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miniDSP Tide16 - Holy Grail with 16 Channel Atmos/DTS:X, high SINAD

ATV4K Continuous Audio Mode
Apply has introduced Continuous Audio Mode that keeps the MAT format for 2-channel sources.

The RMC-1+ does not handle this (*yet*), assuming that MAT is Atmos.
This has the effect of disabling upmixing of 2-channel content (in the MAT container).

I mention it hear for MiniDSP, yet another in the weeds detail.

- Rich
 
EWL5 said:
I have an older Rotel RSX-1067 AVR I was hoping to use as an external amp but some say is a bad idea...
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Based on what I know now, I could have used the Flex HTx as an upstream Dirac processor since my Rotel has 7.1 RCA inputs. I will only ever have one SW and doing no better than 5.1.2 for ATMOS currently.

Anyone doing this w/older Rotel AVRs?
 
Sorry if this already came up over the last 72 pages...

Will the Dirac license that comes with the Tide 16 be transferable to a new owner when sold on the second hand market? I.e. will it stay with the hardware?

I know it hasn't even gone on sale yet but the thought ocurred to me after reading the recent posts on the Audiocontrol Hyperion thread. I think that for past MiniDSP products, licenses have usually not been transferrable, which would surely have an impact on Tide16 resale values. If eventually buying a second hand Tide 16 how much extra would you have to budget for a new set of Dirac licenses?
 
-Matt- said:
Sorry if this already came up over the last 72 pages...

Will the Dirac license that comes with the Tide 16 be transferable to a new owner when sold on the second hand market? I.e. will it stay with the hardware?

I know it hasn't even gone on sale yet but the thought ocurred to me after reading the recent posts on the Audiocontrol Hyperion thread. I think that for past MiniDSP products, licenses have usually not been transferrable, which would surely have an impact on Tide16 resale values. If eventually buying a second hand Tide 16 how much extra would you have to budget for a new set of Dirac licenses?
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Dirac should have transferable licenses, but need to go through the hoops with Dirac help.
 
-Matt- said:
I think that for past MiniDSP products, licenses have usually not been transferrable
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Flex series and htx are definitely transferrable. I hadn't heard that about other products.
 
It's not the product - it's Dirac policy so should not matter.

PS. You forgot to like my post?
 
Mort said:
Flex series and htx are definitely transferrable. I hadn't heard that about other products.
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I only know that when I purchased my 2x4 and 2x4 HD I had to separately purchase ONE-time coupons from MiniDSP to download the plugin software. You validate the key through their website, then access to download the software is added to your MiniDSP account.

I know they also offer a firmware upgrade to convert the 2x4 HD into a DDRC-24 which is Dirac capable. (I can't easily find the current cost for this on their website, but google suggests it is $199). It isn't clear to me whether you would then have to separately buy a license from Dirac too.

All this just makes me think that it is pretty important to understand MiniDSP's and Dirac's licensing terms in the case of the Tide 16.
 
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-Matt- said:
only know that when I purchased my 2x4 and 2x4 HD I had to separately purchase ONE-time coupons from MiniDSP to download the plugin software. You validate the key through their website, then access to download the software is added to your MiniDSP account.
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I just sold someone an upgraded 2x4 and transferred the dirac license to them. I really don't think you have anything to worry about.
 
It seems then that Dirac's licensing terms are more permissive than MiniDSP's, because MiniDSP don't allow transfer of their plugin software. (At least that has been my experience).

Mort said:
I just sold someone an upgraded 2x4 and transferred the dirac license to them. I really don't think you have anything to worry about.
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I guess it would be better to hear confirmation of that from whoever you sold it to!

My expectation is that they would still need to purchase a ONE-time coupon from MiniDSP to get the DDRC-24 software added to their MiniDSP account so that they can download it. (This is presumably completely separate to the Dirac license).
 
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I just bought a used Minidsp DDRC88A and the Dirac Live license was tied to the device, I didn't have to do anything to transfer it to me besides asking Minidsp to add the software to my Minidsp account.
 
90sNintendoKid said:
I just bought a used Minidsp DDRC88A and the Dirac Live license was tied to the device, I didn't have to do anything to transfer it to me besides asking Minidsp to add the software to my Minidsp account.
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So they just gave you the both the MiniDSP software and the Dirac License for free!

That did not happen for me with the 2x4 or 2x4 HD. Maybe it is an example of if you don't ask, you don't get. :confused:

Then again, the DDRC-88A is listed as a legacy product. Perhaps they have a different policy in such a case.
 
Comma said:
Dirac ART is build in, so license will follow the device only software bought separately on miniDSP website needs to be transferred in case of a new owner.
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As I've never tried Dirac, I hadn't previously appreciated that they have quite different licensing terms for different devices. However, their website is pretty helpful in explaining which features can be applied to each device and whether they are built-in (included) or only available.

For example:
Available on Denon...
1000039381.jpg


But built-in (included) on MiniDSP...
1000039384.jpg


(The Tide 16 isn't shown there yet).
 
I believe it must have been mentioned in the last 72 pages that it will be a relatively long way until the product reach "maturity". There will be many "glitches", hopefully only software, until it's trouble free.
 
dasherzx said:
i came across a deal too good to pass on, a marantz av10 for the price of the tide...alas i could not pass on that. maybe someday in the future....
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To be honest the Tide still isn’t available and despite what they are saying on their product page (last update 4th of March) I suspect that the software is not good enough to release yet and they simply announced the thing too early.

Hence going for a good deal on an available product with mature software is the right thing to do.
 
chelgrian said:
they simply announced the thing too early.

Hence going for a good deal on an available product with mature software is the right thing to do.
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Totally agree. They should not have estimated Feb 15.

It may not be software though. They blame it on parts supply fwiw.
 
chelgrian said:
To be honest the Tide still isn’t available and despite what they are saying on their product page (last update 4th of March) I suspect that the software is not good enough to release yet and they simply announced the thing too early.

Hence going for a good deal on an available product with mature software is the right thing to do.
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Unfortunately, they will have to deal w/the disappointment of customers due to too much hype too soon. It's a completely different dynamic if they had simply made the announcement one month before actual shipping.
 
Mort said:
Totally agree. They should not have estimated Feb 15.
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Every single manufacturer of high technology goods is always over-optimistic in their release planning. I'm sure there's an exception somewhere that I can't think of.
AudioControl said the APR-16 was going to be released in Q3 last year, and we're still waiting. Who cares?
When you see this happening over and over again, you learn to treat forecasts for what they are, and that patience is always king.
 
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