Tidal - Apollo - Sample Rate Switch

[cassette]

Hi,

First of all, a happy new year to all of you!


My question relates to the streaming service Tidal and Apollo (Apollo 16mk2 in my case).

And I'm on the Mac Platform.

Tidal offers high res files in many different sample rates.

Tidal also offers an “exclusive mode” option, which ensures that the sample rate on DA devices is automatically switched appropriately.

For example, if I choose my Dangerous Source or my computer screen (the DA of the screen) as the output interface, then I can see in the audio and MIDI setup of the Mac how the sample rate is switched accordingly for each song.

Unfortunately this doesn't work with the Apollo. Even if you tell Tidal to communicate directly with the Apollo (which you do by choosing "exclusive mode") - the Apollo is not interested in what Tidal has to say. Apollo always stays the same.

DAWs are able to change the sample rate of an Apollo. That means, in principle, it seems to be possible for Apollo to listen to an external app.

Does anyone know a solution or a workaround so that Apollo follows the sample rate of what Tidal is currently playing?

 

[WJohnG]

I've been wondering a similar thing - if I let Tidal take "exclusive" control of a Loopback virtual device, and then hijack it's audio (again using Loopback), does LUNA (Core Audio mode) still giving me the full quality audio? LUNA is grabbing the audio from the Loopback device which I use to channelize various sources..

I do see the sample rate change on the virtual device Tidal is pointed to.

I'm also trying to see if Audirvana Studio is worth the cost. I do notice some differences in the audio quality when compared side-by-side with the Tidal app. Audirvana seems to have crisper high and punchier base with hires tracks.

 

[cassette]

LUNA

I think with LUNA it is a whole different story.

If I understand your workflow correct you listen to tidal through a channel in an open luna session.

I am using Luna and know that it will change the session sample rate if the sample rate is changed in the audio midi setup of the Mac.

But I personally see no point in letting something else switch the sample rate of an open session. Because every time a song changes a sample rate Luna will have to reopen the session. I think you can not find a better workflow killer.

But I think if Luna has the same sample rate as your audio coming in you will be fine with routing through Luna.

Just for the sake of completeness - Luna doesn't play a role in my question.

It's about direct communication between Tidal and the Apollo interface.

 

[WJohnG]

But I personally see no point in letting something else switch the sample rate of an open session. Because every time a song changes a sample rate Luna will have to reopen the session. I think you can not find a better workflow killer.

I totally agree - that would be insanely jarring! This is why I abstract Tidal away from LUNA using Loopback.

But I think if Luna has the same sample rate as your audio coming in you will be fine with routing through Luna.

Great point! I generally run LUNA at 48 kHz but for listening to Tidal perhaps I should bump that to 96+ kHz. That would at least preserve the fidelity of the Tidal tracks.

I see your use case now - no LUNA, just Console. I think this behavior makes sense in the context of the hardware - you are fixing the sample rate using Console. If the rate changed to follow the input, it would likely mess up your overall audio processing from a "production" recording/playback perspective since each track (song) would potentially be at a different rate.

 

[cassette]

since each track (song) would potentially be at a different rate.

exactly the point.

As I wrote in my first post - tidal usually switches the sample rate of an audio interface or DA automatically accordingly to the song that is played in tidal.

You have a playlist running in Tidal.

The first song is 48/24
The second song is 44.1/24
The third song is 96/24
and so forth.

With my dangerous source, tidal automatically switches the sample rate of the dangerous source to 48 before the first song is played. for the second song the source is switched to 44. On the third song on 96.

And with the Apollo, Tidal can't do that because Apollo can't be switched from Tidal. (it seems at least - but this is why I ask here)

With the Apollo, the sample rate for every song simply remains the same as it was set before it was played.

And in case it wasn't clear in the first post - I want Tidal to switch Apollo.


Luna and production and recording don't play a role, I didn't mention it in my first post.

If I use Luna to record then I don't use Tidal.

When I listen to Tidal in my studio, it's not during "studio work". I listen to music in the studio when I do my office work or answer emails.

And then I would like the music I listen to to be played back at the correct sample rate. It's not about anything more.

 

[dabutlervt]

Does anyone have a fix for this? Im having the same problem with Tidal not switching the sample rates. I used to have Qubuz and that switched the high res sample rates automatically in the apollo console.

 

[daveming3]

For me, the music listening environment and the recording environment are two separate places. If I want to hear my Luna work thru Audirvana, I do a mixdown.

Very happy with Audirvana Origin, which sounds excellent, the software works smoothly, and has been stable from the git-go.

I also have TIDAL but I don’t interface it with Audirvana…

 

[dabutlervt]

Yeah, Im more talking about what was being discussed on the thread earlier. I like to listen to music on tidal through my UA system when im not recording and would love to listen at the highest quality. I guess I could change the rate on the console manually? It seems like some other folks have had this issue.

 

[cassette]

Yeah, Im more talking about what was being discussed on the thread earlier. I like to listen to music on tidal through my UA system when im not recording and would love to listen at the highest quality. I guess I could change the rate on the console manually? It seems like some other folks have had this issue.

Tidal still hasn't switched anything here - nor has Apple Music.
I have simply decided that I don't care.