[code]I am absolutely enthused about Foobar, as it fully accomodates all my (extensive) needs in terms of listening and organization/management of my library, which spans >150.000 mostly lossless tracks, stored across 4 Network Storage Servers (approx. 10 TB).

In order to give something back to the community, I decided to share my config, use of my Creative X-Fi and the hardware/Software architecture. This post is targeted to fanatics like me with large libraries with high end audio requirements and a multi-computer/network setup.

1. Hardwre Configuration

Devoted Multimedia Computer (XP, 2G Ram, 5000+ Dual Processor, Creative X-Fi Soundcard)
Fiber Optic Link to Harman Kardon Surround Sound Amplifier
2 Magnapane 6foot Front Speakers
Polk Audio Center and Surrouond Speakers
2 Channel Specific Subwoofers via Onkyo Pre-Amp in the Rear
1 Klipsch Subwoofer direct via Soundcards in Front (separate Controlbox)

2. Software

1 One of 2 Screens is fully devoted to MM/Foobar GUI, all needed info and controls must be available at all times
2. For convenience, XFI Remote is enabled in Foobar (Component)
3. Creative XF iinterfasce is set to Audio Creation Mode (allows for much fiiner audio tuning and channel mixing)
4. Foobar Interface (screenshot below) is configured for high contrast, no-nonsense audio monitoriing, controliing and track/library info and management. (I could not care less about artwork - only the music counts)

2.1
Foobar Job Description
- Play and monitor Audio
- Format conversion for quick MP3 CD burning on the fly (burning with Rexternal Software (Roxio)
- Easy Playlist management and adding individual tracks to specific Best Ofs
- Tagging of tracks for search, retrieval and quick on the fly playlists

Foobar Components:
All standards plus WMA, DTS, FLAC, APE Decoders
Remote control, Gapeless Crossfader, which works perfectly on Foobar 9.5.3 except with DTS files)
Channel mixer, V level, Peak meter

Enabled DSPs
Equalizer, Channel Mixer, Crossfader and VLevel

Creative GUI (set to Audio creation) used for Bus and Channel mapping and on the fly front rear tuning
96khz Master sampling rate

This screenshot shows the Interface(s) and the respective Foobar UI file is attached.



I'd love to exchange with other crazy people like me and of course exchange any experiences.
Regards

I am new to this forum and somehow the attachment upload did not make it.

Here a direct link to the File:

http://h1.ripway.com/MCZala/MichiStandard.fth

My Foobar Theme File

Hope this works.

Regards

One little hint:

Even though, when starting up Foobar, it will complain that the gapless Cross fader will not work, in fact the dsp will work just fine.

Only when playing DTS files, will there be a short gap, which is however not very disturbing. All other file formats are being handled perfectly.

Looks nice. I'm just wondering why your using an EQ for such a setup and having gains above 0db at that.

Oh yes. Gains around +8 dB must yield truly high end effects... Come on, high end with stereo files fed into a 5.1 setup, X-Fi card and a crossfader on classical music??

Looks like knobs and faders count more... ;-)

Is in fact confusing...... sorry - the EQ does not reflect the standard setup - Just moved the sliders for an example....

EQ is pretty much levelled at Zero, especially for classical music.

Since there is however a distinct soound field difference between DTS, flacs or MP3s, I do use the EQ on the fly to adjust.



Needless to say, that I would never use the fader for Classical Music - Come on, Guys....

One more little trick I may share with you guys -

As opposed to Switzerland, where I grew up, here in the US and especially CA, houses have predominantly wood floors. If you have massive speakers and/or a setup like mine with 3 individual Subwoofers ( center front plus 2 channel specific in the rear) and huge Magnapanes in the front, you may well experience resonance issues - meaning vibrations resulting in "wet", slurry bass frequencies, while usually getting a warm vynil type soundfield, many people like.

I personally like my sound dry and punchy in order to get the most real representation of soundfields such as Dream Theater or good old Pink Floyd type music. Hence I rememberd from my playing time a trick we used to "insulate" Speakers - The Good Old Egg Carton. Hence I put my speakers on a foundation of thick hard foam, then a layer of egg cartons.

Having said that, If you own an average low cost speaker system, you actually may want to place your speakers on a wooden surface allowing for some resonance. The experience is almost like a low to middle frequency amplifier.... Bu tthen again - every room has a different acoustic and every set of ears is different too - in the end it's gotta sound right for you and you alone...

Possibly your weakest link:

VLevel DSP != High end
as you probably know.