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Topic: Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin (Read 437759 times) previous topic - next topic
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Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #175 –
thank you very much Steve~ 

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #176 –
Hi Steve,

thank you for that plugin. I've tested a bunch of files on my hdd and they played very well... and I really love the gapeless aspect!!! Nice for mixes cut into pieces.

Nevertheless I've found some files that won't play - probably because of the sampling rate. I've uploaded them for your interest.

Keep up the great work and again, thx.

Sill

file 1 [wav - 22050Hz]

file 2 [he-aac.m4a - 44100Hz]

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #177 –
Thank you Steve for all the work on the KS plugin!

I hope that you have time to implement one more feature:

something like hybrid volume control as in the DS module.

Winamp is connect to some big amps at home () and at the moment the most of the volume control takes place between 0 - 15 pct.

thanks again for all the updates!

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #178 –
Quote
Thank you Steve for all the work on the KS plugin!

I hope that you have time to implement one more feature:

something like hybrid volume control as in the DS module.

Winamp is connect to some big amps at home () and at the moment the most of the volume control takes place between 0 - 15 pct.

thanks again for all the updates!
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=372207"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Hi wdekler.

Not sure I'd recommend running things the way you've got them. I once tried the very same thing myself as an experiment, i.e. taking the output from my sound card directly into my Bryston 4BSST (300 watts per channel), the sound was very poor compared to running a digital feed into my AV32R then out into the Bryston.

This would in part be because the quality of the output stage in my sound card (M-Audio Audiophile 2496) is not as good as that in my AV32R but also because of the volume control in the plugin.

The plugin volume control is implemented simply by applying a multiply and divide to all the samples passing through it. So, at 15% volume you'd actually be getting an effective bit resolution of somewhere between 9 and 10 bits which is going to impact significantly on sound quality, particularly as you're then applying the full gain output of your amp to the sound cards output.

I think you'd get a far better result running your sound card through some form of analogue preamp before hitting the power amp itself. Then you could run the plugin with the volume control disabled (thereby getting the maximum dynamic range out of the sound card) and just use your preamps volume control instead to adjust the level.

Having said all that, if you're happy with the sound you're getting, fair enough, it's not too hard to add a logarithmic volume control to the plugin so I will add that to the list, however I would seriously suggest trying my suggestion above to see if you prefer the results.

Hope that's helpful,
regards,
Steve

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #179 –
Hi Steve,


I fully agree with what you're writing. Digital attenuation is a (very) bad thing to do when you're listenening with an audiophile setup.

Currently, I have an external DAC which doesn't have a volume control, so I use an analogue attenuator after the DAC and control the volume via Winamp. You can clearly hear the sound quality degrade when you turn down the volume via Winamp due to the unavoidable "resolution" loss.

Controlling the volume via Winamp will be an interim solution for me as I'm thinking of buying a high quality DAC with a remote volume control. This DAC has a high quality resistor ladder controlled small amplifier at the output to properly handle the attenuation in 0.5db steps.  Just what the big amps need as they're rated at 500watts.

So the hybrid volume control will only be an interim solution for me, but maybe some other people would benefit as well?

thanks,


Wanne.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #180 –
** Important - Changes to Download Address **

Hi all, as I've recently changed ISP, all previously mentioned links to the plugin will shortly cease to work. However I've now set up a web page at my new ISP containing downloads of all versions of the plugin along with source etc. This page may be found here.

Unfortunately I've still not managed to get round to fixing some of the plugins existing problems (e.g. 24 bit support issues on certain cards, complete incompatibility with certain cards) so there's still no new version. I'm not strictly sure how I'm going to fix some of these issues as I don't have the relevant hardware to test on, however, as soon as there's any sort of update (other features like the log volume control for example) I'll let you know.

Cheers,
Steve

<edit> - actually, earlier links should now point to the above address as I've gone through and edited them all (except for the test ones).

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #181 –
Hello Steve and thanks for all the updates, and I look forward to any more 

I visited your new page just now, just one thing I noticed. I am using Internet Explorer 6 and the page title shows as a dash - whereas I think you want it to be Winamp Kernel Streaming Plugin

I mean the title that shows in the blue bar at the top of the browser window.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #182 –
Quote
Hello Steve and thanks for all the updates, and I look forward to any more 

I visited your new page just now, just one thing I noticed. I am using Internet Explorer 6 and the page title shows as a dash - whereas I think you want it to be Winamp Kernel Streaming Plugin

I mean the title that shows in the blue bar at the top of the browser window.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=373199"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Yeah I know, it's an issue with my domain name host, they only allow me to have one title for all the pages accessed through their web diversion, as a result I had it set to nothing, I've changed it now to something a bit more generic.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #183 –
 hee hee, an all encompassing title

  I noticed the new Foobar2000 version and wondered if you might be planning to modify your plugin to work with Foobar2000? I think I read that Peter has made it not too far removed from the Winamp plugin system (for 2.x .... )

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #184 –
Quote
hee hee, an all encompassing title

  I noticed the new Foobar2000 version and wondered if you might be planning to modify your plugin to work with Foobar2000? I think I read that Peter has made it not too far removed from the Winamp plugin system (for 2.x .... )
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Steve can concentrate on further optimizing his great plugin for Winamp.
Kernel Streaming plugin for foobar2000 v0.9 is already available: [a href="http://www.foobar2000.org/components/index.html]http://www.foobar2000.org/components/index.html[/url]


Regards,
deus-ex

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #185 –
I get the same error as Hyperion, I am using the same setup as fanbanlo:

"Unable to create output pin on second attempt
Reason: Failed to instantiate Render Pin
Format info: nChannels 2 Freq: 44100 Sample size:16"

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #186 –
Hi Steve. I own a m-audio revolution 7.1 and it might help you fixing the bug with my experience with your driver. It did work with the original soundcard drivers but after upgrading the same problems occured no matter what type of file and version of your driver. I'll guess there is more to it then a wav header interpretation. The same thing occured with the foobar 0.9 kernel driver. If it helps you debugging I can install the old soundcard drivers back and send you a comparison.

edit: the fb 8.3 driver kept working
edit2: the analog output also fine so s/pdif might be the dissident

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #187 –
Thanks guys, every bit of feedback helps, although, debugging without actually having problematic hardware to test on is a bit hit and miss. It's not helped by the Kernel Streaming interface being a bit minimalistic in terms of error codes. I'll have to see about putting a debug version together that can generate a diagnostic file that you guys can post to me. I might give this a go this weekend if I get enough spare time.

Cheers,
Steve

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #188 –
Hi Steve!

Thanks a million for an excellent plug-in, and for releasing the source code!

Here's a modification I had to make to play 5.1 surround sound (6 channels) through your plug-in:

In KSCORE.CPP, KSCore::StartInternal, when initializing wfx.dwChannelMask:

   if(numchannels==6)
      wfx.dwChannelMask = KSAUDIO_SPEAKER_5POINT1;
   else
      wfx.dwChannelMask = KSAUDIO_SPEAKER_STEREO;

This could of course be extended for other channel configs as well. Without this modification, pPin->Instantiate(fLooped) returns E_INVALIDARG when attempting to play a 6 channel file of any format.

Thanks again, I hope this is of some use .

///Leif

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #189 –
Quote
Here's a modification I had to make to play 5.1 surround sound (6 channels) through your plug-in:
///Leif
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=379048"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Thanks Leif, I'll incorporate it into the next release.

Regards,
Steve

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #190 –
New Version 3.6

Hi all, I've finally had a little time to spend on the plugin, so there is a shiny new version (v3.6) here.

This version contains a couple of fixes and two new features.

Firstly, I've added a logarithmic option to the volume control, this is on by default but can be disabled if preferred. Secondly, I've added a Diagnostic Logging system. When activated, this will dump various bits of useful information out to a file that may help me to diagnose what's going on with some of the problems people have been experiencing.

If you are having problems with the plugin, then please turn on the logging feature and run the plugin so that it fails to work for you, then, in the folder you installed Winamp in (typically c:\program files\winamp) you should find a file called "kernel streaming log.txt", forward this file to me via pm so that I can collate them and see if I can glean a bit more of an idea as to what is going wrong.

Incidentally, because I've added the logging system, I've removed the pop up messages that appeared when the plugin failed to create a pin as these could be a real nuisance if you had a large playlist - so you wont see an error message anymore, it just simply wont play.

If there are any new problems caused by this version, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Regards,
Steve

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #191 –
Wow, gapless & a logarithmic volume control, great work, thanks! 

Not really important to me: the flac decoder fails without an error now when set to 24bit output.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #192 –
Quote from: wdekler on
Wow, gapless & a logarithmic volume control, great work, thanks! 

Not really important to me: the flac decoder fails without an error now when set to 24bit output.

Did 24bit work with an earlier version? If you can send me a log and some details about your sound card, it may help in identifying the problem.

Cheers,
Steve

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #193 –
Hi Steve,


24bit output didn't work with any version. The previous 3.5 version produced an error with flac stating "failed to create output pin". With the new version, winamp simply skips all flac files without any warning.

However, the same error appears in the log:

Kernel Streaming Plugin v3.6 (x86) Diagnostic log

input buffer configured to 65536 bytes
output buffer configured to 8192 bytes per packet
Enumerated Filter:
  Friendly Name:
  Aureon 5.1 Fun Wave
  Filter Type = 1


Constructed KSCore (Input Size:65536) (Output Size 8192) (Output Cnt 8)
OpenOutput - Current Settings:
Chosen Filter:      Aureon 5.1 Fun Wave
Input Buffer Size:  65536
Output Buffer Size  8192
Output Buffer Count: 8


Attempting to CreateRenderPin with the following WaveFormatExtensible (first attempt):
Format.nChannels            = 2
Format.nSamplesPerSec      = 44100
Format.wBitsPerSample      = 32
Format.nBlockAlign          = 8
Format.nAvgBytesPerSec      = 264600
Format.cbSize              = 22
Samples.wValidBitsPerSample = 24
dwChannelMask              = 00000003


Failed to create pin on first attempt!

Attempting to CreateRenderPin with the following WaveFormat (2nd attempt):
Format.nChannels            = 2
Format.nSamplesPerSec      = 44100
Format.wBitsPerSample      = 24
Format.nBlockAlign          = 6
Format.nAvgBytesPerSec      = 264600
Format.cbSize              = 0
Samples.wValidBitsPerSample = 0
dwChannelMask              = 00000000

As the logfile states, I'm using an Aureon Fun 5.1 card with 5.12.1.646 drivers which should be the latest ones available.

I think it's CMI 8738 based and Winamp is able to play a 24 bit file using other output plugins although I'm not sure if the DAC actually gets the data in that format (resampling etc.).

thanks!

Wanne.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #194 –
v3.6 works great here, but I'm missing one feature I really like:

fade out on buffer size, as is implemented in the default directsound output plugin (and in modified versions like the out_ds_ssrc.dll).

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #195 –
Hi Steve please, fix the link!!! so, please      PAGE NOT FOUND

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #197 –
thanks! now works fine
 

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #198 –
The newest version seems to have a problem sometimes when I right click on a folder. It just stops playing until I get rid of the folder menu. Doesnt happen all the time but its enough to be annoying. I dont think the old version did this.

Winamp 2 Kernel Streaming Output Plugin

Reply #199 –
Quote from: deevee on
The newest version seems to have a problem sometimes when I right click on a folder. It just stops playing until I get rid of the folder menu. Doesnt happen all the time but its enough to be annoying. I dont think the old version did this.


Hi, it should be the same with the last few versions as non of the core code has changed. I can't really imagine why that would be happening though unless you've got some kind of Explorer extension that is hogging CPU resources when the folder menu appears.

Can you give me some details about your setup, i.e. CPU type, CPU speed, memory size, sound card type, operating system and so on. Sending me one of the plugin debug logs as described in an earlier post may also help to identify the cause of the problem. A screen grab of the file menu may also be useful as I'll be able to see if you've got anything non-standard in there.

BTW, wdekler, I haven't forgotten about your problem from a couple of posts back. I actually have the same sound card knocking about so I can actually investigate this one properly, I just haven't had the time to stick it in my development machine so that I can run it under the debugger. When I get some spare time, I will indeed take a look.

Cheers,
Steve