Foobar2000 music player is a cross-platform and free audio player. It can be found on almost all devices running Windows OS, iOS and Android OS, etc. However, there is no Tidal Foobar2000 integration. Besides, with the shift to 64-bit architecture in Foobar2000 v2.25+, many legacy plugins have broken.
In this article, we will show how to play Tidal on Foobar2000 in 3 ways, including using Virtual Audio Cable, UPnP/DLNA server and AudFree Tidal Music Converter.
Part 1. Why Play Tidal through Foobar2000?
Before learning how to connect Tidal to Foobar2000, we need to know why you want to do that. Here are some benefits.
1. Bypass the Windows Mixer: By using WASAPI (Exclusive Mode) or ASIO output components, ensure your DAC receives a pristine, unmodified audio stream, achieving "Bit-perfect" playback (up to 24-bit/192kHz).
2. Custom DSP (Digital Signal Processing) Chains: Directly apply high-end equalizers, headphone-specific Crossfeed effects, or VST plugins to your Tidal HiRes FLAC music playback.
3. Minimal System Overhead: Foobar2000 consumes only a fraction of the RAM and CPU resources required by the official Tidal application, which is built on the Electron architecture.
4. Unified Library: Seamlessly display and manage your Tidal "Max" (HiRes FLAC) tracks alongside your locally stored FLAC and DSD music collections within a single, lightweight interface.
Part 2. How to Connect Tidal to Foobar2000 via UPnP/DLNA
In this part, you will use Foobar2000 with Tidal via a UPnP/DLNA server, allowing you to use your smartphone as a high-end remote control.
Step 1. Make sure that you are using Foobar2000 v2.25 or v2.26 64-bit as these versions now include a built-in UPnP MediaRenderer.
Step 2. Open Foobar2000 and go to File > Preferences > Networking > UPnP > Remote Control. Then check the 'Allow remote control of this foobar2000 from your local area network' box. This makes your PC visible to Tidal app on your phone.
Step 3. On your mobile phone, open a DLNA-capable controller app like BubbleUPnP (Android) or mconnect Player (iOS). Then log in to your Tidal account within the app.
Step 4. Choose the Tidal track and set the 'Output Device' to your Foobar2000. After that, the Tidal music will now stream wirelessly to your PC with DSP processing.
Part 3. How to Play Tidal on Foobar2000 with Virtual Audio Cable
There is another solution to use Tidal with Foobar2000. That's to use Virtual Audio Cable. It is a virtual audio device that works as an audio "bridge" or "virtual cable" for audio routing within your computer. It allows you to transfer audio streams between applications or devices without any physical hardware. It enables advanced audio management and routing capabilities.
Step 1. Please fire up the Foobar2000 audio player and Tidal desktop app.
Step 2. Install the VB-Audio Virtual Cable software on your device.
Step 3. In the Tidal app, you need to navigate to 'Now Playing'. Hit the 'Sound output' icon.
Step 4. Click 'More settings' next to 'CABLE Input'. Customize output audio path as VB-Audio Virtual Cable.
Step 5. Now, open the Foobar2000 app and select 'File' > 'Add Location' > 'record://' > 'OK'.
Step 6. On the Foobar2000's main interface, click 'File' > 'Preferences' > 'Playback' > 'Output' > 'Device'. Then you should choose 'CABLE OUTPUT (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)' to play Tidal.
That's all about how to connect Tidal to Foobar2000. You can start to listen to Tidal on your Foobar2000 music player now.
Part 4. How to Use Tidal on Foobar2000 via AudFree Tidal Music Converter
Although there is no Foobar Tidal integration, you can try to add Tidal music to Foobar2000 as Foobar2000 supports importing local music files. It supports a wide range of audio formats including AAC, MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, ALAC and more. The most important thing you need to be aware of in this way is that Tidal has digital rights management. Therefore, you need to seek the help of professional tools to remove this limitation.
AudFree Tidal Music Converter is the best tool you can find. It can remove all restrictions of Tidal music and download Tidal music as your local files. With it, you can choose the output audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, etc. Thus, you can get audio files that are compatible with Foobar2000. Then you can play Tidal on Foobar2000 without any problem. What's more, you can play Tidal music on any player or device you want.
AudFree Tidal Converter will maintain the 100% lossless sound quality (24-bit/192kHz HiRes FLAC) of your Tidal music. So, you can enjoy lossless Tidal music with your Foobar2000 music player. What's even better is that the download speed is up to 37 times faster.
AudFree Tidal to Foobar2000 Converter
- Download Tidal music at 37X for playing on Foobar2000
- Convert Tidal to Foobar2000-supported audio formats like MP3
- Keep lossless Tidal audio quality with all the metadata kept
- Keep Tidal music forever without limits
Quickly install this software on your computer by clicking the "Try It Free" button above. Then, we will guide you on how to convert Tidal music and add it to Foobar2000 for offline playback. First, please launch the AudFree Tidal Music Downloader.
- Step 1. Adjust Tidal output format for Foobar2000
- Foobar2000 is compatible with a range of audio formats, including MP3, FLAC, AAC, etc. So, you can choose an output format among them. For Windows users, you can click the top-right menu to choose the 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' option to open the setting window. For Mac users, please click the 'AudFree Tidal Music Converter for Mac' from Apple's menu bar to open it. There are 7 output formats, audio channel, sample rate, or bit rate for your customization.
- 🔑 FYI: Foobar2000 Overview Info
View also: How to Convert Tidal Music to MP3
- Step 2. Add Tidal songs to AudFree Tidal Converter
- Find the Tidal songs you want to play on Foobar2000 and then click '+' > 'Add to list' to add them to the AudFree Tidal Music Converter.
- Step 3. Download and convert Tidal songs for Foobar2000
- Just hit the big 'Convert' button at the 'Converting' window. This tool will download the songs and convert them to target audio files you set before. After you download Tidal songs onto computer, you will be able to put downloaded Tidal files on Foobar2000 easily. You can find the local Tidal music via Converted > Open Folder on AudFree tool.
- Step 4. Stream Tidal to Foobar2000 Music Player
- To make Tidal Foobar2000 work, please open the Foobar2000 audio player on your computer. Then go to File > Preferences > Media Library > + Folder. Please choose the music folder containing your Tidal downloads and click 'Select Folder' to upload them to Foobar2000. Once done, you can start playing Tidal music on Foobar2000 offline.
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder can also help convert Tidal music for Foobar2000 audio player. It supports to download music from Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Qobuz and other popular streaming music services.
Part 5. Compare Ways to Play Tidal on Foobar2000
So, which method should you choose to stream Tidal music to Foobar2000? To make up your mind, you can check the comparison table of them below.
| Feature | Via UPnP/DLNA | Via Virtual Cable | Via AudFree Tidal Converter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Quality | Bit-Perfect (24-bit/192kHz) | System-Dependent | Pure 24-bit/192kHz FLAC |
| Complexity | Medium | High | Low |
| Primary Advantage | Phone-as-Remote | Official Tidal desktop UI | Offline/Stability |
| Audio Path | Network stream | Internal Virtual Bridge | Native local playback |
| Offline Use | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Stability | Moderate | High | Highest |
| Best For | Casual listening | Visual enthusiasts | Power users/Permanent use |
Part 6. FAQs about Tidal on Foobar2000
Is There a Foobar2000 Tidal Plugin?
No. Since Tidal uses a closed API, now there is no native login plugin available. But there are verified and effective workarounds, including using AudFree Tidal Converter, Virtual Audio Cable or UPnP/DLNA.
Is There a Foobar2000 Android Version to Stream Tidal?
Yes. Foobar2000 mobile and Foobar2000 Mac versions have been released. Just go to their website to download.
What Is the Foobar2000 Playback Speed When Playing Tidal?
In Foobar2000, the default playback speed is 1x. To adjust the playback speed in Foobar2000, you will need to use a plugin called 'SoundTouch'.
Does Foobar2000 Support Tidal Connect?
No, Foobar2000 does not natively support the Tidal Connect protocol. However, you can achieve a similar experience, streaming Tidal music to Foobar2000 for playback, by enabling the UPnP MediaRenderer feature within Foobar2000 and using a third-party app such as BubbleUPnP.
How to Fix Foobar2000 Stuttering When Streaming Tidal?
This is typically caused by network buffering issues. To resolve this, go to Foobar2000's Preferences > Playback > Output and increase the 'Buffer Duration' to 2000ms or higher. If you are using UPnP, please ensure that your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is stable.
Is Foobar2000 Better than the Tidal Desktop App for Sound Quality?
Technically speaking, yes. While both offer 'bit-perfect' audio playback, Foobar2000 allows for more advanced customization, such as high-end DSP effects, custom resampling, and a more efficient audio engine, the latter of which is more effective at mitigating system interference.
Does Foobar2000 Support Tidal's Dolby Atmos Tracks?
No. Foobar2000 is primarily a stereo (two-channel) audio engine. While it can play multi-channel files, it does not possess the proprietary decoders required to render Tidal Dolby Atmos metadata. To play Tidal Dolby Atmos content, you should use the official Tidal app or a compatible AVR device.
How Do I Fix 'Static Noise' When Playing Tidal through Foobar2000?
This is typically caused by digital clipping. Please check your DSP or Equalizer settings to see if any positive gain is applied. It is recommended that you use the 'Preamp' feature in Foobar2000 to reduce the gain by -2.0dB or -3.0dB, thereby ensuring sufficient 'headroom' for the audio signal.
Part 7. The Final Thought
We listed 3 ways to get Tidal on Foobar2000. If you want a convenient way, you can consider UPnP/DLNA servers. If you prefer Tidal app UI, you can choose Virtual Audio Cable method.
If you want to listen to Tidal music offline on your Foobar2000, AudFree Tidal Music Converter is the answer. It enables you to download Tidal music and add Tidal music to play on Foobar2000 without any problem. Besides, if you want to enjoy Tidal music on other music players or other devices, AudFree Tidable is your best choice.
Miley Swift
Staff Editor
