MinimServer

Here we go:

in the Server tab under Server Properties, enter the following in the tagOptions box:

Album.sortTags={Album, Artist}, Artist.ignore.sort.index={The}

That should have you jumping around in no time!

I've grown so accustomed to looking for The Beatles under "T" that I don't know if I can bring myself to change!!

Go on Bart, be a devil! Especially as I've explained exactly what you need to type in. It's a little benefit of Minim - the UnitiServe could never manage it.

HH, your example has worked, thank you.

I'll see if I can repeat the procedure for Album later.

That's good. Can you now jump around between artists? Maybe you need to delete whatever you added before regarding ignoring the 'the' if you have not already done so.

Yes jumping around within artists all OK.  I'll pause now, gather my thoughts, try to learn a little about the programming of Properties before I go on to albums.  Thanks for your help.

Hurrah!

I imagine you'd add a comma, a gap, and then repeat the string but with Album instead of Artist. The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work. 

Thinking about it, do you really want to ignore 'The' on album titles?

If I put Album at the top level, I would say yes.

If it comes at the level below Artist, probably no.

MinimServer installed on QNAP NAS, MinimWatch installed on separate PC but greyed out but the server can be seen. Naim App recognizes MinimServer and can play tunes from US ripped files but are listed WAV and individual songs only. Given the control options listed in the home page I can't get to any of it????

M

Strange, but MinimWatch started working and is green. I was able to point to the two other shares on the NAS. Still tangled up trying to follow operating instructuins that apparently allow reworking the library via MS. The UnitiServe ripped files are not in folder form as read by the NDX. Sonos has no problem reading as always but NDX/Naim App shows all WAV files as individual songs, albums are unable to be displayed.

HH, did you convert all your US ripped files to FLAC or keep them as WAV? Did you have problems if in WAV?

Thx...M

Hi mack - not familiar with US but suggest it may be something to do with file tagging of the US files, flac or wav files should display the same with MinimS.

John, yes probably tagging. Did not want to but guess I'll batch convert the UnitiServe WAV files to FLAC. All the UnitiServe files ripped from CD to FLAC are fine via the Naim App.

M

Not so much wrongly tagged as not tagged. I was cringing at the prospect of going back to my HDX ripped collection and putting all the necessary tags in. But I enjoyed it. Took ages though.

If you let the Naim server batch convert wav to flac, you'll be all set with alternative servers such as MinimServer.

Another option for sure when the US returns from repair. Taking quite a while for the second time. Has to go to Canada since Naim switched distributors. You guys in the UK are in a sweet position with Naim right there.

Thx,

M

I really want to make this work. When I rip to a folder where I have mostly downloads in WAV, FLAC or AIFF using XLD, DBpoweramp or iTunes the files are accessable but what comes up (using Naim App to process through NDX) is a list...tag view then all the individual songs and can only play one song at a time. Any of the previously UnitiServe files ripped in WAV or FLAC appear normal and can bring up in a couple of clicks and play the entire album.

I haven'y posted on the MS forum yet, though I would start here. As stated in previous posts the entire portion of US WAV ripped files are a scattered mess all over the NAS. Only the US ripped FLAC albums are whole. Anyone experienced this?

Thx...M

P.S. The repaired UnitiServe returns from Audio Plus Services tomorrow. 

Minim server uses the tag metadata to organise its browsing views. It looks like you need to configure how you want MS to index the files. To do this you need to open minimwatch and click on the properties. There you will see the server tab and a dialog box named "index tags". I use "Artist, Genre, Album" and these are the different views that then show on the naim app.

Your second issue seems solely related to a lack of tags for the files which you have ripped to wav using your US since the US stores the tag metadata in its own internal database rather than embedded within the individual wav files.

I agree with both of these points.  But I would add that even when ripping with XLD, DBpoweramp, etc., it is prudent to check the tags/metadata immediately after ripping and before adding the files to your server.  (I never pick a server folder as a ripping destination; I rip to my computer's hard drive, check / adjust metadata and artwork, and THEN copy over to the server.)  It is MUCH easier to check and do any tweaking to the files before adding them to the server, vs. only later finding out that some files are not appearing where you want them, etc.

I have around 1000 ripped CD's and files so would it be better to batch covered to FLAC or re-convert WAV to WAV with DBpoweramp (assuming this would provide WAV tagging). Or batch convert with the returning US. If helpful would save loads of time rather back taging manually.

thanks for the instruction, helps me move forward.

M

I'm no expert on converting from the Unitiserve as I have never owned one. However Mr Hungry Halibut has recently migrated his files from his SU to a NAS and may be able to provide guidance. 

I am concerned about your comment that your SU ripped WAV files were "a scattered mess" all over your NAS and certainly you want to avoid repeating this. Whatever you decide, you should try a few test conversions first to ensure that these are tagged correctly and collated together in artist/album folders before committing to any batch conversion whether to FLAC or WAV.

Agreed, I should eat this elephant bite at a time. I travel so can't post a screen shot but files are scattered all over. One view listed is "folder view" and all albums can be seen but with just a few actual album covers but mostly a black folder. All songs can be seen but only one song at a time can be played. Just not a rich looking environment.

It's actually Dr Hungryhalibut..... Anyway, I can help on this, and know how to fix it. It's the way the US tags its WAV rips that is the issue. 

Before selling my Serve, I had it do a bulk conversion to FLAC. When I started using Minim on the Synology there were about 300 songs showing separately, each with album art. It turns out that these were still in WAV and had escaped the conversion process. The first screen of minim has a category called 'untagged' that will help you find them.

If you identify the albums and then go into the albums on the NAS, you first need to convert them to FLAC. You then need to add the album name and artist to the files. I needed to download dBpoweramp to do this. Just highlight all the tracks on the album (the will show in the right hand pane in windows explorer) and right click to get the options - use edit idtag. It's all very easy. Once done, set minim to convert to WAV for best sound quality. 

Thanks Dr Hungryhalibut.

I assume you mean that mackb3 should set minim to transcode the flac files on the fly rather than convert them.

To do this he should use minimwatch Properties>System>stream.transcode and type "flac:wav" or "flac:wav24" (the 2nd option will transcode from flac to 24bit wav).

Absolutely! Transcoding is what he needs. 

I'm a bit snookered at the moment, as since swapping routers and IP addresses, Minimwatch can't see Minimserver. It's all very odd, as I can get into the NAS from the same laptop that runs minimwatch. I can rescan by going into Minimserver on the NAS, but I cannot do it from minimwatch as it is greyed out.