[mad-user] Vortex2 and >16 bits playback

[k***@aha.ru]

Hello,

I've read all the mailing list archive, and noticed that some people found out how to use
MAD at 24 bits (with effective 20) on Vortex2-based cards. But I see no exact instruction
on how to do it... My setup:

WinAmp 2.80
MAD 0.14.2b
out_wave.dll v. 1.03 from Peter Pawlowski
Windows 98 SE
Aureal SQ Digital (Vortex2 chip, similar to SQ2500, but with optical S/PDIF output)
Drivers ver. 4.06.2050
S/PDIF is turned on (actually, I listen via an external DAC)

AFAIK there is no way to use WDM driver under Windows 98SE (or at least it is not
recommended).

When I try to use MAD with 24 bits resolution, I get an error message from the out_wave
that this PCM format (44100 Hz, 24 bits, 2 channels) is not supported.

So what? How did you manage to work it out?

Thanks in advance,
Konstantin

[Unorthodox Behaviour]

I don't know what your soundard DSP chip is, but I
have a Hercules/Guillemot Game Theatre XP which
features 20 bit playback.

Outwave.dll works for me in both normal and alternate
settings for 24 bits, that is I am able to listen to
Line Out. So I guess that in my case the 24 bits MAD
sends are accepted by the soundcard, processed somehow
and outputted. However, I cannot tell whether what I
hear is 20 bits, or even the 24 bits downsampled to 16
(!!). So far, nobody I asked could find me a procedure
without using an oscilloscope to find out what the
real output is.

So I'm afraid that even if you manage to get sound out
of winamp+MAD to the digital outputs, you won't have
any means knowing whether this output is 16, 20 or 24
bits. Perhaps some experts can enlighten us ?

In any case I'd recommend mailing Peter Pawlowski - he
should know whether his plugin is compatible to your card.

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