[Housteau]

Hello everyone.  I am about to get started getting my first serious music server together.  I was going to wait just a bit before making my first post, but then I thought some of my initial questions may actually help others as well.  Steve has been very helpful already by email with some good advise on my first steps, and I plan to follow it.  My server will eventually consist of a Mac Mini, an Off-Ramp 3 with a Polestar USB cable.  This will feed my Monarchy NM24 tube DAC with possibly their Upsampler/reclocker preceding it.  But, before I go all out with what I described above, I would first like to assemble a server with items I already either own, or have access to.  This should give me an indication that I am on the right track before I fully commit.

To start off with I will be using a new Toshiba laptop running Vista with an older version of the Off Ramp using a Belkin Gold USB cable.

My questions have to do with setting up the Toshiba for optimum performance.  I have read through the different Sticky's at the top of the forum, but several are dated and it is hard to tell what the present preferences are.  For example:

1)  What is the preferred driver for the older Off Ramp, the M-Audio Transit for Vista, or is there another?

2)  What is the preferred music player and which version?  What are the settings I will need to make in this player for the above selected driver and for best performance in Vista?

3)  What are the settings for Vista itself that I should dial in?

4)  I am sure there is something I am forgetting to ask, so please jump in and suggest what it is I should also do.

I think the answers are all up there in various posts, but it sure would be nice to get it straight and current right from the start.  I would like my first attempts to be as painless as possible.  I assume this is allowed .

My last question has to do with converting from a AES/EBU digital output connector on the Off Ramp to an RCA to match the RCA S/PDIF connector on my DAC.  I understand that I may need a special impedance matching device as part of this conversion.  Can you please point me in the right direction on this?  To add to my confusion I just read somewhere that if your connection is less than six feet then no conversion transformer is necessary.  Which is correct?

[audioengr]

Hello everyone.  I am about to get started getting my first serious music server together.  I was going to wait just a bit before making my first post, but then I thought some of my initial questions may actually help others as well.  Steve has been very helpful already by email with some good advise on my first steps, and I plan to follow it.  My server will eventually consist of a Mac Mini, an Off-Ramp 3 with a Polestar USB cable.  This will feed my Monarchy NM24 tube DAC with possibly their Upsampler/reclocker preceding it.  But, before I go all out with what I described above, I would first like to assemble a server with items I already either own, or have access to.  This should give me an indication that I am on the right track before I fully commit.

To start off with I will be using a new Toshiba laptop running Vista with an older version of the Off Ramp using a Belkin Gold USB cable.

My questions have to do with setting up the Toshiba for optimum performance.  I have read through the different Sticky's at the top of the forum, but several are dated and it is hard to tell what the present preferences are.  For example:

1)  What is the preferred driver for the older Off Ramp, the M-Audio Transit for Vista, or is there another?

if it is an original Off-Ramp (shows as Transit), you should download the latest driver from here:
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support&tab=driver

2)  What is the preferred music player and which version?

Either Foobar 0.8.3 or Jriver are my recommendations.

What are the settings I will need to make in this player for the above selected driver and for best performance in Vista?

For Foobar 0.8.3, use these plug-ins:

Directsound2
SRC - set Sinc best and 96000

3)  What are the settings for Vista itself that I should dial in?

Select the device under sounds and audio devices
under the audio device go to advanced - select 24/96

My last question has to do with converting from a AES/EBU digital output connector on the Off Ramp to an RCA to match the RCA S/PDIF connector on my DAC.  I understand that I may need a special impedance matching device as part of this conversion.  Can you please point me in the right direction on this? 

It is best to change the converter so that it outputs the proper impedance and voltage.  The right transformer can do this, but it will add jitter.

To add to my confusion I just read somewhere that if your connection is less than six feet then no conversion transformer is necessary.  Which is correct?

Impedance matching and correct voltage levels are still critical to a good low-jitter result.  For the digital output cable, the length should be less than 9 inches or longer than 1 meter in order to minimize the jitter caused by reflections on the cable.

Steve N.

[Housteau]

Thank you.  I am starting to gather up the items and I should have all the hardware in a day or two.

Directsound2 came with Foobar 0.8.3 and I downloaded the SRC dll file.  Where do I place the SRC dll file?

[satfrat]

Thank you.  I am starting to gather up the items and I should have all the hardware in a day or two.

Directsound2 came with Foobar 0.8.3 and I downloaded the SRC dll file.  Where do I place the SRC dll file?

You can place the SRC dll file on your C drive in the Foobar 0.8.3 folder.

[Housteau]

I have tried placing it (foo_dep_src9) in both the component folder and the main folder, but get an error message saying that it will not load up due to a missing sharred dll file.  Is there an 'original' SRC file native to Foobar?  I seem to remember reading something about that.

[audioengr]

Thank you.  I am starting to gather up the items and I should have all the hardware in a day or two.

Directsound2 came with Foobar 0.8.3 and I downloaded the SRC dll file.  Where do I place the SRC dll file?

I have emailed the instructions to you, as well as the correct SRC to use with Foobar 0.8.3. Remove the other one.

Steve N.

[Housteau]

Thank you.  Those instructions were exactly what I was needing. 

The Off-Ramp Turbo just arrived UPS.  Since it has an AES/EBU connection I plan on bringing it over to a friends house to run it using his Benchmark DAC1.  Then, I will be bringing the Benchmark back over to my system and I will be hanging on to it for a few days.  I prefer my own DAC, but the RCA connection will be a compromise at this point.  The DAC1 will let me know everything I need to. 

[Housteau]

For some reason my version of Vista (32 bit SP1) refuses to fully install the M-Audio driver designated for it and the Offramp Turbo.  The first half installs just fine, but when it comes time to plug in the USB it only partially finishes the full installation with an error message saying that the driver did not install correctly.  I have tried other drivers, other install methods, but get the same results.  As a consequence I am not able to use the Offramp to its full potential.  This was just a test to see if I could do this with what I already had access to, but so far it looks to be a compromise no matter what I try this way.

Even as a compromise I was able to get Directsound2 to work through my friends Benchmark DAC1 utilizing the AES/EBU interface, but only at 16/44.  I thought it sounded respectable, but also close to the same as running the USB directly to the Benchmark.  I would be hard pressed to say which was better, but then again the set-up was not ideal and weighted against the Offramp.

[audioengr]

For some reason my version of Vista (32 bit SP1) refuses to fully install the M-Audio driver designated for it and the Offramp Turbo.  The first half installs just fine, but when it comes time to plug in the USB it only partially finishes the full installation with an error message saying that the driver did not install correctly.  I have tried other drivers, other install methods, but get the same results.  As a consequence I am not able to use the Offramp to its full potential.  This was just a test to see if I could do this with what I already had access to, but so far it looks to be a compromise no matter what I try this way.

Even as a compromise I was able to get Directsound2 to work through my friends Benchmark DAC1 utilizing the AES/EBU interface, but only at 16/44.  I thought it sounded respectable, but also close to the same as running the USB directly to the Benchmark.  I would be hard pressed to say which was better, but then again the set-up was not ideal and weighted against the Offramp.

There has to be a way around this.  M-Audio would not sell any Transits if this were the case.

When the error message comes up, is it one that says that this is not Microsoft certified etc.?

If so, then just click on "continue" and it will finish installing.  Sometimes you get two of these messages.

There is a HUGE difference in the older Off-Ramp and the new Off-Ramp 3, both in sound quality and ease of use.

Steve N.

[Housteau]

I wish it was something simple like that .  After plugging in the USB cable the driver self-installs.  You can click close to the taskbar to view progress. 

First:  M-Audio Transit DFU comes up as Ready to use
Second:  USB Composite Device comes up as Ready to use
Lastly it searches for a driver folder, or something like that.  Then, it comes up as Transit USB Failed

The top of this dialog box then states Device Driver Software Not Successfully Installed.

It does the exact same thing on my friends Vista computer.

[audioengr]

I wish it was something simple like that .  After plugging in the USB cable the driver self-installs.  You can click close to the taskbar to view progress. 

First:  M-Audio Transit DFU comes up as Ready to use
Second:  USB Composite Device comes up as Ready to use
Lastly it searches for a driver folder, or something like that.  Then, it comes up as Transit USB Failed

The top of this dialog box then states Device Driver Software Not Successfully Installed.

It does the exact same thing on my friends Vista computer.

Well, maybe M-Audio just dropped the ball on Vista.  I know it took them 9 months or more to even have a driver available.  All I can recommend is to use an XP machine or Off-Ramp Turbo2/Off-Ramp 3.

Maybe their customer support can help you - maybe a FAQ?

Steve N.

[Housteau]

I was reading a mini review in Stereophile of the Bell Canto USB 24/96.  In it they compare it to the M-Audio Transit and mention the Transit is reported not to work with Vista.

My future considerations are to go Mac Mini with a new Off Ramp, stay with my Vista Toshiba and new Off Ramp, or possibly a Mac Mini with a Pace Car.  I have time to think about it as I am not in any rush at this point.  Probably less than 3% of my music is on a hard drive.

[audioengr]

I was reading a mini review in Stereophile of the Bell Canto USB 24/96.  In it they compare it to the M-Audio Transit and mention the Transit is reported not to work with Vista.

My future considerations are to go Mac Mini with a new Off Ramp, stay with my Vista Toshiba and new Off Ramp, or possibly a Mac Mini with a Pace Car.  I have time to think about it as I am not in any rush at this point.  Probably less than 3% of my music is on a hard drive.

There are 4 different M-audio Transit drivers for Vista here:
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support&tab=driver

enter:
USB audio series
Transit USB
Windows Vista ....

Did you get maybe the wrong one?

This will never sound anything like an Off-Ramp3, but you should be able to get it working at least at 44.1

Steve N.

[Housteau]

Yes.  I was using the correct driver.

I did have it working at 44.1 as I mentioned in an above post:

"Even as a compromise I was able to get Directsound2 to work through my friends Benchmark DAC1 utilizing the AES/EBU interface, but only at 16/44.  I thought it sounded respectable, but also close to the same as running the USB directly to the Benchmark.  I would be hard pressed to say which was better, but then again the set-up was not ideal and weighted against the Offramp."

This was just a quick test since I had free access to an older Off Ramp to try.  I have since sent it back.  I am sure the newer version is superior, will work with Vista and will not disappoint.