Random Play on Naim Streamers: The Definitive Solution [HELP]

I'm using Asset Nas upnp and I am pretty sure that there is an option under playlists called track jukebox which, if I select random, will happily play random tracks for ever.  Its a function of the software so it may not be available on other upnp servers though

Excellent. Thank you. So, how do I get that to run in my NAS?

PS: Just read this (https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...asset-over-readydlna) Apparently it can't

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I think we're pretty effed when it comes to random play. I really enjoy using JRiver on my office Mac and its dynamic play function. Like having a radio station made up of all my own 1150 albums. But short of playing via a computer, there's no control point solutions for the Naim streamers, third party or otherwise. 

I downloaded Asset to the mac I am using now. Not that it is something I would do in the future but just to try (I had to uninstall Sonos for some reason though, otherwise it would not run) Anyway... I found the dynamic playlist (JukeBox) 

Q: How do I refresh the random selection? Do you know?

Thank you ever so much for your help!

I think you're right that the app only gets you the first 500 tracks (in order or shuffle, doesn't matter...).

Not sure if this is a modification to your Option 2 but if you go into the all items ares (or whatever your server on your NAS calls it) with shuffle on and press play on the first track, then skip to next tracks to test it out you get a new random list each time. Well, I did on a SuperUniti fed UPNP from my Synology NAS running MinimServer and Media Station or fed from an ix-200 running Twonky... Works on all three for me. Hoping this helps on your ND5, given that there is only one firmware...so the random number generation for jumping to the next track is likely the same.

If I am wildly wrong or if I've misunderstood, and you can give more information, I will test out other ideas with you. "Radio alan" is great, hoping "Radio Alonso" works out too!

Regards, alan

With Asset, the random juke box track will return a random list of tracks (100 by default), but the number can be changed in the Asset configuration. Exiting the selection and entering again will bring back a new selection

If you have an upnp server that supports upnp search, you can use BubbleUPnP for Android to search for x many random tracks that can pushed into the playlist. Minimserver does support upnp search and iirc minidlna, too.

Hi Alan. I think I have tried that but I was not 100% confident that it returned different random results every time I did it. Yeah, it always starts on the same song and then you press next and it jumps to what should be a random track, but as I say, I don’t know if it sticks to a fixed random list.

Yes, thank you SB. I did find that out eventually (the refresh of the random list). I’ll see if I can make this solution work by leaving a Mac mini I have at home always on with UPNP Asset running. Although that brings a different set of complications (energy consumption, will it wake up, etc) I did not want to depend on a computer to make my sound system work. "Ahh... let's listen to this lovely album... oh.... sh*t, what's happening? someone turned off the bl**dy computer!" That is one of the reasons I went for the ND5 XS over the DACv1+NAP200. Anyway, it is a solution , thank you very much for suggesting it. Altough, and this has nothing to do with Asset but I find it mind blowing that a fully cooked random option was not designed in the streamer.

Thank you Gert. All my house runs on iOS so to speak, ideally I was looking into the possibility of replacing the firmware that runs on the ReadyNAS, ReadyDLNA I think… with something more geared towards Audio or at least that gave more options… but that seems to be something beyond my capabilities at the moment. Anyway. Thank you for the suggestion

You can do it with the remote control - no software required!

Using the remote (I have a Superuniti) I select upnp; then Asset; then artist/album; then all artists; then press play; then press random. The first track is always the same but press next and you're away!

For Asset substitute your server software of choice.

The Naim players can only store 500 tracks.  As someone else said, BubbleUPnP or something else that pushes the music is required.  When you use Naim apps or remote you have Naim's 500 track limitation.

When you use BubbleUPnP for example, it does not rely on Naim's storage of the selection so can randomise any number of tracks.

Thank you Pev. So you can confirm in your experience that using that method brings you random tracks of all your music collection. That is really good

I do wonder why Naim did not give me that answer. Not doubting you, just wondering.

Why didn't they say "Hey use the remote!" - You reckon I was not clear enough in how I articulated my question? I'll definitely use the remote control option but Im just curious. Maybe they're not aware  of it?

The problem is not really the 500 track limitation... The problem is that (aside from using the remote as suggested here) The streamer goes and fetches the first 500 tracks, always the first 500 alphabetically. So the randomising leaves everything after the 500th track! I would not mind if the streamer had memory for only 50 tracks if it could select 50 tracks at random from my entire music collection.

The problem I seem to have and many don't is

1. A reluctance to use a computer based client (e.g. Asset) for reasons specified earlier

2. An inability to install a different firmware on my NAS. I.e. Replace ReadyDLNA with something that can push random tracks...

I did did four tests with five track changes on each of three servers and never saw the same song twice (apart from the first track)... The PRNG that sets the index jump size uses a different seed each time at least while the naim box is powered on, but I did not repeat the test after a power cycle to seek if it repeats then! I can confirm that this method works the way you (and all sane people) would expect "shuffle all" to work.

Don't know for sure, but my guess is that they have all eyes on the four hundred emails and posts about the new app and couldn't see beyond that box to the bigger solution... Sometimes the simple answer isn't so simple...

Regards, alan

EDIT ps - I agree the app randomized the first 500 tracks each time... Wonder what would happen if you drilled into the individual tracks level, enabled shuffle, scrolled down a few hundred songs, then hit play? Would it grab 500 starting at the top or starting at the track playing?

Hi Alonso

the original thread on this topic is here:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-how-hard-can-it-be?

The "remote method" works for me and I'm pretty sure it's accessing all tracks not just the first 500 but I can't guarantee it will work with ReadyDNLA - worth a try though?

cheers

Pev 

This is an interesting thread - I have a multiroom system with the 'Qutes hidden away, and if I use the remote all of them respond (I can play my NDS using a remote, as it is on the other side of the hall from the 'Qutes).  So I am back with the Naim app communicating with Twonky on my NAS.  The solution I use is that I have divided my music collection into broad genres: classical, jazz, klezmer and modern.  I can play all of these genres randomly - with the 500 track limit.  But I can only mix all genres using the app. 

Hi Pev. Thank you very much. Yes, I was aware of that thread but I did not know if somebody had worked out something different beyond the remote control solution. Not only that, the fact that when asked, Naim did not suggest it, made me go "better ask the guys at the forum"

Anyway.

Just an update...

1.I downloaded Asset UPNP to a Mac mini that is permanently connected to a tv (as a media centre) and of course is (hardwired) to my home network. It works very well. Although last night I could not play music from my bed cause the damn thing had turned itself off on a scheduled timer! (DUH!) so yeah, changing that is just a couple of clicks away.

2. I am also using the remote/shuffle method and yeah, it seems to work. So thank you

Concluding thoughts. It is a real shame that such a simple feature (shuffle play of an entire music collection) is not natively supported by the hardware, the firmware or the software (Whatever it is, Just in case a techno geek gets his/her knickers in a twist and corrects me) Well, OK, it is through the remote but not through the nstream app, especially now that it looks so purrty.

I do wonder though what goes on through the minds of the people that write the code/design these things? "Who on earth would even contemplate the ludicrous idea of listening to an entire, an ENTIRE music collection on shuffle?!. That's just craaaaazy... Real audiophiles listen to single albums one at a time anyway, let's just leave it as it is and limit the track number to 500. That'll do"