[jtwrace]

My PM volume control seems to have a default of about -4dB.  I was playing around with it and put it to 0dB.  The difference in sound quality is quite different (better).  What do you guys have yours set at and how can you lock it in?

[JDUBS]

My PM volume control seems to have a default of about -4dB.  I was playing around with it and put it to 0dB.  The difference in sound quality is quite different (better).  What do you guys have yours set at and how can you lock it in?

I put mine at 0db and leave it there.  All volume control is done via my preamp / dac.

-Jim

[jtwrace]

OK.  Yeah, I use my buffer for volume but every once in a while someone wants it louder so I just adjust it in PM.  I guess I will leave it at "0" now.   

[jrebman]

I just disable it altogether.  Nice improvement in SQ over PM with dithering on and set to zero dB.

-- Jim

[jtwrace]

I just disable it altogether.  Nice improvement in SQ over PM with dithering on and set to zero dB.

-- Jim

How do you do that?

[jrebman]

Jason,

Somewhere in thehe dialogues in PM is a checkbox to disable the dithered volume control.  Sorry, offhand I don't remember where it is.

-- Jim

[jtwrace]

Jason,

Somewhere in thehe dialogues in PM is a checkbox to disable the dithered volume control.  Sorry, offhand I don't remember where it is.

-- Jim

So you want to check it though.  Right?

[jrebman]

Yes, check it and it should be disabled.

-- Jim

[pardales]

Do you need to do anything with the AudioMidi setting in the Utility section of the MAC when you are using PM or does PM take over the controls in this regard?

[JohnR]

You'll want to make sure that "value" is set to 1.0

So you want to check it though.  Right?

It's checked to enable it. However I understand that at zero there's no dithering anyway.

[jtwrace]

You'll want to make sure that "value" is set to 1.0

It's checked to enable it. However I understand that at zero there's no dithering anyway.

So, we want "0" or "1"? 

I just disable it altogether.  Nice improvement in SQ over PM with dithering on and set to zero dB.

-- Jim

[neekomax]

I just disable it altogether.  Nice improvement in SQ over PM with dithering on and set to zero dB.

-- Jim

Where is this famous 'disable' check box in PM? I can't find it anywhere... little help! 

[ted_b]

If your DAC supports it you absolutely owe it to yourself to run and do....integer support (which bypasses floating point conversion and reduces the signal path complexity)!  It is PM's greatest strength, sounds FANTASTIC...oh, and disables volume.     First set to hog mode, restart and then go back in and set the integer checkmark (again, assuming your DAC supports it).

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Updated-integer-mode-capable-device-list

[jtwrace]

If your DAC supports it you absolutely owe it to yourself to run and do....integer support (which bypasses floating point conversion and reduces the signal path complexity)!  It is PM's greatest strength, sounds FANTASTIC...oh, and disables volume.     First set to hog mode, restart and then go back in and set the integer checkmark (again, assuming your DAC supports it).

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Updated-integer-mode-capable-device-list

Hmm.  My dac is on the list.     Now I just need to figure out how to do it. 

[neekomax]

Mine's not. Boooo.

[JohnR]

Where is this famous 'disable' check box in PM? I can't find it anywhere... little help! 

Enable.

[neekomax]

Umm, thanks John. As far as I can tell, that button merely enables/disables dithering. I was hearing that there was a button to disable volume control itself, but I think that there is none. No worries, sounds pretty good anyway.

[jtwrace]

ENABLE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS (“HOG” MODE)
This option reserves the audio device for Pure Music’s exclusive use while Pure Music is running.
To use this feature, the audio device selected in Audio MIDI Setup should be set to a different device
than the one used by Pure Music, to allow iTunes to fully access an audio device if necessary. Accordingly,
by default, Hog Mode cannot be used for the audio device selected in Audio MIDI Setup.
Disabling Strict Device Validation will bypass this check, but doing so is at your own risk (may cause
an unexpected quit in iTunes or Pure Music).
If using the Built-In audio with a toslink cable, install the Channel D Playthrough Audio Driver (see
below) and select it in AMS as a default device. (Another alternative is to purchase an inexpensive
pair of “USB Computer Speakers” and select them in AMS to use for system output sounds.)


NATIVE INTEGER DEVICE SUPPORT
After setting Hog mode and relaunching, this option will be available if the audio device supports
nonmixable native integer streams. This will bypass all signal processing in Pure Music (including the
volume control). Selecting Integer will cause the warning to appear:
Also, Disable DSP Options mode will be activated (see Disable DSP Options below) and the menus
that configure signal processing options and metering will be hidden. Signal level metering will be disabled.

page 23 here http://www.channld.com/Pure%20Music%20User%20Guide.pdf

Pretty vague though.

[ted_b]

For integer support, you need to do these steps:
before u start..... make sure you have PM version 1.8a or greater installed on Snow leopard (Lion has no integer support currently)
1) first deselect your DAC in Audio Midi, meaning select "internal output" instead (but amke sure your DAC is shown, just not selected)
2)  make sure memory playback is chosen in PM (top menu, music server)
3)  then go into PM's audio setup (not preferences) and select your DAC from the pull down list
4)  then click on hog mode checkbox
5)  then hit "click to apply changes"
6) then when PM comes back on, click "native integer format support"

Your banner should read "nonmixable integer output stream"

My quickly put together screen shot and mark up, sorry... 

[jtwrace]

I thought I've been in HOG mode all along...I guess not.  It will not let me select it.