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72 software Sample Rate Converters put to the test

Music1969

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Here it is the test with HQPlayer (thanks to Jussi's support):

GREEN = HQPlayer 3.13.x - Poly-Sinc-HB + TPDF dithering
RED = HQPlayer 3.13.x - Poly-Sinc + TPDF dithering

NTD HQPlayer.jpg


It is excellent. It is clearly among the best. In this application it seems that Poly-Sinc-HB is slightly preferable.

Hi, where did the plot go? Cannot see image anymore
 

danadam

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Hi, where did the plot go? Cannot see image anymore
It was on external server and is not available any more:
Code:
]$ wget "http://up.nexthardware.com/user_images/25259/52/NTD%20HQPlayer.jpg"
...
ERROR 404: Not Found.
 

Bow_Wazoo

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I have converted a few dsf files to FLAC using dbpoweramp.
Unfortunately after the conversion the tpl is about 6dB lower. Is it possible to avoid this with dbpoweramp?

20221226_192207.jpg
 
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Bow_Wazoo

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It seems to have something to do with dsf.
JRiver does the same thing.
I can counteract with normalize.

Too bad RX10 does not support dsf files...
 

Bow_Wazoo

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After working my way through the results, I couldn't find a DSF to FLAC converter that was among the top measurement results.
Very unfortunate that DP PowerAmp does not allow a setting so that the volume is not reduced...

I wrote to the developers of dbpoweramp.
 
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sarumbear

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This is a test by my friend Tom Gefrusti. The procedure employed to test 72 SRCs is this:

1) original native 24/88.2 kHz files (pink noise)

2) downsampling from 24/88.2 kHz to 16/44.1 kHz (with all listed software)

3) oversampling and re-quantization of the scaled files ... 16/44.1 kHz files are brought back to 24/88.2 kHz

4) specular comparison (NullTestDifference) between the native original file and the processed file.
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GREEN = Acoustica v6.0 - No dithering
RED = Acoustica v6.0 - Noise shaping and dithering
PURPLE = Acoustica v6.0 - Noise shaping only
YELLOW = AIMP v4.01 - Dither
BLUE = AIMP v4.01 - no Dither
WHITE = Ashampoo Music Studio v6.1 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)

zFfzq6j.jpg

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GREEN = AudioMove v1.2 - best
RED = AudioMove v1.2 - better
PURPLE = AudioMove v1.2 - good
YELLOW = Audiomuxer 0.9.6.0 - r8brain resampler
BLUE = Audiomuxer 0.9.6.0 - SSRC resampler
WHITE = AUI Converter free v5.6.3 - With dither

24djk7I.jpg

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GREEN = AUI Converter v5.6.3 free - No Dither
RED = AVS Audio Converter v8.1
PURPLE = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - colorized dither, noise shaping A
YELLOW = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - colorized dither, noise shaping B
BLUE = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - gaussian dither, noise shaping A
WHITE = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - gaussian dither, noise shaping B

P.S.: unseen colors are superimposed

MbV1ktf.jpg

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GREEN = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - Triangular dither, noise shaping A
RED = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - Triangular dither, noise shaping B
PURPLE = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - uniform dither, noise shaping A
YELLOW = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - uniform dither, noise shaping B
BLUE = AVS Audio Editor v8.1 - no dither
WHITE = Awave Studio 10.6 - FIR filter

k2xRLA6.jpg

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GREEN = Awave Studio 10.6 - Linear filter
RED = Awave Studio 10.6 - only downsample
Cockos REAPER PURPLE = V5.17 - Better (384pt Sync)
YELLOW = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Extreme HQ (768pt HQ Sync)
BLUE = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Fast (16pt Sync)
WHITE = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Fast (IIR + Linear Interpolation)

eMwPdQu.jpg

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GREEN = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Fast (II x2 + Linear Interpolation)
RED = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Goode (192 pt Sync)
PURPLE = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - HQ (512pt Sync)
YELLOW = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Low (Linear Interpolation)
BLUE = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Lowest (Sampling Point)
WHITE = Cockos REAPER V5.17 - Medium (64pt Sync)

FTh7ctr.jpg

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GREEN = dBpoweramp v15.1 - SSRC resampler, no dither
RED = dBpoweramp v15.1 - SSRC resampler, RPDF
PURPLE = dBpoweramp v15.1 - SSRC resampler, TPDF
YELLOW = dBpoweramp v15.1, resampler undeclared (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
BLUE = Dexster Audio Editor v4.4 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
WHITE = EZ CD Audio Converter v3.1.7 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)

5mO3amz.jpg

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GREEN = GoldWave v6.21 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
RED = Izotope RX4 -CD preset [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)], MBIT
PURPLE = Izotope RX4 -CD preset [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)] no Dither
YELLOW = Izotope RX4 - preset CD [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear fasTPDF
BLUE = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 0.00 (ie minimum phase)], MBIT
WHITE = Izotope RX4 -Custom [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 0.00 (ie minimum phase)] no Dither

5P5Tw6l.jpg

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GREEN = Izotope RX4 Custom [filter steepness 32.0, 0.96 Cutoff shift, Pre-ringing 0.00 (ie minimum phase)], TPDF
RED = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 172.0, Cutoff shift 0.97, Pre-ringing 0.1] MBIT
PURPLE = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 172.0, 0.97 Cutoff shift, ringing Pre-0.1], no Dither
YELLOW = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 172.0, 0.97 Cutoff shift, ringing Pre-0.1], TPDF
BLUE = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 434.0, Cutoff shift 1.00, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)], MBIT
WHITE = Izotope RX4 Custom [filter steepness 434.0, Cutoff shift 1.00, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)] no Dither

90A02BH.jpg

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GREEN = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 434.0, Cutoff shift 1.00, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)], TPDF
RED = MP3 Stream Editor v3.4.4.3163 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
PURPLE = Nero Recode 2016 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
YELLOW = Nero WaveEditor v14 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
BLUE = Nero WaveEditor v14, medium anti-aliasing filter
WHITE = Nero WaveEditor v14, accurate anti aliasing filter steepness 434.0, Cutoff shift 1.00, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)] no Dither

REqoysS.jpg

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GREEN = Nero Wave Editor v14, anti aliasing filter fast
RED = OcenAudio v3.0.7 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
PURPLE = Saracon v01.61 - no dither
YELLOW = Saracon v01.61 - POWr1
BLUE = Saracon v01.61 - POWr2
WHITE = Saracon v01.61 - POWr3

BMYVImK.jpg

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GREEN = Saracon v01.61 - PDF
RED = TAudioConverter v0.9.9 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
PURPLE = Waveshop v1.0.14.001 - best (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
YELLOW = Waveshop v1.0.14.001 - fastest (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
BLUE = Waveshop v1.0.14.001 - medium (no choice of dither and noise shaping)
WHITE = XRecode II v1.0.0.223 (no choice of dither and noise shaping)

umFzZyq.jpg

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The best software + setting is = Izotope RX4 - Custom [filter steepness 434.0, Cutoff shift 1.00, Pre-ringing 1.00 (ie linear phase)], no Dither

Among the 72 software settings there are others that stand out: dBpoweramp is a great example, also some settings of Saracon. You just need to look out at the maximum bandwidth and the least possible noise which means maximum congruence with native master file.
Interesting that the following, most often used software is not tested.

Wavelab
Audition
Logic Pro
ProTools
Abelton Live

Not even the free Audacity.
 

mocenigo

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It seems to have something to do with dsf.
JRiver does the same thing.
I can counteract with normalize.

Too bad RX10 does not support dsf files...

Do not blindingly normalise by 6Db: it may lead to clipping.
 

Bow_Wazoo

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Korg Audiogate works perfectly.

20221228_163908.jpg


If I want to get rid of ultrasonic garbage completely, I guess 48 kHz would be perfect?!
 

danadam

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It seems to have something to do with dsf.
JRiver does the same thing.
I can counteract with normalize.

Too bad RX10 does not support dsf files...
The standard for SACD, the scarlet book, defines 0 dB reference level, i.e., 0 dB SACD, to be half of the theoretical maximum, so that's -6 dBFS for PCM. It also defines peak level to +3.1 dB SACD. This doesn't mean that the limit is always followed in real life and there are albums that exceed it. The safest way seems to be convert with the headroom and normalize afterward.
 

Bow_Wazoo

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Korg looks good. I will use this program.

Now the only question is which sample rate?!
The main goal is to get rid of the ultrasonic garbage.
At 88.2khz there is still something left of it...
 
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Bow_Wazoo

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The standard for SACD, the scarlet book, defines 0 dB reference level, i.e., 0 dB SACD, to be half of the theoretical maximum, so that's -6 dBFS for PCM. It also defines peak level to +3.1 dB SACD. This doesn't mean that the limit is always followed in real life and there are albums that exceed it. The safest way seems to be convert with the headroom and normalize afterward.
Now I begin to understand.
When I listen to both files in Neutron player, the file converted to PCM with Korg Audiogate is about 6 dB louder than the DSF original.


If I convert with DBPowerAmp, the files are equally loud, and are displayed with Musicscope about 6 dB different loud.

20221226_192207.jpg
 
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