What is a .iso file

Posted by: Hugh Craig on 16 November 2015

Hi

 

I recently downloaded some Scriabin from Pentatone Music.

I thought I was downloading a DSD file but it turned out to be a single file with the suffix .iso

I put this into my library and it plays fine in Audirvana and shows as a DSD64 with all the movements and other data present.

However I can't see the file or folder in the Naim app to play though my other system. I use miniserve and have re-scaned and reloaded.

Has anyone come across a similar problem.

Thanks

Hugh

 

BTW - I have upgraded the firmware on my ND5 XS and am able to play other DSD64 files. 

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi a .iso file typically an image of a CD-ROM converted into a digital file. With the right software you can write an .iso file to writable CD and you have a copy of the original CD.

i didn't realise Bluray used the same convention... any way if that .ISO file was originally from a Bluray.. it will have some how been decrypted first.

Simon

 

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Passmestick

You can use freeware such as Imgburn to either make a cd or file of the image. If you make a CD then you can rip that to your library and still have a hard copy to keep.

 

John

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by sjbabbey

Hugh

 

Yes an iso is a disc image file and is basically an archive file similar to a zip or rar file.

 

You can extract the individual DSD64 files (.dsf or .dff files) by using a free program called ISO2DSD from Sonore. dsf files are the more user friendly as they can handle metadata for tagging.

 

You should be able to download a copy of ISO2DSD from the audiocircle site.

 

Steve

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Hugh Craig
Thanks Steve, that seems to have worked
I will try the tracks this evening.
Clearly Audirvana can handle a wider range of files than Naim streamers.
Hugh
 
 
Originally Posted by sjbabbey:

Hugh

 

Yes an iso is a disc image file and is basically an archive file similar to a zip or rar file.

 

You can extract the individual DSD64 files (.dsf or .dff files) by using a free program called ISO2DSD from Sonore. dsf files are the more user friendly as they can handle metadata for tagging.

 

You should be able to download a copy of ISO2DSD from the audiocircle site.

 

Steve

 

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi Hugh, yes the Naim streamers can only handle a limited number of file formats by USB memory stick, they are really optimised for streaming, and there it's the media server (Asset, Minimserver, Unitiserve etc) that read the file types. The streamer just simply receives media of a specified codec type from the media server.

Simon

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Hugh Craig
Ah, that makes sense.
I think I will just delete the .iso file from my library and replace with the 7 .DFF files. It would be overkill I think to duplicate the whole library just to accommodate the odd ISO file!
Hugh
 
 
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

Hi Hugh, yes the Naim streamers can only handle a limited number of file formats by USB memory stick, they are really optimised for streaming, and there it's the media server (Asset, Minimserver, Unitiserve etc) that read the file types. The streamer just simply receives media of a specified codec type from the media server.

Simon

 

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Huge

Think of the ISO file as a data container used for data transmission, in the same way as a ZIP file is used.

 

Once you have extracted the .DFF files (and any other files) it contains, the container itself is of no further use - you can delete it with impunity.

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Hugh Craig

Deleted the IOS file and replaced with 7 DFF files

One step forward, I can now see the tracks and the cover art on the Naim app but they won't play and freeze the streamer on each attempt. Working fine on Audirvana.

Hugh

Posted on: 17 November 2015 by sjbabbey

Hugh

 

Not sure why you've converted the ISO to DFF rather than to DSF files but, no matter Minimserver should still be able to stream the files. Are the other DSD files you've been streaming in DSF or DFF format? 

 

As a workaround you could try configuring Minimserver to stream the files using DoP (DSD over PCM). To do this you need to use minimwatch and right click on the green minim server icon. Go to Properties and the System tab where you should see a transcode dialog box. Enter the value "dff:dopwav".

 

The above instructions are based on the Windows version of minimwatch and I'm assuming that the Mac version is similar.

 

Good luck.

 

Steve