Free DSD and DXD sample files

tailspn

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Jun 28, 2011
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A no charge toolkit of high bit rate DSD and DXD files is being offered at nativedsd.com under the Just Listen label. These are contributions for both existing NativeDSD labels, as well as some in the process of joining. All, except the Channel Classics Mahler Symphony 1, were recorded at either 128fs, or 256fs DSD and presented in that form, as well as Pyramix Workstation converted other DSD bit rates, and DXD.

The Mahler 1 finale was recorded in 64fs DSD using a Grimm AD1 true DSD converter, from a session analog mix. Both the 2 channel, and 5.0 channel session file is offered, along with Pyramix upsampled 128fs and 256fs. The objective is to offer a series of files that are the actual original session master, and derivative files as they are produced in the studio for mastering. This way you can judge if there's a sound quality difference, and to what degree.
 

Bruce B

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Tom, upsampled? Really? I would have certainly recorded a native 256fs file and then down sampled.
 
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tailspn

Member
Jun 28, 2011
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Some there also Bruce; the Sor. Guitar Sonatas, and more coming. The Mahler 1 group were put up to demonstrate the effects of upsampling and DXD conversion of a Grimm converter digitized analog mix original session recording. Most here never get to hear such stuff. :)
 
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MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
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Cool. More great free true DSD. Sounds good to me.

I DO have a technical question though.

When oversampling/undersampling between DSD64, 128, 256, how is the DSP done? I have always wondered this, as re-modulation would typically mean an intermediate multi-bit representation.

I am going to assume that it is a non-decimating process, that would defeat the point completely. But how exactly is it accomplished without decimation?

Thanks, back to enjoying Bruckner 7. Channel Classics, of course, with the Grimm converter. Ear porn, for sure! lol
 

tailspn

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Jun 28, 2011
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Cool. More great free true DSD. Sounds good to me.
I DO have a technical question though.

A good question I can't answer. I used the Merging Technologies DSD Converter app contained in Pyramix for the up conversions from 64fs to both 128fs and 256fs, plus the DXD. Dominique Brulhart, who is the software manager at Merging would be the best place to start:

http://www.merging.com/contact

Also, Jussi Laako of Signalyst HQPlayer, whose 128fs and 256fs up converted Mahler 1 finale files will be available Tuesday on NativeDSD Just Listen (Track 6, next to the DXD button) could knowledgably comment:

info@signalyst.com

Thanks for the nice comment on the Bruckner!
 

MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
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I found the comparison of the DSD64 native file of the Mahler symphony compared to the DSD256 upconvert interesting.

I did a conversion to PCM on both, and they had identical frequency response all the way up to Nyquist at the DXD sample rate I used for conversion. Well, within 1db.

What is interesting is in the upconversion the noise profile doesn't seem to change at all. DSD64 noise stays right where it is. So that answers one question I had about remodulation.


But enough about measurements, what was more interesting is listening!! I predictably preferred the DSD64 file, since that is the native master rate. The DSD256 upconvert sounded very close, though. I had expected more audible loss in the remodulation process. But the only losses I could hear were slight. For instance, a loss of inner texture on some of the louder horn passages. The native file just had more inner texture resolution. Sounded more 'real'.

Again, the difference was only slight.

Oh, and yes, I do have native DSD256 playback capability, obviously ;)

Thanks for these files, and keep them coming! Very interesting and entertaining! Love it!


Andrew



A good question I can't answer. I used the Merging Technologies DSD Converter app contained in Pyramix for the up conversions from 64fs to both 128fs and 256fs, plus the DXD. Dominique Brulhart, who is the software manager at Merging would be the best place to start:

http://www.merging.com/contact

Also, Jussi Laako of Signalyst HQPlayer, whose 128fs and 256fs up converted Mahler 1 finale files will be available Tuesday on NativeDSD Just Listen (Track 6, next to the DXD button) could knowledgably comment:

info@signalyst.com

Thanks for the nice comment on the Bruckner!
 

bmoura

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
417
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I found the comparison of the DSD64 native file of the Mahler symphony compared to the DSD256 upconvert interesting.

But enough about measurements, what was more interesting is listening!! I predictably preferred the DSD64 file, since that is the native master rate. The DSD256 upconvert sounded very close, though. I had expected more audible loss in the remodulation process. But the only losses I could hear were slight. For instance, a loss of inner texture on some of the louder horn passages. The native file just had more inner texture resolution. Sounded more 'real'.

Again, the difference was only slight.

Oh, and yes, I do have native DSD256 playback capability, obviously ;)

Thanks for these files, and keep them coming! Very interesting and entertaining! Love it!

Andrew

Same here. I preferred the DSD64 on the Mahler 1. Seemed a bit clearer to me. But they are all close.

Pretty amazing to have Free DSD256 music files to evaluate. Thumbs up !
Using the exaSound 8 Channel DAC and the iFi iDSD Nano for my DSD256 evaluations.
 

tailspn

Member
Jun 28, 2011
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I found the comparison of the DSD64 native file of the Mahler symphony compared to the DSD256 upconvert interesting.

Thanks Andrew, that's why we built Just Listen, to just facilitate investigation and discussion of this type. What we don't have yet, and hope to soon is a uploading of an acoustic recording session where both 64fs and 256fs were independently tracked. Gonzalo Noqué of Eudora, who provided the Sol: Guitar Sonatas also on Just Listen said he would attempt at his next session to ask the artist(s) to repeat a music section take which he would record again at 64fs on his Horus. His native recording DSD bit rate is 256fs.

The Mahler 1 example is really just a measure of the Merging DSD Converter, and next week, the HQPlayer up converter, sound quality fidelity. Not any measure of the sound quality differences of native 64fs, 128fs, or 256fs recording sound quality.

Stay tuned!
 

MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
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Same here. I preferred the DSD64 on the Mahler 1. Seemed a bit clearer to me. But they are all close.

Pretty amazing to have Free DSD256 music files to evaluate. Thumbs up !
Using the exaSound 8 Channel DAC and the iFi iDSD Nano for my DSD256 evaluations.

Yeah, using the iFi here, too.

I find the choice of filter makes a notable difference, too. I typically prefer the standard filter for DSD64 (and in this case, for the DSD256 upconvert as well)

I am up in the air as to which filter choice for DSD128.

For natively encoded DSD256 I think the noise rise starts high enough that the extended filter is a good choice.

Need more natively recorded material in the higher sample rate formats, to decide, though ;)
 

MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
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0
About to make my first actual purchase from the new NativeDSD site! Gonna grab the Gents latest Gershwin album. Three G's that I love. Gents, Gershwin, and the Grimm ADC.

I suppose I could just grab it on the main Channel site, but I want to support this Native DSD site, as I LOVE it. The forwardness and the understanding of the importance of the little technical details, well it is impressive.


And the download speeds! I am getting literally 10 times and greater download speeds than I do from Channel's servers. 1.5GB file downloaded in about 5 minutes!!

Not bad!!
 
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bmoura

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
417
3
248
About to make my first actual purchase from the new NativeDSD site! Gonna grab the Gents latest Gershwin album. Three G's that I love. Gents, Gershwin, and the Grimm ADC.

I suppose I could just grab it on the main Channel site, but I want to support this Native DSD site, as I LOVE it. The forwardness and the understanding of the importance of the little technical details, well it is impressive.


And the download speeds! I am getting literally 10 times and greater download speeds than I do from Channel's servers. 1.5GB file downloaded in about 5 minutes!!

Not bad!!

I have The Gents "Gershwin" album from NativeDSD.Com as a Multichannel DSD Download. You'll enjoy it !
 

tailspn

Member
Jun 28, 2011
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And the download speeds! I am getting literally 10 times and greater download speeds than I do from Channel's servers. 1.5GB file downloaded in about 5 minutes!!

Not bad!!

Hi Andrew,

The Channel Classics server is Channel owned, residing in a data center in Amsterdam. The nativedsd.com server is actually Amazon Web Services S3 cloud, based in proprietary data centers world wide. Your download speed is largely only limited by your ISP service.

Also, we re-sliced all the DSD edit masters for not only Channel, but all nativedsd labels, converted them to dsf, and metadata tagged them. The Channel are all dff. But your purchase price is going to the same place. Nativedsd is owned by Channel Classics.

Thanks!
 

MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
36
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0
listening for the first time. Stereo of course for me.

I can see how this could/would be demo multi-channel material!!
 

MLGrado

New Member
Mar 19, 2014
36
0
0
Hi Andrew,

The Channel Classics server is Channel owned, residing in a data center in Amsterdam. The nativedsd.com server is actually Amazon Web Services S3 cloud, based in proprietary data centers world wide. Your download speed is largely only limited by your ISP service.

Also, we re-sliced all the DSD edit masters for not only Channel, but all nativedsd labels, converted them to dsf, and metadata tagged them. The Channel are all dff. But your purchase price is going to the same place. Nativedsd is owned by Channel Classics.

Thanks!

Yeah, I figured that it was a different server, since me speeds are so different! My ISP doesn't talk to the Channel owned server nearly as fast!

Thanks!
 

bmoura

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
417
3
248
listening for the first time. Stereo of course for me.

I can see how this could/would be demo multi-channel material!!

It is demo Multichannel material! The two Classical Guitar samples give a fine sense of acoustic spaces while the Mahler 1 Finale has a rather dramatic finish. Thumbs up !
 

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