INSTALLATION J. RIVER MEDIA CENTER

Transcription

1 INSTALLATION J. RIVER MEDIA CENTER Installation and configuration of J. River Media Center 15 Software under Microsoft Windows XP (SP3) unique high end audio

2 INDEX 1. Installation of J. River Media Center Installing the J. River Media Center 15 Software Managing Multimedia Data in J. River Media Center Configuration of the J. River Media Center 15 Software Output Mode Direct Sound Setting the length of Pause Start-Display Download Cover Art / Buildup thumbnails Analyze Audio Secure Mode Output Format Presentation Volume Control Settings for the best Sound: Output Mode ASIO

3 1. Installation of J. River Media Center 15 From our experiences the J. River Media Center is currently sound-wise the best software to play back music from a PC. To achieve the best results some settings have to be made, and we will go through them with you in the following. 1.1 Installing the J. River Media Center 15 Software When you have downloaded the software and started with the installation, you will be asked to confirm the license agreement [Fig.1]. Fig.1 I Index 3

4 In the following window [Fig.2] select the option Custom in order to adapt the software exactly to your needs. In doing so, you will achieve the best possible sound. Fig.2 Following, select Normal install to a computer [Fig.3]. By clicking Next you will start the installation. Fig.3 I Index 4

5 The program files of J. River Media Center Software are now being installed on your computer [Fig.4]. Fig.4 Afterwards you may change the media center s desktop skin [Abb.5]. The standard setting is Noire. Fig.5 I Index 5

6 In the following dialog you can choose the data types that will be supported in the future. For the best sound we recommend four lossless data formats (AIF, CD, FLAC and WAV) and for compatibility reasons three packed data formats (MP3, WMA and OGG) [Fig.6]. Fig.6 Since in our case we are only dealing with the best music play back, we will deselect other functions (pictures, video, etc.) [Fig.7]. Fig.7 I Index 6

7 Now you can approve of automatic transfer of CD metadata or not depending on what you want [Fig.8]. Transferring your metadata (cover, title, album, artist s name and ratings) allows J. River to provide information about your music pieces to yourself and other users. Fig.8 In the following menu item you can choose the desired shortcuts [Fig.9]. Fig.9 I Index 7

8 Fig.10 Now the J. River Media Center is installed and you can start the program immediately [Fig.10]. I Index 8

9 1.2 Managing Multimedia Data in J. River Media Center 15 At the very first start J. River media Center 15 scans the multimedia-folders (My Pictures, My Music, My Videos etc.) on your computer for readable multimedia files. This procedure runs in the background and can be seen in the lower left action window [Fig.11]. The file types in this case are independent from those chosen at installation of J. River. Fig.11 After finishing the import a summary is shown [Fig.12]. Fig.12 I Index 9

10 In the options menu under Libary & Folders you can verify which folders J. River has considered at the import of the multimedia files. Therefore please click the Tab Auto-Import [Fig.13]. Fig.13 Afterwards please click Configure auto-import in the submenu [Fig.14]. Fig.14 I Index 10

11 Once you have clicked Configure auto-import the window Media Import opens immediatly. Here you have the possibility to deselect single folders (such as e.g. \Videos) and add your own folders [Fig.15]. On the other functions in the area Tasks will be referred to on the pages 16 and 17. Fig.15 I Index 11

12 The folder \My Music will be established automatically as targed folder [Fig.15]. There J. River saves all ripped CDs. If you prefer a different folder for saving your music files, you can set up and select any folder you desire. Please make sure the folder for saving the ripped CDs in is also in the list of the search folders in the Library & Folders section. Fig.16 I Index 12

13 2. Configuration of the J. River Media Center Software 2.1 Output Mode Direct Sound If you simply want to listen to music with the J. River Media Center just activate Direct Sound. This output mode is a good choice for good sound. For absolutely genuine sound we recommend to play all audio information with the ASIO Modus. I to ASIO Modus To activate the output mode Direct Sound choose Options in the menu Tools [Fig.17]. Fig.17 In the sub-menu Audio select Audio Output and there Output mode. Select Direct Sound [Fig.18]. Fig.18 I Index 13

14 Right under the menu item Output mode there is the item Output mode settings [Fig.19]. Here, open the window Direct Sound settings by clicking. Fig.19 Select the MBL USB Link as device [Fig.20]. Only now your music will be played by your MBL converter and not via internal sound card. The MBL USB LINK MCMI of your converter works with 24 bit definition and will depending on the data format automatically reset the sample rate. Fig.20 I Index 14

15 2.2 Setting the length of Pause In case you have saved music in different data formats (and therefore different sample rates) and want to play them one after another, the hardware will need some time to adjust to the new sample rates. For each sample rate an own quartz oscillator is chosen that is turned on and off for each sample rate. This procedure takes about 0.2 seconds. Indeed, this delay can hardly be heard, it does not take much longer than a track change on a CD. However you should set the software to make a pause after every track. To do so, go to the menu Tools, Options, Playback and there to Switch tracks [Fig.21]. Here you can define the pause s duration; choose a length of 0.2 seconds [Fig.22]. If the sample rate is maintained, e.g. when a CD is played completely, there will not be any short pauses between the single tracks. This is especially important when listening to live CDs where gaps would cut down the pleasure of listening to live-recorded performances. Once you have set the length of pause you should deselect Do not play silence. In the majority of cases it makes sense to have a minor pause on the CD before and after a music piece. Only if you are working with so called Hidden Tracks, you should activate Do not play silence.! Fig.21 Fig.22 I Index 15

16 2.3 Start Display You can let the program start where you left it last. Go to Startup choose Start Interface and select Last Location [Fig.23]. Fig Download Cover Art / Buildup thumbnails As a standard, J. River automatically downloads the covers of the CD that you have transferred to your hard drive from the internet. This can lead to the fact, that the downloaded covers could possibly overwrite your own covers and therefore you don t have full control over the covers. If you do not want that, you can deselect that setting here: Tools, Options, Library & Folders and Get cover art [Fig.24]. Here you should also choose the option Build thumbnails, only then thumbnails will be created e.g. for displaying the cover on the iphone. Fig.24 I Index 16

17 2.5 Analyze Audio Right under the menu item Get cover art there is a button Analyze Audio [Fig.25]. You can use this together with the Replay Gain (separate) function for background music when you want a similar volume level on all tracks. You shouldn t use the Replay Gain function if you want a really serious listening experience as it hinders precise bit replay of the music and thus wipes out all the acoustic refinements. Please remember that the first time you use the Analyze Audio function this can take from a few minutes to several hours depending on the size of your database as it s not just volume amplitude that s analyzed but parameters like tempo etc. However, after its initial use this function imposes no further time delays whatsoever on your use of J. River. Fig Secure Mode It is also sensible to select the secure mode to import CDs. The small timely effort will be repaid generously with great sound quality. To do so, go to Options, category CD and DVD, and set the copy mode to Secure [Fig.26]. Fig.26 I Index 17

18 2.7 Output Format In the options menu, Encoding, you can change the output format to FLAC (lossless up to 24 Bit and 96 Kilohertz, transfer of tags and cover art) [Fig.27]. Fig.27 I Index 18

19 2.8 Presentation Finally, you have the possibility to select between different presentations of the albums. Two views are shown representatively here. 3D Albums Fig.28 Standard View Fig.29 I Index 19

20 2.9 Volume Control Normally the software-based control is deactivated. And this is sensible for sound-reasons. Adjusting the volume with the preamplifier of your stereo system will sound better in any case and therefore it is the best solution, which we of course recommend strongly. However, if you do want to control the volume on your computer, check the box Internal Volume in the Volume Options [Fig.30]. Fig.30 I Index 20

21 2.10 Settings for the best Sound: Output Mode ASIO If you want to give your MBL converter the possibility to achieve high performance, it will take a little more effort under Windows XP. However it will be repaid at full with sound quality. If you wish for a precise 1:1 Bit true data transfer, all you have to do is install the program ASIO4ALL. This software is available for free in the internet and you can download it here: Once the program is installed, select in the menu Options the output mode ASIO instead of Direct Sound [Fig.31]. Fig.31 In the menu item Output mode settings you can now change the settings for ASIO. Choose ASIO4ALL v2 as device [Fig.32]. Fig.32 I Index 21

22 When you have clicked Stop in your Media Center, you can now make further setting changes by clicking the ASIO4ALL icon in the task bar [Fig.33]. Fig.33 If you click the symbol with the wrench you will get to the Expert modus [Fig.34]. Here, turn on the MBL USB link and all other devices off. Please make sure that the function Always Resample 44.1 khz <-> 48 khz is deactivated.! Fig.34 I Index 22

23 When listening to music, the ASIO4ALL symbol in the task bar will change into a green highlighted Play symbol. If you go over it with the mouse without clicking, detailed information will be displayed [Fig.35]. Fig.35 Now your MBL converter can access all its possibilities and you can enjoy your music in unimagined quality. I Index 23

24 Operating manuals are protected by copyright. Copying, duplicating, translating or converting them into any digital medium or a machine-readable form, whether completely or in parts, are prohibited without a written consent by MBL. Claims against MBL, in reference to the described products in this operating manual, conform solely to the terms of the guarantee card. Further claims are excluded, and MBL especially does not take over the responsibility for the correctness of the information in this operating manual. The name MBL, as well as the MBL logo, are trademarks of MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. KG, registered in Germany and other countries. The names Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Media Player as well as their logos are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation, registered in the USA and other countries. The names Apple, Mac OS X, itunes and QuickTime as well as their logo are trademarks of Apple inc., registered in the USA and other countries. The name J. River Media Center and the J. River logo are trademarks of J. River, inc., registered in the USA and other countries. Other stated product names and logos are property of the respective trademark owner MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved. MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. KG fon: +49 (0) fax: +49 (0) mail: info@mbl.de web: unique high end audio