MPD-8 User Manual
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6. Configure your player software to send audio data to the ASIO interface. Depending on your player
software this may be identified as “AKDesign USB ASIO” or simply as “ASIO”. Some players may
need a plug-in for ASIO compatible playback.
7. For best performance and bit perfect reproduction make sure to set all volume controls in the
computer playback software to exactly 0db (wide open), turn off all effects or equalizer that might be
running in your playback software. Control the volume only with your analog pre-amp.
Connecting Apple computers:
No driver needs to be installed. If you are planning to play DSD files make sure your playback software sends
them via DoP to the MPD-8
During playback with PC
When changing songs from within your player software running on your computer, the USB protocol
automatically communicates all necessary sample rate changes to the MPD-8. The front panel of the MPD-8
always indicates the true sample rate during file playback. This system will never perform any sample rate
conversion or any signal processing that could adversely affect the sonic performance, but rather use the
exact bits from your file and convert them directly to analog.
During playback with Mac
The native OSX operating system and iTunes do not understand the needs of audiophile consumers and
insist on sample rate conversion. When connecting the MPD-8 OSX will automatically select the highest
possible sample rate (384kHz) and convert all your songs to this rate before playing them out through USB.
This will result in degraded performance. You can manually select the sample rate in the Audio/MIDI Setup
utility to correspond with the native sample rate of the song, but this can be a tedious process if your library
contains songs with more than 1 sample rate. Alternatively, 3
rd
party plug-ins for iTunes exist that automate
this process and always select the correct sample rate for bit perfect playback.
Playback of DSD files
The driver software and MPD-8 hardware are designed to support playback of DSD files at sample rates up
to 11.2MHz. You will need a playback software running on your computer that can read DSD files and play
them to the USB driver. On the Mac platform you will have to use a playback software that supports the DoP
standard for playing DSD files.
General notes
1. For best performance and bit perfect reproduction make sure to set all volume controls in the
playback software, control panel to exactly 0db (wide open), turn off all operating system sounds,
effects or equalizer that might be running in your playback software or Windows / OSX. Control the
volume only with your analog pre-amp.
2. While the MPD-8 has no problem supporting playback via USB while it is switched to a different input
(i.e. disc playback, AES or Coax input) it is a good idea to stop playback on your computer before
selecting another input. The clock management in the MPD-8 may not provide the correct frequency
to the USB port if it is not selected. The computer software may have a problem with that and may
malfunction. So when not listening to the USB input, stop playback on your computer.
