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Frequently Asked Questions
How to convert SACD ISO to DSF, DFF (DSD audio files) [stereo, multichannel] to playback music at audiophile apparatus, editing and hard disk space-saving. Read the step-by-step manual on how to rip DSD ISO file.
To convert SACD ISO to DSD (DSF, DFF files) on Mac or Windows:
WARNING: AuI ConverteR 48x44 doesn't support DVD-audio and DVD-video.
AuI ConverteR processes too-long file names and paths, non-Latin and forbidden characters (created from metadata) for successful output file writing. Third-party utility decodes SACD ISO for additional processing with AuI ConverteR. Read the whole page carefully.
* If .iso is supported in the purchased configuration. When you convert the first time read about (auto codec downloading and installing).
** If it's available in the purchased configuration
*** 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.
For ISO tracks, DSF, DFF with lengths more 3 minutes FREE edition mute 2-second silence in the output middle
Converted stuff is placed in the target directory
Dithering is ignored when extracting ISO to DSF.
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.
* 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.
[MINIMUM PRICE] to convert SACD ISO file to DSF (DSD64 only, without audio processing), DVD/Blu-Ray/CD ISOs are not supported [consists of 1 module]
Decription
Configuration to extract SACD ISO to DSF in bit-perfect mode.
Files and directory structure is named by metadata (performer, year - album, track name and other).
AuI ConverteR fixes saving error issues of long file names, forbidden or non-Latin symbols in a file path.
Read more about the configuration...
Additional modules are required for manual album artwork assigning, resampling, True Gapless Conversion, level normalizing, other processing and functionality.
Read User Manual...
See more configurations of ISO to DSF converter....
Unlimited-time license, paid major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...).
[MINIMUM PRICE] for full functionality of AuI ConverteR, in comparison with Modula-R edition that is including all modules.
Decription
All abilities are included in PROduce-RD version. It allows saving budget, comparing purchasing of the full abilities (all modules) of Modula-R edition. Unlimited-time license, paid major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...).
[MINIMUM PRICE] configuration to convert
SACD ISO, DSF/DFF(up to DSD128) to DSF/DFF(up to DSD128), FLAC and other PCM (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, 32 bit float)
with parallel processing, true gapless mode, level normalization, album artwork assigning, anti-click SmoothDC [consists of 8 modules]
![SACD ISO to DSF (up to DSD128) [Modula-R edition]](/soft/images/iso-dsf-prll-tgm-norm-art.png)
Decription
Unlimited-time license, paid major updates (... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...). The configuration abilities may be expanded by purchasing other modules.
SACD ISO is a container file with tracks (songs) included in a music album. .iso file may contain mixes (variants) of an album: stereo and/or multichannel.
The file contains audio in 1-bit sigma-delta modulation with sample rate 2.8 MHz (a.k.a. DSD). The author hasn't information about higher sample rates in the .iso-file.
The container file's stuff may be extracted in bit-perfect mode. Both binary contents in the container and into extracted DSD files are identical. It is possible for 2.8 MHz (DSD64) sample rate only.
Equipment has several playback modes (audio resolutions), that can cause individual distortion level of each mode. Using of mode with minimum distortions can improve sound quality. Read details here...
Also, the DSD ISO content may be resampled in extraction to .dsf/.dff files. It allows playback of these files "natively" on DAC that is DSD128 and higher capable.
In the ideal case, should not be noise in the audible band. Lesser noise (darker background) displays higher sound quality.
We can compare noise with sea waves.
Lesser noise is like smaller quieter waves.
We can listen to music clearer when background wave noise is quieter.
A multichannel variant may be played back at a multichannel system or downmixed 5.1 in 2.0 to playback at stereo equipment or headphones.
Downmixing may be performed inline ("on fly" into a player) or offline. "Offline" means: convert ISO to DSF 2.0, with or without downmixing, before playback via a music converter. Offline stereo extraction/conversion saves disk space on hard disk of portable musical devices. Therefore you can place more music on a digital music player or mobile phone.
Also, read some sound quality issues below.
Conversion ISO to DFF is not recommended. Because DFF doesn't support metadata (song, album names, performer, year, artwork) standard way. Theoretically, metadata may be built into DFF technically as non-standard information block. However, playback software/hardware will ignore it, as rule.
If the target sample rate is D128 / D256 / D512 / D1024, resampling processing is used. Resampling processing based on filtering. These filters have several settings.
At Settings > General tab:
On some equipment "Non-Optimized..." filters can cause audible noise: watch the video.
"Optimized..." filter is recommended for most cases.
Check/uncheck Use minimum phase filter switch for minimum/linear phase filter respectively. "Non-Optimized..." filters have linear mode only.
SACD ISO files may contain 2 album variants: stereo and multichannel.
Portable devices (DAP, mobile phone) have:
As rule, portable device is intended for stereo playback.
An audio player software has 2 options:
In case #1, excessive hard disk space of mobile devices is consumed. And lesser music-file number may be placed on the mobile device.
In case #2, additional computing resources (and energy too) are consumed. Additional energy consumption reduces the time of autonomous work.
To solve cases #1 and #2, the extraction of stereo DSFs may be used.
If ISO contains a multichannel variant only, downmix 5.1 to stereo may be applied.
a) Don't open content of iso file that is mounted in a virtual drive. Open *.iso file with AuI ConverteR directly.
b) To view SACD ISO content (album name, performer, year, stereo/multichannel variants, track number):
SACD ISO is a DSD audio file, which is an image of SACD optical disk. Read more...
DSF format is an audio file type that contains DSD stuff. Read details...
DSF is DSD audio file format.
Read more...
DFF file is DSD audio file format by Philips. As rule, it's used in pro-audio applications. Have DSF-format-identical sound quality.
DSD music files are audio files in format SACD ISO, DSF, DFF. Read more...
You can download DSD music files here:
SACD is an optical disk. It may be ripped to SACD ISO (.iso file) or .dsf file.
SACD ISO may be converted to DSF files.
If you rip SACD optical disk directly to DSF, it can cause issues of long path/name and others. Read more...
Yes. SACD optical disk and its ISO image are one of DSD audio files.
SACD may be converted to other DSD files without losses.
DSD is a common name for digital-audio coding way. DSD-coded audio data is stored in a SACD optical disk, SACD ISO file (image of the optical disk), DSF, DFF files.
Read more:
SACD is an optical disk that contains audio in DSD format.
Read details...
DSDIFF is an audio format contained in computer file with .dff extension.
Read details...
DSF is an audio file format containing DSD-coded audio.
Read more...
SACD was designed as the next sound-quality step after CD audio.
Read more...
DSD ISO file may be open
DSD ISO file may be opened:
Computer optical drive can't read SACD. Some Sony Vaio models can play Super Audio CD with their own software.
To read CD special hardware and software are need. Read more...
You can open it:
SACD ISO may contains stereo and multichannel variants of an musical album. It consume additional space at hard disk. It is significant factor for mobile devices.
To solve the issue, stereo variant may be extracted or multichannel one is downmixed.
Sound quality of SACD ISO to PCM extracting is defined by implementation. So, qualitative extraction may be used for further bit-perfect PCM playback.
Also, sampling rate and bit depth may be matter for sound quality.
Sound quality
In a recording/playback audio system, DSD format allows passing some stages theoretically. So it may be a way to reduce distortions. However, the audio-system design is matter.
Other issues
However, DSD causes some issues:
DSF files are DSD audio files.
Read more...
You can burn DSF files on any size-capable optical disk with standard CD/DVD-burner.
However, these files will be visible at the disk as usual computer files.
To create SACD optical disk, special licensed equipment and authoring software (in instance, "Philips SuperAuthor") are need.
Here the discussion...
You can create SACD optical disk via an authoring software (as example, "Philips SuperAuthor") and special licensed apparatus.
Read the discussion...
Yes. You can buy SACD at online stores...
Yes, you can. To rip SACD optical disk you need:
Read more information...
How to rip SACD ISO file read here...
To rip SACD optical disc, some hardware is need. See details by links below...
Read how to rip SACD optical disk to computer files...
SACD optical disk may be ripped to SACD ISO. SACD ISO may be extracted to FLAC.
Yes. SACD optical disk may be ripped to ISO or DSF. Ripping Super Audio CD to .iso is recommended. Read more...
You can extract music from SACD ISO to:
Optical SACD may be ripped to .iso or .dsf/.dff files. However, some issues with DSD file creation may happens.
If you rip SACD optical disk to .iso (SACD ISO), it can be extracted to DSF/DFF with solving the issues...
When SACD ISO is extracted, some click/pop issues may be there. Read what to do...
SACD optical disk may be converted to DSD files directly.
However, file name is formed by metadata. It can cause file-creating error due to:
In this case you can convert the optical disk to SACD ISO and extract DSD files with auto fixing of these issues.
You can extract SACD ISO file to:
You can extract SACD ISO file to DSF/DFF (DSD files) or FLAC/WAV/mp3/etc.
See DSF to FLAC user manual...
You can convert ISO to FLAC via audio converter software. See details...
DSF may be converted to mp3 according to the guide...
You can rip SACD optical disk to SACD ISO file.
Read how to extract tracks from SACD ISO:
SACD ISO may be extracted to:
Read how to convert SACD ISO to DSD...
You can convert audio to DSD several ways:
PCM may be converted to DSD files this way...
Read user guides How to convert DSF files...
Read user guide How to convert ISO to DSD on Mac...
Yes. You can convert DSD files to FLAC...
Read how you can use sacd_extract software...
Yes, when you use bit-perfect extraction mode and target sample rate DSD64.
Multichannel extraction is recommended for multichannel audio systems only.
For stereo musical systems (especial portable ones) stereo extraction or downmix of multichannel to stereo is recommended. Read details...
Read recommendations for target sample rate choice...
No. If you use AuI ConverteR, select any target format, sample rate, bit depth once, without any intermediate conversions.
Yes. You can use batch ISO conversion with minimum AuI ConverteR configuration.
However, it must be remembered that batch ISO extraction demands many free temporary hard disk space.
You can set hard disk for temporary space in AuI ConverteR settings > Misc > "Directory of temporary files". After it's changed, restart the software.
Third-party sacd_extract codec or other utility, compatible with AuI ConverteR, connected as command line utility, decodes SACD ISO for further processing with AuI ConverteR. Read more about codecs...
Read this tutorial...
Read the full SACD extract tutorial...
You can't play SACD optical disk on a computer. However, as the author know, some SONY VAIO laptops can play SACD.
SACD may be ripped to an audio files to playback on ordinary computer.
Read details...
No. To playback SACD optical disc, special hardware is required.
However, SACD may be ripped to DSD audio files.
Read more...
You can play DSD files with:
Yes. Read guide...
Yes. Foobar 2000 is capable to play SACD ISO files. Read guide...
You cannot play SACD optical disk on foobar2000. But, you can rip the SACD to audio files and play it on Foobar.
Read guide...
Yes. Audirvana can play SACD ISO files. Read details...
Read more F.A.Q. about SACD ISO extraction >
As the author know, Roon can't play SACD ISO files (discussion).
However, you can convert SACD ISO to DSD files to listen with Roon.
On the moment of the answer publishing, VLC audio player can't play DSD files. Check out the discussion...
Alternatively, you can convert DSF files to FLAC...
In general case, Blu-Ray can't play DSD from SACD. But, it can play hybrid CD layer.
However, you can look for SACD DSD capable model.
Read more in the big SACD extract manual...
SACD optical disk ripping cannot be read on an ordinary CD/DVD drive of a computer. The ripping requires special hardware to read a Super Audio CD.
To rip a SACD optical disk, the hardware is used in connection with sacd_extract utility, that may be configured for ripping via command line parameters.
The ripped DSD stream may be saved as .iso (SACD ISO) or .dsf/.dff files.
DFF files may cause issues with storing metadata.
DSD files in the ripping may cause issues with long path names and others. If using ripping software can't solve the issue, ripping to SACD ISO (.iso) files is recommended.
After it, ISO to DSF conversion may be applied...
SACD ripping ways:
January 28, 2023 updated | since May 4, 2017
![SACD ISO to DSF (DSD64 only) [Modula-R edition]](/soft/images/iso-dsf-d64-mod.png)
![ALL-INCLUDED Abilities [PROduce-RD edition]](/soft/images/full-functionality2.png)
