Does US have an option to transcode FLAC to WAV on the fly?

Arthur

If you use MinimServer, a uPnP program written by Simon from the Linn forum, the latest version has the option for on the fly FLAC to WAV transcoding.  I have not played around with the transcoding yet.  As we know Naim still maintains that WAV sounds better on their streamers while Linn prefer WAV.  There are a few Linn forum members who have played around with transcoding and seem to think there is an marginal improvement.

You could test and report back - saves me the effort (too many new things recently done by Peter so I am "overwhelmed" at the moment!)

Best

Gregg

PS  Naim just announced a software update for the US with the ability to now rip to FLAC and to convert all of the files from WAV to FLAC.  I did not see anything about converting FLAC to WAV on the fly.

Hi AMA,

Manual, §4.8.7.

System -> UPnP Settings -> Compatibility, 3 options:

• Native: Streams audio files in the same format as they are stored.
• CD 44.1kHz/16 bit: Converts streamed files to CD format.
• Convert to WAV: Converts files to WAV format while retaining their native sample rate and bit depth.

Does it answer your question or did I misunderstand it ?

HTH

Maurice

I had the NDS for a week demo.  I used Minimserver to transcode AIFF to WAV24.  I thought native AIFF sounded better.  I liked Minimserver overall.

Nick

Since I found out about Minimserver, on this forum, I am using it  (instead of the Synology Media Server) and in particular its transcoding function.

In my experience it works very well and has not yet given any problem, transcoding flac to wav and in general.

It's config and management GUI is very basic but nevertheless effective.

Highly recommended 

Guys, thanks to all.

Maurice -- your answer is the most accurate -- I'm happy to hear that US can transcode FLACs to WAV which reduces the load on the streamer. The next question would be what audio formats are supported by US (btw what's the name of the Naim uPnP server?)

As for MinimServer -- I installed a copy to my network attached PC and use it in parallel with Asset uPnP. I like the transcoding feature but there is an issue which drives me mad -- Minimserver can not pick up the new tracks on the fly and requires restart whenever the new track joins the library and restarting Minimserver with my 1 TB library takes AGES.

This makes Minimserver totally "no go" for me. But Simons enthusiasm is huge and I believe one day he will add this feature and I'm gonna be the first in a row to pay money and stick with this server on MacMini.

But now I'm seriously considering the US-SSD as a ripping machine and uPnP server. 

All uPnP servers I tried so far had some critical flaws.

Minimserver does not have new tracks upgrade.

Asset uPnP takes ages to pick up new tracks and shows the worst stability of all uPnP servers (it just shuts down periodically).

Twonky uPnP (built-in the Buffalo NAS) is the most stable server -- it just works, fast and never falls. The only issue I have -- it does not transcode to WAV. Besides I'm not sure if I can upgrade it to the new versions (it seems to involve a low-level manipulations with file system on the Buffalo NAS).

Naim US -- I start looking at it. Looks expensive for what it does.

But if it works and have all features I need -- I shall buy it the next day.

AMA -- today's announcement about the new capabilities of the UnitiServe should be of interest to you and answer some of your questions:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...roducts-and-software

Software Version 1.7 for Hard disk player/servers
New software which will make your Naim hard disk player/server an even more flexible and effective music hub is set for release in June 2013. Software Version 1.7 will enable the following key features:

Rip to FLAC: Previously customers were limited to encoding to WAV. You can also convert your existing WAV library to FLAC if you wish.

MP3-shadow encoding: You can now create lower-quality versions of your music. As with 'Rip to FLAC' you can now do this when ripping and shadow-encode your entire library. Useful for transferring music to an iPod/MP3 player or for use in the car.

Set share-scanning schedules: Your server can now automatically look for new music on the network at times predetermined by the user.

Stream internet radio over UPnP: This feature will allow other non-Naim UPnP clients to play the internet radio stream from your Naim server.

Additionally, from the Naim website, this info is, I believe, totally up to date:

Yes the uServe is more expensive than most other solutions, but you may well find that it does just what you want.  I am rather happy with mine

Agree that both Asset and MinimServer have some idiosyncracies but in the case of MinimServer it is developing very rapidly indeed and the SQ when transcoding is excellent. It is not true that all UPnP servers are flakey, MiniDLNA has been serving up music from my Vortexbox Server without complaint  and without crashing for as long as I can remember.

Tog

Arthur

The issue must be with your network attached PC.  I have a library similar in size to yours (1tb - only 1500 more CD's to go) and it is on an external hard drive connected to an iMac.  I sit upstairs in my listening room and issue the restart command (Minimwatch) from a wireless laptop each time I (wirelessly) add tracks to the hard drive (already containing 500 albums - 6200 tracks).  The restart takes a matter of seconds (literally 10 or less) and the new tracks immediately appear in Kinsky.

Best

Gregg

That would be absolutely OK to me. But in my case it takes much longer.

Possibly, I should try MinimServer on Mac.

After all this was the main point for me -- I would like to stop using Windows computers in my house and the audio PC is the last bastion.