A guy reached out to us that uses Gig Performer in the studio for the monitoring signal path.
Honestly, there is no better solution on the market for this.
Turns out that there are private Discord groups for this market and lots of talk is happening there.
He created a small write-up that I wanted to share here.
.
"Why do you need additional software with a pure DAC/amp?
A device like the Topping DX5 II is essentially a DAC/headphone amplifier.
It provides audio outputs, but no “virtual inputs/loopback channels” that would allow audio to be internally rerouted.
So, if audio (system sound, Tidal, Spotify, DAW) is supposed to be fed into Gig Performer in order to insert plugins there (e.g. an EQ for headphone correction), routing software is required under Windows that simulates virtual inputs and outputs.
For this purpose, VB-Audio VoiceMeeter can be used (virtual channels) together with the VoiceMeeter Insert (virtual ASIO), which Gig Performer can “dock” to.
Signal flow (target):
Audio → VoiceMeeter (virtual input) → VoiceMeeter INSERT (virtual ASIO) → Gig Performer (EQ) → back to VoiceMeeter → DX5 II → Headphones
.
Step-by-step (1, 2, 3, …)
Install VoiceMeeter (virtual channels + Insert):
(1) Install VoiceMeeter Banana (or Potato).
(2) Restart Windows (important, otherwise the virtual audio devices / ASIO components will be missing).
Set the DX5 II as the hardware output in VoiceMeeter:
(3) Start VoiceMeeter.
(4) In the top right under A1 (Hardware Out), select the Topping DX5 II
– if available: ASIO: … Topping/DX5…
– o otherwise: WDM/KS: … Topping/DX5…
(5) In VoiceMeeter, choose a fixed sample rate (e.g. 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz).
Feed audio into VoiceMeeter (virtual input):
(6) Open Windows Sound Settings → Output (default device).
(7) Set the default output to: “VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter VAIO)”.
→ Result: Everything the system plays back arrives on the VoiceMeeter VAIO channel.
Connect Gig Performer 5 to the VoiceMeeter INSERT (virtual insert channel):
(8) Start Gig Performer 5 → Options / Audio.
(9) Set:
– Driver Type: ASIO
– Audio Device: “VoiceMeeter Insert Virtual ASIO” (must contain “Insert”)
(10) Set the sample rate in Gig Performer to the same value as in VoiceMeeter (e.g. 48 kHz).
(11) Set the buffer/block size initially to 256 samples.
VoiceMeeter: Activate the insert patch (so that VAIO really runs through GP):
(12) In the VoiceMeeter: Menu → System Settings / Options.
(13) In the PATCH INSERT section, activate the stereo insert 1/2
(Send/Return), so that:
• audio is sent to Gig Performer (Insert Send)
• and the processed signal returns (Insert Return)
.
Goal: The VAIO stream (app/system audio) should go via Insert 1/2 into Gig Performer and return to VoiceMeeter as a processed signal.
.
Gig Performer: Insert EQ (headphone correction with MEqualizer):
(14) In Gig Performer, make sure that Audio In 1/2 and Audio Out 1/2 are enabled (Options → Audio I/O).
(15) Open or create a rackspace.
(16) Insert the plugin: MeldaProduction – MEqualizer, or load an existing or preconfigured “Start Up” file.
(17) Patch (stereo):
Audio In 1/2 → MEqualizer → Audio Out 1/2
(18) In MEqualizer, set up the headphone correction or load a suitable correction curve for a specific headphone model.
VoiceMeeter: Send the return signal to the DX5 II:
(19). In VoiceMeeter, route the return signal (coming back from Gig Performer) to A1.
(20) A1 is the DX5 II → this sends the signal to the headphones.
Very important: Avoid double signal / phasing:
(21) If the unfiltered VAIO signal is audible directly on A1 and at the same time the filtered return signal is also routed to A1, echo / flanger / phasing effects will occur.
(22) Solution: Disable the direct routing of the VAIO strip to A1, so that only the processed signal (insert return) is audible.
Test:
(23) Play audio (e.g. Tidal / Spotify / DAW) → the level meter in VoiceMeeter must show activity on the VAIO channel.
(24) In Gig Performer, Input 1/2 must react.
(25) Toggle MEqualizer on/off → the difference must be immediately audible.
(26) Audio finally comes out via the DX5 II → headphones.