Korg DS-DAC-10R User manual

1
DS-DAC-10R
OWNER'S MANUAL
Before you connect this device
In order to use the DS-DAC-10R on Windows (ASIO), you'll need to make driver seings.
It is important that you do not connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer before you have
installed the driver.
Carefully read the section entitled “Download and Install,” and download and install the
Setup program before you connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer.
E 3
4015-2 Yanokuchi, Inagi-city, Tokyo 206-0812 Japan http://www.korg.com
©2015 KORG INC.
Contents
Introduction------------------------------------------------------------ 2
Features ------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Operating requirements----------------------------------------- 2
Download and Install ----------------------------------------------- 3
Windows users ---------------------------------------------------- 3
Installing the ASIO driver/AudioGate ------------------- 3
Mac OS users------------------------------------------------------ 6
Installing the AudioGate------------------------------------ 6
KORG 2ch 1bit Audio Driver Control Panel settings---- 7
Operation --------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Front and rear panels -------------------------------------------- 8
Preparations-------------------------------------------------------- 8
Basic operation---------------------------------------------------10
DSD native playback via Windows (ASIO) -----------10
DSD native playback via Mac (Core Audio)----------12
DSD recording (Recording using AudioGate) -------14
DS-DAC-10R Setting Tool --------------------------------15
Troubleshooting-----------------------------------------------------16
Specications--------------------------------------------------------18
Published 01/2020

2
Introduction
Features
The DS-DAC-10R is a USB DAC/ADC that supports 1-bit DSD native playback/record* on
Windows (ASIO/WDM) or Mac (Core Audio).
By using it in conjunction with the AudioGate4 HIGH RESOLUTION MUSIC PLAYER ap-
plication, you can enjoy native playback/record of high-quality 1-bit DSD sound.
* Use AudioGate for DSD native playback/recording. On Windows, this may also be pos-
sible with applications that support ASIO 2.1 DSD.
Supported input:
PCM 44.1 kHz–192 kHz, 1-bit DSD 2.8224 MHz, 5.6448 MHz, Analog signal
Supported audio drivers:
ASIO, WDM, Core Audio
Operating requirements
Windows
Operating system:
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (32 bit, 64 bit), Windows 8.1 (32 bit, 64 bit)
Windows 10 (32 bit, 64 bit)
CPU: Intel® Core™ Processors 2.6 GHz or higher (base or max)
*Intel Core i3 or beer recommended
*DSD real-time conversion playback between 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz requires
3.1 GHz or higher.
RAM: 4 GB or more
Mac OS
Operating system:
macOS 10.11–10.14
CPU: Intel® Core™ Processors 2.6 GHz or higher (base or max)
*Intel Core i3 or beer recommended
*DSD real-time conversion playback between 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz requires
3.1 GHz or higher.
RAM: 4 GB or more

3
Download and Install
Windows users
Use the KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup program to install the ASIO
driver and AudioGate.
Do not connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer before you’ve nished installing
the driver. If you’ve already connected it, disconnect it; then reconnect it after you’ve
nished installing the driver.
Installing the ASIO driver/AudioGate
1
Access the following AudioGate 4 download page:
hp://www.korg.com/products/audio/audiogate4/download.php
2
Choose “AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup,” and press the Windows version of
download buon to download the setup program.
3
Decompress the downloaded .zip le. In the “KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device
Setup” folder, run Setup. The KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup panel
appears.
4
Click “Install DS-DAC-10R Driver” to install the ASIO driver. (refer to “• ASIO driver
installation procedure” on page 4)
5
If you want to install AudioGate, click “Install AudioGate” in the KORG AudioGate
and USB Audio
6
Device Setup panel.
Carefully read “Activating AudioGate” which appears during installation, and then
complete the installation.
7
Click “Finish” to exit the setup program.
If you're recording with an application other than AudioGate, you'll need to use the
“DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool” to set the input level. Click “Install the DS-DAC-10R Set-
ting Tool” to install it.

4
• ASIO driver installation procedure
Do not connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer before you’ve nished installing
the driver. If you’ve already connected it, disconnect it; then reconnect it after you’ve
nished installing the driver.
The installation screens shown on your computer may differ somewhat depending on
your Windows version and system, but the procedure is the same. The explanation that
follows will show typical screens in Windows 7.
If, during installation, a message appeared to conrm whether or not to continue the in-
stallation, click [Install].
1
In the KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup panel that you downloaded,
click “Install DS-DAC-10R Driver” to start the installer.
2
In the language selection menu, choose English; click [OK].
3
The dialog box will appear; click [Next >].
4
If you accept the license agreement, click [Next (N) >].

5
5
Click [Install] to begin installation.
6
If a security warning appears, click [Install].
7
Preparations for installation are now complete. Click [Finish] to exit the installer.
8
Connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer.
Wait until Windows displays the message “The device driver software was installed
correctly.”

6
Mac OS users
Use the KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup program to install AudioGate.
If you're using AudioGate, it is not necessary to install the driver.
Installing the AudioGate
1
Access the following AudioGate 4 download page:
hp://www.korg.com/products/audio/audiogate4/download.php
2
Choose “AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup Download,” and press the Mac ver-
sion of download buon to download the setup program.
3
Open the .dmg le. In the “KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup” folder,
run Setup. The KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup panel appears.
4
Click “Install AudioGate” in the KORG AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup pan-
el.
Carefully read “Activating AudioGate” which appears during installation, and then
complete the installation.
5
Click “Finish” to exit the setup program.
If you’re recording with an application other than AudioGate, you’ll need to use the
“DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool” to set the input level. Click “Install the DS-DAC-10R Set-
ting Tool” to install it.

7
KORG 2ch 1bit Audio Driver Control Panel settings
The Mac version of the control panel does not allow you to directly change the Sample
Rate. You can make these changes via AudioGate or from the Audio MIDI seings of
your Mac.
In the Windows start menu Control Panel, view all control panel items, and click “KORG
2ch 1bit Audio Driver” DS-DAC Audio I/O Driver Control Panel to open it; the following
control panel appears:
Buer Size
Selects the buer size. Moving the slider toward the left decreases the buer size, and
moving it toward the right increases the size.
* Increasing the buer size increases the time dierence (latency) between the direct
sound and the monitored sound, but allows you to record safely without noise oc-
curring.
Normally, including while recording vinyl records, you should leave this at the
maximum seing. Only if you are bothered by latency, such as when making a live
recording, adjust the buer size without allowing noise to occur.
Sampling Rate
Species the sampling rate. Choose from 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4
kHz, 192 kHz. If you’re using the DS-DAC-10R with WDM (WASAPI/Direct Sound),
make the seing here.

8
Operation
Front and rear panels
Phono
ground terminal
Headphones jack
Headphone volume Knob
Indicator
Line output jacks
USB port
Line input/Phono jacks
Preparations
When driver installation is completed, use a USB cable to connect the DS-DAC-10R to your
computer, and make preparations for listening to an audio le on your computer.
After connecting the USB cable and until the DS-DAC-10R's system setup has completed,
the indicator alternately blinks green and blue.
When the indicator changes to being steadily lit, start AudioGate.
Use the included USB cable to connect the unit to your computer and to verify that it’s
working.
The DS-DAC-10R operates on USB bus power. It does not need an AC adaptor or any
other external power supply.
Whenever possible, connect this unit directly to a USB port on your computer. If you
cannot avoid using a USB hub, you should use a USB hub that has its own power sup-
ply. A bus-powered USB hub may be unable to supply enough power.
1
If you want to listen through headphones, connect your headphones to the headphone
jack.
2
If you want to connect an amp and speakers for listening, connect the line out jacks of
the DS-DAC-10R to your system using the appropriate cables.
3
If you want to record, connect the output cable of your analog device to the line input/
phono jacks.

9
4
Check the USB port connection. The indicator is lit green if the connection from your
computer to the DS-DAC-10R is enabled.
The color of the indicator changes depending on the system and application seings,
and on the sampling rate of the audio le that you're playing back.
Sampling rate 44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
2.8 MHz 5.6 MHz
Indicator Green Purple White Light blue Dark blue
When in record-standby mode, the sampling rate and the red indicator are lit alter-
nately, and during recording the indicator is lit red.

10
Basic operation
DSD native playback via Windows (ASIO)
1
Use the AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup program to install AudioGate (refer
to “Installing the ASIO driver/AudioGate” on page 3).
2
Connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer, and then start AudioGate.
If you start AudioGate without the DS-DAC-10R connected, license verication will be
completed when you connect the DS-DAC-10R.
3
From the menu, choose [Edit]-[Preferences...], and click the [Audio Devices] tab.
4
In [Driver Type], choose “ASIO.”
5
In [Output Device Name], choose “KORG 2ch 1bit Audio Device.”
6
Set [Sample Rate] to “Auto” or to “5.6 MHz” or “2.8 MHz.”

11
7
Add DSDIFF, DSF, or WSD les to the song list by dragging them in.
If you added WAV or FLAC les to the song list, they will be converted for playback to
the sample rate that you selected in step 6.
8
Click the play buon in AudioGate to play the audio.
9
If you're listening through headphones, you can adjust the volume by turning the
headphone volume knob of the DS-DAC-10R.

12
DSD native playback via Mac (Core Audio)
1
Use the AudioGate and USB Audio Device Setup program to install AudioGate (refer
to “Installing the AudioGate” on page 6).
2
Connect the DS-DAC-10R to your computer, and then start AudioGate.
If you start AudioGate without the DS-DAC-10 Rconnected, license verication will be
completed when you connect the DS-DAC-10R.
3
From the menu, choose Mac, [AudioGate]-[Preferences...], and click the [Audio Devices]
tab.
4
In [Driver Type], make sure that “Core Audio” is selected.
5
Choose “KORG 2ch 1bit Audio Device” for both the [Output Device Name] and [Input
Device Name]. Playback is not aected even if you leave [Input Device Name] blank.
6
Set [Sample Rate] to “Auto” or to “5.6 MHz” or “2.8 MHz.”

13
7
Add DSDIFF, DSF, or WSD les to the song list by dragging them in.
If you added WAV or FLAC les to the song list, they will be converted for playback to
the sample rate that you selected in step 6.
8
Click the play buon in AudioGate to play the audio.
9
If you’re listening through headphones, you can adjust the volume by turning the
headphone volume knob of the DS-DAC-10R.

14
DSD recording (Recording using AudioGate)
Preparations
Here's how to make seings for DSD native playback. If you're using a Mac, choose “KORG
2ch 1bit Audio Device” as the “Input Device Name” (refer to step 5 of “DSD native play-
back via Mac (Core Audio)” on page 12).
The recorded le will be stereo, and the sampling rate will be the value shown in the up-
per part of AudioGate.
1
Using an audio cable, connect the line output of your audio device or your record play-
er to the line/phono input jacks of the DS-DAC-10R.
If necessary, connect the ground terminal of your record player to the phono ground
terminal of the DS-DAC-10R.
2
In AudioGate, click the Rec Seing buon to access the recording le seings.
3
Click “Input Type,” and select “Line” or “Phono.”
4
If you’re recording an LP record and want to apply the equalizer during playback,
click “Recording Phono Equalizer Type” and turn it “O.” If you want to apply the
equalizer during recording, select the appropriate curve.
5
Click “DSD Recording File Format” and select “DSDIFF,” “DSF,” or “WSD.”
6
Click the OK buon to close the recording seings.
7
Click AudioGate’s input monitor seings buon (Input Monitor).
8
Play back your audio device, and drag the input level slider so that the clip indicator of
AudioGate’s level meter does not light.
9
To start recording, click AudioGate’s record buon [l].
10
Click the stop buon [n] to stop recording.
For details, refer to the AudioGate4 owner's manual.

15
DS-DAC-10R Setting Tool
If you’re not using AudioGate, use this application to adjust the input level.
This application also lets you check the rmware version and the Line input/Phono jacks
type.
Windows:
Open the Windows Start menu → All Programs → Korg →USB Audio Device →
DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool.
Mac:
Open Applications → DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool.app.
Firmware Version
Indicates the version of the DS-DAC-10R’s rmware.
Input Level
Adjusts the input level of the DS-DAC-10R’s Line input/Phono jacks.
Current Input
Indicates the DS-DAC-10R's Line input/Phono jacks type (LINE, PHONO) specied in
AudioGate.

16
Troubleshooting
The latest information is provided on the Web:
hp://www.korg.com/products/audio/ds_dac_10r/
The power won’t turn on, the device is not recognized by computer, or the
operation is unstable.
• Which USB cable are you using?
Use the included USB cable.
Some commercially available USB cables only support Full Speed. If you provide your
own cable, be sure that it supports USB 2.0 High Speed.
• Are you using a USB hub?
If the DS-DAC-10R is connected via a bus-powered USB hub, there might be insu-
cient power for the DS-DAC-10R to power-on, or operation might be unstable.
In this case, connect the DS-DAC-10R directly to a USB port on the computer itself
without going through a USB hub, or use a self-powered hub that supports USB 2.0
High Speed.
• Could the USB cable be broken?
• Is your computer’s USB port working correctly?
No sound is coming from the DS-DAC-10R
• Check whether the DS-DAC-10R is correctly recognized in the DS-DAC-10R Setting
Tool.
Windows users
Open the Windows Start menu → All Programs → Korg →USB Audio Device →
DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool.
If the Driver and Firmware versions are displayed as “Disconnected”, the DS-DAC-
10R has not been correctly recognized. Disconnect the USB cable, then reconnect it and
check this indication again.
Mac OS X users
Open Applications → DS-DAC-10R Seing Tool.app.
If the Driver and Firmware versions are displayed as “Disconnected”, the DS-DAC-
10R has not been correctly recognized. Disconnect the USB cable, then reconnect it and
check this indication again.
• In some cases, the indicators of the DS-DAC-10R will indicate an error.
→ refer to “Indicator is blinking” on page 17.
Can’t select DSD
• In some cases, the indicators of the DS-DAC-10R will indicate an error.
→refer to “Indicator is blinking” on page 17.

17
Indicator is blinking
• Blinking slowly:
The computer is in sleep mode. When the computer returns from sleep mode, the indi-
cator returns to being solidly lit.
• Rapidly blinking red:
A system error has occurred. Disconnect the USB cable, and then reconnect it to turn
the power on again. If doing this several times does not solve the problem, contact
your local Korg distributor.
Sound is interrupted/Noise is heard
• During realtime conversion playback using AudioGate:
Performing realtime conversion to DSD at “High Quality” places a greater processing
load on the CPU. In this case, choose the “Low Load” seing, or use EXPORT to create
the DSD le before playing it back.
• When using a laptop computer:
Even if the CPU performance is high, noise may occur if power-saving seings are en-
abled. Change the power scheme in “Power Options” of the “Control Panel,” and also
turn o any other power saving plan that is specic to your computer.
• When playing back in Windows
Click Start menu → Control Panel → KORG 2ch 1bit Audio Driver to open the KORG
2ch 1bit Audio Driver Control Panel. Adjust the Buer Size (refer to “Buer Size” on
page 7).
* If you're using a computer with limited processing capability, you should generally
increase the Buer Size.
• When using Core Audio playback on Mac:
You should adjust the buer size in the audio device tab of AudioGate preferences.
• The sample rate of the audio device is set to Auto.
You may hear a slight click if the sample rate of the audio device is set to Auto, or when
you change the sample rate manually, but this is not a malfunction.
• The DS-DAC-10R is connected to a USB 3.0 port.
We recommend that you connect the DS-DAC-10R to a USB 2.0 port.
• Could you be using or running a large number of software programs simultaneously?
• Hiss is heard from the headphone output.
Are you using headphones whose output impedance is 16 ohms or greater?
You might hear a faint hiss when using some high-efficiency low-impedance ear-
phones.

18
Specications
Audio interface
Number of channels 2 channels
Input formats
(USB)
DSD: 2.8224 MHz/5.6448 MHz, 1 bit
PCM: 44.1 kHz/48 kHz/88.2 kHz/96 kHz/176.4 kHz/192 kHz, 16 bit/24 bit
Host interface USB2.0 (High Speed)
Audio drivers ASIO2.1, WDM, Core Audio
General
Indicator Power, Sample Rate, Rec Status combined
Power supply/
Power consumption
USB bus power (5 V 500 mA)/
2.5 W
Dimensions
(W x D x H)
155 x 184 x 49 mm/6.10 x 7.24 x 1.93 inches
(including protrusions)
Weight 1.1 kg/2.43 lbs.
Main spec.
Frequency response 10 Hz–20 kHz ±1 dB (fs=44.1 kHz/48 kHz)
10 Hz–40 kHz ±1 dB
S/N 105 dB (LINE/TYP.) 20 Hz–20 kHz, IHF-A
THD+N 0.005% (LINE/TYP.) 20 Hz–20 kHz
Connectors
LINE OUT L/R
Form RCA
Load impedance 10 k ohms or greater
Rated/Maximum level -6 dBV/+6 dBV
PHONES
Form 6.3 mm stereo phone jack
Load impedance 16 ohms or greater
Maximum output 70 mW + 70 mW (PEAK) @32 Ω
LINE IN L/R (PHONO L/R combination)
Form RCA
Input impedance 47 k ohms (LINE), 50 k ohms (PHONO)
Rated/Maximum level 5 mV rms/100 mV rms (PHONO at 1 kHz)
-6 dBV/+6 dBV (LINE)
USB (device)
Form/Format Type B/USB 2.0 compliant High Speed
Supported OS Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (32bit, 64bit), Windows 8.1 (32bit, 64bit),
Windows 10 (32bit, 64bit)
macOS 10.11–10.14
Included items USB cable
• Specications and appearance are subject to change without notice for improvement.
* All product names and company names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective owners.