MASTER SYSTEMmacOS · DSD128
NeuraMuse LINK · Cross-platform multiroom
One source.
Independent rooms.
A shared musical timeline.
NeuraMuse LINK connects Windows and Apple Silicon macOS systems on the same trusted local network. One machine acts as the source/master; the others join as room endpoints while keeping their own local audio device and rendering choice.
DESKTOP LINK HARDWARE REQUIREMENT — ONE DAC PER COMPUTER
Every Windows or macOS computer in a LINK room needs its own compatible DAC or audio interface connected and working before you start or join the room. Two desktop computers = two DACs/interfaces. Three desktop computers = three DACs/interfaces.
Standalone is different: supported standalone playback can use built-in/system audio where the platform path allows it. That does not mean the same computer is ready for desktop LINK. Windows LINK requires a manufacturer-provided native hardware ASIO driver for its DAC/interface. macOS LINK requires its own compatible CoreAudio DAC/interface. The iPad endpoint uses its own local iPad output and is not part of this desktop-DAC count.
LINK in a real system
DSD128: an explicit Master and an active Windows room.
The macOS capture explicitly reports LINK MASTER / 1 ENDPOINT while playing DSD128 at 5.6448 MHz. The Windows capture shows LINK ACTIVE / LEAVE while playing the same DSD128 track through its local Raw ASIO DoP engine.
↔LINKSAME DSD128 PROGRAMME
ACTIVE ENDPOINTWindows · ASIO
Each desktop endpoint needs its own DAC/audio interface. Programme/timing state is shared; rendering remains local. The labels above describe only states visible in these current captures.
Architecture
Programme distribution and local rendering are separate.
LINK distributes the programme and timing information, while every room renders locally through its own DAC or compatible output.
Start the programme once
Local library playback or Internet Radio can act as the source for the LINK session.
Join from other rooms
Windows and Apple Silicon macOS systems can join when they use a matching NeuraMuse build/protocol on the same LAN.
Each room keeps its own output
Every Windows room uses its own compatible native hardware ASIO DAC/interface. Every Apple Silicon macOS desktop room also uses its own compatible DAC/audio interface through CoreAudio.
Designed to resist long-term drift
PCM followers use continuous clock/drift correction so separate DAC clocks do not simply free-run against each other.
Windows LINK requirement: the Windows room engine is clocked from the native ASIO presentation callback. If the selected ASIO backend cannot open, LINK fails closed instead of silently starting the room over WASAPI. Standalone Windows playback can still use WASAPI.
PCM LINK
Each room can choose how it wants to sound.
With PCM, the source programme is shared but rendering remains local. One room may stay in DIRECT while another uses TUBE, VINYL or AURA.
Living room — DIRECT
Studio — TUBE
Bedroom — AURA
Another room — VINYL
DIRECT is the reference path for bit-perfect playback where the selected hardware, driver and source format allow it. Any room that enables TUBE, VINYL or AURA intentionally enters DSP processing and is no longer bit-perfect.
DSD LINK · Local DoP output
One DSD programme. An honest output state for every room.
LINK keeps DSD programme distribution separate from each endpoint's local DAC presentation. The source/master remains in DIRECT for DSD distribution. Each DIRECT endpoint then attempts the DoP carrier required by the source DSD rate; its local DAC/driver determines whether that carrier can be accepted. DoP itself does not convert DSD to PCM.
DIRECT distributes the DSD programme
The source/master must first open the requested DSD/DoP carrier successfully in DIRECT. Once the DSD LINK session is running, the original DSD programme and shared presentation timing remain available to joined endpoints.
Bit-perfect DSD locally
If the endpoint DAC/driver accepts the required DoP carrier, DIRECT presents the original DSD payload to that DAC over DoP and the endpoint remains bit-perfect DSD.
PCM Compatibility, clearly reported
If a joined endpoint rejects the required DoP carrier, NeuraMuse can convert only that joined endpoint to dry PCM Compatibility so the room can continue playing. The current mapping is DSD64/128 → PCM 176.4 kHz and DSD256 → PCM 352.8 kHz, subject to local output support. A warning states that this endpoint is NOT bit-perfect DSD for that track. Other compatible DIRECT endpoints remain unchanged. If PCM Compatibility also cannot be opened, only that joined endpoint is unable to play that track.
Local PCM processing by choice
A joined endpoint may intentionally choose TUBE, VINYL or AURA. DSD is then converted locally to PCM for DSP on that room only. Returning to DIRECT during that processed DSD track queues a fresh DSD/DoP attempt for the next track boundary. Bit-perfect DSD returns only if the local DAC/driver accepts the required carrier; otherwise that joined endpoint may use clearly reported PCM Compatibility.
Required DoP carrier: DSD64 → 176.4 kHz · DSD128 → 352.8 kHz · DSD256 → 705.6 kHz. NeuraMuse advertises DSD up to DSD256. The source/master must accept the required carrier to start a DSD LINK session; a joined endpoint that cannot accept it may move to clearly reported PCM Compatibility.
For every room to be bit-perfect DSD: every endpoint must remain in DIRECT and every local DAC/driver must accept the DoP carrier required by that track. DIRECT alone is not a guarantee if an endpoint has entered PCM Compatibility.
Mixed-output example · DSD256 source: one DIRECT endpoint that accepts the 705.6 kHz DoP carrier can remain DSD256 bit-perfect, while another DIRECT endpoint that rejects it can continue as clearly reported PCM 352.8 kHz Compatibility. A third room may independently choose TUBE, VINYL or AURA and process locally in PCM. One room's compatibility choice does not relabel or degrade the output state of another compatible DIRECT room.
Internet Radio over LINK
The follower state is visible, not implied.
The current macOS capture below shows the same live radio programme with LINK FOLLOWER / SYNCED, room state SYNCED, local CoreAudio rendering and the D10s selected as the local output.
Current capture: radio follower · macOS · LINK FOLLOWER / SYNCED · CoreAudio · D10s
A compressed Internet stream must first be decoded to PCM, so native decoded sample rate should not be confused with source-bit-perfect delivery. This capture is used only to document the follower state it visibly reports.
Early Access requirements
Build matching and compatible local audio still matter.
Native hardware ASIO required for LINK
Windows 10 / 11 x64. Every Windows room must have a compatible DAC or audio interface with its manufacturer-provided native ASIO driver installed and successfully opened. The ordinary WASAPI system-output fallback is for standalone playback, not the LINK room backend.
Apple Silicon + its own DAC/interface
M-series Macs only. Every macOS desktop room must have its own compatible DAC/audio interface connected through CoreAudio. Intel Macs are not currently supported.
Same trusted LAN
Use matching NeuraMuse builds/protocol versions and allow local-network access for LINK.
The endpoint sets the local output
DIRECT DSD is advertised up to DSD256 and depends on the carrier accepted by the local DAC/driver: DSD64 176.4 kHz, DSD128 352.8 kHz and DSD256 705.6 kHz. The source/master must support the requested carrier; an incompatible joined endpoint may use PCM Compatibility without changing compatible rooms.