DSD converter is software to convert Direct Stream Digital audio files to other formats and back. DSD audio files have extensions DSF, DFF, ISO (SACD ISO). PCM multibit formats (WAV, FLAC, AIFF, mp3, etc. files and CD-audio disks) can be used as source or target. Also, such converter can resample DSD files. Read below how the converter works.
Format DSD is implementation of sigma-delta modulation. There used sample rates that multiple 44100 Hz:
Bit depth is 1 bit.
Software DSD converter can contain inside:
1. PCM (multibit) modulator to delta-sigma modulation (1-bit), or
2. Sigma-delta demodulator (1-bit) to PCM (multibit), or
3. Both: modulator and demodulator.
4. Resampler and other processing.
DSD converter structure
DSD modulator provides a decreasing of bit number. It leads to increased noise level (error).
The most useful part of an audio signal is placed in range 0 ... 20 kHz. The modulator "pushes" the noise energy to range above 20 kHz (called as noise shaping).
Demodulator provides filtering of this noise. After the filtering, the most useful audio signal remains only. Practically, some artefacts are in demodulated signal.
Sigma-delta modulator (PCM to DSD) is sophisticated audio processing. It is system with feedback. Hence it can lose stability. If sigma-delta modulator (DSD modulator) lose stability, need restart it. As rule it can't return to stable mode without external impact.
DSD modulator
In general, desing of sigma delta modulator is compromise between stability and noise level. More significant pushing of noise energy out of audible range, may lead to lose stability. DSD modulator can lose stability due overload.
For achieving better signal/noise ratio inside audible range and keeping stability, frequency band out of audible range must have reserve by width. It may be achieved via increasing sample rate.
Sample rate increasing is easier way to have wider band with lower noise.
Unfortunatelly, I don't know exactly history of creating DSD, but, looks like, sample rate D64 was designed for transmitting 20 kHz band. As rule, DSD demodulator is easier, comparing PCM one (read more). So replacing 44 kHz/16 bit to DSD64 may give some technical advantages for implementation.
For transfering of 100 kHz-band signal with keeping or decreasing noise floor, easiest way is sample rate increasing.
Read more about sigma-delta modulator >
Sigma-delta demodulator (DSD to PCM) or DSD demodulator is low frequency filter, that remove modulation noise, located above audible range.
DSD demodulator
This filter have 3 features:
Wider transient band allow decrease ringing audio, but pass more energy of noise of DSD modulator.
If expand pass band, DSD's noise energy also increased, pass band become narrower, ringing increased.
So DSD demodulator is balanced technical decision.
Read more about DSD decoder >
Resampling DSD is digital audio processing. Performed via multiple upsampling/downsampling with digital filtering.
Before resampling file DSD converted without loses to multibit audio stream suitable for processing . After it processed and converted back to DSD via modulator.
Resampling 1-bit audio cause little losses, comparable with losses for PCM resampling. There losses defined by distortions of used implementation of processing.
However, playback apparatus may have different distortion level for different sample rates. Hence resampling may give benefits, if DSD converted to sample rate that works with minimal distortions on used DAC.
Resampling DSD audio file
for sample rate that works with minimal distortions on used DAC
How to convert:
DSD converter is software to convert DSD audio files from/to other audio formats.
Read guide how to convert mp3 to DSD files...
Read guide how to convert:
Yes. Read how to convert PCM files to DSD format...
Read guide how to convert FLAC to DSD files...
Read guide how to convert DSD to FLAC files...
Look at website list where you can download DSD music...
To convert CD to DSD, you can rip CD audio with target .dsf or .dff format.
DSD demodulator is low frequency filter. And it causes ringing distortions.
Digital conversion of DSD (2.8 MHz or more) to PCM (in instance, 24 bit / 96 kHz) is downsampling by nature.
Without filtering, downsampling causes spectrum folding distortions.
Thus, no way to convert DSD to PCM without filtering in the digital domain.
When the filter is removed from DSD DAC, it may cause electrical dynamic range losing and intermodulation distortions.
There is no mathematical difference between DSD and PCM for audio processing.
And, the author is not heard about 1-bit math.
Therefore, converting DSD to DSD is starting from transformation to multibit DSD (in instance, for AuI ConverteR 64-bit float / double precision) with the same frequency as the original Direct Stream Digital audio. Multibit DSD may be considered as PCM with useful band of about 0 ... 30 kHz.
The converter software performs mathematical operations in 64-bit float / double precision.
Alternatively, these operations may be applied in other precision: 32 bit, 32 bit float or other.
After all operations, the multi-bit signal is remodulated back into 1-bit DSD.
Before the remodulation, the processed signal should be filtered to avoid overloading (clipping and broken stability) of the DSD modulator.
DSD is audio format. DSF is file, that contains DSD audio.
DSD and FLAC are audiophile audio formats. In different conditions, each of these formats may give sound-quality advantages.
Technically, FLAC is PCM format. And, actually, we compare PCM and DSD. Read more...
DSF file is a DSD audio file format. Read details...
DSD is audio format, that SACD contains.
Read more...
MQA is one of PCM formats. It is size-compressed one. As far as the author know, technically, it's high-qualitative format without lossless (bit-perfect) ability.
Both formats have advantages and disadvantages....
DSD over PCM (DoP) is way to transmit audio data via standard audio interface (USB). Read details...
DSD converter is software may contains:
Playback hardware may have different distortions for different modes (sample rate, bit depth, PCM/DSD).
Resampling DSD or conversion PCM to DSD and DSD to PCM may give benefits, if target format suitable for DAC mode, that cause minimal distortions.
Arash Loloee. Understanding Delta-Sigma Modulators
Principles of Sigma-Delta Modulation for Analog-to-Digital Converters
May 12, 2022 updated | since April 06, 2017
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