Amarra Version 2.2 ReadMe Table Of Contents

Transcription

1 384 khz / 24 Bit

2 Amarra Version 2.2 ReadMe Table Of Contents Important notes for Amarra 2.2 :: Evaluation Mode :: Licensing :: Software Change Information :: Preferences :: Uninstalling Amarra :: Application Requirements :: Activating Amarra :: Installation :: Contacting Us :: Software Updates :: Known Issues :: 11

3 Please Read This Important Document Before You Use Amarra 2.2 Thank you for downloading the Amarra 2.2 Release! This document contains important information about the installation and operation of your application. Enjoy the music! Important notes for Amarra 2.2 :: ReadMe For Amarra 2.2 (Build 4285) April, ) Amarra is now 384 khz-compatible. That means, if your DAC supports it, you can playback audio files from > 384 khz. 2) Amarra 2.2 uses a new licensing method. iloks, Interlock License Files (ILF) and Challenge Response codes are no longer used or recognized. Instead, a new user-friendly and secure authorization feature is used. This new authorization model allows you to: 1) Evaluate Amarra for 15 days. 2) Authorize Amarra instantly. 3) Easily move licenses from Mac to Mac on your own. You may uninstall any PACE Drivers used in previous versions. NOTE: In order for Amarra 2.2 to function properly, you must delete your existing Amarra preferences prior to using this version. See Section of this document for more information on deleting Amarra preferences See Section below for a list of changes since v Evaluation Mode :: Evaluating Amarra has never been easier. Just launch Amarra and enter your address and a password of your choice. Select the Evaluate button to access the full-feature 15-day evaluation version (Figure 1 below). Page 3

4 Figure 1 No Activation Code is necessary to use Amarra in Evaluation Mode. However an address is required Licensing :: Amarra licensing is granted using softare DNA from softworkz. Refer to section for more information on licensing your copy of Amarra Software Change Information :: Changes since &=G Amarra now supports 384 khz sound file playback. Your DAC must support 384 khz for this feature to work. &=G Performance improvements &=G Close many memory leaks &=G Fix opening of FLAC files with IDv3 Tags &=G Fix text display when resizing Playlist window &=G Add On/Off state for switching to itunes &=G Easier to use licensing and evaluation. Page 4

5 &=G Display of unicode character sets (non-ascii) enhancements &=G Playback of compressed files - Improves FLAC files not playing or producing noise &=G Improved interaction with itunes/apple Remote Volume and itunes - itunes volume now follows Amarra - but is now muted with improved tracking &=G Pause and Skip track using Amarra &=G Automatic setting of EQ Preset based on Setting in itunes Track Info - Added preference Link itunes EQ. Disabled by default. &=G CACHE Mode Enabled Setting (allows Memory playback to remain ON in subsequent launch). &=G Refinements for gapless playback using Playlist Mode. &=G Refinements for volume control. &=G Refinements for metadata reading. &=G Added Open Movie command to File menu of Amarra. &=G Include Quicktime application to extract the audio and create an AIFF file - this will be integrated into Amarra at some point. Changes since 2.2 &=G Fix issues with display of unicode character sets (non-ascii) &=G Fix problems with playing files (compressed files) - Improves files not playing or producing noise on FLAC files &=G Improved interaction with itunes/apple Remote Volume and itunes - itunes volume now follows Amarra - but is now "muted" &=G Add Link Remote to keep Amarra Playlists and itunes in sync Amarra loads songs into Playlist based on selection in itunes / Remote &=G Fix problems with Pause and Skip using Amarra &=G Fixes for DroboFS (currently only non-compressed files are supported) &=G Fix Crash on Open From Finder Page 5

6 &=G Add Automatic setting of EQ Preset based on Setting in itunes Track Info Changes since 2.0 &=G Added support for full Memory Playback On loading Tracks in Amarra On loading Tracks in Playlist On playing Tracks if not loaded Uses up to 1 Gig of memory Space is freed on clearing Playlist &=G Fix various issues with not playing compressed files clicks on certain MP3s not being able to open/play files with long names &=G Improvements to Amarra Window Button to sync Amarra / itunes window positions. Playlist controls: when Playlist selected as Source - Button to Show/Hide Playlist window - Menu for commands &=G Add support for DSD to AIFF conversion. &=G Fix various bugs. Changes since 1.2 &=G Improved User Interface and sound quality. &=G New Playlist window. Allows you to create and save custom Playlists within Amarra. Our beta testers report improved audio quality using Playlist mode when compared to itunes mode. &=G Support for FLAC, AAC and MP3 playback. Note: FLAC playback requires installing FLAC components. Note: Fluke required for use with itunes. &=G Improved Background Manager. Sample rate covers ion improvements and enhancements. &=G Support for FLAC conversion to AIFF &=G Improved support for non-latin character sets and extended file names. &=G Support for NoNOISE broadband noise removal option. Page 6

7 &=G Dither and Output Wordlength settings. &=G Improved Background Manager user interface. &=G Improved Sonic EQ interface: Save and recall your favorite settings. Changes since 1.1 &=G Playlist Button / Track List Amarra will now play (and load) the Selected Tracks as a Playlist. These tracks will play without a gap. Only tracks with the same Sample Rate are supported at this time. &=G Addition of Display Track Name and Artist button The Display will also show the Track Name and Artist. &=G Addition of Amarra Playlist - Standalone Operation Use Playlist button to Load a Selected Tracks. You can then play the tracks independently of itunes meaning itunes can even be Shut down. Note: Disable Amarra Quit Options (under itunes Visual). &=G Improvements to volume handling (in itunes). &=G Fix bug with not playing tracks when Amarra is hidden. &=G Fix bug with not setting rate if user set in Audio Midi Prefs. &=G Add more Room Node EQ settings. Changes since Please refer to your documentation or visit our website for the latest information. &=G Added Support for Apple Lossless. &=G Added Apple Dock Support &=G Added Amarra Status to Dock Icon &=G Added Menu Commands for Mute/UnMute,... &=G AMARRA EQ Added EQ Presets based on itunes EQ Presets Page 7

8 Added third parametric filter Restore EQ settings on open (if On) Save EQ settings on Quit of Amarra &=G AMARRA Preferences Added Hide On Launch preference Added Amarra to Windows Menu (command-a) &=G Bug Fixes Improvements to problems with long files names Fix crash on switching external clock Added Enable Extended Naming &=G Devices Add support for Konnekt 8 device Qualify Wavelength, Ayre, Antelope, dcs, converters Preferences :: If your have a previous version of Amarra on you Mac, please delete your existing Amarra preferences prior to using this version. This action is necessary to ensure Amarra 2.2 runs properly. 1) Navigate to your Amarra application folder in your Mac s Applications folder. (Figure 2) 2) Locate the Extras folder and open it. 3) Double click on the Delete Amarra Preferences.command utility. Figure 2 Page 8

9 This will run the Terminal utility and delete existing Amarra preferences, restoring them to factory default. You can quit Terminal after running Installation Steps and Running Amarra :: 1. Run the Amarra Installer and follow the on-screen directions. 2. Authorize your Amarra product. See the User Manual or Authorization Guide. 3. If you have a previous version of Amarra installed on this computer, please refer to section for instructions on deleting your preferences Uninstalling Amarra :: 1) Navigate to your Amarra application folder in your Mac s Applications folder. 2) Locate the Extras folder and open it. 3) Double click on the Uninstall Amarra.app. This removes the Amarra application, itunes Plug-In and FLAC components. You can quit Terminal after running Application Requirements Amarra requires the following: Computer: Any Intel based Mac NOTE: PPC (G5) Macs are no longer supported. New licensing method is not recognized. Use RAM: 3 GB minimum, 4 or more preferred I/O: Sonic Hardware, or other Core Audio Interface Supported Audio Hardware Interfaces: Most USB and FireWire interfaces work well. The built-in Audio (optical/digital) will also work with Amarra, but have limited sample rate support. Please visit the Supported Hardware section of Software: Mac OS X 10.5 and above recommended Amarra itunes Page 9

10 7.0.0 Activating Amarra When you purchase Amarra, you will be given a unique activation code. This activation code will be used to permanently enable Amarra to run on your computer. If you purchased Amarra before April 15, 2011, use your Amarra product Serial Number as your Activation Code. See section of the Amarra User Manual for Authorization instructions. Beginning with Amarra 2.2, PACE interlock security will no longer be used. Your ilok, Challenge and Response Code or ILF File will no longer be valid. Instead, an easier to use method will be implemented. If you are a current Amarra user and have migrated to version 2.2, simply use your current Amarra Serial Number as your activation code. If you are a current Amarra user and have misplaced your serial number, please support@sonicstudio.com and include 1) Your name 2) Where you purchased Amarra 3) Title the Need my serial number Installation :: To install Amarra, please click on the Amarra Installer package icon. Follow the on screen instructions to install your software Contacting Us :: Thanks for your purchase of Amarra. We really appreciate your patronage and are always interested in your experiences with Amarra. For bug reports and support issues, visit: or us: support@sonicstudio.com To suggest new features for our products, e mail us at support@sonicstudio.com For up to date information, please visit Page 10

11 Software Updates :: Updates to Amarra, when available, can be found in the Downloads section of the Amarra website: Known Issues :: Please refer to your documentation or visit our website for the latest information. &=G The Names field in the Playlist may not display some non-latin characters. &=G Some MP3 files may display an incorrect rate in a Playlist. &=G FLAC to AIFF conversion does not handle artwork. Other metadata fields are copied but not the artwork. This will be addressed in a future release of Amarra. &=G Apple Lossless - Not supported on G5 (PPC) computers or OS at this time - Earlier versions of Apple Lossless files may not play - Apple Lossless created in Max and xld may not play correctly Note: Converting to AIFF and back to ALAC using itunes is a work around. &= There are still some issues with long file names not playing as expected. &=G Convert FLAC Folder to AIFF command in the File menu works correctly on first use. At this time, subsequent uses of this feature require a reboot of Amarra. This will be addressed in a future release of Amarra. &=G Some network drives may not work well with Amarra. The DroboShare is one example. This will be addressed in a future release of Amarra Mini. &=G 32 bit float format is not supported. &=G Very large itunes libraries (> 30,000 tracks) may have problems with skipping tracks. &=G There is a small issue in Amarra that may require the application be rebooted when left running for few days Sonic Studio, LLC Amarra2.2_ReadMe_v1r5 Amarra, Amarra MINI, Amarra Junior, Amarra VINYL, Model Three, Model Four, Sonic Console, sonicstudio.com, the Amarra logo, the Sonic Studio logo and type are trademarks of Sonic Studio, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies. Page 11