Playback Designs Merlot, Руководство пользователя

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Merlot User Manual
10
as supported by some professional recording equipment. You will need a playback software running on your
computer that can read DSD files and play them to the USB driver. The Mac platform can support DSD file
playback only via the DoP protocol at single and double rates. For this you will have to use a playback
software or iTunes plug-in 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 Merlot has no problem supporting playback via USB while it is switched to a different input
(i.e. AES, Coax or analog inputs) it is a good idea to stop playback on your computer before
selecting another input. The clock management in the Merlot 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.
When things do not seem to work
The Merlot is a hardware device with very little software inside and if it doesn’t show any signs of
malfunctioning in other playback modes, it is relatively safe to assume that the problem is either with the USB
link or the computer. Generally, you should look for any signs of trouble on your computer first, and don’t
assume that because your computer may work with someone else’s USB DAC, but not with the Merlot, that
the problem is with the Merlot. The Merlot uses different software inside your computer.
Here are a few suggestions for what to do:
1. Make sure that the driver is properly installed (PC only). See step 8 under driver installation above for
instructions for how to check successful installation and connection.
2. Make sure you use the USB cable that was shipped with the Merlot. Other USB cables can be used,
but they need to be USB2.0 compatible.
3. Disconnect the USB cable and restart your computer.
4. Connect the USB cable while the SERVER input is selected on the Merlot.
5. On Mac computers it can happen that after
successful enumeration OSX selects the internal
audio output instead of the Merlot. This can easily
be corrected manually in the sound control panel in
System Preferences as shown in this screen shot.
6. If at this point your PC computer still does not play
through the Merlot and the driver or Merlot cannot
be identified in the Device Manager (PC) then
disconnect the USB cable and try re-installing the
driver following exactly above instructions.
7. If you are a PC user and are able to play audio, but
you hear occasional dropouts, please see
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PC USERS above. You
should definitely run LatencyMon.
.