Nice foobar2000 setup description pages: Foobar2000 for Dummies

Audio Components DACs
1

Over on the foobar2000 a fellow recommended the “Foobar2000 for Dummies” pages which include

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/digital/pc-software/foobar-2000-for-dummies/

and includes

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/digital/pc-software/foobar-2000-for-dummies-part-3-new-experimental-sacd-plugin-v-0-9-x/

Note that the DS and DS Jr don’t (at this time) support Native DSD so the DSDTranscoder isn’t needed or recommended.

2 Likes
3
Ted Smith said

Note that the DS and DS Jr don’t (at this time) support Native DSD so the DSDTranscoder isn’t needed or recommended.


Warning: ignorance may be about to be shown

Please, if the DS and DSJnr convert everything to DSD internally how come neither supports ‘native DSD’?

Peter

4

The distinction is DoP vs Native DSD as a method of getting DSD to the DAC. DoP is “DSD over PCM” which is wrapping the DSD bits in a PCM envelope - all of the DSD are there - bit perfect - it’s just that they look like PCM so they can go thru standard interfaces instead of 1 bit at a huge sample rate… The DAC unwraps DoP back to the original DSD…

1 Like
5

Hello Ted, I just rcvd the Don Grusin CD, try to play the DSD files via foobar to DSDAC but no sound coming out. However, no problem to play the PCM (WAV) files. Please help. Thanks. -Terrence

6

Problem solved. I have picked the wrong Device in Output config. It should be “DSD : ASIO : PS Audio USB Driver”

7

Here is my write up for installing foobar on my Windows 7 Laptop for playing DSD file from my DSDAC .

Foobar installation and configuration for PS Audio DSD DAC

Date : July, 2020

Tested PC : Windows 7 Laptop

I. Required software: Six packages are needed:

PSAudio_USB_ASIO.exe
ASIOProxyInstall-0.8.3.exe
foobar2000_v1.5.5.exe
foo_dsd_processor.fb2k-component
foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component
foo_out_asio.fb2k-component

Download sites:

a. PSAudio_USB_ASIO.exe (USB v1.61.0)

download => PSAudio_USB_ASIO.exe

b. ASIOProxyInstall-0.8.3.exe (ASIO Proxy for foobar2000)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/files/foo_dsd_asio/

download => ASIOProxyInstall-0.8.3.zip

unzip => ASIOProxyInstall-0.8.3.exe

(Tried 0.9.4, but its GUI has changed, so 0.8.3 is used instead.)

c. foobar2000_v1.5.5.exe (foobar2000 v1.5.5)

http://www.foobar2000.org/download

download => foobar2000_v1.5.5.exe

d. foo_dsd_processor.fb2k-component and foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component

https://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/files/foo_input_sacd/

download => foo_input_sacd-1.2.3.zip

unzip => foo_dsd_processor.fb2k-component and foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component

e. foo_out_asio.fb2k-component

http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio

download =>foo_out_asio.fb2k-component

II. Installation:

a. Install the following drivers and foobar application are straight forward,

PSAudio_USB_ASIO.exe
ASIOProxyInstall-0.8.3.exe
foobar2000_v1.5.5.exe

b. Install these foobar components,

foo_dsd_processor.fb2k-component
foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component
foo_out_asio.fb2k-component

just open the foobar application first and click on these components, they will be added into foobar Installed components list.

For example, to install the foo_out_asio.fb2k-component, open the foobar application, then double click on the downloaded foo_out_asio.fb2k-component file. The foobar 2000 Component Installer will pop-up to confirm the foo_out_asio will be installed.

image
Click “Yes”, it will bring back to the Components windows.
image
Just need to click “OK” to finish the installation.

III. Configure Foobar:

To configure Foobar to play DSD files via USB on DSDAC, go to the Preferences
image

The Preferences windows will show:
image

  1. check the installed components:

These installed components can be checked via “Components”:
image

  1. Configure ASIO:

Two installed ASIO drivers will be listed.
image

Double-click on the “foo_dsd_asio” driver. The “ASIO Prox 0.8.3” windows will pop-up. Select the values as show here. And close the pop-up windows.

image

Optional, before click “OK”, might want to tick those two boxes too.
image

  1. Configure SACD:

image

  1. Select Output Driver: (pick a wrong driver will have no sound!)

image

8

I already knew about this and am way beyond it. Nonetheless, Thank you very much for providing this resource to the community Ted! It is much welcomed. I know for many people it can be daunting. I use an especially advanced configuration and I will put it to HQPlayer any day. I do not wish to start a battle here though. So let’s pretend I did not just say that. Regardless for something free, it can be configured to have outstanding sound IMO. That is for very advanced users. Baby steps. First get sound! Follow the tutorial if needed. Ted just did many of you a huge favor to link that here. I stand behind Foobar like none other. Not because it is free either.

Thank you Ted. As always, you are much appreciated!