TOPIC:

As my computers don't have SPDIF outputs, i would like to stream audio to the DDRC-.22D directly via USB. While outputting the test signals frpm DiracLive works just fine while being connected via USB, the DDRC isn't recognized by the OS as audio output device.
Is this a known problem? Is there anything i can do about it? This seems like a major limitation for this device, no?

The DDRC-22D does not claim to support USB audio.

Does your computer have a HDMI output? If so you could add a SPDIF/TOSLINK extractor and route that to the DDRC-22D.

Another option would be a USB soundcard that has SPDIF/TOSLINK outputs.

Michael

Thank you for your reply! I am aware of these options, but this just doesn't feel like a great solution for multiple reasons.

It seems very likely that the device is capable of doing it and it feels kinda redundant to add an addittional USB->SPDIF Converter. Apart from that, it is rarely a good idea to have more devices in the signal path than necessary.
On another note i have enough gear laying around already and buying a new soundcard is a lot of money.

It seems unlikely, that i am the only one trying to use it like this?

It seems unlikely, that i am the only one trying to use it like this?

Not sure how unlikely it is given that the specifications never claim that it supports USB audio. If you want Dirac and USB audio the SHD series or a DDRC-24 are the way to go.

To be honest I am not sure how the DDRC-22D even handles Dirac via USB as the miniSHARC which is the base DSP does not have a XMOS chip. Imagine it is a rather custom application and not just a matter of the miniDSP folks withholding functionality.

Michael

In the meantime i found a post from 2015 where someone asked the same question and the devteam actually answered favorably to the request. Unfortunately it seems they haven't followed through with it yet.

Consider the following analogy:Imagine buying a 700$ wireless printer, that you can't get to work via USB. When asking why that is the case, you are told that it was never explicitly stated, that you could indeed use the USB port for printing. Maybe it is solely to configure the wireless interface, but who knows. Anyway if you want that USB-printing functionality you should buy the 900$ printer.
This doesn't feel very satisfying, does it?

TL;DR If you buy a printer with a usb port, you expect it to print via usb. No matter all other functionalities. Same goes for audio interfaces with a usb port, you expect them to accept audio via usb.