JRiver in WDM driver mode integrates itself in Windows as a sound output device and can be used with any source including Tidal and Qobuz.
Roon can use multiple sources and is not limited to the PC it's installed as long as there's a bluetooth, wifi or lan connection with the device.
Equalizer APO is free so no comparison there although it sometimes adds random small delays to filters.
With nearly unlimited taps in a PC, unless you have video syncing requirements, I wonder why one shouldn't just use FIR filters for everything?
Roon can use multiple sources and is not limited to the PC it's installed as long as there's a bluetooth, wifi or lan connection with the device.
Equalizer APO is free so no comparison there although it sometimes adds random small delays to filters.
With nearly unlimited taps in a PC, unless you have video syncing requirements, I wonder why one shouldn't just use FIR filters for everything?
Almost any, except programming or using it for embedded systems?
But obviously audio here.
But questioning that already tells a lot tbh.
None of the following work (well) on Linux; Catia, Maya, PTC Creo, Altium, Fusion 360, Adobe Suit, Soild Works, Office integrations etc etc etc.
For acoustics, FEM/BEM software and other audio related stuff, it's very much a hit or miss.
I think you get the point by now, just extend the list at will.
If you like it or not, it's what clients as well as other business partners simply expect (if not demand).
The Linux "alternatives" are not on very low level compared to these programs, none of your clients will be able to handle your files without converting them = trouble.
I know and I am aware, but that is also quite an anecdotal and unique example.
Or are you telling us that entire businesses with hundreds if not thousands of computers with Intel in it have major daily issues?
You will introduce a massive amount of delay.
Not an issue if you just only listen to audio.
But as soon as there is any kind of video, especially live video, involved, it's asking for trouble.
There are some solutions, but not all of them are straightforward or always possible.
This is pointless, forget I mentioned it.
No, if you bothered reading about it you would know that it affects the "enthusiast" desktop models that target home users.
If you will switch to Windows switch to Windows 10 Pro. Windows 11 is worse than Windows 8 as an operating system because it always gets in your way. Windows 7 is the best but unfortunately is no longer supported. Turn off telemetry, debloat it, use a local account.
Buy an AMD motherboard or an older Intel board, latest Intel chips cause random freezes.
Buy an AMD motherboard or an older Intel board, latest Intel chips cause random freezes.
I am familiar with the problems, but it's only about a small portion of Intel's ENORMOUS line-up
It's not like that every desktop or laptop is totally unusable all of a sudden either.
If that would be the case, Intel has a much bigger problem, even from a very serious legal perspective.
In pro world ( studio) i've only seen embedded system using Linux based OS ( Trinnov not to name it).
The real issue being compatibility with hardware as major hardware brands do not offer drivers supported under Linux ( hence the need for a 'custom' set of converters, locked evolution possible - or you can expect a very pricey upgrade...).
Thank you again, everyone. Yes my main interest in the raspberry Pi is the USB gadget mode, which I've used before (on a Pi4) successfully. That had none of the older version's issues with USB bandwidth and had sufficient speed and power for the job. It could of course also work fine as a LAN end-point/renderer too if wished. This time I'll try with a Pi5, so I'm sure there'll be more than sufficient power.
I'd normally prefer a small laptop as I find Pi's a slight pain, with even the basics (like power off switches) missing by default, let alone battery backup etc. But whilst 'some' laptops that use USB-C charging should also support gadget mode, in practice they may not do so easily (or at all) and I lack the IT skills to make them work. With the Pi I can simply stand on the shoulders of more knowledgeable and skilled members who have prepared the way, and even offered instructions.
So I think the windows (or mac) aspect of my new setup will now be restricted to the player/interface side of things, where it is most useful for compatibility with the (internet) streaming apps that I want to run. If using windows it will be the latest version, I know 10 is still (just about) supported with security patches but not for long, and IMO windows is bad enough for security without running versions after they become unsupported. I have used 11 a little and it isn't my favourite but it is probably okay; I'll just be using it for a few media related apps (and usually I turn off most features that one can).
Though maybe it is time to try how mac compares; that would be quite new to me and so possibly more interesting, though still not quite as universal as windows. Though licencing is still a pain unless I got dedicated hardware, and I'd want to be sure MACOS's USB-gadget compatibility was fine.
I'd normally prefer a small laptop as I find Pi's a slight pain, with even the basics (like power off switches) missing by default, let alone battery backup etc. But whilst 'some' laptops that use USB-C charging should also support gadget mode, in practice they may not do so easily (or at all) and I lack the IT skills to make them work. With the Pi I can simply stand on the shoulders of more knowledgeable and skilled members who have prepared the way, and even offered instructions.
So I think the windows (or mac) aspect of my new setup will now be restricted to the player/interface side of things, where it is most useful for compatibility with the (internet) streaming apps that I want to run. If using windows it will be the latest version, I know 10 is still (just about) supported with security patches but not for long, and IMO windows is bad enough for security without running versions after they become unsupported. I have used 11 a little and it isn't my favourite but it is probably okay; I'll just be using it for a few media related apps (and usually I turn off most features that one can).
Though maybe it is time to try how mac compares; that would be quite new to me and so possibly more interesting, though still not quite as universal as windows. Though licencing is still a pain unless I got dedicated hardware, and I'd want to be sure MACOS's USB-gadget compatibility was fine.
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Interesting I see them mostly with Mac's, since support for audio on Mac is a really big thing.
Except for again those super niche applications, like you said.
Embedded is almost always linux, but that is not what most people are using.
Are thinking of running macOS on a VM on your Linux box? I tried that a few years ago, it's possible but it runs very poorly. Not something I would recommend.
USB gadget works fine on mac.
Mac was de facto standard in studio because of Protools, which was for almost 20 years the only OS supported by Digidesign.
That said i never been convinced by Mac OS being superior to Win or other OS: i struggled with Apple G5 as much as anything else when it was the big thing early 00's : the audio engineering school i worked in had endorsement with Apple at that time, so we had a bunch of them to take care of and... no thank you, i prefer an OS on which i have access to parameters as user rather than something supposedly 'simple' but where you don't have access to anything in case of troubles... which happen. With only ProTools and a bunch of plug ins it kind of worked but...
Anyway given choices made by Apple recently, i predict disapearing of Mac in studios has developpers have to pay ( a lot!) To apple In order to have the right to be on the OS... and Protools is only one amongst others daw by now ( still have some features pro crave for though but who is ok to pay 800-1500€/session nowadays?).
To me they are all garbage tbh, don't like any of the choices these days anymore.
Yeah, that's basically what I meant 🙂
Okay, so decision made. I shall go with a Windows virtual machine to start with, connected via USB-passthrough to a Pi-5 gadget (and will also experiment with LAN streaming, as a contingency for the future). If there are any issues that subsequently result in a dedicated/real machine, I'll also consider macOS at that point (there seem more complications with using it in a VM).
Yes, most OSs that I've tried over the years leave at least some things to be desired, perhaps partly because they try to do so much more and be all things to all people. But for just running some media-based apps as a hobby, I don't need anything hugely special or exacting. Compatibility with the outside world is really my main requirement, and for a PC it looks like Windows is still the easiest answer, largely just due to its widespread popularity. But it wouldn't be too difficult to change if 'the microsoft way' started to become too annoying; my hardware choices will be made to suit a number of alternatives.
Yes, most OSs that I've tried over the years leave at least some things to be desired, perhaps partly because they try to do so much more and be all things to all people. But for just running some media-based apps as a hobby, I don't need anything hugely special or exacting. Compatibility with the outside world is really my main requirement, and for a PC it looks like Windows is still the easiest answer, largely just due to its widespread popularity. But it wouldn't be too difficult to change if 'the microsoft way' started to become too annoying; my hardware choices will be made to suit a number of alternatives.
Hi Henrik,
Ok. But i don't get what this has to offer in the end. It turns Pi into a virtual soundcard that's it?
If it does then any pc with Dante drivers can do the same ( but it ask for a Dante (ad/)da converter, which isn't a bad thing if you favor system stability and reliability imho).
That's not what I meant. macOS will refuse to boot on virtualbox unless the host system is also macOS. There are ways to get around that (and it's against the macOS license terms which only allow running macOS on apple hardware) but in practice it works so poorly that it doesn't make sense to do.
That's exactly what it does. Then you connect your dac to the pi, and run the dsp software on the pi. The dsp software captures audio from the USB gadget Alsa device, does it's thing, and then forwards it to the dac.
Then when you hook this thing up to your PC, it appears as a standard usb soundcard. Nothing needs to be installed on the PC, and it can run any operating system.