I have had my Qnap NAS for about 18 months, and it came bundled with 'Wonky Twonky' Media Server. I've never had to use it, as I used the excellent server on my UnitiServe. Sadly though, it's no longer an option to use that server, and life must move on without it. I've just spent the last two days trying to configure Twonky, and updated it to the latest 7.2.51.0 software .
Depending on what view I select, be it Folder, Artist, Album etc, they all display the albums, tracks and meta data in a different ways. The ripped CDs done with the UnitiServe are in the correct track order, but are missing some artwork and most of the meta data. The downloaded FLAC files from Linn, all show up in alphabetical order, rather than the correct track listing, but do display the artwork and meta data. I appreciate that the rips from the UnitiServe are stored differently and can only be accessed properly by that machine.
I decided to do test rip on my Mac, using XLD, it was ripped as a FLAC file. I made sure that all the artwork and data were correct, but when I put it on the NAS, Twonky would not display the artwork?
It looks as though I may get an ND5 XS or an NDS. However, it still wont read those files properly without the UnitiServe, so I was wondering if I converted the WAVs to FLAC, or even re ripped my CDs on something else, is there a NAS out there with a better server, that would read everything correctly. Funnily enough, Steve Hopkins uses a Qnap, as do other members, without any problems.
Any ideas would be welcome
Thanks
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by JSH:
This may help, though it is not purist and the purists may complain!!
Try a program called Jaikoz and open a folder there. Multiple copy all the filenames into the title column (highlight them all, then Control+C) and then paste them into the Title column (highlight all the rows and then Control + V); then save. An album takes a few seconds
You will then see on n-stream on your handset the files in the correct order ( especially useful for Classical music)
Some complain that Beethoven didn't write a piece called 01 Allegretto which is true, but it works this way and I would guess this would work whatever your server system (Like you, I don't understand all this Widow Twanky, QUp stuff and wouldn't feel confident changing it). You can batch change a whole host of files - I did 10,000 tracks in about a half hour. You can also tag with the other fields in the program, genre, artist, album and so on. I have no interest of any kind in Jaikoz and I am sure there are other programs equally good which will do the job including iTunes which I personally find a bit intrusive.
HTH
Hi JSH
When you say "multiple copy all the file names", do you mean the folder 'artist' name, the folder 'album' name, or even multiple 'track' names?
I tried iTunes, but when I tried to copy the files into the NAS, it did not display any artwork, as iTunes stores it differently. I am a Mac user.
Thanks
David
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by JSH
Hi David
I am not a Mac user so my experience is windows based. I don't use iTunes, and I do not know whether Jaikoz is available/applicable for Macs.
But if this helps, this is what I do.
Most of my folders are Classical. They are organized by composer, then work then artist; the individual movement are tracks (or songs as iTunes calls then - says it all about itunes! So if I want Beethoven Symphony no.1 by Klemperer I go Beethoven, Symphony 1, Klemperer and the files are in that folder.
For the Pop and Jazz records I have I use artist as the main folder and album below that.
I open a folder in Jaikoz eg Beethoven, Symphony No.1, Klemperer. What appears is a listing of the tracks under a column head called Filename. Depending on what ripping settings I have used, or it seems the random approach my ripper sometimes seems to adopt, I also have another column called Title shown in Jaikoz. This Title column is the one n-Stream shows but may not be the one I want. The Filename column is the one I use. It comes out 01 Lento, 02 Adagio etc etc whereas the Tile just shows Lento, Adagio etc. So I copy the Filename column using the usual Windows bulk highlighter and copy and paste that into the Title column. When n-Stream shows the files it now shows them 01 Adagio 02 Lento etc and so I can play things in the right order or just select one concerto and have the play back finish then. The key point is that it plays them in the correct order and not the alphabetical one.The purists say it is not elegant - true - but it works.
As to artist etc, Jaikoz also has columns for artist, album artist ( a distinction too subtle for me) composer, album title genre etc. Again often I seem to have to set these as the 12 year olds in the record companies who set the tags on Classical CDs seem to so often think that Mozart is an artist - I kid you not. So again I bulk set these values myself
HTH. Try it with one or two discs to see if you like it.
Reply back if you need any more info
JSH
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by garyi
My advice would be that if you are going to swap out the qnap, get something meaty.
As usual in computers processor and ram is king. All these off the shelf nases tend to be pretty poor in that department.
For instance pick up a proliant mini server. These can be had for little more than a hundy if you look around, usually have at least a decent dual core processor and 2 gigs of ram which can be expanded.
these devices are super, they are fast, can take five harddrives (one for the os) and because you are not constrained by some proprietary os can take a range of softwares.
sure you might need to get your hands dirty for a couple of hours, but the speed and stability is more than worth it.
the choices of server software is then yours. I used openmediavault. Its rock solid, uptime of months on one of my servers. It has a range of addons including dnla/upnp servers, can be a time machine destination and all sorts.
in short you could spec a fully function proper server with 6tb for around 500 quid. qnap et all will not come anywhere near on spec or size for that.
i will happily walk anyone through setting one up with openmediavault if they choose to do it.
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by The Meerkat
JSH...Thanks for your detailed info. Nice one!
Jason...Not even the 'good Lord' can save it now! 
Gary...Thanks, It's a very good option, and will consider that once my 'New Toy' arrives.
I have been attempting to use XLD this afternoon, to convert some WAVs to FLAC, I found that hard work, and still cant work out where the XLD player is, to play the FLAC files. (I used to be blonde in a previous life)....One piece of good news, dbpoweramp for OSX is under way, should be ready in a couple of months.
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by garyi
Didn't even know XLD was a player, you sure?
XLD is not the issue, WAVs is the issue, I know naim recommend them, but all in all they are a total nightmare.
Posted on: 21 December 2013 by The Meerkat
Gary...Errrrr, Just checked and this is what it say's..."X Lossless Decoder is a three-in-one tool i.e. a decoder, converter and a player for audio files in all of these formats namely, FLAC, APE, WV, TTA and Apple Lossless. It will also play AIFF, WAV and MP3 files. Once you've finished creating your lossless audio file"....Still can't see how to play them though! 
Yea you're right, WAVs are a tad tricky.
I think it's wine o'clock! 
Posted on: 23 December 2013 by Peter W
Originally Posted by Graham Hull:
You don't need to add the track number to the track name. The track number is part of the metadata encoded in the file, or will be if you have ripped the CD correctly. This is the %n placeholder in XLD. Note that the track number is not displayed in nStream.
I don't know what server you are using, but at least in my case track number prefixes are needed for my QNAP / Twonky to play tracks in the right order. Twonky just can't read metadata properly like other servers.
