What ABC Player does
VinylRest ABC Player is a native macOS application for critical audio comparison. It plays two compatible files from the same frame position and provides three instant monitoring choices: the original Source, the processed Cleaned file, and their live Difference.
A · Source file
B · Cleaned file
Shared sample timeline
A, B or C = A − B
Comparison stays literal: ABC Player does not resample, trim, align, normalize or convert either file. A and B must already describe the same sample timeline.
Choose a chapter
Getting startedPlace the app in Applications, choose a compatible pair and complete a first A/B/C comparison.
Interface and controlsLearn the file cards, track buttons, shared transport, scrubber, format readout and keyboard shortcuts.
Synchronized comparisonUnderstand the shared timeline, instant monitor switching, C = A − B and a reliable listening protocol.
Formats and troubleshootingCheck the supported lossless formats, compatibility rules, appearance settings and common errors.
Recommended first comparison
- Select Choose A · Source and open the original reference file.
- Select Choose B · Cleaned and open the processed version of the same recording.
- Confirm that both cards report the same sample rate, channel count and duration.
- Select Play, then use A Source and B Cleaned to judge the audible result at the same playback position.
- Select C Difference to hear what is present in A but absent from B.
Listen in short loops of attention: switch A/B several times around one voice, cymbal, reverb tail or transient. Then use C to identify whether the processing removed only the intended defect.
Requirements
- Mac
- macOS 13 or later. The Universal 2 application runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
- Containers
- WAV, AIFF/AIF, FLAC and lossless ALAC in an
.m4acontainer. Lossy AAC in.m4ais rejected. - Channels
- Mono or stereo. A and B must have the same channel count.
- Timeline
- A and B must have the same sample rate and exact frame count.
- Output
- Playback uses the current macOS audio output device.
Conventions used in this manual
- Bold names such as C Difference reproduce labels in the application.
- “Frame” means one sample-time position across all channels, not a compressed-audio packet.
- “Source” and “Cleaned” describe the intended roles of A and B; the application does not alter either file.
- C is a live monitor path. ABC Player does not create a third audio file.