UnitiServe-SSD Folder View?

Posted by: MMcCulloch on 28 January 2013

Is it possible to browse by folder using the n-Serve app with a US-SSD?  By way of background, I plan to add the US-SSD with a Synology NAS to my system (282/200/HCDR/NAPSC/NDAC), and it will replace an SB Touch.  My music files (approx. 18,000) are arranged in folders based on format (WAV, HiRes FLAC, and ALAC).  As those folders contain many duplicate tracks (i.e., the same track but in different formats), I enjoy the ability to browse by folder and then select an album to play from within that particular folder -- the SB app provides this functionality.   Is this possible from the n-Serve app?  For example, if I have a folder on my NAS called "WAV Jazz Files," can I navigate to this folder from n-Serve and then select an album from within that folder?  Additionally, does n-Serve allow me to browse to a parent folder such as "WAV Jazz files" and then play (randomly) all of the tracks within that folder? Thanks and apologies if this has been answered previously.

Posted on: 28 January 2013 by T38.45

Hi,

Afaik it is not possible to browse by folder, US relies on propper tagging (my US w/ normal 2TB does at least)

 

Cheers

Ralf

Posted on: 28 January 2013 by nbpf
Originally Posted by T38.45:
Afaik it is not possible to browse by folder, US relies on propper tagging (my US w/ normal 2TB does at least)

This would be very disappointing. Browsing by folders is the most elementary way of navigating a collection of items. Selecting items by tag (or tag predicate) is an option I hardly need. Best, nbpf

Posted on: 29 January 2013 by rjstaines

Yes you can, up to a point, MMc.   n-serve calls them 'devices' and lists all your shared folders on the NAS drive, you can then browse within any folder by scrolling through the albums within.  However as T38 says, if you go in initially by Artist, Album etc, rather than 'Folder' you don't get to choose a folder withing that category.

But who knows what's coming out of Salisbury next, eh?

Posted on: 29 January 2013 by Bart
Originally Posted by rjstaines:

Yes you can, up to a point, MMc.   n-serve calls them 'devices' and lists all your shared folders on the NAS drive, you can then browse within any folder by scrolling through the albums within.  However as T38 says, if you go in initially by Artist, Album etc, rather than 'Folder' you don't get to choose a folder withing that category.

But who knows what's coming out of Salisbury next, eh?

This solution will get you pretty close.  I keep all of my Hi Res music in a folder named "Hi Res" and it shows up as a device.  I can chose it and then see everything in it by Artist, Album, Genre, etc. 

 

But I have also taken to adding "[Hi Res]" at the end of album name tags, and can use the search function to list just the Hi Res albums by name.  There are this and other ways to use tags to be able to sort as you wish, but that's different than your use of folders which I understand you've gotten used to.

Posted on: 29 January 2013 by MMcCulloch
Thanks for these helpful replies. To clarify, I will create numerous folders as Shares (e.g., WAV Jazz, HiRes Blues, ALAC) on my NAS. Through the devices menu on nServe, I will be able to see these folders on my NAS and either search them to play individual albums/tracks or play the entire folder with tracks arranged randomly (shuffled). Is that correct? Much appreciated!
Posted on: 29 January 2013 by rjstaines

Yes, MM, that'll work well for you.  Sounds like we all do some kind of categorising by folder - Bart's HiRes folder for example, and nserve operation works well when that's done.  For me, I separate out hires, classical, soul and three or four other top-level groupings which work for me & my music collection.   One of these days I'll get round to fixing the Genre in all my albums, but that'll be a long job, even using Bliss !

Posted on: 28 September 2013 by nbpf

Is it possible to browse by folders a device connected to the USB port of a DN5 XS using n-serve ? Thanks, nbpf