Audio content infuriatingly displayed in alphabetical order

I have used a MyBookLive 2TB for the last two years, no problems. It seems you may need to tell the software on the NAS how to present the library and / or sort out your metadata tagging. So for starters, what is on the NAS (software) what files are you playing (type) and how did you get them onto the NAS (ie ripping method) ?

Sounds like you're the person I need to speak to!  The My Book Live 2TD includes a built-in media server but this seems to be 'invisible' and doesn't appear in any of the folders on the NAS drive.  I've been told by Western Digital that DLNA settings cannot be adjusted on My Book Live.

The audio files are mostly WAV or FLAC, with some MP3's as well.  They've been ripped on an iMac using iTunes or Toast, ripped on a PC, or downloaded.

So, what media server do you use on your My Book Live?

I'll fire up my PC and tell you in a while ( can't remember offhand ) I use a windows operating system (XP) control point is an iPad Mini running 'naim' app.

Your reply raises an idea that it might be files sourced from one ripping solution or one type of file extension. Can you confirm that the problem is not isolated to one file type or files sourced from one ripping solution? Also the problem as you describe it is one of 'playing album tracks in alphabetical order rather than by their order as found on the album'? Does the album occasionally play them right or is a wrongly played album always wrong? Or is it some other problem of course!?

There is a setting in Twonky where such a view is not even possible, album/artist does not appear, if the media server is set to 'simple' all you get is folders! Artist / Album view should allow gapless play via the track numbers in metadata, it just depends then on the metadata 

Ok Paul, when I power up the PC, I have an option called 'My Network Places' when I click the Start Bar (bottom left).

In My Network Places are displayed 6 icons (for me as it's my network:

Qute XXXX

Qute YYYY

Super ZZZZ

SFR Router

MyBookLive (the location for your files etc)

MyBookLive Twonky (the server prog. on the NAS)

Click the last option (Twonky) and a web page should open showing the user inferface for the server program. On that screen there should be some icons on the Left. Click the 'Spanner' and a new page should appear with a number of options on the left, and the software version (mine is 5.1.9)

Under a heading 'basic setup' should be a 'first steps' option, click it and another page will open, look down till you see the 'Navigation Tree' section, a drop-down box should be visible, click it and make sure 'Advanced Default Navigation' is selected. Save changes and exit.

Following those instructions (fingers crossed they make some sort of sence to you as a Mac user and your version of software is not radically different) should allow the Naim app to 'discover' the Artist/Album option that Dave*** was on about.

You might be advised to clear your app cache and kill / restart it (just to be on the safe side).

If those options were already set and the system still plays out of order it is almost certainly a tagging issue. We can talk further about that if necessary, but we might need someone who tags using a mac program to help (as I use dBPowerAmp) and I'm not sure what is available for Macs.

It might also be worth checking the s/w version of your uniti2 and app as there are frequent updates. Please post them in this thread, do not assume you have the latest, read it off the screens and post it, cheers.

Ok, first I would check if there is any metadata in the files. ITunes doesn't support FLAC as standard and Apple iTunes doesn't recognise WAV file metadata.

For most DLNA media servers the metadata 'track number' is used to present the tracks in the correct order. If the metadata is not there or the media server can't read the metadata it will typically present the files in alphabetical name order.

dbpoweramp is one such ripper (and DLNAmedia server) that supports WAV, FLAC and 'track number'. This software is available for the Mac and PC. The software can be used for adding in absent metadata as well.

Simon

Please note that my audio set up does not include a computer: the Uniti 2 connects with the NAS drive via the home network so any software needs to be installed on the NAS drive, remaining separate from a computer.  Unless such software can be downloaded onto the iPad which has the Naim app. 

Twonky used to be installed on My Book Live drives but has been replaced by Western Digital's own version of DLNA and my drive is one of the later ones (still 18 months old though) and that's what they tell me cannot be adjusted.

Many thanks for all your replies!  I'll check out the audio files and see what I can find.  I also know the software on the Uniti is in need of an upgrade although this Alphabetical Problem has been there since I bought the thing (which in just about every other matter is absolutely superb).

Yes this is correct, my audio set up works without the computer and does not need it, and I have a multi (3) room set up all running off the NAS. The PC routine mentioned above was to make sure Twonky was set up correctly, but if it is not selectable or not present we have to move to the metadata. Incidentally what view options do you have when you select your music library? Can you select by genre, year, album, composer etc?

The PC in my system rips, moves and controls back-up routines, and is usually off unless I'm purchasing, ripping, downloading and editing the library or metadata.

I assume by computer you mean PC or Mac? Yes streaming doesn't require these other than perhaps for ripping CDs. you can use the 'computer' built in the NAS, or if you have the wherewithal set a tiny USB powered RaspberryPi to be a media server (this can be more powerful and configurable than relying on the often limited resources of a NAS.)