Audio Midi Setup, and lossless

The new About page does not address whether or not a trip to Audio Midi Setup is still required to permit playback to happen at the file's native resolution.

I realize you don't have to adjust anything in Audio Midi Setup just to PLAY the file.

For example, listening to a 24/96 file from Apple Music isn't going to be a 24/96 file if the software is still transcoding it back down to 16/44 or whatever Audio Midi Setup is set to.

Or did Apple change this behavior?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on May 22, 2021 9:16 AM

Top-ranking reply

William Smith11

Level 1

68 points

Posted on May 24, 2021 6:58 PM

It is simple, manual fixed output bit rate resolution set in the midi app.. Apple Music currently sends the music file to core audio if the native resolution matches what the midi app output resolution is set to, then it will play it at that resolution. If the midi app output resolution is set higher, then it up converts the file to that resolution. If it is set lower in the midi app,, then it down converts it.

apps like Bitperfecr, Audirvana and Amazon’s music app work by bypassing the fixed output resolution and enable auto adjustment somehow, so the DAC plays at the files native resolution. Much better.

That is what everyone wants/ expects the Music App to do, especially now that Apple is offering HiRez music files.

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22 replies

deckeda Author

Level 1

19 points

Jun 8, 2021 11:19 AM in response to Sean Meredith

I see what you mean, Sean. The confidence would come from understanding that Apple doesn't use competing audio paths in its own software. There are some ways to investigate if what appears to be a hi res stream are indeed legit or merely upsampled, none of which I can recall at the moment.

Incidentally BitPerfect runs for me on my M1 / Big Sur, however I'm not in a position right now to test it playing music through anything.

Jun 8, 2021 11:31 AM in response to surfsnow1

Apple need to get this sorted for Mac OS or buy Room out so that we can get bit perfect music to our systems ;-)

Pity there's no way to do passthrough via HDMI so we can also get Atmos through to our systems too.

Jun 8, 2021 11:36 AM in response to Wafubloke

or just open up their Apple Music API to Roon, like Qobuz or Tidal. :)

(which probably will NEVER happen)

Or else... their "high res" is stuck using an iPhone to stream.

I also checked, old devices like Airport Express DOES NOT output anything beyond 44.1kHz.

Jun 8, 2021 6:36 PM in response to deckeda

hopefully its a matter of a point update to fix this, perhaps 11.5 or at least in Monterrey.

my current configuration is that Music app volume it 100%, Mac mini volume is 100% and I only adjust volume at the DAC/Rotel.

I also am confused as to why High resolution lossless audio is only applicable to Apple Music streaming and not through purchases, if they already have the high resolution content...considering they upgraded all iTunes purchases some time ago when they switched to AAC 256Kbps. I prefer to own my music then stream, though Apple Music is good for finding new stuff

deckeda Author

Level 1

19 points

Jun 9, 2021 2:04 PM in response to Space Ranger

I can only speculate here. Steaming requires fewer resources than making files available for downloading (because you can trickle out a stream, more or less) and because Apple wants to push subscriptions. Also, it would be ripe for confusion for the vast majority of buyers who rightly have zero interest in having the libraries explode in size ... even a swap to 16/44 lossless from AAC would be quite a bit, most all of whom would be asking, "Why can't I hear any difference on my earbuds?"

So I don't think swapping AAC files to lossless of any flavor is their priority today.

Jun 8, 2021 11:39 AM in response to surfsnow1

Yes, I agree. More chance of Apple buying Roon out. If they did, imagine how awesome that bit of integration would be!

Jun 8, 2021 9:47 AM in response to deckeda

My pondering is that if Apple can't even do what BitPerfect used to do, then how I can be confident – that when I manually change the settings in MIDI – that the stream is 24/96 end to end inside the computer processing.

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Audio Midi Setup, and lossless