HDX- "ripping to a NAS"

Posted by: gary1 (US) on 03 August 2009

Seems like the new software release is in beta testing and will be released sometime soon.

One thing that's been stated is that you will be able to "rip to a NAS." What does this mean, exactly since there may be ramificiations as to how the data is managed.

Is the CD ripped "directly" to the NAS?

or

Is the CD ripped to the HDX and then the file transferred intact to the NAS with all of the data, metadata etc...?

It would seem if the CD is ripped first to the HDX, then in transfer to a NAS and then replayed it would be recognized as an HDX file, but what happens if the file is ripped to the NAS directly--does this potentially effect the data and the HDXs ability to recognize it with all of the metadata as well.

Finally, if ripped to and then transferred, this would imply that you have to have room to at least rip the CD to the HDX first before the data is tranferred.

Any thoughts, comments?
Posted on: 03 August 2009 by garyi
I would hope that it goes to the HDX first then after the rip or at a time decided by the user the files transferred.

In my experience ripping direct to network attached storage can be problematic. In general I have had issues with DVD which is obviously more intensive, but I certainly learned quickly, rip locally before transferring at least the way if the network pisses with you, you still have the intact rip to try moving again.

Would be interesting to know if the rips can be used by other programmes.
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by MrPlanner
The rip 2 Nas, rips to the HDX first, and then transfers to the NAS once the rip is complete.
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by David Dever
Conceptually, you have "Network Shares", which are host-scanned; from this pool, you may elevate any of these to "Music Stores", which may be prioritized (e.g., to rip discs for storage on NAS).

It will now be possible to store NO discs on the server (reducing drive noise, if audible); likewise, it is also possible to back up your network storage onto another network volume.

Music Stores are automatically attached at boot time, and music stored on these comes up under "Local Player" (rather than "Network Shares").

There are other aspects of the GUI that resemble the intermediate beta GUI for SP10 that many of you have seen on the Summer Sounds roadshow–including, for example, deletion of whole albums from the front panel, as well as an easy switch between "CD Mode" (in which the player becomes an interactive, hard-disk buffered CD player) or "Rip Mode" (standard rip-to-server functionality) which is handy for retailers.

There are other features coming, but I'll leave it to Naim to let those kittens out of the bag.
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by Klout10
David,

Thank you for the information. Does the new software also include some bug fixes?

I've ripped a CD from the band Therapy? You should note that the question mark (?) is part of the band name.

When playing the CD through the HDX, I've noticed that the question mark was replaced by a minus sign (-). I started the DTC to change it back to a question mark, but it seems not possible. I've had some similar experience with an album containing an ":" (is it called a relation sign in English?) in the album title.

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by Klout10
What about the possibility to add cover art manually via the DTC??

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by MrPlanner
please read forum post HDX software upgrade, this includes new features list - the release also includes numerous bug fixes
Posted on: 04 August 2009 by David Dever
quote:
Originally posted by Klout10:
David,

Thank you for the information. Does the new software also include some bug fixes?

I've ripped a CD from the band Therapy? You should note that the question mark (?) is part of the band name.

When playing the CD through the HDX, I've noticed that the question mark was replaced by a minus sign (-). I started the DTC to change it back to a question mark, but it seems not possible. I've had some similar experience with an album containing an ":" (is it called a relation sign in English?) in the album title.


This is an operating system issue, methinks. Not all of the IT world is Unicode-clean....
Posted on: 07 August 2009 by AV@naim
quote:
Originally posted by gary1 (US):
.

Is the CD ripped "directly" to the NAS?

or

Is the CD ripped to the HDX and then the file transferred intact to the NAS with all of the data, metadata etc...?


It will be ripped to the HDX internally, then if the user has specified a network store as a destination, it will automatically transfer it to that location, with associated folder.jpg and cddb/amg files.

A priority system can be setup to allow you to select primary, secondary, tertiary storage etc devices.

If the unit is "full", there is a cache to make sure that there is enough room for a disc worth of storage in case the storage medium is offline. Otherwise the disc will be ejected before ripping commences.
Posted on: 07 August 2009 by BernardG
I notice someone from Naim offering some information. Perhaps we could have more input from Naim about products, specifications and in my opinion road maps about Naim products?
Posted on: 08 August 2009 by jon h
quote:
Originally posted by David Dever:
quote:
Originally posted by Klout10:
David,

Thank you for the information. Does the new software also include some bug fixes?

I've ripped a CD from the band Therapy? You should note that the question mark (?) is part of the band name.

When playing the CD through the HDX, I've noticed that the question mark was replaced by a minus sign (-). I started the DTC to change it back to a question mark, but it seems not possible. I've had some similar experience with an album containing an ":" (is it called a relation sign in English?) in the album title.


This is an operating system issue, methinks. Not all of the IT world is Unicode-clean....



The actual problem is in the NTFS file system. NTFS itself is fully Unicode supporting. However, names can contain any characters, including spaces, except the following which are reserved because they are generally used as file name or operating system delimiters or operators: ? " / \ < > * | :

I expect the Naim software is storing the band name as filename or directory name. And thus "?" is not allowed in a file system filename. Hence the problem.
Posted on: 08 August 2009 by David Dever
quote:
I expect the Naim software is storing the band name as filename or directory name. And thus "?" is not allowed in a file system filename. Hence the problem.


Given the constraints, this seems acceptable to me as one still possesses access to the filenames in a meaningful way, without creating an unreasonable dichotomy between the display of track names from music stores (which are referenced against the internal database) and network shares (where CIFS restricts the available characters further).
Posted on: 08 August 2009 by David Dever
quote:
Perhaps we could have more input from Naim about products, specifications and in my opinion road maps about Naim products?


On what business or competitive basis would that be meaningful without shooting oneself in the foot, IMHO?
Posted on: 08 August 2009 by jon h
quote:
Originally posted by David Dever:
quote:
I expect the Naim software is storing the band name as filename or directory name. And thus "?" is not allowed in a file system filename. Hence the problem.


Given the constraints, this seems acceptable to me as one still possesses access to the filenames in a meaningful way, without creating an unreasonable dichotomy between the display of track names from music stores (which are referenced against the internal database) and network shares (where CIFS restricts the available characters further).


Well you either do that or use a proper database in which you could drop the music files as binary blobs, for example. Given the limited amount of searching, its almost certainly overkill for something consumer oriented like HDX. But would be worth looking at for a more intense application, like a radio station library.
Posted on: 08 August 2009 by David Dever
quote:


quote:
Given the constraints, this seems acceptable to me as one still possesses access to the filenames in a meaningful way, without creating an unreasonable dichotomy between the display of track names from music stores (which are referenced against the internal database) and network shares (where CIFS restricts the available characters further).


Well you either do that or use a proper database in which you could drop the music files as binary blobs, for example. Given the limited amount of searching, its almost certainly overkill for something consumer oriented like HDX. But would be worth looking at for a more intense application, like a radio station library.


Nearly every integrator I've spoken with has mentioned proprietary storage schemas as one of the most irritating aspects of legacy server systems, especially when the drives go south (or the server is no longer actively supported). Same goes for TV/radio production (360 Systems comes to mind).

There is no perfect solution, but a long list of potential iterations....
Posted on: 09 August 2009 by ferenc
quote:
Originally posted by David Dever:
[QUOTE]

[QUOTE]...Same goes for TV/radio production (360 Systems comes to mind).



Very familiar name, I built dozens of 360 Systems products to different Radio/TV systems. I could write a book issues of Grass Valley Group shared storage systems, Avid Unity systems, or putting Apple Final Cut Pros on a SANmp shared storage systems with Protools.
Posted on: 09 August 2009 by Klout10
quote:
Originally posted by jon honeyball:
The actual problem is in the NTFS file system. NTFS itself is fully Unicode supporting. However, names can contain any characters, including spaces, except the following which are reserved because they are generally used as file name or operating system delimiters or operators: ? " / \ < > * | :

I expect the Naim software is storing the band name as filename or directory name. And thus "?" is not allowed in a file system filename. Hence the problem.


Thank you for your clear explanation. However, I doubt if Naim will/can provide a solution for this problem...

Regards,
Michel
Posted on: 10 August 2009 by jon h
It might be fixable -- for example, it might be possible to write a file system filter driver which sits between the OS and the file system, and replaces characters like ? with something which is storable, and to do this on the fly?
Posted on: 10 August 2009 by jon h
Unix file system allows for ? in a filename, I think. So the Posix file system driver for windows would probably allow for this

Whether this is worth the effort is entirely another matter.
Posted on: 10 August 2009 by jon h
Mac HFS (which is Unix derived) has no problems with ? in the filename and directory name.
Posted on: 12 August 2009 by Frank Abela
The HDX is XP-based so how is this relevant?
Posted on: 12 August 2009 by graham55
Am I right in thinking that the HDX can only store 600 CDs' worth of music? Not that I was thinking of buying one, but that alone would rule it out for me.

And I don't suppose that there's any simple way of transferring LPs?

Graham
Posted on: 12 August 2009 by Manu
You have no intention to buy one, so you don't need to know how you can store more than 600 CDs...
And thanks for your post, it brings interesting new info in this topic...
Posted on: 13 August 2009 by graham55
Manu, you're right, and may I thank you for your insight. It certainly shows where you're coming from. Remind me never to come into your shop in Montreal, though!

As I understand it, the HDX comes in slightly below the (old) CDX-2 in quality terms. I'll stick with my ten-year-old CDS II. Thing is that, if I were to buy a new piece of kit, I'd be looking for an increase in performance, not a decrease.

Graham
Posted on: 13 August 2009 by BigH47
Great sales technique, just back from the customer service course?
Posted on: 13 August 2009 by jon h
quote:
Originally posted by Frank Abela:
The HDX is XP-based so how is this relevant?


See my comment about posix file system.