New to streaming, question: Jriver and Foobar

Russellc · « **on:** 12 Dec 2015, 04:32 pm »

Ok, I have been into hifg end audio for decades, and build DIY Pass electronics for my listening pleasure. This has included vinyl, CD, FM and the regular source types. Recently I have begun scaling the learning curve of digital streaming and have questions.

My source will be a laptop, for now as I learn I bought the Audioquest DragonFly, Jitterbug and DragonTail to get started. I have looked into a NAS system, and once I know what I'm doing will either upgrade or DIY superior DACs and so forth.

Well, of course I have bumped into Jriver and Foobar in my reading and have questions as to what they are, do and so forth. My current understanding is this, please correct and add everything I am missing and have wrong, which is likely to be a list.

It seems they are both systems doing the downloading, organization, ripping and so forth of a music collection. It seems both have the ability to utilize Wasapi, which I understand will by pass all the mess in my computers sound system and send a superior sound product to my DAC.

I understand that FooBar is freeware, and Jriver is not. It appears Jriver also has a collection of music that can be listened to, sort of like Spotify, but in that regard only. I understand that it is a superior stream. One question I have for Jriver is, once I by their software and download it, what happens if I cease to pay for it? Obviously I would loose access to their music collection to tap into, (unless I am wrong about that aspect) but is what I have still useable? Also, I see it will stream some Internet FM, netflix and a few others...will it stream Spotify? It seems Jrive has more questions for me than Foobar...

OK, feel free to correct, slice and dice, add to, (including other services besides Jriver and Foobar, like Tidal, etc) and so forth to my "understanding."

Thanks for ANY direction in this regard,

Russellc

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 04:48 pm »

Almost all media players offer the same core functionality like tagging, ripping, playback, etc.
They are library managers.

As far as I know JRiver doesn’t offer a streaming audio service of its own.
It has a very powerful DSP options like active crossover, convoler, etc but do you need this?

I suggest to have a look at MuisicBee, kind of JRiver light but freeware.

Russellc · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 04:57 pm »

Another one that seems to interest me is Jplay. I dont know what I need interms of Jriver, just want to provide the most pure and excellent signal I can obtain for my listening equipment. Jpay sounds like it might be what I need, but reading the sight began to get lost in downloading other items it needs and showing it where your music collection is...I dont have one yet and dont want to get my horse out in front of the cart, and it doesnt appear to be free after the trial period.

That's what led me to FooBar, I dont mind paying, once I am up to speed and can make use of it.

Any Jplay users out there?

Russellc

ACHiPo · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:07 pm »

Russell,
I'm just slightly ahead of you on the curve. I finally got JRiver to play DSD last week (.iso files), but now I'm having buffering issues with 24/192 files, so there's still a way to go.

I have JPlay on my iPad, but haven't gotten it to work yet. I use TeamViewer from my desktop to control the HAL MS-3 running JRiver. When it's playing music, it sounds really good, but the buffering thing is getting annoying.

AC

Russellc · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:12 pm »

What exactly am I buying with Jriver? Once I have the software, that's it...I own it and can use it as long as I have the computer? No further monthly fee or what?

This J play thing is interesting, and the other posters idea of music bee, but reading their site it looks like to utilize wasapi it requires you have a music card of some sort with it already on there, while Jriver, Foobar and others you just download it and you are good to go. I may be wrong on that, havent visited their forum, but I definitely want to bypass all the crap in the Windows stack.

Russellc

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:26 pm »

JRiver keeps on working. You pay for a certain version.
If you don’t upgrade, it keep on working.

Bypassing the win mixer is pretty easy. Use WASAPI or ASIO as an audio driver.

Feel free to believe all kind of claims about improved sound quality by all kind of players but don’t forget the proverbial grain of salt.

Foobar and MusicBee are freeware.
Just download and see if you like the interface (it is your work horse to maintain your collection).
You need such kind of application anyway.

Configure them for bit perfect playback.
Get used to the look & feel and the sound.

You can try all kind of tweaks later.

Russellc · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:37 pm »

Sounds good...do you use the WASAPI with your music bee? If so, can you give a little info on how you installed it with Music Bee?

Thanks,

Russellc

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:42 pm »

I always use WASAPI exclusive mode.

MusicBee : http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Players/MusicBee/MusicBee_audio.htm

In Windows in the Audio Panel in the Advanced tab enable Exclusive mode

http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Windows/Win7/AudioPanel.htm

Russellc · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 05:49 pm »

Thanks! Let me play with this, I'm sure I'll have some questions!

Russellc

Russellc · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:08 pm »

Alrighty, got a question, reading your links in regard to WASAPI, it says to "download the plugin" Do I need to google this and download, or will my computer or musicbee prompt me?

I told you I was new to this digital stuff!

Russellc

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:15 pm »

First of all it is very unclear what page you are referring to.
Care to supply a link?

WASAPI is integral part of Win from Vista on, nothing to download here.
As far as I know today it is integral part of MusicBee to.

Assuming you have installed MusicBee, can you choose WASAPI in the preferences?

Russellc · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:22 pm »

Just getting ready to download. On the page you gave me, it has info about WASPAI, sorry, I should have been more clear. I will download Music bee now and be back. sounds like that should answer a few questions.

Russellc

Russellc · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:30 pm »

I downloaded it, unfortunately it added a bunch of music odds and ends that was already on my computer. No big deal, I can delete and start over, but for now there is something on there I can play. Let me find preferences and look around for WASAPai.

Russellc

Russellc · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:42 pm »

No, I do not see it in the preferences. I may be looking in the wrong place, on the MusicBee, I selected Tools I believe, went down to preferences....wrong place?

Russellc

ACHiPo · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:49 pm »

Quote from: Russellc on 12 Dec 2015, 06:42 pm

No, I do not see it in the preferences. I may be looking in the wrong place, on the MusicBee, I selected Tools I believe, went down to preferences....wrong place?

Russellc

Russell,
Here's a link to the JRiver forum. Pretty helpful folks there, although good ol' Audio Circle is where I found the fix for my dsd issue.
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=43.0

By the way I fixed the 24/192 issue the same way, by adjusting the sample rate in the dsp menu.

AC

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:50 pm »

In the main menu: Edit > Preferences or CRTL+O
In the preference panel, select the Player

Russellc · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:54 pm »

found it, it was edit not tools, only selection I had was "WASPAI", in the other box, I selected my dragonFly, I guess its working as music is playing. Now to get rid of these bits and pieces and figure out how to add things in an organized manor! Any tips there?

Thanks for the help,

Russellc

Russellc · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 06:58 pm »

Another question is resample rate selection....Since this is a ripped CD I had on here, I assume 44 would be right, but only choices are 48,96 and 192...Which should I use for what? (48 right now) Appears DragonFly has 44, 48, 88, or 96.

BTW, this is windows 7

Russellc

Vincent Kars · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 07:06 pm »

If you are talking MusicBee, leave the check-box unchecked.
This option is intended for onboard audio running at 48 only

If you are talking the sample rate in the Win audio panel, set it to something.
As you are using WASAPI in MusicBee this setting is ingnored.

Russellc · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Dec 2015, 07:08 pm »

MusicBee. I will uncheck.

Russellc