Stable software XO

[Angaria]

I'd like to set up a media server that will also be running an active XO and dsp via a multi-channel dac. However, I have this vision of whatever implementation crashing and sending a blip that my tweeters, that blows them.... which is going to be a huge pain. Is Jriver on linux the most stable solution for this task? Thanks!

 

[levimax]

Software and or human error are always potential trouble when driving a power amp directly from an interface. No software is ever going to be fool proof.

My solution, which I have used for years, is to get an inface with a volume control that can control all channels, I know Motu does this. I then set the master volume @ -20 dB so even if the software is 100% volume it will play loud but not damage anything. If I am in the mood to play really loud I can then adjust accordingly and turn back when done.

 

[DWPress]

I set up an active 3-way XO in both jRiver and Roon a few years ago and while doable - there are far better ways to do it. Mostly lack of any control of the XO slopes (things may have improved with jRiver since then) so if you wanted a 4th order LR you needed to double up a 2nd order and pay close attention to the driver roll off too. The suggestion of some sort of VC before the DAC is a really good one or put some caps inline with your tweeters which is a really good idea in a digital active system anyway.

 

[Keith_W]

I have been running JRiver on Windows + Acourate Convolver for 10 years. I have not had a problem yet.

 

[ppataki]

I'd like to set up a media server that will also be running an active XO and dsp via a multi-channel dac. However, I have this vision of whatever implementation crashing and sending a blip that my tweeters, that blows them.... which is going to be a huge pain. Is Jriver on linux the most stable solution for this task? Thanks!

Using Jriver (and VST plugins) for everything and I am super happy with it
I use its Internal Volume control (64-bit) to control volume + it has a Volume Protection feature too that is pretty fool-proof
I can strongly recommend it

Mostly lack of any control of the XO slopes (things may have improved with jRiver since then)

This is covered now in Jriver + you can also use whichever VST plugin(s) you need

 

[Waxx]

JRiver does crash, but not with noises trough the speaker. And crashes are very rare, in the +5 years i daily use the software i had maybe 2 or 3 crashes, of which at least one was caused by myself, not the software or the computer.

But if you want to play totally safe, use a fuse and/or a cap on the tweeter. In case of the cap, make sure it's not filtering to high (preferable at FS of the tweeter)

 

[boxerfan88]

I use foobar 64-bit running an active XO and room_correction via convolver plugin output via a multi-channel DAC. So far so good.

Link to architecture/DSP chain.

 

[ZolaIII]

Using Jriver (and VST plugins) for everything and I am super happy with it
I use its Internal Volume control (64-bit) to control volume + it has a Volume Protection feature too that is pretty fool-proof
I can strongly recommend it

This is covered now in Jriver + you can also use whichever VST plugin(s) you need

You do it best in JRiver by using two separate PEQ banks with clear, copy and add filters and you have all the PEQ's including self and pass filters and Q to do all the modeling you can imagine. Actual modelling you do in REW with very nice graphic representation of it and then mesure, re mesure and listen until you consider it close to perfect.

 

[dualazmak]

I have been using stable and robust DSP/XO software "EKIO" (having very nice GUI controls and mouse wheel functionalities) as "system-wide DSP/XO Center" on Windows (now Win 11 Pro 24H2) together with VB Audio Matrix as system-wide ASIO/VASIO/VAIO routing center.

If you would be interested, please visit my post #931 on my project thread for the latest and detailed system setup.

 

[3ll3d00d]

This is covered now in Jriver

Jriver has the filtering capability but using dsp studio directly for this purpose is quite unpleasant for anything non trivial, 3rd party software exists to make life easier though so not a big deal in the end

 

[ZolaIII]

Jriver has the filtering capability but using dsp studio directly for this purpose is quite unpleasant for anything non trivial, 3rd party software exists to make life easier though so not a big deal in the end

How so? You can do it as precise as you could imagine. It's not very suitable for many chenels/crossovers but that's about it. If you didn't learn to use PEQ filters time is about now that you do.

 

[dedobot]

wrong thread, sorry

 

[3ll3d00d]

How so? You can do it as precise as you could imagine. It's not very suitable for many chenels/crossovers but that's about it.

The issue is with their UI not the dsp engine.

Try creating just one bessel filter manually and you would see what I mean ( then scale that by channels and ways)

Repeat creating a matched delay subtractive crossover manually (if you can do that without making mistakes then well done!)

For simple setups, it's doable but a bit annoying to use (and easy to make mistakes). For anything beyond simple, I have better things to do with my time then rely on that UI.

If you didn't learn to use PEQ filters time is about now that you do

Don't worry, am well aware of how to use them.

 

[Sokel]

JRiver does crash, but not with noises trough the speaker. And crashes are very rare, in the +5 years i daily use the software i had maybe 2 or 3 crashes, of which at least one was caused by myself, not the software or the computer.

But if you want to play totally safe, use a fuse and/or a cap on the tweeter. In case of the cap, make sure it's not filtering to high (preferable at FS of the tweeter)

The problem is not with Jriver or any reliable (in limits, it's software) crashing, that's not something that will expose full levels (normally, again, it's software so I never say never) .
Problem is with windows themselves if the output is the primary as set as the system one (for ones that use it system-wide for example) .

A BSOD at windows, half of the times can expose a full level and it only stops when pulling the plug (good luck if you're using a laptop)
A gazzilion of times I have seen my interface blink (at -12dB) after restarting from a windows system update.

I wouldn't have such a potential accident loose without precautions.

 

[Waxx]

That is why i prefer to use a MiniDSP with dedicated hardware that does not care if your windows crashes. And the gain of that is set to -10dB on each channel to keep headroom even if someone set the level on 11 on that thing.

But again, if you want to play fully safe, use a 0.25A fuse on that tweeter (that is in 220v 55w) and use a cap that filters below where you would filter with the digital filter. That is the safest in any way and will make it hard to blow your tweeter, whatever your amp is doing...

 

[dualazmak]

Yes, protection capacitors for midrange, tweeter, and super-tweeters would be needed, and careful startup/ignition sequences as well as shutdown sequences should be always performed. These features are also described in detail in my post here.
- The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, including updated startup/ignition sequences and shutdown sequences: as of June 26, 2024: #931

 

[ZolaIII]

@3ll3d00d you use REW for presentation and checking, you construct it there and then enter it in JRiver and check for future corrections if needed.

 

[3ll3d00d]

@3ll3d00d you use REW for presentation and checking, you construct it there and then enter it in JRiver and check for future corrections if needed.
View attachment 440685

It's not a serious answer to the point made (about usability)

You can use https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,129609.0.html instead

 

[ZolaIII]

It's not a serious answer to the point made (about usability)

You can use https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,129609.0.html instead

It whose not serious question to begin with. Sure interface can be improved but I don't see that as progress in the right direction. A player or media center ain't measurements software, I don't mind entering Q 0.71 for Butterwort or calculating and referring to table for bessel filter. I certainly don't care for up to 24th order filters, I do low order to in room decay. As I will continue to use REW (and so will most people around hire) it really, really don't touch me much nor it ever will. For those who do they are free to use VST plugins for such and other functions and scalable much better UI (with AI elements and GPU accelerated) I see that only as a resource hog and wouldn't like it to become part of JRiver ever nor seeing it rise in hardware requirements to Roon level so that someone like you could say UI is nicer.

 

[charlielaub]

I'd like to set up a media server that will also be running an active XO and dsp via a multi-channel dac. However, I have this vision of whatever implementation crashing and sending a blip that my tweeters, that blows them.... which is going to be a huge pain. Is Jriver on linux the most stable solution for this task? Thanks!

I just released some Linux software for doing exactly this sort of thing. See:

Sharing my Linux-based Software DSP app for IIR DSP, Loudspeaker Crossovers

I have decided to share my DIY software DSP app "GStreamer Streaming-Audio System Controller" (GSASysCon) with the greater community. It's something I have been using and slowly modifying and enhancing for the last 10 years or so, and it's very stable and reliable. Features include...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You can trigger an external script to do start-up and shut-down duties for amps, etc.