Unable to get bit perfect output

Support
1

This must be the most asked and answered inquiry, and yet having read numerous archived posts, I still cannot get my system to show bit perfect output. Only the green light. Sigh. OK, here goes . . .

I am using a Mac mini as my Core with Roon Server (I run it heedless and control it from my MBP, and have the Roon control app on my MBP and iPad). The mini is connected to my DAC by USB, which at this point is an Oppo BDP 105D. Earlier I was using a Bel Canto on loan from my bedroom system with the same green light.

I have set the Audio Midi setting in the mini to “Built-In Output” (as opposed to highlighting the Oppo in Audio Midi) based on threads I just read which stated that that is necessary to find and turn on the Exclusive Mode. But maybe I’m confused, because with Roon it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

In Audio Settings, under “Connected to Core” I have three enabled Zones: (1) System Output, which appears to be the default, and which I don’t understand, (2) Built-In Output, which appears to be the mini itself, and (3) Oppo. Under device settings, I have both the Built-In Output Zone and the Oppo Zone set to Exclusive Mode. But under System Output, whatever that is, I do not see the option to turn on Exclusive Mode, AND it seems like the System Output Zone is the ONLY one that will play even though all three are enabled… I tried to switch to the Oppo as the active Zone by clicking the System Output icon next to the volume icon and then clicking on Oppo in the window that opens, again based on post I’ve read. But when I do that, all it says is “Nothing Playing”. The music keeps playing, but System Output is the only Zone shown as playing anything in that window.

Good grief! I am just trying to bypass OS Mixer and get bit perfect somehow, and I have read five different threads all resulting in resolutions, and none of them are working for me.

I guess I am STILL very confused and frustrated about how this works. The music sounds great, green light and all, but it’s driving me nuts that I cannot figure things like this out after hours of reading and fiddling.

2

I am sure it is to do with your Mac setup but I am not a Mac person so can’t help. It may help others to diagnose if you click on the green light and post a screen shot of the audio path.

3

Hey Tony. Mea Culpa!

I just figured out that when I clicked on the output icon and touched the Oppo Zone, and it said “nothing playing”, all I had to do was then play something FROM THAT ZONE. I thought it would keep playing what was already playing. In other words, I’m still learning what a zone is! I thought it was just synonymous with an output device, but apparently it’s more than that because it enables you to play different things to different outputs.

Anyway, this time I started playing something new from the Oppo Zone and BINGO! Purple light.

Sheesh, sorry for making you read this, but thanks for chiming in.

4

Hi Joshua,

People may use System Output to Playback music, as well as be able to hear system sounds from the computer.

You want to use the Oppo Output, set as Exclusive Mode. You could just Disable System and Built-In Output.

The way Roon works is that you could have multiple zones around your house and you can have different music playing in each zone at the same time.

*** Ok, I just noticed you figured a lot of this out.

If you right clicked (long press) the System Output Zone and selected Transfer Zone, you could have had the music playing moved to the Oppo Zone.

Lots of info here in the Roon User Guide.

Information on Zones here.

Cheers, Greg

1 Like
5

Thanks! Lots to learn. And it’s mostly fun!

6

I just learnt something new there, it’s been bugging me for a while, thanks.

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