Meta Data issue with WAV files and NDX

Posted by: meaculpa on 08 October 2011

Hi all,

 

I think I may no what the issue could be, however I would like to check with some of the experts inn the forum, as the alternative fix is not one I want to really follow!

 

Following the general advice on this forum, I ripped my 5,000 or so CD's into WAV with dbPoweamp, which are then stored on my Western Digital NAS Book running Twonky.  I originally uses Sonos through current 202/200 set up and all was fine.  Album art, data etc all found and all functions working.

 

However, when I added the NDX and (n-stream, I get two lines of unknown data on every track.  In addition I have noted that I only have about 30 albums if I use the Albums or Artists sub group via n-stream (and hence also on Twonky when I go in and dig into it.  However pointing it at the folders (which i have arranged as Artist - Album - Track in the usual computer levels) it works fine but data is missing above.

 

The only albums, artists I can see are those downloads fro Naim, Linn, HD Tracks etc in FLAC.

 

What I am beginning to think, is that although dbPoweramp does do metadata within the ripped file, it cannot be picked up by Twonky or n-steam.

 

Does this mean that I will have to re-rip all my CD's to FLAC if I want the full information?

 

I really do not want to do this, and am becoming increasingly frustrated with Naim over this and the whole Hi res thing.  I think that I will just qualify under the three month rule for upgrade, but it is still all the hassle of splitting the system down re-instating the Sonos and going without something I have just paid over £3,000 for!  I know the SQ is great but come on guys this is not an insignificant investment.

 

Anyway rant over!

 

Any advice on the metadata issue would be much appreciated.

 

Andrew

Posted on: 08 October 2011 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Andrew, this has absolutely nothing to do with the NDX, but all to do with uPNP server you are using. Garbage in Garbage out, if your uPNP server is not providing the information to the NDX and the controller it can't use it.
There appear several uPNP servers out there that use quite old code and not optimised for extensible WAV files used for hidef and id3 tagging.
There are many good uPNP servers out there, the one I use with no problems what so ever is Asset, but I'm sure others will point to others. I abandoned Twonky, it's a bit long in the tooth now and the world has moved on.
Simon
Posted on: 08 October 2011 by rich46

ive gone from twonky to assett   similar problem now sorted

Posted on: 08 October 2011 by Richard Dane

Andrew, as Simon says, this is nothing to do with n-Stream but rather the upnp server.  n-Stream can only read what the upnp server "serves" to it.  If you're using DBpoweramp WAV rips then the ideal server is something like Asset.  WIth other servers there may be metadata issues with DBPA WAVs although hopefully these will get sorted out as they develop in the future.

 

Posted on: 08 October 2011 by Jack
I'll be in a similar situation myself when NDX arrives and have been thinking about my options.....all my CDs are ripped to WAV and stored on QNAP NAS. I know as many have discovered that Twonky on QNAP doesn't work well with WAV metadata. I'm thinking I could either convert all my WAVs to FLAC (uncompressed) and use Twonky (saves purchasing anything else) or purchase a small server to run Asset and point it to QNAP. I guess others have done similar, any recommendations for small server for running Asset?
Posted on: 08 October 2011 by Richard Dane

Jack, probably the easiest solution to start would be a netbook or laptop running Asset.  I usually have a laptop on all the time so Asset is always available in the background. This will allow you to keep the NAS as is. The laptop doesn't use much power.  Otherwise a dedicated server running windows would be the best solution.  They're getting quite cheap these days and again, with new low power chipsets and processors, you can run them all the time without worrying about power consumption too much.

Posted on: 09 October 2011 by meaculpa

Thanks to Simon, Rich and Richard.  I at least know that I do not face having to re-rip all my CD's.  I have tried Asset on my Mac with Crossover, but I cannot point it at the NAS (Asset in this mode cannot see any network drives), but will try it with Parallels to see if it works, and the NDX can see the server through the Parallels system.

 

I am not sure about how to go forward, as I have the current NAS wired to a router (in bridge mode), which the NDX is also wired to so I do not have to use wireless.  Even if I could get the Mac to work as a server (which is in another room), would it be wireless to the NDX, or would the instruction go from the server to NAS  by wireless and then wired from NAS to NDX?

 

It looks like the best solution is a Ripnas or a quiet PC/Laptop with a big drive internal/attached running Windows Home Server with Asset

Posted on: 09 October 2011 by Hook
Originally Posted by meaculpa:

Thanks to Simon, Rich and Richard.  I at least know that I do not face having to re-rip all my CD's.  I have tried Asset on my Mac with Crossover, but I cannot point it at the NAS (Asset in this mode cannot see any network drives), but will try it with Parallels to see if it works, and the NDX can see the server through the Parallels system.

 

I am not sure about how to go forward, as I have the current NAS wired to a router (in bridge mode), which the NDX is also wired to so I do not have to use wireless.  Even if I could get the Mac to work as a server (which is in another room), would it be wireless to the NDX, or would the instruction go from the server to NAS  by wireless and then wired from NAS to NDX?

 

It looks like the best solution is a Ripnas or a quiet PC/Laptop with a big drive internal/attached running Windows Home Server with Asset

 

HI Meaculpa -

 

In the scenario you describe, unfortunately everything would be going through your wireless Mac.  

 

The Ripnas looks pretty cool, but if you want to extend the life of your current WD NAS, I think you would be well served by purchasing an inexpensive Windows netbook (one that has a wired ethernet port), or an old, used laptop.  Either would do well as your NDX's Asset server.  Note that Asset does not require WHS -- it does just fine on Windows 7.

 

Hook

 

Posted on: 09 October 2011 by rich46

had ripnas 2yrs worked perfect from day one/dbpwer and windows home server very stable.  one thing i have done and it seems to make a difference ,i have used two 300mm cat 6 cable via a netgear powered switch to connect the streamer to ripnas.  cables from maplin about a fiver each and switch 14 quid

Posted on: 09 October 2011 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi, as Hook says most windows OS work with Asset, it dent need to be WHS, although the latter is best placed for little servers in terms of robustness and reliability.
Simon
Posted on: 11 October 2011 by GrahamFinch
Hi, This similar to a thread I am following on the Nstream update. Can Richard or Simon please explain how Asset can run on a Qnap NAS. One reason for me getting a NAS was to avoid the need for a pc to be running all the time. Thanks. Graham
Posted on: 11 October 2011 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi Graham, u fortunately I dont think Asset can run on QNAP. It has to have a windows based OS currently.
Simon
Posted on: 11 October 2011 by Jack

Graham.....Simon is correct, Asset can not run on QNAP. Asset runs on Windows based machines and QNAP is Linux based