Static(sort of)/Garbled Noise playing Tidal Masters (already tried the suggested solution)

Studio
1

Hello.

I get garbled noise when I play Masters (MQA) songs from Tidal via Audirvāna Studio. The same song plays just fine on the Tidal App.

I’m using Audirvāna Studio on a 2020 Macbook Pro, connected to the iFi Zen One Siganture DAC (it supports MQA).
Apple Midi settings are set appropriately to 2 ch stereo output via the iFi DAC. Format 32-bit 384KHz
Auto Detect MQA Devices is turned on and is in MQA Decoder mode (Cannot change that).
The upsampling on Audirvāna is set to off. No signal processing. No Volume Levelling.

I searched the forum and found that setting the upsampling to off was the proposed solution, which I already have.

Can someone be so kind as to help or let me know what I am doing wrong?

The debug info from Audirvāna is below

"Audirvana Studio 1.12.2 (11202)

macOS Version 12.3 (Build 21E230) with 16GB physical RAM

Connected account of : Nik Nag

SIGNAL PROCESSING:

  • Polarity Inversion:*
  •   Globally: OFF*

  •   Per track: OFF*
  • Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE*

UPSAMPLING:

  • r8brain not in use*
  • r8brain filter parameters*
  • Bandwidth = 99.5%*
  • Stop band attenuation 218dB*
  • Phase linear*

AUDIO VOLUME:

  • Max allowed volume: 100*
  • Replay Gain: None*
  • SW volume control: ON*

LIBRARY SETTINGS:

  • Sync list: 1 folders*

  •   AUTO: /Volumes/Samsung_T5/Lossless*

  • iTunes/Music library synchronization: last synchronized on Sat Apr 16 08:48:47 2022*

  • Library database path: /Users/nyx/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite*

Remote Control server:

  • Listening on 127.0.0.1 on port 55811*

ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES

  • Qobuz: Connected as Qobuz Studio*
  • TIDAL: Connected as HIFI*

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

CoreAudio audio path, buffer I/O frame size: 512

Max. memory for audio buffers: 13312MB

  • Exclusive access: Disabled*
  • Integer mode: Enabled*

*Preferred device: *

  • IFI (BY AMR) IFI (BY AMR) HD USB AUDIO *
  • Model UID:iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:20B1:3009*
  • UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:iFi (by AMR):iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:0025:1*

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: OFF*

Selected device:

  • Local audio device*
  • ID 0x119 iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio *
  • Manufacturer: iFi (by AMR)*
  • Model Name: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio *
  • Model UID: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:20B1:3009*
  • UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:iFi (by AMR):iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:0025:1*

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: Yes*
  • MQA Decoder device*
    DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.1
    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 0x11a 2 channels starting at 1
32 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 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 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*

48 physical formats

  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 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 32 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz*
  • 2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer 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 : 9
Device #0: ID 0x123 AV Receiver Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: AppleGFXHDA:0 UID: AppleGFXHDAEngineOutputDP:f803:0:{CB3D-1470-00000000} Model Name: Apple Inc. AV Receiver
Device #1: ID 0x40 Sound Blaster GC7 Speakers Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd Model UID: Sound Blaster GC7:041E:3271 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:Creative Technology Ltd:Sound Blaster GC7:0863B125B0869643:4 Model Name: Creative Technology Ltd Sound Blaster GC7 Speakers
Device #2: ID 0x34 Sound Blaster GC7 Headset Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd Model UID: Sound Blaster GC7:041E:3271 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:Creative Technology Ltd:Sound Blaster GC7:0863B125B0869643:6 Model Name: Creative Technology Ltd Sound Blaster GC7 Headset
*Device #3: ID 0x119 iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Manufacturer: iFi (by AMR) Model UID: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:20B1:3009 UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:iFi (by AMR):iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio:0025:1 Model Name: iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio *
Device #4: ID 0x109 MacBook Pro Speakers Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Model UID: Speaker UID: BuiltInSpeakerDevice Model Name: Apple Inc. MacBook Pro Speakers
Device #5: ID 0xda Reincubate Manufacturer: Reincubate Model UID: CamoAudioDevice_ModelUID UID: CamoAudioDevice_UID Model Name: Reincubate
Device #6: ID 0xcd Soundflower (2ch) Manufacturer: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Model UID: com_cycling74_driver_SoundflowerDevice:Soundflower UID: SoundflowerEngine:0 Model Name: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Soundflower (2ch)
Device #7: ID 0x45 Soundflower (64ch) Manufacturer: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Model UID: com_cycling74_driver_SoundflowerDevice:Soundflower UID: SoundflowerEngine:1 Model Name: ma++ ingalls for Cycling '74 Soundflower (64ch)
Device #8: ID 0xe4 ZoomAudioDevice Manufacturer: zoom.us Model UID: zoom.us.zoomaudiodevice UID: zoom.us.zoomaudiodevice.001 Model Name: zoom.us ZoomAudioDevice

UPnP devices found : 1
Device #0: ID 0x0 Onkyo UID: uuid:b0393513-0013-35BB-b000-0009b0393513 Location: http://192.168.110.159:8888/upnp_descriptor_0

2

Hello @nyx,

Do you have this issue only with your iFi device a output? Can you check if you do not have a firmware update on iFi website?

Do you have it with your MacBook speaker?

3

Enable exclusive access, disable software volume control, reduce pre-load cache to 4000MB. You should be good to go.

1 Like
5

Ifi firmware is upto date on my end.

Anyway, bitracer’s reply solved my problem.

1 Like
7

Just disabling sw volume control did the trick. Thank you so much!
I had already tried the pre-load cache and exclusive access toggle previously since I saw you commenting the same on a different/unrelated thread, but these two settings never worked by themselves/individually.

I never thought of disabling sw volume control before simply because I use the Audirvana volume control all the time, because my DAC doesn’t have a volume control. Thankfully, my speakers hooked to a powered subwoofer has a separate volume controller knob that conveniently gets placed on my desk. I guess I’ll just use that for now.

If you’d be so kind as to answer a couple more questions, as I am trying to understand some stuff.

Wouldn’t the sw volume control ‘hack’ be very inconvenient for those with a different setup and rely on sw volume control ? Is this by design and if yes, whats the logic behind it?

I also notice that enabling and disabling exclusive access doesn’t really have any effect on the output being locked by Audirvana until I hit that small lock button to release the lock. What does exclusive access actually do?

8

Yes, you need to play bit-perfect for MQA to work. If you apply software volume control it’s no longer bit-perfect.

Exclusive access means that no other application or process can play through this device. That includes system sounds.

1 Like
9

Aah… Gotcha. Thanks a ton for explaining and giving me the solution. Cheers!

1 Like
10

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