foobar2000 + Audigy 2 + Output data format = a confused nauticus

nauticus

I just got foobar2000 and I'm liking it so far, but, there is a setting in the playback options, called "Output data format," that lets me choose between 16bit fixed point, 24bit fixed point, 32bit fixed point, and some other stuff like "24 bit fixed point padded to 32 bit," and "32 (and 64 bit) bit floating point."

Now, I have an Audigy 2 ZS, which has DAC's capable of producing 24-bit, 192 kHz audio, and I don't know what I should set this "Output data format" option to!

Also, should I resample to 96 kHz?

Thanks.

dj_stick

don't resample audio - there's no point in it

choose either 24 bit or padded 24-32 if 24bit does not work

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RCOrdorica

i took me a while to tweak foobar to my audigy 2 zs.

set the output to 24bit. no padding or noise shaping needed.

set the module decoder to 24bit, 48KHz
Use directsound playback.

basically, set those modules at 24bit, 48KHz if you can.

Resample your audio using the PPHS resample or whatever that is called. there is two of them. Set it to 48K and ultra mode if you really want.

With these settings the Audigy doesn't do any internal resampling, so everything will sound much better. The logic behind this is that the Audigy will resample anything that isn't 48KHz to 48KHz using its built in resampler which isn't very high quality.

So if you do it with foobar first, you get a much nicer result.

Anything higher will not bring a benefit.

I use the advanced limiter to keep my clipping levels down. Also, make sure you don't over do the eq because it can introduce clipping. I usually have my audigy set at -14 db in foobar. It prevents it from clipping, and I still have the rest of my system volume to make it louder.

in order to use the features I just described, you need to add them into your active DSP. I'm in linux right now, so I am not looking at it, but I think you'll figure it out.

dj_stick

the audigy resamples everything that goes through the DSP, even if it is already at 48khz - it syncs the audio to its own clock source

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nauticus

Alright, thanks you two!

dj_stick

but you will only get 24bit resolution IF the original content played back is 24 bit

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nauticus

But there is a difference in audio quality for 16-bit samples when played back at 24-bit.

dj_stick

not that i am aware of - up-sampling to 24bit still plays the 16bit data

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Rogacz

I'm affraid that dj_stick is right. Upsampling it to 24 bit when playing 16 bit data is pointles.

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germanjulian

placebo (or plocebo) anyway no point but I did hear doing 24bit playback is for some reason better... anyway just try u wont hear any difference. and upsampeling = cpu usage...

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php go here for foobar forum!!! must go site!

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voyager6868

So, the best solution is to resample everything to 96KHz and turn off EAX, bass redirect, CMSS, and don't do anything more than a basic speaker calibration.

I really can't believe that the Audigy 2 resamples 96KHz sources to 48KHz. Many people have verified this by using various test waveforms.

germanjulian

no dont resample anything there is no point... all that your doing is wasting cpu time... it doesnt matter what foobar does...

the audigy will output 48khz and 24bit ALWAYS as far as I know... it doesnt matter what you do... and yes I am sure the audigy2 does downsample 96khz source to 48khz source....

ahhh

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voyager6868

I'm sure the Audigy 2 DOESN'T downsample. One obvious example. My receiver says that the Audigy 2 is sending it a 96KHz signal over SPDIF.

If you search around you'll find other people who have verified that the card does 96KHz output through analog. They basically create a test tone that's > 24 KHz (48/2) but less that 48KHz (96/2) and record it by running a line from line out to line in. It'll be obvious from that whether the card can do 96KHz or not. They claim the card CAN DO 96 KHz.

What tests have you done that you're so sure the card can only do 48 KHz?

And make sure, like I said, you turn off EAX, turn off CMSS, you have never done an advanced speaker calibration, and no bass redirect, and no moving the bass or treble sliders around either. Otherwise, yes, it will only do 48 KHz, and only 16-bit too.

dj_stick

i have an audigy 2 ZS and ALL signals that pass through the DSP chip, including EAX, EQ, and upmixing technique like CMSS.
only the raw, pure sound passes through the p16v chip and remains at 24/96

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voyager6868

Exactly. So we should be telling the original poster to make sure that he's passing "raw, pure sound" to the sound card so that it DOESN'T get resampled. We shouldn't be telling him that "it doesn't matter if you resample because the card always resamples anyways". That's just not true.

Where did the whole thing about the DSP enter into the thread? The guy was asking about using foobar to play music. He didn't say he was using the DSP on the card.

So the right answer is... make sure you aren't using the card's DSP and send either 48 or 96 KHz resampled sound at 24-bit or higher using foobar to the Audigy 2. Right?

dj_stick

the point of the topic was whether playing 16bit 44,100 files would sound better uf upmixed/sampled

the answer is no

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voyager6868

Well, he never specifically said he was only asking about 44,100, 16-bit files.

But even so, the answer is Yes. If you upsample 44100 to 48000 and don't pass through the card's DSP then you'll avoid the card resampling it. If you search around, lots of knowledgeable people say the same thing. You always want to resample to 48000 or 96000 with the Audigy 2.

RCOrdorica

hence the whole reason and explaination in my previous post

nauticus

So, I should turn CMSS off?
I only use stereo output and I heard it makes headphones sound more "3D" in games, is this true, because this is the only reason why it is enabled, and that it defaults that way?

RCOrdorica

i leave CMSS off all the time. It actually doesn't help in games either. All it does is add a virtual ambient effect. Most games automatically take advantage of surround speakers if you have them.

the only time i ever turn CMSS on is if I want a psuedo surround effect while wearing headphones.

nauticus

Thats why I use it, as I have headphones

RCOrdorica

yeah, it's good for games, but turn it off for everything else.