Brochure EnglishSARACON – a versatile multichannel file format and sampling frequency conversion tool of utmost sonic quality and unprecedented conversion speed. All standard sampling frequencies are supported, including DXD and DSD. The Super Audio Center recommends SARACON for DSD conversion. POW-R dithering is also included.
Saracon runs on Windows™ or OSX™ platforms and comes in two variants: SARACON and SARACON-DSD. The latter obviously also supports DSD conversion in both directions, including DSD64 and DSD128 variants. SARACON is a batch processor working on source and destination files. It does not support streaming modes. Many standard input and output formats are supported. POW-R dithering is a standard feature as well.
“Now that I have used it on everything I do, it is the only re-sampler I can listen to.”
Georg Massenburg, Professor, McGill University, Canada
Sampling frequencies
The SARACON is an extremely versatile software tool for sampling frequency and format conversion. Supported sampling frequencies include all the standard digital audio sampling frequencies like 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz, DXD, DSD64 and finally DSD128.
Output
The output word-length can be set to 16, 20, 24 or 32 Bits fixed point, or to 32 or 64 Bits IEEE floating point. Plus DSD. The word-length reduction uses flat TPDF dithering as well as any of the three POW-R dithering algorithms.
File formats
In terms of file formats as input or output SARACON shines with a plethora of supported formats, including wav, aiff, au, bwf, sd2, caf, paf, mat, raw, dsdiff, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis. The number of channels is unlimited in a PCM to PCM or DSD to PCM conversion, while it is limited to six in a PCM to DSD conversion.
Conversion algorithms
The conversion algorithms are based on our several decades long experience with sampling frequency converters. The user interface is tidy and a simple – as one would expect from a professional tool. A sine wave generator is built in for testing purposes.
DSD version
The DSD version of the SARACON sports some additional, DSD specific features like an extensive DSD conversion analysis with log files, selectable interpolation/ decimation filter sets, flexible input to output channel routing, different modulators, each with its own options like gain, dithering etc.. Note: All DSD specific features are supported by the SARACON-DSD version only.
File formats
Support for all major audio formats including wav, aiff, au, caf, sd2, mat, raw
Compressed formats: FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis
RF64 and BWF support with meta data transfer
All major PCM number formats supported: fixed point (16, 24, 32 Bits), float and double)
Sampling frequencies
Sampling frequencies supported: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz, DXD, DSD64 (2.8224 MHz), DSD128 (5.6448 MHz)
Conversion algorithms
Choice of different modulators for DSD generation (low, medium and high order)
Time reference transfer between BWF and DSD and vice versa
Tag transfer for certain formats
Heavily optimized for sse2 enabled processors with multiple cores
Unlimited number of channels, files and jobs
Up-sampler characteristics selectable (different interpolators)
Different modulators selectable, each with its own options like gain, dithering etc.
Flexible input to output channel routing
Selectable interpolation/decimation filter sets for DSD conversion
Dithering
TPDF, POW-R1, POW-R2 and POW-R3 dither algorithms
Quality
PCM to PCM and DSD to PCM conversions better than −180 dB THD+N
PCM to DSD conversions −159.4 dB (CRFB10)
Batch mode
Smart batch modes to interleave several different mono input file sets into multichannel files
Super batch conversion to keep the workstation busy overnight or over the weekend
Monitoring
Non volatile signal monitoring for PCM to DSD conversion
Log file/window for documentation of conversion processes
Extensive DSD Conversion analysis
Non-volatile level/peak meter and history with full featured viewer
Goodies
Dithered test signal generator for PCM
Test signal generator for DSD
Command line interface
Complete command line interface for automation with bash scripts or from other tools
Reviews
Video by Collin Jordan (English)
Video by Friedemann Tischmeyer (English)
Review by Hifi Statement (German)
“Saracon is not just the most transparent SRC available, it is also the one with the most natural dynamics and spatial depth preservation. I have tried many other software SRCs and none gets even close to Saracon for quality.”
Alvaro Balana, Impact Mastering, Spain
“I am absolutely thrilled at the speed of the new Intel version of Saracon, definitely a must-have tool for me at this point, thanks again for such great piece of software.”
Alvaro Balana, Impact Mastering, Spain
Professional Mastering Engineers
“Saracon is not only the world’s best audio sample rate converter (cross-platform!). It’s also a great batch re-namer, format converter, interleaver, de-interleaver, word-length reducer and all-round utility tool!”
Bob Katz, Digital Domain, USA
“Again, many thanks for this great conversion software. We love it! And it is a big help for the SA-CD format.”
Gus Skinas, Super Audio Center LLC, USA
“I use the SARACON Mac daily and WOW! It’s 16× faster than real time to do conversion with the Mac Quad G5. It is both stunning in mastering workflow and sound quality.”
Kent Poon, Design w Sound, Hong Kong
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