• asahi
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Topic: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

Hi All,

I kind of struggling with setting up the MacBook for the best MacBook>ADI-2 Pro? It's running, I'm able to enjoy the music but wonder if there might be something to optimise?

I'm streaming via Apple Musik set to "High Resolution Lossless (ALAC up to 24-Bit/192 kHz)" only.

At Launchpad – Other – Audio MIDI Setup: Clock Source is set to "Default" (don't know where to change this) and Format ist set to "44.100 Hz" for the ADI-2.

Is there anything you would change at MacBook and/or ADI-2 or just keep it as it is?

There more I dive into, the more questions are coming up - rabbit hole :-)

Thank you

Best,
asahi

  • waedi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

The music is playing fine ? Then all is good.
Technically I would set the clock-mode in the ADI-2 to "external" as you play special formats.
In general, the sample rate should be the same in the entire audio system.
But the ADI-2 is so hightech it can handle everything and provide you perfect music.
What want you more ?

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • asahi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

Thank you very much @waedi

waedi wrote:

Technically I would set the clock-mode in the ADI-2 to "external" as you play special formats.

Make sense but how to do that? Where can I set the clock-mode to „external“ at ADI-2 (connected via USB to the MacBook)?


waedi wrote:

What want you more ?

Hard to say, without knowing the possibilities. Maybe Voltaire was right (Perfect is the enemy of good)?

4 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2023-10-07 09:15:17)

  • KaiS
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

Use RME Bit Test (see manual page 94) to see if you found the optimum.

If Bit Test passes your files are played without alteration, can‘t be better than that.


Bit Test is a special function built into ADI-2, very simple to use:

Play the special files for each resolution, supplied by RME, and see the “Bit Test xxx passed”-message on ADI-2’s screen.
No message: system configuration sub-optimum.

Files:
http://www.rme-audio.de/download/bit_test_wavs.zip

KaiS's Website

  • asahi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

KaiS wrote:

Use RME Bit Test (see manual page 94) to see if you found the optimum.

If Bit Test passes your files are played without alteration, can‘t be better than that.


Bit Test is a special function built into ADI-2, very simple to use:

Play the special files for each resolution, supplied by RME, and see the “Bit Test xxx passed”-message on ADI-2’s screen.
No message: system configuration sub-optimum.

@KaiS Thank you very much.

Bit Test passed but only at 441_24 everything else did not show "Bit Test xxx passed".



Now there are even more questions:
1. How to set clock node to "external"?
2. How to set up MacOS or ADI-2 to pass higher bit rates?



There more I dive into, the more questions are coming up - huge rabbit hole...

Best,
asahi

  • From: living in Cologne
  • Registered: 2022-01-14
  • Posts: 41

Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

Hi, ADI2xxx plays strictly what is fed into it via USB. Means if he gets 192 khz, he plays 192 khz. Same for 44.1khz and all other sampling frequencies. So the reason lies in the Mac. This is not the first thread about this, if I remember correctly. I unfortunately don't remember the solution, if any.

Cheers, Ernst

ADI-2 PRO FS R BE / ADI-2 DAC FS / some old multibit treasuers ;-)

7 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2023-10-07 20:07:27)

  • KaiS
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

asahi wrote:

Bit Test passed but only at 441_24 everything else did not show "Bit Test xxx passed".

First hurdle taken.

There more I dive into, the more questions are coming up - huge rabbit hole...

Down there in hole lies an Apple, bitten by the rabbit smile

Check these links – there seems to be a solution for the MacOS specific problem, called “LosslessSwitcher” –
Google search: MacOS automatic sample rate switching:

https://www.google.de/search?q=MacOS+au … s-wiz-serp


BTW: in default configuration you don’t need to change any setting on ADI-2 Pro.

KaiS's Website

  • asahi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

Thank you @KaiS

KaiS wrote:

Down there in hole lies a Apple, bitten by the rabbit smile

Good one!

KaiS wrote:

Check these links – there seems to be a solution called “LosslessSwitcher” –
Google search: MacOS automatic sample rate switching

It's working and sample rates are changing by track - also shown at ADI-2

BUT every track with a change in rate now start, then pause for a sec, then rate change and then track continue... not pleasant.

AND Bit Test still not pass at higher rates than 44.1

  • KaiS
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

asahi wrote:

It's working and sample rates are changing by track - also shown at ADI-2

BUT every track with a change in rate now start, then pause for a sec, then rate change and then track continue... not pleasant.

AND Bit Test still not pass at higher rates than 44.1

This is again MacOS specific.
The system needs some time to reconfigure, too slow for the short Bit Test signal.
If you repeat Bit Test multiple times it might give you a “passed” finally.


An alternative option:

Instead of “Lossless Switcher”, set MacOS audio to 192 kHz.
Everything is upsampled to this high SR then, which isn’t lossless, but close.

KaiS's Website

  • asahi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

KaiS wrote:

This is again MacOS specific.
The system needs some time to reconfigure, too slow for the short Bit Test signal.
If you repeat Bit Test multiple times it might give you a “passed” finally.


An alternative option:

Instead of “Lossless Switcher”, set MacOS audio to 192 kHz.
Everything is upsampled to this high SR then, which isn’t lossless, but close.

What a shame that Apple is not automatic sample rate switching at MacOS as they do at iOS.

Need to re-think now if I'll better switch to an iPad instead of the MacBook or set MacOS audio to 192 kHz and eat the upsampling. (BTW Bit Test is successful at 192 now). Most likely upsampling should be "better" than downsampling?

Super helpful @KaiS Thank you!

11 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2023-10-07 22:52:13)

  • KaiS
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

I can positively confirm, on my iPad Pro iPadOS 16.7 or iPhone 12
Pro max iOS 16.6.1, SR switching works with Tidal HiRes up to 192 kHz (the highest on offer).

Bit Test played from the app “Documents” passes 16 and 24 bit in all SRs, 44.1, 96 and 192 kHz.


In MacOS it seems Apple missed to give AppleMusic the “exclusive mode” e.g. Audirvana uses.
If you find an app that can access AppleMusic and play it in exclusive mode – if such exists.

Aside the i-devices I’m not much into Apple, so …


Anyway, for me iDevices are the better music players.
I wouldn’t like to use any kind of full blown computer / laptop for this.

KaiS's Website

  • asahi
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Re: Best setup MacBook OS Big Sur (11.7)

KaiS wrote:

I can positively confirm, on my iPad Pro iPadOS 16.7 or iPhone 12
Pro max iOS 16.6.1, SR switching works with Tidal HiRes up to 192 kHz (the highest on offer).

Bit Test played from the app “Documents” passes 16 and 24 bit in all SRs, 44.1, 96 and 192 kHz.

Anyway, for me iDevices are the better music players.
I wouldn’t like to use any kind of full blown computer / laptop for this.

Can positively confirm automatic SR switching for Apple Music as well on iPad Pro (11, 1st Gen) running iPadOS 17.0.2

Same with Bit Test, all SR passed (16 & 24 Bit at 44.1, 96 and 192 kHz)

iPad seems to be the better choice.

Thank you very much again @KaiS