A compact, bit-perfect player to play nicely with Apple Music

[NeilM]

(My first post hereabouts)

I have a large investment in storing my stuff in Apple Music on an M1 machine. That software suits me well enough. But I would like automatic sample-rate switching, and some assurance that the DAC is getting a bit-perfect signal. Does an add-on program exist that leaves the tagging and indexing to Apple Music, but offers a clean and accurate account of the music signal? Years ago Amarra had such a product (for iTunes), but the modern Amarra wants to take over the whole show.

Any ideas?

 

[Man in a van]

Does this suit?

https://audirvana.com/

 

[tuga]

You could try BitPerfect but it looks like it's not been updated for a while:

http://bitperfectsound.blogspot.com

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitperfect/id455545700?mt=12

 

[NeilM]

Does this suit?

https://audirvana.com/

Thanks. My preliminary inspection suggest that this is an replacement for, rather than a supplement to, Apple Music. It's first reserve when my quest fails!

 

[NeilM]

You could try BitPerfect but it looks like it's not been updated for a while:

http://bitperfectsound.blogspot.com

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitperfect/id455545700?mt=12

Thanks. It looks like the developer abandoned it when the iTunes successor came along. I'm not even sure if it's Apple Silicon compatible. I might try it later.

 

[peter312]

There’s also https://github.com/vincentneo/LosslessSwitcher

 

[Cable Monkey]

Isn’t this an issue of setting the M1 correctly to pass bit perfect audio rather than any additions? I can’t believe the M1 is incapable of bit perfect audio replay to an external sound device.

 

[bobovox]

https://github.com/vincentneo/LosslessSwitcher
Edit: somebody beat me to it. Should read the whole thread before answering. The switching is automatic.

 

[tuga]

Isn’t this an issue of setting the M1 correctly to pass bit perfect audio rather than any additions? I can’t believe the M1 is incapable of bit perfect audio replay to an external sound device.

Yes, but with MacOS/iTunes/Music you need to set up the output bit-depth and sample-rate manually to match that of the file you are playing.
Not very practical if you have different bit and depth files.

 

[NeilM]

Isn’t this an issue of setting the M1 correctly to pass bit perfect audio rather than any additions? I can’t believe the M1 is incapable of bit perfect audio replay to an external sound device.

Yes, I am sure that's right. And all I'm looking for is a compact program that will make those settings, since the Apple Music won't. Somehow a straightforward proposition in the days of the Intel Mac & iTunes has now fallen through the cracks.

 

[Cable Monkey]

It may well be that this is a function of the music playing software. Setting to what I believe is called Exclusive Mode in software like Roon should give you automatic switching. You have to effectively bypass the M1 system output. Would you find this in the Apple Music software?

 

[Man in a van]

It may well be that this is a function of the music playing software. Setting to what I believe is called Exclusive Mode in software like Roon should give you automatic switching. You have to effectively bypass the M1 system output. Would you find this in the Apple Music software?

This is what happens on the Intel Mac OS, one has to grant permission for Tidal and Qobuz. I found this out when Itrialled the streaming options on a 2012 Mac mini with Mojave (I think I also tried Catalina).

I never trialled Apple Music though

Or a M1 Mac

 

[jamesrfisher]

Thanks. My preliminary inspection suggest that this is an replacement for, rather than a supplement to, Apple Music. It's first reserve when my quest fails!

I use Audirvana. I still use Apple music to rip and tag my ads and sync with phone etc. I then use this software to play through the hifi, as well as apple Music it will search streaming accounts for albums etc. I does play at send the different sample rates to the DAC.
The Mac app and iPhone App are very good. What you can't do is use the Music App to play via the Audiravna software. There is a free trial of it and it may be useful to try that

 

[NeilM]

Thanks, James
Last night I downloaded the evaluation program. I'm baffled by the fact that it's ignored all my ALAC (apple lossless) files, and loaded only some old FLACs and WAVs. I need to sit down with it and work out where it's loading the files from, and whether it's filtering them. On the credit side it's got a nice interface, switches sample rates automatically, and handles the artwork correctly.

 

[Chumpchops]

Thanks, James
Last night I downloaded the evaluation program. I'm baffled by the fact that it's ignored all my ALAC (apple lossless) files, and loaded only some old FLACs and WAVs. I need to sit down with it and work out where it's loading the files from, and whether it's filtering them. On the credit side it's got a nice interface, switches sample rates automatically, and handles the artwork correctly.

You can always use d power amp to batch convert all to flax or alac

 

[jamesrfisher]

Thanks, James
Last night I downloaded the evaluation program. I'm baffled by the fact that it's ignored all my ALAC (apple lossless) files, and loaded only some old FLACs and WAVs. I need to sit down with it and work out where it's loading the files from, and whether it's filtering them. On the credit side it's got a nice interface, switches sample rates automatically, and handles the artwork correctly.

I'm not sure why that is. never had a problem and I have plenty in ALAC. Do they show up when you search as the initial page shows 'favourites' but not sure how it chose those!
When i search they all come up.