Can DBPoweramp convert DSF files to Flac or Wav?

I've just checked in Asset and it can transcode DSF to WAV on the fly if that helps. If you did this you wouldn't need to convert the DSF files. Not that I know what a DSF file is....

Is it similar to DFS? If so, you need to take action as the sale ends very soon.

Sorry.

PeterJ posted:

Is it similar to DFS? If so, you need to take action as the sale ends very soon.

Sorry.

Yep, the sale ends on Sunday night, but a new one starts on Monday morning.

I believe that DSF (most definitely not DFS) is one of the two main DSD file formats, the other being DFF.

Blue Coast Music has some pretty amazing sounding albums by the likes of Keith Greeninger that I would like to purchase in this format. They also sell their albums in FLAC format, but I find that the DSD versions sound better. Unfortunately, the DSF albums are also considerably more expensive than the FLAC equivalents.

Linn streamers (I use one in one of my systems) do not cater for DSD formats, hence the need to convert DSF to FLAC or WAV should I decide to purchase the DSD versions.

I have actually spotted that 'Illustrate' offers (free) DSD codecs for DBPoweramp as an optional download. Just tried to download them, but every time I try to do so, Norton Security claims they are unsafe & deletes them. I'd be surprised if there is a genuine problem, so I guess I'll just bypass Norton for this download.     

Pretty certain that's a false positive.

Unless Mr Spoon's had his website downloads folder hacked - and that seems unlikely as Illustrate's a relatively low throughput download site.

Most/All Bluecoast DSD albums are also available in WAV & FLAC  ...........  I have used dBpoweramp to convert DSD (DSF) to WAV.

I think Mike's suggestion of getting source in correct format is best. DSD to PCM convertion is not an exact science. Think AAC/MP3 encoders. Good DSD to PCM converters come in specialist, typically quite expensive, software.

Simon

Mike-B posted:

Most/All Bluecoast DSD albums are also available in WAV & FLAC  

As is the one DSD album I own so far. Which makes me wonder which format the original was produced in because surely that is the one to go for? Or does a conversion to DSD add more goodness? My DSD album certainly sounds good. 

I have a codec in dBpoweramp that allows me to tag DSD files. I can't remember if it converts (and I can't check because I am in Cyprus for the month) but if Mike says it does, then it does.

I should add that whilst dBpoweramp does convert DSD to WAV, I don't believe its a perfect process.     My experiment did not show the WAV copy was bad,  far from it, but it did seem to loose the feeling of space & atmosphere that the DSD had.    I converted a DSD album (copy) as an experiment to see if a track change click carried over into the WAV copy.  This was a problem with DSD replay in the early Naim beta software caused by the bit-stream track not ending in a 16 bit frame (or something like that),   so per Simon's point,  I can easily understand why a DSD to PCM conversion is not so simple.   I should also add that Naim have reduced this track change click to be almost not a problem.  

Harry,  finding what the original recording was made in is not easy,  Blue Coast do tend to record small ensemble work in DSD,  but the big orchestral work is PCM.    Sound Liaison (Holland) say they have not been able to perfect DSD recordings & record in PCM,  transfer the PCM files - via analogue - to create a new DSD master file.  All this is further indicating the difficulty in converting bit-stream to PCM & visa versa.       I buy DSD if its available,  if not my 1st PCM choice is WAV,  then any PCM & convert to WAV.  

PCM to DSD is lossy.

DSD to PCM is lossy

So the recording studio start with a 24/192 PCM studio master (for easier lower loss editing), the the record company convert this to DSD for 'premium price' distribution, then the user converts back to PCM for playback - hmm!

I download my files to a separate nas, then copy over to my music library. Files have come in as wav, flac & aiff, depending on the website. You also have the option of downloading the same album in different formats sometimes. I have actually done this to compare. HD tracks, and I think Linn offer free test downloads so that you can do this comparison without spending money. So I have to admit I am slightly perplexed as to what's best. 

I have also copied my master files through db pweramp, converting wav to aiff, (so I can get metadata happening), and shamefully haven't really bothered to check the results sonically. Must be losing the fire in the belly. 

Must spend some time on this. Just that I'm having too much fun listening

This space and airiness observation comes up frequently when talking about DSD and it's certainly something which stands out on the only DSD album I have. And I like it. I wonder if it is an artefact of some kind? Toobheads love the warm organic presentation of bottles but everyone else tells them they are listening to distortion of a palatable variety. A back to back might show something but as pointed out above, flip flopping between formats does not take into account the actual format it was first laid down in.

I sense the usual lethal dose of industry cynicism here and I'm as guilty as anyone in sucking it up. All be it selectively. And when you consider that most of the drive behind SACD was Sony with a stick up its arse about copy protection, the emergence of good sound quality is more a happy coincidence than a primary project objective. 

Harry posted:

...
And when you consider that most of the drive behind SACD was Sony with a stick up its arse about copy protection,
...

If you write the word 'Sony' in Title Case or lower case, you can see the lower part of the stick projecting downwards!  

steve95775 posted:

...
I have also copied my master files through db pweramp, converting wav to aiff, (so I can get metadata happening),
...

Using dBPoweramp you can have metadata in WAVE file - it works fine, and the later WAVE file specification supports that use as well.

Hey Huge, thanks for that. I haven't installed db power amp onto my nas yet, this gives me a great kick up the rear to do so. Still got the Wonky Twonky doing the business.

Huge posted:

Harry posted:

...
And when you consider that most of the drive behind SACD was Sony with a stick up its arse about copy protection,
...

If you write the word 'Sony' in Title Case or lower case, you can see the lower part of the stick projecting downwards!  

Interesting but I'll take your word for it.

You'll be wanting dBpoweramp on your PC or Mac, not your NAS. Illustrate's sister software server offering with dBpoweramp is Asset, which will go on your NAS, can handle DSD and should (from most accpounts) outperform Twonky.

I have friends who record in the studio. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to get hold of the actual "master" final mix. So far they have all been WAV, 24/96. The difference between these and the ripped cd's has been phenomenal. Now I can keep them in WAV. Double thanks.

steve95775 posted:

Hey Huge, thanks for that. I haven't installed db power amp onto my nas yet, this gives me a great kick up the rear to do so. Still got the Wonky Twonky doing the business.

dBPoweramp goes on your PC, not on the NAS.  The DLNA Media Server that Illustrate publish is 'Asset', is that what you meant?

I have do poweramp on the pc for ripping. Sorry for the confusion, I was thinking you were suggesting a variation of power amp for the nas. I have read heaps about Twonky's shortcomings, had been thinking to change to j river. I'm in the Antipodes and whilst I have great affection for my Naim dealer, (he drives an Alfa and has SBL's so there are positives), streaming Arcadia is not where he's at. So should I consider Asset?

Damn auto correct. Arcadia not Arcadia

F#%##%% autocorrect! Once more with felling. Arcane knowledge. Ha beat the stupid autocorrect 

Even if you got felling (as in of trees) rather than feeling (as in the common saying)!  

Man, I give up. Once more with felling... in my defence I am enjoying a fabulous red. That we have in abundance in Western Australia 

Autocorrect makes me crazy sometimes...