computer audio setup guide by audioquest

7/27/2019 Computer Audio Setup Guide by Audioquest

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Computer Audio

Setup Guide

This guide is intended to be used as a quick reference tool for thoseon their journey into the world of Computer Audio. While there is ato discuss and discover, we hope that this guide serves you well.

Computer Audio Setup Guide January, 2013


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Getting the most out ofcomputer audio

How to set up your computer

How to set up and use iTunes

How to set up and use alternativemusic players

Simple improvements andrecommendations



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Setting up iTunes for Mac with anExternal Device

Open System PreferencApple Menu

Open Sound panel

Click on Output tab

Choose the device you wplay music through. In thwe are selecting the ProUSBDAC



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Select Sound Effects

In Play sound effects thchoose Internal Speake

This will route internal athe internal computer sp

Setting up iTunes for Mac...



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Launch Applications andUtilities. Launch Midi

Select Output

Select the device you woplay music through. In th

we are selecting the ProUSBDAC

Under Format select nsampling rate of your fileCompact Discs are 44.1k

Setting up iTunes for Mac...Midi Settings



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Setting up iTunes for Mac...Midi Settings Some of your files may be in a different format, such as 24 bit 96Kh

(see the file sample rate example from iTunes below)

In order to play these files at their intended sampling rate the midimust be manually adjusted to that native sample rate



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Highlight/select Built-in

Click on Widget drop d

Select Play alerts and s

through this device

Setting up iTunes for Mac...Midi Settings



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Now iTunes will play throexternal device

Alerts will be routed to t

speakers




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Launch iTunes applicatio

Open Preferences from

Select Import Settings

Setting up iTunes for Mac



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Select Encoder - chooseApple Lossless

Setting leave this as A

Check Use error correc

reading Audio CDs

Click OK



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Click Advanced tab

iTunes Media folder locaChange button to seledesired location/storage

Check Keep iTunes Med

organized & Copy filesMedia folder when addin

Click OK to finish



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Click Window (menu bar

Select Equalizer

Uncheck on




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Pure Music is... High-resolution, high-pe

music playback software

computers

Automatically docks with

iTunes acts as GUI, dataorganizer, etc. but doesnmusic. Pure Music repla

actual iTunes player soft

Automatic sample rate s

Plays all iTunes file formas FLAC



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Pure Music for Apple iTunes

Purchase and download

Launch Pure Music appl

Open Preferences panPure Music

Configure Audio-Output-

click Audio Setup... bubottom of the Preferenceselect and configure theOutput Device



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Pure Music for Apple iTunes..

Select the device you woyour music to. In this casselecting the Ayre USB

Theres a lot more Pure MSpend some time with th



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Can You Hear Onesand Zeros?No matter how an audio signal is packaged, stored and

transferred, the music is always analog ... but after allthat digital packaging and reconstruction, is it stillmusic?Since long before the CD and MP3, the many ways in which cable can

damage audio information have been denied, debated, and proven. Since

the CD arrived, the mechanisms which damage a digital audio signal have

been denied, debated, and proven.

Now, audio is shifting to being stored in the Cloud and on drives, whether

spinning or solid-state. Now HDMI and USB are becoming the dominant

transfer modes ... and now, same as before, audio quality continues to beeasy to damage. The frontier might seem to move so fast that old problems

are dead and buried, but in fact, respect and care are exactly as important as

ever before.

AudioQuest is not better because we have been minimizing damage to audio

since 1980, but this does give us perspective. It is our competence today,

facing todays challenges, which we hope will earn your attention, your

listening, and if we earn it, your respect.



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iTunes for Windows 7 and 8

Launch Control Panel

Open Hardware and So



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iTunes for Windows 7 and 8...

Newly connected externaadded as Speakers

Playback: Select preferredevice. In this case it woProton USB interface

Click Properties buttonsetup options



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iTunes for Windows 7 and 8... Click Advanced tab

Select the native samplemusic, for most users th44100 Hz

Exclusive Mode: check bthen click OK

Click Sounds tab, undeScheme select No Souwill prevent internal sounplaying back through thesystem



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Launch iTunes applicatio

Click Edit drop down fmenu bar, select Prefere

Select Import Settings

Setting up iTunes for Window8...



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Select Encoder - chooseApple Lossless

Setting leave this as A

Check Use error correcreading Audio CDs

Click OK



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Click Advanced tab

iTunes Media folder locaChange button to seledesired location/hard dr

Check Keep iTunes Med

organized & Copy filesMedia folder when addin

Click OK to finish



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Click View drop down main menu bar.

Select Show Equalizer

Uncheck On



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QuickTime for Windows 7 and

Launch QuickTime appli

Open QuickTime Prefer

Click Audio tab, then Audio Playback and ReDevices-then select theyou want to play your m

Under Audio Output DeLatency check WindowSession



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J. River is a whole housecenter for music, moviesphotographs

Sound quality leader for

based systems (Window

J. River Media Center is...



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J. River for Windows 7 and 8

Purchase and download

Launch Control Panel

Open Hardware and So



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J. River for Windows 7 and 8.

Select Playback audiointernal speakers. Do noexternal DAC!

Click Properties buttoAdvanced tab

Exclusive Mode, check bthen click OK



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Launch J. River applicat

Open Options panel frmenu, selectTools, th

Under Audio Output s

Click Output mode sett



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Select desired audio devDevice drop-down me

Check Open device for access option

Click OK



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Click DSP & output formto open DSP Studio pa

Under Sample rate choresampling

Under Bitdepth select

match that of the intendedevice such as a DAC

Explore!



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External Hard Drive Connectiv When possible avoid shari

same bus to send and retr

This means if you are usinDAC try and use a differenconnection (FireWire) for tHD

The faster the HD connectbetter the sound

Cables makes a differencethe hard drive and the aud

Mechanical isolation makedifference. Try Q-Feet.


computer audio setup guide by audioquest

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