Optimizing Windows 7 Audio

Discussion in 'Computer Audiophile: Software, Configs, Tools' started by Xeno, Dec 22, 2015.

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  1. SSL

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    :rolleyes:

    What's the point of mmcss if you ALSO set thread priority to realtime?
     
  2. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    ;)I guess the CPU and the Windzose will take care the player with more heart.
     
  3. SSL

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    I don't know what that means.
     
  4. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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  5. SSL

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    Yeah, I know what mmcss does. Still failing to see the point of dicking with the thread priority if already taking advantage of mmcss. Plus, foobar already maximizes the priority of the playback thread. Setting foobar itself to high priority is pointless and will do nothing at all.
     
  6. Z3ROGRAV1TYx

    Z3ROGRAV1TYx New

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    Seeing I game on my computer this will lower my frames per second correct?
     
  7. SSL

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    Happily, the occasion will not arise; provided you refrain from modifying setting in your OS that are best left unmodified. If you are using an audio player that takes advantage of thread priority and mmcss, you shouldn't need to touch the setting that prioritizes background services.

    On top of that, audio playback isn't a real-time task, so dicking with process priorities is a waste of time anyway.
     
  8. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    After some automatic updates, Windows 10 just fucked up my audio once again(Windows 10 like to reset your settings after every update for no reasons). Was getting random clicks and pops (mutec Mc3 blue LED lock light blinks for sec) then I remembered about usb power savings screwing things up and that was the root cause.

    Remember guys to uncheck usb power savings at the usb root hub which your dac/sound interface is connected to..

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Aplle

    Aplle New

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    I prefer to just disable "USB selective suspend" in the power options, never had Windows change the setting back to default on me that way.
     
  10. m.i.c.k.e.y

    m.i.c.k.e.y Facebook Friend

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    Before I upgraded my DAC to support Native DSD I kind of preferred Kernel Streaming rather than ASIO (if available).

    W/ my PC I ensure that:
    -Installed only what is necessary.
    -Disable services that are not necessary.
    -Disable power management on peripherals(previously noted).
    -Limit disk activity by: a.) loading lots of Ram and make sure OS will not use pagefile b.) using a good cache manager.
    -A separate USB card dedicated to audio (stated also already)
    -And a good UPS (preferably w/ online double conversion).
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2016
  11. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    I've been using Process Lasso for the past couple weeks on my Windows 10 system, and it seems to improve audio quality. According to the developer, it's an "advanced process priority optimization and system automation utility. It offers process priority optimization, CPU core affinity optimization, power plan automation, automated rules, and so much more".

    I don't know the technical reason why it makes a difference, all I can say is on my system, music sounds clearer since I installed it. So far I've stuck with the default settings, and it hasn't caused any problems.

    For more info look here.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2017
  12. GustavoWoltmann

    GustavoWoltmann MOT: EqualizerPro

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    I think it is good idea to use an Equalizer software to get the best sound quality from Windows. I usually use Windows media player but I also use Equalizer software like " EqualizerPro" it helps a lot to get best sound.
     
  13. wormcycle

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    I do not know the technical reasons why it would make a difference but I know that on my Win 8.1 Dell, already optimized in terms of services, power etc.., it does not make any difference at all.
    It reports CPU 100% responsive, low CPU and memory utilization and there are still cracks and random stops using USB ASIO, does not matter how I set buffering on JRiver. But with digital output from Xonar I really do not have need for USB. By the way the Tidal app seems to work a lot better with USB ASIO than JRiver 22.
     
  14. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    (Holy necro update, but..)

    For what it's worth, the author of Foobar 2000 suggests using WSAPI exclusive mode rather than his own kernel streaming drivers now.
     
  15. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    I'm happy using fidelizer pro to get my Window settings,services and priorities right. I usually forget tweaks and tricks I have applied myself and when something gets hosed, I'm lost. This software can undo any and all changes and has multiple levels and configurations for pc's that will have other uses beside music. I've used foobar and jriver21. I like both but I really like what bughead emperor does with music and I have no idea what the developer does to make things sound the way they do. Windows has taken a back seat to my raspberry pi and 502dac setup though, for now. Picoreplayer and Logitech Media Server are currently kicking butt. i2s to spdif to Modi Multibit.
     
  16. MrTeaRex

    MrTeaRex His head's not fat, he's my brother!

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    You might want to give Roon a try in your setup, if you haven't already. It can function as both your media player in Windows and, with it's support for Squeezelite, it can stream lossless directly to your piCorePlayer devices (just make sure LMS isn't running at the same time). Since it's free to try and you don't have to do anything to your devices, all you have to do to go back to LMS is shut Roon down and start LMS again. I've been a die hard foobar2k and LMS user for years (with Orange Squeeze as a remote control mobile app), but Roon's UI, library management, and mobile app sold me.

    Edit: Good UI isn't about pretty, it's about workflow and usability.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2017
  17. bilboda

    bilboda Florida boomer

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    I just don't see Roon adding much to the equation, at least not at it's price. LMS does just fine. I don't need pretty and I get lossless already.
     
  18. Friday

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  19. JoeBinx

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    Downloaded and attempt'd to install and it failed, gave me an error message about not finding the _dll,

    Still enjoying ASIO output, less buggy than Kernel Streaming on my computer
     
  20. Peter Apperup

    Peter Apperup Acquaintance

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    Which players are in your opinion the; ''the top two best sounding and free software that is also easily usable as well.''?
     

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