Name: AuI ConverteR 48x44
Brand: Audiophile Inventory
Rating: 4.8 (11 reviews)

Purchase AuI ConverteR PROduce-RD before 6 December 2023*
and get Extra Warranty 1-year period for FREE.
THE PROMO LICENSE NUMBER IS LIMITED.
* - This promo is valid from 4 December 2023 00:00GMT to 6 December 2023 00:00GMT. This Extra Warranty 1-year period is applied to this purchased promo license only.

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Convert audio files for mobile phone, tablet, dap, car, dac, smart tv, music server, computer

¹ If you buy first core module (2023/12.x version) of your "AuI ConverteR Modula-R" module kit from 24 August 2023 to 24 October 2023, you will get free update to version 2024 (13.x) after its release for all modules that are bought from 24 August 2023 to 24 October 2023.
 If you buy "AuI ConverteR PROduce-RD" (2023/12.x version) from 24 August 2023 to 24 October 2023, you will get free update to version 2024 (13.x) after its release.

AuI ConverteR 48x44 is a DSF converter to/from WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSF, DFF files. Extraction of SACD ISO to DSF is supported. Sample rates: 44.1 kHz ... 1536 kHz / 2.8 (DSD64) / 5.6 (DSD128) / 11.2 (DSD256) / 22.5 (DSD512) / 45.2 (DSD1024) MHz. The software is intended for audiophiles and music production. Operating systems: Mac OSX, Windows.
Read about sound quality and DSD formats below.

December 3, 2023 updated

Author: Yuri Korzunov,
Audiophile Inventory's developer with 25+ year experience in digital signal processing,
author of the articles that make audio easy for beginners

General issues
Real-Time vs. Non-Real-Time Conversion
DSD vs. WAV, FLAC, AIFF
Pricing
Sound quality settings
Read more

Watch and share: Studio Audio Converter DSF to FLAC, WAV, AIFF, mp3, ...

Studio Audio Converter DSF to FLAC, WAV, AIFF, mp3 video

General issues

Aims of music conversion:

format adjusting (DSF, DFF, FLAC, WAV, SACD ISO, etc.) to hardware/software abilities,
resolution adjusting [sample rate, bit depth, 1-bit sigma-delta modulation (a.k.a. DSD) or PCM] to hardware/software abilities,
using of audio system resolution, which causes lesser distortions.

DSF file description

DSF is an audio file format (.dsf extension) with a high-resolution DSD stream (1-bit sigma-delta modulation).

Simplified DSF file structure:

header
DSD sound data
id3 metadata block.

See below the link to the format specification.

The DSD data is divided into blocks. The last block may be filled partially. If a software or hardware ignore it, audible pops may be caused.

Stereo 2.0 and multichannel 5.1 formats are supported. Also, another channel number may be supported.

DFF file is an alternative container for DSD sound format. A DSD converter between these file types (containers) may support a lossless re-pack of binary identical musical content.

AuI ConverteR has such an ability, that is called "bit-perfect" mode. Go to Settings, General tab, and check "Don't make DSP..." switch. In the main window, set Sampling rate "as input".

If you convert DSD to PCM files, set Sampling rate and bit depth explicitly.

Music playback, DSP

Music players are able to playback 1-bit Direct Stream Digital stuff straight on DSD DAC (native 1-bit DAC) or convert in real-time ("on fly") DSD to PCM format to feed PCM DAC.

Conversion of 1-bit sigma-delta modulation to PCM is lossy. Physically the conversion is filtering high-frequency noise. The filtering band may have different widths. It defines music signal bandwidth. Another side, it causes more high-frequency noise energy, which can cause audible intermodulation distortions in some playback systems.

DSD resampling, gain altering, audio normalizing are lossy digital signal processing (DSP) anyway.

All losses, noted in this article part, is not significant for professional conversion software.

Real-Time vs. Non-Real-Time Conversion

PCM to DSD, DSD to PCM conversion audio quality depend on signal-processing precision. But it is lossy action anyway.

As rule, offline (non-realtime) converter DSF to PCM or PCM to DSF implemented on a computer have fewer time computing restrictions, in comparison with real-time processing. Offline processing may allow higher calculation precision, which consumes additional time. Qualitative offline processing may be performed on old computers even.

If processing is performed once, it saves the electric energy that computer consume in intensive calculations.

DSD vs. WAV, FLAC, AIFF

Conversion quality of the converter software is close to theoretical limits.

Approximate Audio Format Quality by Results These Tests
(the best in the first place)

1. WAV PCM 32-bit float, DSD 256 and above

2. DSD 128

3. WAV PCM 24-bit

4. DSD 64

5. WAV PCM 16-bit

Read about the quality comparison of PCM and DSF formats. The article compares WAV vs DSF. This comparison matched SACD ISO, DFF, AIFF, FLAC and any lossless formats.

PCM 32-bit, DSD 256 and above in the tests have measurement tool limitations. Therefore, all these formats were placed in the first position.

DSD sample rate is a matter of noise level inside a useful band. Reducing the noise level can cause instability of sigma-delta modulator. However higher sample rate allows for reduced noise and gets a wider musical signal band.

Pricing

AuI ConverteR has several price/functionality options that allow saving your budget for the required functionality. You can expand Modula-R abilities later by purchasing new modules. Unlimited-time license, major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x > ... versions) are paid.

WARNING: Modula-R modules (parts of AuI ConverteR’s functionality) are NOT compatible with Free version.
ADD-ON modules work with certain CORE modules only (see details).
The module is license key received in order email. To activate module functionality, enter its key in Modula-R executable.

All "Modula-R" modules together have "PROduce-RD"'s abilities.
Full-featured "PROduce-RD" version is like a discount on price of full module kit of "Modula-R" version.

To expand functionality, module(s) (compatible with purchased major version number) may be ordered separately.
Modula-R license cannot be replaced with PROduce-RD.

* All prices on this page are in U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes and fees. The prices are recommended. Information on this page is not a public offer.

Build custom configurations > Expand functionality > Ask for advice >

Sound quality settings

If input and output sample rates are different, resampling signal processing is used. Resampling is based on filtering with the settings described below.

At Settings > General tab > select one of Filter mode's options:

"Optimized resampling filter" cuts frequencies upper 20 kHz (eliminating intermodulation distortions by ultrasound);
"Non-Optimized resampling filter" removes all upper 20...24 kHz (depend on input/output sample rates) - eliminating intermodulation distortions by ultrasound, wider signal band;
"Non-Optimized wide resampling filter" suppresses all upper 20...100 kHz (depends on input/output sample rates).
"Optimized G5 resampling filter" is the same "Optimized resampling filter" but has a lesser ringing length (slower, for professional use);

On some equipment "Non-Optimized..." modes can cause audible noise (see video).
Generally, one of "Optimized..." modes is recommended. But you can prefer other modes.

Use minimum phase filter switch checked/unchecked minimum/linear phase filtering when "Optimized resampling filter" is selected. Other modes use linear filtering only. Read more...

Dithering application has sense in 16-bit PCM target format only.
If output bit depth 24 bit and above (including 1-bit or float point PCM formats), dithering auto turn off. Read more...