Mo DDC anymore. It was matrix SPDIF 2. I now use that crazy expensive Pure Silver Air USB only ten times price of the Matrix. Progress. But it is sounding really sweet after changing the Router and modem and tweaking it more with RF absorber piece by piece. This is second time around on this model router. The first router died after 4 months. Netgear service was difficult road so I waited 3 months after a replacement router came to have energy to install it. Only to find the outside cable to house was bad same day I replaced modem. What are the odds of that a 20 dB down signal? So new Spectrum cable outside , new modem, new tweaks. All my imaging is so sharp and real. But ready for ORC.
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I would have shut down and grabbed a record! The analog rig doesnāt need a reboot.
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Yes, absolutely. Many ways actually. How do you have in mind? The interface itself can be used as a DAC even.
If you are thinking ahead to going āAudiophileā, one good way to go is simply to swap out the Focusrite for an RME Interface like the Babyface Pro that comes in the Theoretica equipment packages. Edgar has helpers coming on stream who will be well trained in supporting set up with that. Then you have a decent (better) DAC (in the RME), with the renowned RME USB drivers (disclosure: comments coming from Germany) and the digital gain controls to make sure that the left and right microphone gains match (not easy with the Focusrite). If you want a differentā¦ more like a traditional interfaceā¦ there are RMEās for that too (disclosure: not an RME spokespersonā¦ just someone who has been through discussions with Edgar about using other brandsā¦ in my case MOTU).
PS: Welcome to the forum!
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a singing healer
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That is what started it all. The Bacch4Mac has limited inputs. I had the phono preamp connected to a couple of quarter inch phone plugs on the BabyFace Pro. There was a problem with that so I moved the BabyFace Pro to solve the problem. The result was for whatever reason the Toslink input from the Grimm MU1 no longer passed signal. Since the Gryphon Ethos CD Transport is forced to use the Grimm MU1 as its interface, (Due to no AES/EBU input) no more CD playing. Roon, using the Grimm as a Server and the Mac Mini as an endpoint, continued to work. Until it didnāt. So I could only spin vinyl.
It all got sorted out today and everything works. But I miss the inputs and outputs the BACCH-SP adio offers.
I was very unlucky last night. Today went a lot better.
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The DAC in the BabyFace Pro actually sounds pretty decent. I used it for a while just for giggles. The more you learn about the BabyFace Pro, the better it seems.
I believe Edgar can offer a great price for the BabyFace Pro. Better than what other Internet sources offer.
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I havenāt done the walkthrough yet, but Iām trying to wrap my head around the setup of the Focusrite interface. What should the input/output settings be for this? I plan on using the Focusrite for A/D and DA on the MacBook, with the Bacch4mac doing the DSP. Do I need Black Hole or something similar? A DAW? The Focusrite has loopback on channels 3/4. When I set the Focusrite for input and output on the Bacch4mac panel, I hear no sound. What am I missing? To be clear Iām only using analog sources for now. My Roon server is in the analog chain for now.
Same here. I couldnāt get it to work. I tried every setting possible. I can get sound out of the Bacch to the Focusrite with the test signals. When I send an analog signal from the Focusrite A/D to the Bacch, I hear nothing, even though the meters on the Bacch move. When I switch the Focusrite to direct mode, bypassing the Bacch, I get sound again. Why the software doesnāt have a manual or a setup video perplexes me. I know that every setup is different, but computer audio setup is pretty standardized by now.
Sorry, I have had no experience with that setup. I went for the Audiophile version. I donāt know that device. Edgar will take good care of you. Iām not certain if the system is allowed to work until he ticks some bits.
@cpreal Yes, Existential Audioās BlackHole is the key. They ask for a donation. I gave gladly. Below are all the instructions I had from a positive ASR review. Al wonāt let me post links to them here. But stick the further below quote section in Google.
Also, the BACCH release notes can be found here: dSP_Release_Notes_Archive.pdf (theoretica.us)
Release 11 notes include instructions on calibrating mic gains if you are using an interface with manual gain dials.
The BACCH concept is that they will help you if you ask. So it is a little harder if one is fixed on DIY custom tweaking oneself.
Back to the quote:
āHere is what we did: set up the Apple Mac Mini M1 16GB running SqueezePlay (you can also use Roon, HQPlayer or probably almost any other software which plays music). You need BlackHole Loop Back software to re-route the sound on the Mac from SqueezePlay to BACCH-DSP (simply create an aggregate device in the Audio/MIDI Settings with BlackHole + your DAC as sources, set the clock source to your DAC and tickmark drift compensation for BlackHole). Call this aggregate sound device āSF4BACCHā. Then in the BACCH-DSP software select SFBACCH in the Auto-Configure drop-down menu. Now select a filter bin, click āARMā. enter the distances between you and your speakers and between the speakers, and click FIRE. This is more or less it, but there are some pit-falls where Edgar helped.ā
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So I bit the bullet and ordered an M2 Mac mini and a Babyface Pro FS to go with the BACCH4Mac. Excited to set it up!
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Attaboy! I can help you with that setup. I am getting a lot of experience with my B4M setup now that my Bacch-SP adio is off getting upgraded.
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I got it to work with the analog inputs on the Babyface using the auto-configure script and Blackhole. Is there a way to get it to work directly with Roon on the Mini to BACCH DSP and then on to Babyface? I have Roon running on the Mini with Roon Bridge, but canāt get BACCH DSP to recognize it. The Roon will play from my Rock Server to the Babyface directly, but not through BACCH DSP.
UPDATE: Using Blackhole 16ch. Seems to be working now.
I use the Mac Mini that comes with the Bacchh4Mac as a Roon Endpoint.
I use the Optical (Toslink) input between my Grimm MU1 and the BabyFace Pro.
I use input 3 and 4 on the BabyFace Pro to connect my Phono Preamp.
This forces me to use the TotalMix Program that included with Bacch4Mac. Using this program, which runs in the background, is not advised for normal people by Edgar. He wants users to ignore it. Being not normal, I use it. I believe I understand it.
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How do you configure the analog inputs and digital stream from Roon in TotalMix? Is there a way to set it up so I can switch between Phono and Roon without having to manually change the settings on BACCH DSP each time? Iām not sure how to do this. Thanks for your help! Iāve emailed Theoretica for a walkthrough, but received no response back yet.
If you have any previous experience with a mixing board you will feel more at home with the TotalMix program. It is basically a visual and functional representation of a mixing board.
By default, all inputs are open and available. You should be able to listen to any input by default. Play one input, just listen. Play another input, same thing. The trick is with TotalMix you have the ability to mute inputs. In my setup the inputs I am using for the phono preamp have a very low level of noise that is visible in the meters in TotalMix. Visible, but not really audible to me. If I mute that input while listening to another it takes any noise out of the system from that input. But when I mute the input, I have to remember to unmute it when playing it again. I donāt hear a downside when I donāt mute it, but I mute it just the same.
My biggest issue as I spent 25 years avoiding Apple Computers. I use an iPad every day but in my experience an iPad is not very similar to a Mac Computer. And when I have to take control and use a Mac Computer I get lost pretty easily. Ask me to a screen capture. Iām lost. But I am getting better. Edgar has zero interest in supporting anything other than Apple so I am stuck. I control my Mac Mini with my MacBook. I am getting better at it every day but it isnāt easy for me. I am a total PC guy.
I am pretty impressed with the gear though. I wonāt open my Mac Mini and swap out itās power supply and add the new 12 volt external supply until I get my BACCH-SP adio back from itās trip out east to get updated. The Mac Mini that is inside my adio is many years behind and cannot run the current software due to an outdated Processor. They will put a new Mac Mini inside it and I will be good to go. I canāt see it getting back to me for at least a month.
One thing I do believe in is the BabyFace Pro. It is a very good device and very, very quiet. I spent an evening using its internal DAC just to see what it sounded like. It sounds really good. Who knew?
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@cpreal TotalMix is from RME. There are LOTS of videos by RME itself in English. These do not exist in German oddly enough, or did not originally. So my neighbour with the four-way active crossover and a professional RME interface comes to me for help! I only ever know how to go back to some RME video that I looked at before though to help them when they accidentally right-click a slider and deactivate a group etc. TotalMix FX - Mixing/Routing with superior features for Studio and Live Work - RME Audio Interfaces | Format Converters | Preamps | Network Audio & MADI Solutions (rme-audio.de)
PS: I use BlackHole for BACCH since I am NOT using an RME at present. I am thinking of changing though as the manual via the left-speaker twin microphone equalization process hurts my ears. Thankfully they are still sensitive to high-frequency. SWMBO does not seem to notice though.
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Same license for Mac and Windows. More options than needed, but screen grabs are so easy, and nice to have easy ability to add things like arrows
I can never remember the Mac shortcuts
I was just making a comment my friend, I am not actually concerned.
But thanks for trying to help!!!
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BACCH offers a plug in for less than $1K: u-BACCH Audio Plug-In ā BACCH Labs
I am not very experienced with plug-ins, custom filters, etc., and how to get them in the signal path given they are basically a computer program.
Before I go too far into this rabbit hole, I hope you will indulge me with at least one lazy question (since I have not taken the time to go through the BACCH website very much).
I have an iMac hosting my JRMC and ROON Core music software. My iMac jumps on my network and the internet wirelessly. (iMac ā Wi-Fi ā Router ā Various and Sundry Ethernet Cables, Optical Cables, and Switches; and then to the AirLens and DAC)
I do my primary listening to my files through JRMC. I use Roon also when I want to expand my options beyond my own library.
My network bridge for the Hi-Fi is a PSA AirLens feeding a DirectStream Sr. DAC (a/k/a the MK I) via the I2S connection.
Please note that I eschew USB connections in my system and donāt currently have any dedicated USB sources (I am not a zealot in this regard but have always found it to be unnecessarily complicated vs. my other choices for great sound).
Hereās my mulligan: Where do I plug in the Plug-In in order to use it with JRMC and/or Roon; and what do I control the software/my system with to experience what it can do with my system and my room?
You canāt dumb it down enough in any response you care to provide. 
Thanks all.
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