[smc8]

[James Tanner]

Hi Folks,

We are getting close on this:

MEMO: To All Bryston Customers                                                                                     July 2013                                   
SUBJECT: NEW Bryston BUC-1 USB Converter

BRYSTON BUC-1
(Bryston USB Converter)

Bryston is pleased to announce our BUC-1 new USB Converter.


 
The Bryston USB Converter provides a high resolution, ultra low jitter digital audio signal interface between your computer (Laptop, Desktop, Notebook etc.) utilizing a single, USB cable. The Bryston BUC-1 Converter allows for native 24 bit resolution at sampling rates up to 192 kHz. The Bryston USB Converter is built upon low phase noise clocks inside the Bryston USB Converter to run as the master audio clock, resulting in extraordinarily low jitter output.  Digital Outputs include AES/EBU, BNC and COAX. High quality output transformers isolated the output signal from any computer noise.


 
The goal of any quality USB converter is to convey the exact bits in the audio signal, with the least amount of ‘jitter’ possible. Most USB Converter devices are capable of delivering the correct bits. However, the timing is a different matter. Timing errors in the signal can come from a number of different sources: noisy power supplies or clocks, timing errors already present on the audio signal being encoded, and noise in the transmission line, just to name a few.

Most crucially, the Bryston USB Converter controls the master timing of the audio system. So, rather than the computer (Laptop)  running the master clock, and the audio device slaving to this, the main system clock is in the Bryston USB Converter, and the rest of the system slaves to it.

The last feature, which is frequently referred to by the technical name "asynchronous" (as opposed to "isochronous"), is the key to obtaining ultra-low jitter on USB devices. With asynchronous USB receivers, the jitter is essentially limited only by the clocks on the audio device, plus any [typically very small] timing errors from additional logic gates that the clock signal must travel through.
Critical to any high-end audio design is the power supply. Most USB type adapters are powered through the USB bus connection in the computer (Laptop). The power coming from the computer is supplied at 5 volts, although is typically not terribly clean, due to noise in the computer and other attached peripherals, such as hard drives. In the Bryston USB Converter we employ a proprietary high quality Bryston power supply with ultralow noise linear power regulation, clean power rails for the internal circuitry.

In order to supply clean power to the on-board circuitry, the Bryston uses a combination of power supply filtering and an newly released power down regulator. Power coming into the device is first PI filtered (CLC), which gives a two-pole attenuation for noise above roughly 3kHz. This works to eliminate high frequency noise, which down-regulators are typically not as good at rejecting. This filtered signal, which is slightly less than 5V (due to resistive elements in the passive filter), is down regulated to 3.3V for the digital electronics, and a separate 3V line for the clocks.

Features:
•   USB Input (resolution capable of 192/24 bit)
•   AES EBU Balanced 110 Ohm Output
•   COAX SPDIF Output
•   BNC 75 Ohm SPDIF Output
•   Outputs Transformer Coupled
•   Input Sample Rate Indicators
•   Power on/off switch
•   Trigger input (low voltage)
•   Matching Bryston Cosmetics

Dimensions: (L.W.H.) 8 inches x 5.5/8 inches x 2.25 inches

[Samurai7595]

James,

Would you have a Canadian retail price?

[James Tanner]

James,

Would you have a Canadian retail price?

Need a few more days - hoping $695.00 list.

james

[brucek]

Does it come with asynchronous USB Audio drivers written by Bryston? and does it support ASIO and/or Kernel streaming, DS (Direct Sound), WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API), etc.?

brucek

[James Tanner]

Does it come with asynchronous USB Audio drivers written by Bryston? and does it support ASIO and/or Kernel streaming, DS (Direct Sound), WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API), etc.?

brucek

Yes the drivers are ours - same as in the BDA-2 DAC

james

[alexone]

James,

can the BUC-1 be controlled by the BR-2 (or any other remote)??

al.

[James Tanner]

James,

can the BUC-1 be controlled by the BR-2 (or any other remote)??

al.

No I do not think so - there is no remote sensor.

james

[brucek]

Yes the drivers are ours - same as in the BDA-2 DAC

james

After loading the driver is there an application that will run on the PC to set options, etc.?

brucek

[James Tanner]

After loading the driver is there an application that will run on the PC to set options, etc.?

brucek

Hi

Not sure what you mean - the options are usually in the interfaces like MediaMonkey, JRiver etc.?

james

[brucek]

Hi

Not sure what you mean - the options are usually in the interfaces like MediaMonkey, JRiver etc.?

james

Well, the external USB to SPDIF convertor sound card I presently use (TASCAM) has an app that I can run on the laptop to select various options such as different latencies for example.

brucek

[James Tanner]

Well, the external USB to SPDIF convertor sound card I presently use (TASCAM) has an app that I can run on the laptop to select various options such as different latencies for example.

brucek

Hi,

I do not think so Bruce but I will ask engineering.

james

[gdayton]

Bruce, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) the kind of utility you're talking about is useful for pro-audio and recording applications where you need to be able to select things like latency and hardware play-through for real time monitoring of input. This would be useful for a vocalist wearing headphones while she's singing, for instance.

Applications like foobar, VLC, etc. usually have options in their own menus that dictate how they should communicate with the soundcard. I believe it would be up to us at Bryston to simply supply drivers as needed to facilitate those options.

Beyond latency, what options would you like to see in a custom utility?

-Gary
Bryston

[smilach]

I am using a Bryston BDA-1.  If I send a signal recorded at 44.1 khz sample rate to the BUC-1, will it upsample the signal or simply hand it off the to BDA-1 as a 44.1 khz signal with reduced jitter?

[brucek]

Bruce, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) the kind of utility you're talking about is useful for pro-audio and recording applications where you need to be able to select things like latency and hardware play-through for real time monitoring of input. This would be useful for a vocalist wearing headphones while she's singing, for instance.

Applications like foobar, VLC, etc. usually have options in their own menus that dictate how they should communicate with the soundcard. I believe it would be up to us at Bryston to simply supply drivers as needed to facilitate those options.

Beyond latency, what options would you like to see in a custom utility?

-Gary
Bryston

I guess every external soundcard type device I've owned has had a small app for options, but you're right, most had to do with recording applications.

But, latency adjustment has always been the key to reducing any dropouts or hitching of music in my experience. Operating systems have so much to do, and since Bryston isn't in charge of that (outside of their driver), to ensure there is no hitching, I would think some sort of adjustable buffers (latency adjustment) are required in the soundcard driver? The BUC may be connected to some very old and slow laptops.

brucek

[James Tanner]

Shot of interior of BUC-1

[Scala80]

Hi James,

when will the device be available in Germany? Can Not wait 

Chris

[gdayton]

I guess every external soundcard type device I've owned has had a small app for options, but you're right, most had to do with recording applications.

But, latency adjustment has always been the key to reducing any dropouts or hitching of music in my experience. Operating systems have so much to do, and since Bryston isn't in charge of that (outside of their driver), to ensure there is no hitching, I would think some sort of adjustable buffers (latency adjustment) are required in the soundcard driver? The BUC may be connected to some very old and slow laptops.

brucek

I think you've got an interesting point Bruce. I'm famous for keeping old computers until they literally die - cars too!. I always seem to be able to find a use for an old computer as a NAS, slave for graphical renderings, or something. About a year ago, I trimmed the fat from a 1st generation Intel mac mini to use exclusively as a music server running amarra. Windows users can (or at least used to be able to) select process priority for executables which helped a ton in this regard.

[Harpy]

    I am running a SOtM external USB converter.  It get it's power from the USB connection and regulates that.  If you want to upgrade the power supply from on board, they have another unit that provides battery power, so its not using the wall outlet or the USB power.  Would a battery be the cleanest power source?  I do like the little transformer in the Bryston unit though.  By the time you had the battery module and clock upgrade the price point is over double this unit.

[Rimbaud]

I'm just happy to see Bryston offering a reduced form factor component (if there have been others I missed them).  Perhaps there will be more in the future...