Audio Midi Setup affecting playback in Exclusive,Direct.Integer Mode

Connection with external Audio Devices USB DAC
1

HI All,

Think this is the first post I have made, as I usually find the answers in the wealth of knowledge throughout the forum, so thank you for inadvertently supporting me already.

However, I have come across an anomaly. It is my understanding that with the above settings that Audio Midi Setup on the Mac should be bypassed? However, I recently found that this does not appear to be the case. I noticed it initially with the latest 10.15.5 update of Catalina, but I have since gone back to 10.5.1 and to Mojave10.14.6 to find the same problems exist.

So if I go to System Preferences and sounds, I have my Audiolab DAC, built in option and my Sony TV connected through HDMI. If I select another sound source, other than my DAC, then go to Audirvana and press play, the sound is diminished i.e. the range of sound is diminished. It seems to play more centrally with less pan left and right and the trebles are quietened. In the latest 10.15.5 I have noticed that if I then select my DAC again, the sound settings mirror those of the different device, so it does not go back to the full “dynamic” sound that I heard before. In 10.15.1 and 10.14.6 the sound returns to normal.

So I then went to my Audio Midi Settings and played around here. Again if I select say my Sony TV, even though Audirvana is meant to be exclusive and direct and in integer mode the playback changes when switching between the options. I then decided to have a play around with the rates, so would play Audirvana through the DAC setting using 24bit 44.1 and 24 bit 384. Even though my options in Audirvana are upsampling at Power of 2 and the output shows this to be the case, the sound is altered if I play the same track and select 24 bit 44.1 in Audio Midi Setup and then play it selecting 24 bit 384. The outcome being the sound is thinner and more spaced, as you would expect playing at a higher rate.

So if Audirvana is meant to bypass all these settings then can someone explain why altering sound output and rates through Audio Midi Setup is making a difference? I will show my debug here for the Mojave settings I had with the older version of Audirvana, as I have been testing on a number of OS and Audirvana versions, but the outcome is the same. Once I restore back to Catalina 10.15.5, I can repost that debug info if needed.

Thank you in advance for any ideas/help.

Ken

Audirvana Mac Version 3.5.24 (3554)
macOS 10.14.6 with 16384MB RAM

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Polarity Inversion:
	Globally: OFF
	Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE

UPSAMPLING:
SoX with Power Of Two upsampling
SoX filter parameters
Bandwidth at 0dB = 95
Filter max length = 30000
Anti-aliasing = 87
Phase = 43

AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 100
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF

LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 1 folders
AUTO: /Volumes/music/
Library database path: /Users//Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaPlusDatabaseV2.sqlite

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES

=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================

Direct Mode audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512

Max. memory for audio buffers: 11904MB

Local Audio Engine:
Exclusive access: Enabled
Integer mode: Enabled

Preferred device:
AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0 Output
Model UID:AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:2622:0041
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:AUDIOLAB :AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
Hog Mode is off

Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: ON

Selected device:
Local audio device
ID 0x27 AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0 Output Manufacturer:AUDIOLAB
Model UID:AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:2622:0041 UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:AUDIOLAB :AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1

8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: Yes
Virtual: Yes
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: No
Not a MQA device, user set to not MQA
DSD capability: Unhandled
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1

Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes

1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1

Stream ID 0x28 2 channels starting at 1
24 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

32 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz

Local devices found : 6
Device #0: ID 0xcd Built-in Output Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:129 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0
Device #1: ID 0xdc HDMI Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleHDA:129 UID: AppleHDAEngineOutputDP:3,0,1,1:0:{D94D-A401-01010101}
Device #2: ID 0x27 AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0 Output Manufacturer: AUDIOLAB Model UID: AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:2622:0041 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:AUDIOLAB :AUDIOLAB USB Audio 2.0:14100000:1
Device #3: ID 0xc2 Soundflower (2ch) Manufacturer: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Model UID: com_cycling74_driver_SoundflowerDevice:Soundflower UID: SoundflowerEngine:0
Device #4: ID 0x3b Soundflower (64ch) Manufacturer: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Model UID: com_cycling74_driver_SoundflowerDevice:Soundflower UID: SoundflowerEngine:1
Device #5: ID 0x30 Multi-Output Device Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: ~:AMS2_StackedOutput:0 UID: ~:AMS2_StackedOutput:0

UPnP devices found : 0

2

Hi there

Have done more experimenting with this. It’s all iseems to be the sample rates. The Direct Mode is not working properly in my opinion. If the sample rate is changed in Audio Midi setup then it is affecting the sound quality. If I match the Audio Midi setup with what the DAC should be playing the sound improvement is superior in quality.

So for example if Audio Midi setup has setting at 2 channel 24 bit 384 but I’m playing a file through Audirvana that is 24 bit 44.1 but upsampled to 24bit 352.8 the sound is distorted. However, if I change the Audio Midi setup to 24 bit 352.8, so it is in conjunction with what the DAC should be playing its a completely different song and crystal clear.

So even though the El Capitan kext is being used it is not direct mode in its purest form as the Audio Midi Setup still appears to be having an affect on the sound.

Whats weird is, if Direct Mode is used it certainly sounds better than just with integer mode, so direct mode is still doing something to make the sound better it just doesn’t seem to be overriding the sample rate option. Although my DAC will always say it is playing the rate that Audirvana suggests it is playing at. So to take the above example if Audio Midi Setup is set at 24 bit 384 and i’m playing the upsampled 24 bit 44.1, the DAC shows 24 bit 352.8.

Has anyone got any suggestions as to what is happening? Anyone with direct mode be able to see if changing the sample rate in Audio Midi Setup affects their sound as well?

Thanks

Ken