SurroundByUs.com

Hello. I'm new to this forum. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping you can help me with. First, I'm trying to find software that will enable me to copy DTS CDs to CDRs and preserve the DTS encoding. I'm using Mac OSX operating system. If I use iTunes for the task, by first copying the disc in Apple Lossless format to my iTunes library, the resulting CDR is such that when I play it through my Meridian 565 processor, I hear only the un-decoded bitstream. The Meridian doesn't recognize the disc as DTS. Second, in the same vein, I would like to be able to stream DTS material through a Logitech Squeezebox. My iTunes library streams through my Squeezebox, but as with the CDRs burned through iTunes from a DTS source, when I attempt to stream such material through my Squeezebox the result is an un-decoded bitstream. Lastly, does anyone know where I can spam a Creative Labs DTS 610? I have a sizable collection of Q8 tapes that I'd like to transfer to DTS digital. Much obliged for any help. -Dan

Dan,

To preserve the DTS encoding so it will properly decode you need any copy or transfer to be "bit perfect", which is another way to say lossless, but also implies absolutely no change, including volume level.

In iTunes that means using apple lossless encoding and turning off any EQ or volume normalization, etc. See the apple section of this: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=154

By the way, that mentions apple TV as untested. Only the first generation of apple TV can stream 44.1 Khz DTS. All the later versions resample everything to 48 Khz so won't work for DTS CDs.

Re The DTS-610 ebay is your best bet but it's not clear to me what that has to do with Q8 tapes. You want to encode them to DTS? The normal approach would be to do that in software, but assumes you have a audio interface with at least 4 channels in and a software DTS encoder.

If you want to use the DTS-610 as a hardware encoder you will need to make bit perfect recordings of the SPDIF output. Just at the moment I'm forgetting whether the DTS-610 is 44.1 or 48 KHz output, but you would want to know which before purchasing as if it is 48 KHz you won't be able to use the resulting recording in iTunes. I can check mine.

For DTS encoding in software on a mac, the only solution for less than $400 is here:

http://www.vortexzoom.com/tag/vortex-surround-encoder/

but you have to be careful to get the surround encoder (for mac) and NOT the zoom encoder.

DTS-610 output is 44.1 KHz

I did test hardware encoding --> recording using Ploge Bidule software at one point in the past and it worked. I probably used an m-audio transit USB interface to record the SPDIF optical from the DTS-610. This would have been on windows but if your mac doesn't have SPDIF in the m-audio transport will work on OSX as well. Plogue Bidule is also available on OSX. You can get a fully functioning demo here: http://www.plogue.com/bidule/latest/

However any recording software that doesn't change the volume etc. should work.

Thanks Z.