Best UPnP Server software for Mac

Tog,

I have spent (wasted) hours of my life trying every UPNP server I could get my hands on for the Mac.

Gave up on Twonky after it spawned 500,000+ files on my HD and ground my iMac to a halt. Subsequent versions stopped doing this, but don't seem to play nicely with iTunes playlists.

Allegro also unstable and getting quite old and unsupported AFAIK.

Chorus DS and Songbook both claim to share your music using UPNP, but don't seem to work for me, or not for long enough to keep them.

I have settled on running EyeConnect (for stability) and Playback (FLAC support without needing transcoding). Both run simultaneously without any problems.

I also keep an eye on Majestic - this offers transcoding, but only to mp3 at present, but I believe this is planned to improve soon.

Good luck,
John

I find Asset UPnP the most stable on PC. It can be used on MAC with CrossOver.

Don't know how it integrates with n-stream though. But there is a trial period so you can always try.

-
aleg

I've been using iSedora for a long time now and am pleased with it. It offers some 'tweakability' in that it'll transcode anything to LPCM but also allow formats that the Uniti supports through unchanged. It's not free, but you can demo it before purchase.

I'm not too sure any of you experience the problem I'm facing. Whenever my WiFi network goes busy (bandwidth utilized by other PCs/laptops), the UnitiQute will hang in a state of "Initializing Inputs". When it's in this state, UPnP and iRadio will not work. This can be temporarily rectified by:

1. Power cycle the box
2. Goto Network Settings, disable WiFi and re-enable

During the "Initializing Inputs" state, the UnitiQute will not be ping-able, nor accessed via internet browser.

My Uniti will not experience such problem when the WiFi is congested, at most it'll just stop UPnP/iRadio streaming.

Tog
what version of EyeConnect are you using (1.6.7 ?) and are you streaming ALAC files for transcoding?

Just wondered as I cannot stream ALAC files with the recent version but any other formats seems ok.

Hi Cycleallday

Am running Eyeconnect 1.6.7 but only use aiff - it works but is hardly graceful. Have tried iSedora but so far the results are mixed.

The Unitiserve or a new flash based Macbook Air...hmmm I'm tempted.

Tog

Can't say I blame you there...the MacBook Air is one sexy little thing. But, but.....I would be very surprised if it sounded as good as the Serve. Not least that the serve has one function and the mac has many many. Oh and yes....Eyconnect (on MacBook Pro) can and does work perfectly for me. I can see it on the Qute, sounds great and shows up on the new Rotel piece just fine also.
In short, does the job with little fuss and a quiet stability that is very reasuring.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by John Bleasdale:
Tog,


I have settled on running EyeConnect (for stability) and Playback (FLAC support without needing transcoding). Both run simultaneously without any problems.

DEAR JOHN,

i have to admit with my MacBook Pro and Uniti (Firmware 3.0) I was unable to get FLAC to be played back via eyeconnect although it plays well from my buffallo linkstation. Also MP3s and AAC play well. Any suggestions on configuration?

Eyeconnect is great (well in upnp terms) at transcoding aiff I'm not sure it likes flac.

Tog

MusicFiend, EyeConnect doesn't support FLAC.
I use Playback instead - this just streams the FLACs to my Qute with no transcoding (as none is required).

Do you use playback with n-stream?

How do you organise your flac files outside of iTunes?

Tog

Hi Tog.

Yes, Playback works with n-stream.
I just keep my FLACs in a separate folder to iTunes and then configure this as an extra folder indexed within Playback - works well.

I did try using Fluke to fudge FLACs into iTunes. This worked for FLAC management in iTunes but was very flakey and the plug-in crashed too frequently to make it worth the trouble.

John

Sounds good John - do you manage to get album art with flac and n-stream?

Tog

Tog - no, I don't get album artwork from either EyeConnect or Playback.
Artwork does work with Majestic however.

So...

EyeConnect - transcodes ALAC (v1.6.3 or earlier), no artwork, no FLAC
Playback - plays FLACs natively, no artwork, no transcoding, no ALAC
Majestic - artwork works, transcoding is lossy and broken

John

Thanks John

So to sum up ...most UPnP servers for Mac will not handle album art, are limited in the files they will transmit or transcode and are a little bit rubbish really.

Well rubbish in the sense that you would like them to work at least as well as Apple's remote or Chorus

Yes I know ...UPnP has aloud of issues...has to work with gazillions of different renderers players etc .. But really this is a bit weak...Naim need to get a grip with this ... Either they are selling a closed Unitiserve based UPnP solution or kit that can use off the self UPnP software on Nas / computers.

At the moment I am spending more time faffing about with software than listening to the music.

Anyone know if Vortexbox will handle more than two things at once like flac and album art?

Tog