UnUP server options for new MacBook Pro

my thoughts are get a nas.

Hi Minnow, what are you using to rip CD's?  On a Mac I would use XLD.

I have used Playback, and like it.  It uses iTunes library directly, so if you are an iTunes user it can be quite convenient.

Recently I have been using Minimserver, because of the way that it lists and sorts albums and artists - it enables use of the nStream search facility in where Playback does not (AFAIK).  In order to use play lists from iTunes, you have to export them every time they ae changed.

Many on this forum use AssetUPnP, which is about to be released for the Mac.

Others will be much more knowledgable than I - so maybe they will comment.

Cheers,

Charlie

XLD is a must.

I also would suggest a NAS of some sort. That way your macbook won't be clogged with music. How much space does your hard drive have?

+1 on external storage.  If you don't use a NAS you can use a hard drive that uses USB or Thunderbolt.  I assume you will be serving the music over ethernet.  

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose?  You would not be able to move the MBP around. Or am I missing something

I guess if you are playing music while you travel you would want it on your computer. But if it is just for home I'd get a NAS or maybe an external HD. With external HD try to get one that has lots of ventilation or a solid state. They aren't the most reliable things.

If you have NAS you can access it through your mac book pro by wifi.

What type of system will you be using for playback? headphones, stereo, Sonos type maybe?

GregU, you are right If OP is using the MBP for its intended purpose.

While it may seem wasteful to some, i used a Macbook for several years as a dedicated music server - it served no other purpose,  and sat on top of one of my hifi racks.   I have since replaced it with a MacMini, which is still dedicated to the hifi.  

Many say it is best to not put music on the same drive as the OS, though i dont know if Minnow wants to be that particular.  There certainly is an issue with disk space.  My music is over 600 GB, and growing.  There is also the issue of using WiFi instead of wired ethernet, which I prefer for reliability.

Charlie

Hi I use iTunes and i am keen to stick to that - just keeps things simple particularly when creating low res versions for phones, iPods, etc.

i will be ripping via a mac SuperDrive - what does XLD add?

cheers 

m

Yes I have one - it's an evil, buggy device which I often want to throw out the window - I am going to stick to my pro :-)

Hi I have a Qute, an WD MyBookLive and an AirPort Extreme.

Try Asset UPnP (beta) as your server, XLD as your ripper (until dBpoweramp for Mac beta sees light of day).  Set aside a separate partition on your internal drive for music.

+1 partition. I didn't think of that but it is a good idea. I have a MyBook it has served me well I don't run it for music but it is the first external that has not failed on me. 

Google UPNP for mac.. you can find many options.

The best one I have used is called TVersity but I don't know if it works with the Qute. I only use UPNP for  movies on my PS3. Asset is the highest rated for audio right now, i do know that.

Also try it wired for sh*ts and giggles.

XLD creates rips which can sound better than rips from iTunes.  Don't ask me why.  Some of my earliest rips were to ALAC with iTunes.  Later I switched to dBPoweramp on windows PC, then XLD on MAC and I rip to AIFF.  Recently I have been re-ripping some of those early CD's with XLD to AIFF because in my system they sound better to me.  So try it if you are interested in the pursuit of sound quality, but don't fret over it - you can still enjoy your music.

Charlie

BTW you need the 24/192 version of the Qute or a Qute2 to play ALAC or AIFF.

Some UPnP servers, such as Asset, will transcode (convert on the fly) from ALAC or AIFF to WAV which will be necessary if you have the older 24/96 version of the Qute.

My preference (with a different configuration) is the oposite, but both approaches sound good.  I can imagine some would choose on the basis of user interface (iTunes vs nStream).

Charlie

Thanks I will check XLD out

Thanks - if only we could have an s/pdif usb converter, optical cable etc to do a back to back! I will try optimising streaming and go for there. i think with an optical cable or USB there's no track information in the unitis' screen meaning total reliance on the laptop.