Ripping SACD's For My Server

[rrr]

I know that this subject has been addressed on various forums but usually the hardware suggested is the PS3 which has some hardware shortcomings and software related issues. I would like to see if anyone has a simpler and more straightforward solution that was (at least) somewhat practical for home use.

I have an EMM DAC2x and was considering getting the "matching" EMM transport which is in the same price range. As I rethink the purchase, I am wondering if I can't achieve the goal of playing SACD's, but with more convenience, by having the content available on my server.

So my question is; "What is a hardware and software solution to ripping SACD's that falls in the same general ballpark as the cost of a new, expensive, transport (or maybe a bit more) and with a software component that is usable by a person who is not a software engineer? I suspect that this might be a used EMM transport with a Meitner DAC8 and Pyramix software but I don't know if the equipment is correct and I don't know which version of the various Pyramix packages is required nor how complicated the simple transfer would be.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, in advance, for any comments!

 

[Bruce B]

You might want to read my thread on "Ripping SACD's the right way".

There I explain the necessary H/W and software that you will need.

 

[rrr]

Thank you Bruce, I did read that and didn't know if your observations there were still current.

Could you address the part of my post referring to the skills or complexity of using the Pyramix software and which version of Pyramix would be appropriate? I have never worked with audio related software and, after looking at the Pyramix site, I am concerned that my skills may not be sufficient to handle Pyramix software. I am wondering if this process is just straightforward or, if not, the degree of operator intervention that is required.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Bruce B]

Thank you Bruce, I did read that and didn't know if your observations there were still current.

Could you address the part of my post referring to the skills or complexity of using the Pyramix software and which version of Pyramix would be appropriate? I have never worked with audio related software and, after looking at the Pyramix site, I am concerned that my skills may not be sufficient to handle Pyramix software. I am wondering if this process is just straightforward or, if not, the degree of operator intervention that is required.

Thanks for your time!

Yes, the info is still current.

If you want to skip the part of the software based solution, I have also used the Tascam DV-RA1000HD as the recording host using the SDIF-3 inputs from the EMM Labs unit. It's a lot easier to use, much cheaper and you won't be wasting a lot of time learing a Swiss written software program. If just recording, Sonoma is much easier to use and you would only need the CDSD (or Playback Designs MPS-5) and the Sonoma software.

If you really want to get into Pyramix, you would need Pyramix 7.0 or later, MassCore option, High Samplerate option, DSD/DXD option and a Mykerinos card with SDIF-3 daughter card option. This is about $15k

 

[JackD201]

Hi Bruce,

I've still got a CDSD. Is there a walkthrough in the link you provided for CDSD through Sonoma?

 

[Bruce B]

Hi Bruce,

I've still got a CDSD. Is there a walkthrough in the link you provided for CDSD through Sonoma?

No.... don't really have a walkthrough. From the CDSD you connect the ST-optical cables to the Data and clock/out to the Sonoma card, which the top connector is Data in and the next is Clock in.

There are not any special setting in Sonoma that you will need as it sees the data automatically. At the bottom of Sonoma there is input monitoring that you will need to click. It opens as output monitoring as default. Then you will need to mount the directory where you want the recording to be stored. Then arm the tracks and hit record. Press play on the CDSD and you should be golden. The only downside is that Sonoma creates a non-interleaved stereo file, which is a separate file for the L and R channel. Just either link them in AudioGate or do a render in Sonoma, but AudioGate is much faster.

 

[rrr]

Yes, the info is still current.

If you want to skip the part of the software based solution, I have also used the Tascam DV-RA1000HD as the recording host using the SDIF-3 inputs from the EMM Labs unit. It's a lot easier to use, much cheaper and you won't be wasting a lot of time learing a Swiss written software program. If just recording, Sonoma is much easier to use and you would only need the CDSD (or Playback Designs MPS-5) and the Sonoma software.

If you really want to get into Pyramix, you would need Pyramix 7.0 or later, MassCore option, High Samplerate option, DSD/DXD option and a Mykerinos card with SDIF-3 daughter card option. This is about $15k

So (let's see if I got this right) the EMM CDSD to the ADC8 to the Tascam; then you will have a DSD file on the Tascam hard drive that can be moved to your server and played via the EMM DAC 202x. So no additional conversion software is required and you end up with a DSD that properly represents the original data on the SACD and can be played as any other media file.

Am I missing anything here?

 

[Bruce B]

So (let's see if I got this right) the EMM CDSD to the ADC8 to the Tascam; then you will have a DSD file on the Tascam hard drive that can be moved to your server and played via the EMM DAC 202x. So no additional conversion software is required and you end up with a DSD that properly represents the original data on the SACD and can be played as any other media file.

Am I missing anything here?

That is correct.... just pull the file off the Tascam and play it on your server! It's a perfect .dff file from the SACD.

 

[rrr]

That is correct.... just pull the file off the Tascam and play it on your server! It's a perfect .dff file from the SACD.

OK, and would the DAC8 Mk 4 do the same thing as the ADC8 that you specified above? I see that the documentation as shown on the emm site includes both in the instructions (but if they are both the same why do they have different model numbers...?)?

Thanks again for all your information!

 

[Bruce B]

OK, and would the DAC8 Mk 4 do the same thing as the ADC8 that you specified above? I see that the documentation as shown on the emm site includes both in the instructions (but if they are both the same why do they have different model numbers...?)?

Thanks again for all your information!

No it will not. I have both and what you want is to change a ST-optical data stream to a SDIF-3 data stream. The DAC8 will not do this but the ADC8 will....