How to downsample hi-res digital audio?

[papaiannis]

I use squeezeplay on a linux machine, whose digital output is connected to an external DAC. This DAC is only capable to convert up to 16 bit/48 KHz digital audio streams. Therefore I cannot hear music from hi-res 24/96 files. I only use flac files.
Is there a way to configure the Logitech Media Server so that it could downsample 24/96 data to 16/44 or 16/48, before streaming it to the squeezeplay?
Thank you.

Alekos.

[pippin]

Hm, shouldn't the DAC tell the PC about it's capabilities and the PC's driver do the downsampling?

[Apesbrain]

If the DAC and PC are not communicating as pippin suggests, there may be a setting in your sound card control panel to fix the bit depth and sample rate it outputs. (Note 16/48 is sometimes called "DVD Quality".)

Otherwise, here are two options:

1. Create a copy of your convert.conf file in the same folder and rename it custom-convert.conf then edit custom-convert.conf to change the [flc flc * *] section to insert a SoX command to resample all output

Something* like this:

# Run all flac through SoX to convert to 16/44
flc flc * *
	# FT:{START=--skip=%t}U:{END=--until=%v}
	[sox] -q -t flac $FILE$ -t flac -C 0 - -b 16 -r 44100

Remember to restart LMS once completed. Note this will resample all non-16/44 files for all players attached to your server. If it doesn't work, rename the custom-convert.conf file to DISABLED_custom-convert.conf and restart LMS to restore your original convert.conf. See note * below.

2. Make new 16/48 copies of the 24/96 files using foobar2000 or its linux equivalent (DeaDBeeF?)

*I'm not a SoX expert so hopefully someone more knowledgable about it will correct the code if not correct

[papaiannis]

Thank you for answering.
My DAC is connected via S/P-DIF and does not communicate its capabilities to the pc.
I tried the suggested custom-convert.conf setting. It works, thanks. Unfortunately, music starts with a delay of tenths of seconds, rather annoying...
I think I'll upgrade to a DAC capable of converting at least up to 24/96.
Thanks again for help.

Alekos

If the DAC and PC are not communicating as pippin suggests, there may be a setting in your sound card control panel to fix the bit depth and sample rate it outputs. (Note 16/48 is sometimes called "DVD Quality".)

Otherwise, here are two options:

1. Create a copy of your convert.conf file in the same folder and rename it custom-convert.conf then edit custom-convert.conf to change the [flc flc * *] section to insert a SoX command to resample all output

Something* like this:

# Run all flac through SoX to convert to 16/44
flc flc * *
	# FT:{START=--skip=%t}U:{END=--until=%v}
	[sox] -q -t flac $FILE$ -t flac -C 0 - -b 16 -r 44100

Remember to restart LMS once completed. Note this will resample all non-16/44 files for all players attached to your server. If it doesn't work, rename the custom-convert.conf file to DISABLED_custom-convert.conf and restart LMS to restore your original convert.conf. See note * below.

2. Make new 16/48 copies of the 24/96 files using foobar2000 or its linux equivalent (DeaDBeeF?)

*I'm not a SoX expert so hopefully someone more knowledgable about it will correct the code if not correct

[Apesbrain]

Ok, don't give up just yet. It's probably because my SoX commandline is dodgy. I've used SoX in a similar way to do something else and it worked fine. Search my thread on "tinnitus". Someone there gave me the right syntax and maybe they can help you also.

OTOH, if you really want a higher-resolution DAC I've been very happy with my Centrance DACmini: nice 24/192 DAC and headphone amp.