Roon Advanced Features for DSP layering/ Subwoofer Integration

[WeekendWarrior]

I’m planning to improve my 2.2 system by adding a multi-channel DAC to allow better subwoofer integration. I know a miniDSP could handle this, but I’d like to work through the setup myself. I’m considering using MSO, @OCA GSonic, HPF and LPF filters, with Roon controlling everything.

I asked Google Gemini about this, and it suggested creating a Roon configuration file to define how audio is routed to each DAC channel. I hadn’t heard of this approach before, so I wondered what the ASR experts knew about this.

Here’s an example for one sub channel (there's a similar one for the other channels):

# Channel 3: Subwoofer 1 (Compensated for single-ended physical signal loss)
1 1 [SINGLE_ENDED_MULTIPLIER] 0.0
MSO_Sub1.wav
0
0.0
XO_LowPass.wav
0
0.0

This contains routing information, filters to be applied and additional info such as gain adjustment (i.e. “single_ended_multiplier” because I’d be connecting my single ended subs to a balanced output thus losing 6dB volume).

All the instructions together with the “.wav” files would be zipped and loaded into Roon’s convolution engine.

Wow, I hadn’t been aware that Roon could do this, nor could I find much info within Roon. So my question is can Roon really do this, and does anyone have experience of using it?

 

[Keith_W]

In a nutshell: yes, Roon can do this. If your software does not generate it for you, you will need to write a config file. This is the config file for a 6-way system. Note Cor1S* is a stereo .WAV file, and 0 and 1 refer to left and right channels respectively.

48000 2 6 0
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
Cor1S48.wav
0
0.0
0.0
Cor1S48.wav
1
1.0
1.0
Cor2S48.wav
0
0.0
2.0
Cor2S48.wav
1
1.0
3.0
Cor3S48.wav
0
0.0
4.0
Cor3S48.wav
1
1.0
5.0

 

[WeekendWarrior]

Great, thanks for the reply. AI generated all the 4 config files, full marks to Gemini otherwise I'd never have known.

Is there a guide somewhere you can send a link to, so I can double check the script.

 

[john61ct]

I can't imagine doing my basic system infrastructure in a tool that requires a subscription

 

[WeekendWarrior]

I can't imagine doing my basic system infrastructure in a tool that requires a subscription

I bought a lifetime subscription years ago, so making the most of it!

 

[DWPress]

Yes, I've done it before in Roon for active 3 way XO + 2 subs but it was less than ideal. If you're going through the effort and have generated .cfg files then using a virtual cable from Roon (or whole system) into Hang Loose Convolver would provide much more flexibility to host the filters and other plugins as well.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

Yes, I've done it before in Roon for active 3 way XO + 2 subs but it was less than ideal. If you're going through the effort and have generated .cfg files then using a virtual cable from Roon (or whole system) into Hang Loose Convolver would provide much more flexibility to host the filters and other plugins as well.

Thanks, may I ask why it was less than ideal?

I've read about Hang Loose hardware and software but not really considered it. I guess it'd need additional hardware and a software licence.

 

[DWPress]

Thanks, may I ask why it was less than ideal?

I've read about Hang Loose hardware and software but not really considered it. I guess it'd need additional hardware and a software licence.

It was quite a few years ago that I did it and Roon may have evolved since then but I wanted correction for my whole system (including turntable) anyway so went HLC route. If you're already planning to buy a multichannel DAC then there's your hardware and the software license is very reasonable for HLC.

Here's a post where I describe my system.

 

[kemmler3D]

Can I ask what DAC / Interface you're planning to use? I was looking at this general idea myself (for my office 2.2) so I could manage the subs better but I haven't yet found hardware with 4 discrete outs to get excited about.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

It was quite a few years ago that I did it and Roon may have evolved since then but I wanted correction for my whole system (including turntable) anyway so went HLC route. If you're already planning to buy a multichannel DAC then there's your hardware and the software license is very reasonable for HLC.

Here's a post where I describe my system.

Oh yes, I saw that post and it's the DAC 8 Pro I was thinking of...what do you think of it? I've asked Okto a few questions but still waiting for a reply.

 

[DWPress]

The Okto is the best piece of kit in my system, love it, very versatile. You could do the same with any multi ch interface that has the in/outs you need and bi-directional USB communication.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

Can I ask what DAC / Interface you're planning to use? I was looking at this general idea myself (for my office 2.2) so I could manage the subs better but I haven't yet found hardware with 4 discrete outs to get excited about.

I have a dedicated Roon core/ server that I'm planning to use, and was thinking of the Okto Pro 8. There's the upcoming RME 2/4 but that's likely more expensive.

 

[DWPress]

Motu Ultralite MK5, Scarlett 6i6, many others will work if it has the connections you need. I love the Okto for its form factor, remote and volume knob on top of all it's channel routing magic sauce.

 

[Keith_W]

Great, thanks for the reply. AI generated all the 4 config files, full marks to Gemini otherwise I'd never have known.

Is there a guide somewhere you can send a link to, so I can double check the script.

If you have to (or are forced to) write the config file yourself, this is the specification of those config files on sourceforge. That config file is no problem if you are using software that writes the config file for you automatically - e.g. Acourate and Audiolense. But if you are using free stuff like GSonic, CavernEQ, REW/rePhase, you MIGHT have to write that config file yourself. I haven't tested all the other software, so I don't know if they can write it for you.

I was hoping that someone else would post a step-by-step guide on how to set Roon up to do convolution. I don't use Roon myself, but I have helped a few friends set it up to use filters that I designed for them. It's a bit unintuitive, you have to change settings in a few unrelated settings pages. I used AI to talk me through it, but it still involved a couple of hours of futzing around. Add to that, Roon has a rather strange implementation where the same config file that works in JRiver and Hang Loose Convolver won't work in Roon. If you are writing your own config file manually, that will be a real nightmare for you.

You can use Hang Loose Convolver (i.e. pass the output of Roon into HLC). There are some advantages to doing this - HLC can host VST's, and it can instantly switch between filters so you can A-B them. But HLC also needs the same config file that Roon uses, and that's where you might get stuck.

 

[WeekendWarrior]

If you have to (or are forced to) write the config file yourself, this is the specification of those config files on sourceforge. That config file is no problem if you are using software that writes the config file for you automatically - e.g. Acourate and Audiolense. But if you are using free stuff like GSonic, CavernEQ, REW/rePhase, you MIGHT have to write that config file yourself. I haven't tested all the other software, so I don't know if they can write it for you.

I was hoping that someone else would post a step-by-step guide on how to set Roon up to do convolution. I don't use Roon myself, but I have helped a few friends set it up to use filters that I designed for them. It's a bit unintuitive, you have to change settings in a few unrelated settings pages. I used AI to talk me through it, but it still involved a couple of hours of futzing around. Add to that, Roon has a rather strange implementation where the same config file that works in JRiver and Hang Loose Convolver won't work in Roon. If you are writing your own config file manually, that will be a real nightmare for you.

You can use Hang Loose Convolver (i.e. pass the output of Roon into HLC). There are some advantages to doing this - HLC can host VST's, and it can instantly switch between filters so you can A-B them. But HLC also needs the same config file that Roon uses, and that's where you might get stuck.

Gemini AI has written all 4 (×1 per channel) config files, and also told me the "single_ended_multiplier" to use for my subs, but of course you never know what you're getting with AI. However I didn't even realise this was possible with Roon, so it's done a good job so far.

I've since asked it to explain the meaning of all the Roon config entries, and could post if there's an interest. I'll compare with the link you kindly provided. I just need to put all config files, together with all the filters, into a zip file and load into Roon, apparently.

I already use Gsonic. It generates the filters but doesn't create config files.