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                             Readme
                      DSD to PCM Playback Plug-in          Version 1.0
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This file describes the latest information for the DSD to PCM Playback 
Plug-in. 
Please read this before using the DSD to PCM Playback Plug-in.

This Readme is divided into the following sections:
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1) About This Program
2) Before Using the DSD to PCM Playback Plug-in
   - System Requirements
   - System Requirements for 24 bit/96 kHz Playback
3) Important Notes
   - Installation
   - DSD Files Playback
   - CD creation with Windows Media Player
   - Associating the DSF file extension with Windows Media Player
4) Legal Notice

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1) About This Program

- By installing this program, DSD files (extension: *.dsf) can be played
  on the Windows Media Player by converting the files to PCM format.

  Note: Because a DSD file is converted to PCM format,
  the audio quality is not the same as the DSD original audio quality.

  Note: A VAIO computer that supports DSD playback can play DSD files
  with the original audio quality.
 

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2) Before Using the DSD to PCM Playback Plug-in

- System Requirements

This program has been tested and validated to work with the following 
environments only. Other environments are not supported.
 
  - Windows Media Player 10 or Windows Media Center preinstalled 
    on VAIO computers with an installation of Windows XP.
     
  - Windows Media Player 11 or Windows Media Center preinstalled 
    on VAIO computers with an installation of Windows Vista.
     
  - Intel Celeron Processor 1.6 GHz or faster

- System Requirements for 24 bit/96 kHz playback.

  - Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.0 GHz or faster

  - Processor with Multi-Core or Hyper Threading (HT) Technology

  - Default DirectSound Device supports 24 bit/96 kHz playback

  - When using Windows Vista, the "sample rate and bit depth to be used  
    when running in shared mode" setting of the default playback device  
    must be set to 96 kHz or greater.

    Follow these steps to adjust this setting:

    1. Open the Windows Control Panel.
    2. Click "Hardware and Sound."
    3. Click "Sound."
    4. In the window that appears, click the device with the check mark.
    5. Click "Properties."
    6. Click "Advanced."
    7. Select one of the following options for "the sample rate and bit  
       depth to be used when running in shared mode":

        - 16 bit/96 kHz
        - 16 bit/176 kHz
        - 16 bit/192 kHz
        - 24 bit/96 kHz
        - 24 bit/176 kHz
        - 24 bit/192 kHz

  Note: When these conditions are not fulfilled, playback will be 
        16 bit/44.1 kHz.


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3) Important Notes

- Installation

  - When using Windows Vista
    When you install the DSD to PCM Playback Plug-in on your computer 
    as a standard user, Windows will ask you to provide an administrator 
    password. In this case, enter the password.

  - When using Windows XP
    To install this program, you must log on to the computer using 
    an account with administrator privileges. 
    (For example, Administrator User Accounts.)
    If you have logged on using a Limited User Account, log off 
    and log back on using an account with administrator privileges.

  - If the DSD Playback Plug-in has already been installed, 
    This program cannot be installed.

  - You do not need to install this program to a VAIO computer 
    that supports DSD playback because it can play DSD files 
    with the original audio quality.

- DSD Files Playback

  - If the system requirements are not fulfilled, audio playback 
    may jump or not play normally.

- CD creation with Windows Media Player

  - When adding DSD files, you can create a data CD using the writing function 
    of Windows Media Player. However, this data CD is not compliant with 
    DSD Disc specifications.

- Associating the DSF file extension with Windows Media Player

  - If you install Windows Media Player after installing this program,
    Windows Media Player will not be registered as the player for DSF
    files (*.dsf).

    To make Windows Media Player the default player for DSF files, right- 
    click a DSF file in Windows Explorer, select Properties from the  
    shortcut menu, and, in the window that appears, select Windows Media  
    Player as the program to open DSF files.

   
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4) Legal Notice 

VAIO is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

"Direct Stream Digital", DSD and their logos are trademarks of 
Sony Corporation.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows Media Player and Media Center are 
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States 
and/or other countries.

Intel, Celeron and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of 
Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Other system names and product names appearing herein are generally trademarks 
or registered trademarks of their respective makers. These trademarks are not 
denoted in this document by means of the TM or (R) symbols. 

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  Readme.txt / Copyright 2007 Sony Corporation