seen on HQPlayer.
The only way to make it work again is to go to Device Manager, disable the ‘Sony Audio’ device, re-enabling it, go to sound settings - disallow sound output device and re-enabling it. Then it may start working again. Might need to do this like 2-3 times.
jussi_laako
December 29, 2024, 2:18pm
5
Have you installed all Windows updates, and then reinstalled the DAC’s driver after that? Because sometimes Windows updates break the DAC specific drivers, requiring driver reinstallation. Usually one indication of such case is DSD mode getting broken.
I also recommend to download and install latest Microsoft runtime from here:https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe
I’ve reinstalled the driver twice actually - but this is on Windows 24H2 (after i did a clean windows install) compared to before. So you might be right that it could be a windows thing. (I’ve got the VC_Redist installed too)
I noticed that the one consistent way to get it working at the moment is to disable the Speakers (Sony Audio) from ‘Audio inputs and outputs’ in device manager and also go to Sound Settings and ‘Don’t allow’ apps and windows to use this device for audio. Only then will the ASIO driver work.
Stefan_Jorma
December 30, 2024, 2:56pm
7
Does it work if you switch to Wasapi as your input?
jussi_laako
January 1, 2025, 12:55am
8
I assume you have your DAC not set as the default Windows audio output device? I usually point Windows to play it’s default audio to the motherboard audio device or something else that is not really connected anywhere. As long as it goes somewhere else than the DAC. And then only HQPlayer is configured to output to the DAC.
So please just make sure you don’t have any other application (including the OS itself) running and touching the audio device.
Ah… I do have the DAC set as the default device… Previously, before Windows 24H2, i was able to have it function as default device, but when HQPlayer activates, it takes exclusive control of the driver and it stops windows sounds. But when HQPlayer is closed, windows takes back control. This doesn’t seem to work anymore and I have to disable the windows sound each time.
jussi_laako
January 1, 2025, 7:33pm
10
I guess the driver is in need of update for the latest Windows version.
But generally my recommendation is to point Windows or macOS to do their OS audio output to somewhere else, to avoid potential conflicts and race conditions.
Thank you! I suppose you’re right but I don’t see Sony updating the drivers any time soon… Driver shows like its from 2016!