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How do I optimize J.River with quality sound card

I've been doing a bunch of reading on this site and it's been very informative. I'm trying to wade into the PC audio arena and I would like to do so initially on a small budget.

I currently have a two channel setup with a Rotel CD/integrated amp and Linn speakers. I do not have a stand alone DAC and I would like to set up my PC using a quality sound card initially. I read a good article in the Absolute Sound on the subject and the author used an Echo/Mia Midi soundcard and Foobar2000.

I purchased an Echo Gina sound card which has an internal PCI card with a breakout cable to an external box. The external box has a DAC and both analog and digital I/O connections.

After messing around with Foobar, I find the user interface a little lacking. I think J.River is easier to use and I would like to use that as my software.

So, the question is what steps must I take to use J.River and bypass the KMixer in WinXP. Most of the other posts on this subject reference setup with USB DACs. I may go that route one day, but not yet.

Thanks to all in advance. This is a great site.
bmdduck
jonahsdad
9 posts
 
Just a comment on Asio4all vs. direct sound. I was running my JRMC through a Scott Nixon usb dac using direct sound. Running it through Asio4all gave significant improvement.

Now using a Benchmark, which shows no difference when using Asio4all. I think because Benchmark has some sort of driver or other software built in, while the Scott Nixon uses the generic Windows Audio driver (in Control Panel the Nixon shows as a generic audio device, while the Benchmark is listed by name).

Not to dis the Nixon. Very musical. The Benchmark has more detail.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
ASIO
Audio Stream input Output

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Stream_Input/Output
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Jriver will run with some USB devices if the device is unmapped. This bypasses everything I believe. Other players such as WMP will not even recognize the device.

See:
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=40068.0

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
The MC 12 vs. Jukebox.. MC 12 on my PC plays protected iTunes files... and is supposed to play al the video formats, though my adaptive software prevents anything but Direct X video playback... while activevated. Only Power DVD works for me to play DVDs.

Using ASIO also prevents me from playing mp3's & WAVEs, I got to switch back to Direct Sound in the playback options for them to play. Or use Winamp.

For configuring ASIO in Fubar & Winamp I ran across these instructions online:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/asio4all-explanation-221237/

A very simple instruction For J River
http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards-computer-audio/294341-j-river-jukebox-asio-guide.html

Hope this helps.

Is there some freeware somewhere that allows for 'massaging' (blobally) the settings of ASIO Drivers?

I was told Native Intstruments by the sellers of ASIO for all but not which one of their free apps... and they've tons... and NI makes you jump through lots of hoops to get one of them too... Log in... get email to do the download.. antoher for the unlock key... another for a needed plugin... andother for that key.. etc. I gave up after the third deally, and uninsatlled it all.

... and truth be told I just want to see if changing any of the settings to the driver as pointed to int the ASIO for all, setup - config pdf actually will improve anything... those config options are NOT avilable to me as I have no installed HW which provides such options. hence the ? need ? for some/one.
seekburk
126 posts
 
Bmdduck, I don't know how old your Echo Gina is but there are new driver updates for these soundcards as of 2007. I have the Echo Layla 24(2003) version and just upgraded my driver yesterday and the sound quality improved quite a bit. The first thing i noticed was overall volume which didn't impress me but then it was seconds later that i realized i was also hearing more dimensionality and seperation too. Highly recommended to download the newer driver which you can find on the Echo website very easily. In fact here is a link- you are going to want the 7.3 at the bottom of the page if you don't already have it:

http://www.echoaudio.com/Downloads/Drivers.php
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