Continued Asset or UPnP questions.

Hi Howard,so you've got music on both your NAS and your iMac? You can install Asset on your iMac & that'll find the music on there, which you can then access via the Naim App. for your Mu-so. Not sure I understand how you've got things set up.

From the Asset website "Asset is a UPnP (DLNA compatible) audio server, UPnP is a method of sharing media content between devices. Typically audio files are stored on a computer, server or NAS, multiple audio devices around the home network can play audio from the UPnP server (devices such as Linn DS, XBox 360, PS3, etc). " Also Naim network streamers such as NDX etc.

See The Complete Guide to hifi uPNP 

http://www.computeraudiophile....-dlna-network-audio/

this thread may also be helpful

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/upnp-for-mac-ndx

tony all my music files are all on the server, I just use iTunes on the iMac to access/play them.

As far as I can see asset on the server has scanned all my music so I can see and play most of them with the Muso.

So I was looking for a way to play the hi res files to my DAC on the main system, if I understand it correctly iTunes only allows 44/16.

Ah, now I see why I didn't understand the question.

You need a software UPnP renderer to run on the iMAC.  However to send 24/192 files to the DAC requires that both the iMAC (hardware and device driver) and the DAC support that resolution and sample rate.

Possibilities include

JRiver

Plex

Kodi

I don't know for certain that these all support Hi-Res, but being software, there's no reason why they shouldn't.

The PC version of JRiver definitely supports HiRes files and even supports DSD/DoP (DSD over PCM). Not sure about the Mac version but there will probably be some info on the JRiver forum.

Howard, just install Bitperfect (get it from the Apple App. store, only a few quid), that'll automatically switch sample rates for you (sounds better too) & works seamlessly with iTunes. The Asset uPnP will happily play HD stuff through your mu-so.

If I understand this JRiver ,Minimserver etc are control points?

I stopped using Bitperfect as I was getting click when using it. Does it work OK with Yosemite?

Howard, I believe that the Naim App is technically a "control point."  It will control the playback of music served by a UPnP server (such as J River or Minimserver) to a UPnP player such as the NDX or NDS.

It's not clear to me whether you really want to run a music server (UPnP server) over a home ethernet network, or want to use a direct digital music connection between the device that stores your music and the device that plays it.  A UPnP server is a server that sends the music files over your home network to a player.  The server and the player must be connected to your home network exactly the same way you'd connect a networked printer, Nest thermostat, or any of your computers -- either with an ethernet cable (preferred) or over wifi (less reliable and often not reliable for hi res music).

PS - iTunes has no functional role if you run a UPnP server.  However, such a server could serve the same files that iTunes plays (it can see them in your Music folders and serve them ). But iTunes is not a UPnP server, and you cannot use its interface to control music playback if you want a true networked server in your home.  You must use the interface of a control point, such as the Naim app.  This brings us full circle

To be perfectly honest I don't know what I want either.

I don't know what is possible so I am trying to get my head around it.

Pre our Muso I would just use iTunes as the "controller" from iMac all music data mainly AIFF CD rips, is on the server stored as MASTER music, I have other Folders?, Music, Documents, Videos etc.

I would just scan through with iTunes and select and play on iMac. Any other HD files that I do have mainly freebie samplers and some needle drops I would select from their folders and playback with Cog , VLC or suchlike.

Having the Muso  offering UPnP, I was looking at maybe having a unified control of the music on the server, from the iMac.

Possible updates/improvements may shortly include a dedicated probably an iMac to relieve the now ageing iMac from music duties, it does tend to cause hiccups occasionally. Not sure whether that would change anything.

I can't but praise any of you guys from trying to help me but I do have a failing of comprehension at times especially when it all gets technical or a load of new language/terms arrive.

If you want to stream from iTunes library on your iMac you'd simply need a Upnp server running on your Mac. Minim or Asset could do that for you. I used my iMac and Mcbpro like that before I moved onto Nas. I found Minim a tad more stable and discrete. But as you may admit using a desktop as a storage for streaming, though perfectly doable, is neither appropriate nor advisable in terms of other required tasks and performance. 

Why not just use Airplay (as Wat mentioned) to keep things simple. Are you really going to notice the difference between hi res and redbook on the Muso ?

James

OK

I think you firstly need to decide how you want to control the playback of your music files. At the present time you seem to be happy using itunes on the imac so do you intend to carry on with computer playback direct into your dac with your NAS drive basically just being a way to store the files on your network?

If the answer is yes, then you may be best served by installing a UPnP server on your imac rather than on the NAS drive. Unfortunately, asset upnp does not have a "front end" i.e. a control point to allow you to browse and select files to play. This is not an issue for naim streamers as the Naim app/nstream acts as the control point. JRiver has both a UPnP media server and a control point which you can control via your imac or via an ipad using their JRemote app.

Hi Howard -

We need three things to make UPnP work over a home network:

1) Server - Asset running on a PC, Mac or NAS is a good example.  Point it towards your music folder(s) and it serves your music to any connected UPnP network client (called a renderer)

2) Renderer - Examples include Naim mu-so and network players as well as software packages (J River, Plex, etc.) running on a PC or Mac. They receive music files from the network, and deliver them to your audio setup(s).

3) Control point - naim (formerly nStream) is an example of a standalone control point running on an iPhone/Pad/Pod. It is used for connecting a renderer to a server, selecting music to play, and other control functions.  But here's where things can get a bit tricky with these definitions. When using J River or similar running on a PC or Mac, that software package acts as both a renderer *and* a control point.

iTunes does not use the UPnP protocol, so it can not see any UPnP server. iTunes is an alternative to UPnP for single setup listening.

IMO, UPnP starts to make sense when you have multiple listening locations, and you want them all to share one music library.  One Asset server, for example, can provide music via UPnP to mulitple renderers in your home (your main setup, a mu-so, a PC with J River, an iPhone running PlugPlayer, and so on).  With this setup, you update your music library in one centralized location, and all of your client renderers see those updates.

Hope this helps.

Hook

You have

A UPnP renderer   -> the Mu-So

A UPnP Control Point   -> the Naim app

A UPnP Server   -> Asset on the PC

As I understand it these work fine.

You also have

iTunes on an iMac

feeding a DAC

and that works fine

What I believe you are asking for is something that will allow the Naim app to play the music that's on the Asset server via the iMAC and the DAC so you can control it all from one place.

JRiver, Plex and Koni will do that - they will appear as other 'rooms' in the Naim app.  JRiver may also be able to act as control software for the Mu-So.

 P.S. As Hook says, iTunes just goes on and does it's own thing; it won't play nicely with anything else.

+1.  The power of using a UPnP server (UnitiServe), for me, is that I have one music library that is accessible at the touch of an iPhone to play music on either (or both) of my main hi fi and my Qute2 system in my "man-cave."  

Going digital (hard drive music storage) provided the first big benefit of losing the cd clutter and need to store cd's close to my hi fi.  But one can 'go digital' with a direct connection from a Mac Mini to a USB dac and avoid networking.  But with two hi fi's in rooms far apart in my home, I really reap the benefits of a server "on" my home network, accessible by each.  I have one library to maintain and backup.

Interesting -- thanks for that insight!  

Separate problem, seeking help.

I hope i am not distracting the post. I am using a muso as well, I can see some of my folders on my NAS (Netgear), but not all of them, alphabetically I only see folders up to letter 'F'. I am using my iphone most of the time. What could be the problem and the fix. All other inputs working but 99% of my music is not the NAS so being able to play all of it would be wonderful.

Thanking you and apologies if I bumped into someone's post.

Ps meant most of music is ON the NAS

My first step would be to check your UPnP server's configuration settings to check whether the server is monitoring all the directories/folders for your music and not just those from A to F.

Many thanks for your quick response, please advise where i go for the settings. If the Muso can play all my nas files, on top of the the other inputs (includes youtube for my son), than its a great item than i initially thought.

I am using the netgear NAS, Muso and iphone 6/ipad.

I don't have a Netgear NAS (mine is a QNAP) but there should be an application/software on your computer which enables you to control your NAS drive probably via a webpage. There you should be able to see the apps/software loaded on your NAS drive including your media server.

Perhaps someone who has the Netgear NAS may be able to better assist.