music on my imac

You should have all the hardware you need, but you'll have to put a UPnP server on your iMac for the Atom to see it. 

Install Minim server on your iMac, along with Minim watch which allows you to configure/refresh etc.

Why not use Apple remote on your iphone (assuming you have one) to control itunes on your mac and connect the atom to the mac via cat cat6 similar to the Muso?

jasons posted:

Why not use Apple remote on your iphone (assuming you have one) to control itunes on your mac and connect the atom to the mac via cat cat6 similar to the Muso?

Do you mean using Airplay over an ethernet connection to play?

jasons posted:

Why not use Apple remote on your iphone (assuming you have one) to control itunes on your mac and connect the atom to the mac via cat cat6 similar to the Muso?

Because that won't work!

You could connect the optical output of the iMac to the S/PDIF input of the Uniti, given that both are in close (enough) proximity. Needs a special cable, though (3.5 mm headphone jack optical to TOSLINK optical) .

So to summarise for the OP, there are (at least) 3 ways you can get music from your iMac into your Atom.

1. Use Airplay.  So for example, if you use iTunes to organise your music, then you can play it from iTunes and select the Atom as the system to play through.  This can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad using the Remote app as Jasons suggested.  The Atom needs to be connected to your network for this (wirelessly or more reliably wired).

2. Use uPnP.  Install uPnP server software on the iMac (eg Minim per Blythe's suggestion), point the software at your music directory on the iMac.  Atom connected to the network.  Controlled using the Naim app.

3. Connect digital audio output of the iMac (SPDIF) to the equivalent input on the Atom (appropriate optical cable needed).  Use whatever music software you like on the iMac, and control using whatever control devices those applications support. 

1 is least hassle to get going with, but Airplay has some sound quality limitations.

2 gives best potential sound quality, particularly if you are interested in buying HD music (eg 24bit / 96kHz).  And there are various uPnP servers available with differing functionality and ways of managing music libraries.

3 might work for you if the Atom is right next to the iMac and you have some particularly unusual bits of software that you want to use on the iMac.

Enjoy it when you get it. 

David

thanks David ,that was really a clear explanation.

Also remember, as you are talking about playing music from your hard drive (and so not streaming Apple Music) you can copy your music onto a USB drive and play it directly on the Atom. (I also learned this week that the Atom can serve these tracks via UPnP by the way)

Roger (noname but had quite a few Naims)

Thanks David.  That's helpful to me

a question.  Why is 2 sonically superior to 1.  They are both over wifi. Do you think that airplay software is inferior to uPnP software?

nudgerwilliams posted:

1. Use Airplay.  So for example, if you use iTunes to organise your music, then you can play it from iTunes and select the Atom as the system to play through.  This can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad using the Remote app as Jasons suggested.  The Atom needs to be connected to your network for this (wirelessly or more reliably wired).

 

So, why did you say it wouldn't work and then say it would?

Although admittedly, i didn't explain it as detailed as you though!

Most things that are network connected will work with Airplay.

jasons posted:

nudgerwilliams posted:

1. Use Airplay.  So for example, if you use iTunes to organise your music, then you can play it from iTunes and select the Atom as the system to play through.  This can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad using the Remote app as Jasons suggested.  The Atom needs to be connected to your network for this (wirelessly or more reliably wired).

 

So, why did you say it wouldn't work and then say it would?

Although admittedly, i didn't explain it as detailed as you though!

Most things that are network connected will work with Airplay.

Sorry Jasons I was being unnecessarily pedantic.  You said connect the Atom to the iMac with cat6.  If you put a bit of cat6 between the two it won't work, but I'm sure that's not what you meant.

David

GregU posted:

Thanks David.  That's helpful to me

 

a question.  Why is 2 sonically superior to 1.  They are both over wifi. Do you think that airplay software is inferior to uPnP software?

As I understand it, Airplay uses some compression, and certainly when I compared AirPlay to uPnP I felt I could hear a material difference.  I've not done the comparison for a few years mind, so it may be better now.  

It will be easy enough for you to try both with the same music file, so check it out and see what you think.

David

nudgerwilliams posted:

So to summarise for the OP, there are (at least) 3 ways you can get music from your iMac into your Atom.

1. Use Airplay.  So for example, if you use iTunes to organise your music, then you can play it from iTunes and select the Atom as the system to play through.  This can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad using the Remote app as Jasons suggested.  The Atom needs to be connected to your network for this (wirelessly or more reliably wired).

2. Use uPnP.  Install uPnP server software on the iMac (eg Minim per Blythe's suggestion), point the software at your music directory on the iMac.  Atom connected to the network.  Controlled using the Naim app.

3. Connect digital audio output of the iMac (SPDIF) to the equivalent input on the Atom (appropriate optical cable needed).  Use whatever music software you like on the iMac, and control using whatever control devices those applications support. 

1 is least hassle to get going with, but Airplay has some sound quality limitations.

2 gives best potential sound quality, particularly if you are interested in buying HD music (eg 24bit / 96kHz).  And there are various uPnP servers available with differing functionality and ways of managing music libraries.

3 might work for you if the Atom is right next to the iMac and you have some particularly unusual bits of software that you want to use on the iMac.

 

Enjoy it when you get it. 

David

david,

2 Use uPnP.  Inst.....(best sound quality).  Can i use the library of iTunes to play these music via naim app?

William

 

david,

2 Use uPnP.  Inst.....(best sound quality).  Can i use the library of iTunes to play these music via naim app?

William

 

Yes you can.  Install Minimserver (or equivalent upnp server software) on your Mac and "point" it at your music folder e.g. iTunes/media/music etc.  The Naim app will "see" Minimserver and access the music folder.  This is how I am set up (but on a PC not a Mac).

nudgerwilliams posted:

GregU posted:

Thanks David.  That's helpful to me

 

a question.  Why is 2 sonically superior to 1.  They are both over wifi. Do you think that airplay software is inferior to uPnP software?

As I understand it, Airplay uses some compression, and certainly when I compared AirPlay to uPnP I felt I could hear a material difference.  I've not done the comparison for a few years mind, so it may be better now.  

It will be easy enough for you to try both with the same music file, so check it out and see what you think.

David

AirPlay uses Apple Lossless (ALAC) for the actual streamed data, every source file is converted in realtime to ALAC. The only limitation is that AirPlay maxes out at 16 bit, 44.1 kHz. Every different bit depth/sample rate is converted to this spec.

So if the source material is not high res but CD rips, for instance, AirPlay quality would be adequate.

nudgerwilliams posted:

jasons posted:

nudgerwilliams posted:

1. Use Airplay.  So for example, if you use iTunes to organise your music, then you can play it from iTunes and select the Atom as the system to play through.  This can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad using the Remote app as Jasons suggested.  The Atom needs to be connected to your network for this (wirelessly or more reliably wired).

 

So, why did you say it wouldn't work and then say it would?

Although admittedly, i didn't explain it as detailed as you though!

Most things that are network connected will work with Airplay.

Sorry Jasons I was being unnecessarily pedantic.  You said connect the Atom to the iMac with cat6.  If you put a bit of cat6 between the two it won't work, but I'm sure that's not what you meant.

David

Being really pedantic myself here, actually it should be possible. You can connect two ethernet devices directly using link-local adresses (169.254.x.x adress range), probably using a crossover cable.

Oli