Revision 1.1 - April 3, 2015
Introduction
Foobar2000 is a popular audio playback application for Windows computers that supports multiple audio file formats, up to and including Direct-Stream Digital (DSD).
In order to use Foobar2000 with the Geek Pulse digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to play music on a Windows computer, it must be configured to send the appropriate signal data.
This document provides the steps necessary to install Foobar2000 in Windows 7, configure the Geek Pulse as the output device, and install the SACD decoder and ASIO components required for DSD playback.
This document assumes the Light Harmonic Audio Driver and Control Panel have been installed prior to this installation, and the Geek Pulse output device is connected and powered on.
If the Light Harmonic Audio Driver has not been installed, the installation file can be found on the LH Labs support page at:
http://www.lhlabs.com/support.html
The Light Harmonic Audio Driver Setup Guide can be found in the LH Audio Driver category here:
http://support.lhlabs.com/solution/categories
Getting Started
In order to install Foobar2000, the installation program must be downloaded from the Foobar2000 support page. In a web browser go to:
http://www.foobar2000.org/download
Download the latest stable version (currently v1.3.6) and save the file to the Windows Desktop.
Installation
Find the foobar2000_v1.3.6 setup file on the Desktop and double-click it to begin the install.
A Security Warning such as the following may appear. If so, click Run to continue.
The installation Setup Wizard will be displayed. Click Next to continue on to the next step.
Click “I Agree” to accept the License Agreement and continue on to the next step.
Leave Standard Installation selected as the Install Type and click Next to continue on to the next step.
If the following User Account Control dialog box is displayed, click Yes to continue with the install.
The Choose Install Location dialog will appear. Click Next to accept the default location and continue on to the next step.
The Choose Components dialog will appear. As the install footprint for Foobar2000 is quite small, accept the default Full installation, and click Install.
Once all components are installed, the install completion dialog will appear. Click Finish to complete the install. Leave “Run Foobar2000” checked to open Foobar2000 for the first time.
Configuration – Output Device
In order for Foobar2000 to play music through the Geek Pulse, it must have the proper output device configured.
Go to File, then Preferences to access the Preferences dialog.
Expand Playback and select the Output option.
In the right pane click the drop-down list under Device, select the Geek Pulse, and click OK to complete the initial output configuration.
With this configuration Foobar2000 will play file formats such as MP3 and FLAC, but not DSD.
Continue with the following steps to configure DSD playback.
Configuration – DSD Playback
In order for Foobar2000 to play DSD files through the Geek Pulse, the ASIO output and SACD Decoder components must be installed and configured.
The ASIO component can be found on the Foobar2000 support page. In a web browser go to:
http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio
Click the Download link and save the foo_out_asio component file to the Windows Desktop.
The SACD Decoder component can be found on SourceForge. In a web browser go to:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/files/foo_input_sacd/
Click the link for the latest version (foo_input_sacd-0.7.3.zip at this writing) and save the zip file to the Windows Desktop.
Find the foo_input_sacd-0.7.3 zip file on the Windows Desktop and double-click. This will display the contents of the zip file.
Find and double-click the ASIOProxyInstall-0.7.1.2 file.
A dialog warning that the application may depend on other compressed files in the folder will appear. This can be ignored. Click Run to continue.
If the following User Account Control dialog box is displayed, click Yes to continue with the install.
The ASIO Proxy for Foobar2000 Setup Wizard will open. Click Next to continue on to the next step.
The Installation Folder dialog will appear. Click Install to accept the default location and continue with the installation.
The installation will complete. Click Close to finish.
Once the ASIO Proxy for Foobar2000 is installed, the SACD Decoder component needs to be added to Foobar2000.
From the still open zip file folder, double-click the foo_input_sacd file. This will open the Foobar2000 Component Installer.
Click Yes to allow the foo_input_sacd component to be installed.
Click OK to allow Foobar2000 to be restarted to complete the component installation.
Once the SACD Decoder component is installed, the ASIO Output component needs to be added to Foobar2000.
Close the foo_input_sacd-0.7.3 zip file folder and find the foo_out_asio component file on the Windows Desktop.
Double-click the foo_out_asio file to open the Foobar2000 Component Installer.
Click Yes to allow the foo_out_asio component to be installed.
Click OK to allow Foobar2000 to be restarted to complete the component installation.
Once all components have been added to Foobar2000, the ASIO output drivers must be configured to allow DSD playback through the Light Harmonic Audio Driver.
With Foobar2000 running, go to File, then Preferences to access the Preferences dialog.
Expand Playback, expand Output, and select the ASIO option.
In the right pane, double-click foo_dsd_asio in the listed ASIO Drivers. In the ASIO Driver drop-down select the Light Harmonic ASIO. In the DSD Playback Method drop-down select DoP Marker 0x05/0xFA. In DSD to DSD Method and PCM to DSD Method drop-downs select None. In the Fs drop-down for both select DSD64. In the DSD/PCM Transition drop-down select 0ms.
Once the foo_dsd_asio driver configuration is complete, the Output Device must be set to use the driver.
Go to Output, then click the drop-down list under Device to view the options. Select ASIO : foo_dsd_asio.
Next, expand Tools in the left pane and select SACD. In the right pane click the drop-down list for ASIO Driver Mode and select DSD. Click the drop-down list for PCM Volume and select +6dB. Click the drop-down list for PCM Samplerate and select 352800. Click the drop-down list for DSD2PCM Mode and select Multistage (Floating-Point). Click OK to complete the Foobar2000 configuration.
Configuration – Light Harmonic Control Panel
When the Light Harmonic Audio Driver is installed, the Light Harmonic Control Panel utility is also installed, and is available from the Windows Start Menu.
The Light Harmonic Control Panel utility is used to provide the device Status for a connected Geek Pulse; confirm/change the device Buffer Settings; confirm/change the device master Volume; and provide firmware and audio driver information.
Once Foobar2000 has been configured for DSD audio playback, the Buffer Settings for the Geek Pulse must be changed to allow more data to be buffered to prevent audio distortions.
From the Start Menu, run the Light Harmonic Control Panel utility, and go to the Buffer Settings tab.
A warning that the selected ASIO buffer size is too small may be present. Regardless, the following changes should be made.
Click the USB Streaming Mode drop-down list and select Reliable. Then click the ASIO Buffer Size drop-down and select 8192 samples.
Close the Light Harmonic Control Panel utility and test DSD audio playback in Foobar2000.
Support
If there are any issues completing any of the steps in this document, understanding any of the concepts, or with audio playback, please open a support ticket through the LH Labs support page at: