Help getting started with NAS

If it were me I'd rip to FLAC with dbpoweramp and give iTunes a wide berth. Before ripping, decide how you want to search your music. For example, I have mine divided into about ten genres, jazz, jazz vocal, chamber music, folk, reggae or whatever. When you put them on the nas it's easiest to have a folder for each artist, and then let the metadata do the sorting. 

Rip a couple of albums and make sure they are showing as you want on the app (you can only control the Qb this way) before ripping more. A little thought at the beginning will save a lot of time later. 

Thanks. This is exactly the sort of information I'm looking for.

<<<<Rip a couple of albums and make sure they are showing as you want on the app (you can only control the Qb this way)>>>>>

Just to be clear, the phone app is the only way to browse and select what to play on the Qb?

C.

The Synology NAS you mention is a good place to start. (Alternatives from QNAP and Netgear as also good.) DSM or Minimserver both work on Synology, but you can try both and see which one suits you best. As HH says, I would go for dbPoweramp rather than using iTunes, and rip to WAV or FLAC.

You can probably use some sort of workaround to enable QB control on a computer, but they are really intended to be controlled using an iOS or Android device as a remote.

Naim app is the easiest way to control playback on your Naim device from a NAS.

As HH wrote: avoid iTunes at any cost!!!! And this comes from someone who has a complete Apple ecosystem network at home.

If you are ripping on a Mac you can try AIFF format - it is an uncompressed format, which carries all the metadata.

As far as a UPnP server software is concerned - you can try MinimServer - it's free to download. If you decide to keep it, just make a donation.

Blast.... Chris managed to beat me this time with an answer 

Thanks again for the comments.

It's a bit off topic here, but part of my learning process. Why don't the equipment makers provide web based controls or some way to control playback etc.

I'd much rather use a laptop with a larger screen, a keyboard,  and a pointing device than a phone.

C.

cbgbz posted:

Thanks again for the comments.

It's a bit off topic here, but part of my learning process. Why don't the equipment makers provide web based controls or some way to control playback etc.

I'd much rather use a laptop with a larger screen, a keyboard,  and a pointing device than a phone.

C.

Hmmm.... without being smug... you do realise that tablets are easier?  Naim app is really the best way to control it.
Would you really want to sit on a sofa and re-open your laptop all the time just to choose another song?

A tablet may be easier.

When I'm listening, I am usually in front of a monitor. It's much simpler for me to click on an icon and select what to play than to find my phone.

C.

cbgbz posted:

A tablet may be easier.

When I'm listening, I am usually in front of a monitor. It's much simpler for me to click on an icon and select what to play than to find my phone.

C.

You should be relaxing in your favourite chair / sofa... music sound much better that way 

I use a Synology NAS.

You only need Synology Media Server. You don't need Synology Audio station - that's a music player. 

Synology Media Server is very easy to configure and use and is very reliable, but it won't transcode gaplessly.  This isn't a problem - the QB will play both FLAC and WAVE amone many others, if you need to use WAVE files and only have FLAC, then convert FLAC files to WAVE files using something like DBPoweramp.

Ripping CDs is also best done with DBPoweramp (or EAC), not iTunes.

Working from Windows 7 or Windows 10, Windows Media Player can 'cast' the music to the QB.  It actually goes direct from the NAS to the QB, rather than via the PC, so sound quality is maintained.

Whilst I personally use an HDX or DBPoweramp (2nd system) for ripping, a friend of mine uses iTunes as he finds it FAR more reliable at tagging his large classical collection than DBoweramp which he tried.
He's ripping all of his CD's using iTunes in Apple Lossless and to my ears, it sounds fantastic.
He's using a SuperUniti and Neat Momentum SX5  speakers.
I have limited knowledge of it but, why do people hate iTunes so much?

blythe posted:

I have limited knowledge of it but, why do people hate iTunes so much?

Hate is probably too strong a word. It has a limited error correction capability and the way it files / catalogues / assigns can be a bit hit and miss. It will not process FLAC files (either read them or rip to that format.

Personally I use UnitiServe SSD to rip all my CDs and as a UPnP server.

  I use Synology  with their own native "Media Server" UPnP software.    Because I have all my music stored as WAV (best for Naim) & DSD if available,  it works perfectly, easy to use, simple to set up, well supported (automatic updates) & (as hinted at by Huge) plays gapless perfectly,  It is not good at transcoding & playing gapless files at the same time.  i.e. DSOTM (or opera) FLAC to WAV.   But if you have FLAC & play FLAC or any of the other codec's & playing without attempting to transcode,  its faultless.  

All my cd's are ripped onto my office I mac using Apple Lossless. It sounds fine to me. It's easy, sounds fine has has not cost me a penny. Unless I find time to start experimenting with anything different i will be keeping it as it is.

I use XLD for ripping and iTunes to manage the library. No issues with iTunes over 10 years or so of playing with computer audio. If you are happy with iTunes then i would recommend XLD.

I'd have a play around to see what works for you before embarking on a major ripping session - you only want to try and do this once !

James

I agree with MIKE-B, for me "media server" is good enough. Most of my music is in AIFF format and some in DSD. With my new iPad the Naim app works perfectly without of any troubles.

Hi Kacper,  yes Media Server is good enough as you say,  but because I'm all WAV & don't need to transcode - remember Naim players work/sound best with WAV (in most peoples opinion).  

I've tried Minimserver which is preloaded as a 3rd party package by Synology,  & yes it works well & it does transcode & play gapless (at the same time) perfectly,   but it does not have the simplicity of Syn's Media Server.

I do wish however that Synology & Asset (Illustrate) would come to some sort of formal support agreement.  I've used Asset on friends  QNAP's & like it.  I have installed it on my Synology (it can be done)  but its messy so gave up on it,  plus I'm not sure about Asset playing DSD tho'.     

Hi Mike, I have tried once this transcode mode and for me wasn't any benefits in sound quality whatsoever. AIFF- it's also completly uncompressed format which can easly handle metadata. With this "mediaserver" - there is one small issue - covers of DSD albums for example from HDtracks must be added manually otherwise won't be visible via Naim app.

Kacper posted:

 - there is one small issue - covers of DSD albums for example from HDtracks must be added manually otherwise won't be visible via Naim app.

   ...........   not in my experience.   I rarely use HDTracks (they need to get competitive with pricing)   but my usual DSD purchases from HighResAudio & Sound Liaison are pretty good.    Is it in the metadata but Synology does not show it ??  or its simply not embedded.  If it is embedded but Synology shows the double crotchet (music note) logo in place of the correct art cover,   try re-indexing the share.  

Mike-B posted:

Kacper posted:

 - there is one small issue - covers of DSD albums for example from HDtracks must be added manually otherwise won't be visible via Naim app.

   ...........   not in my experience.   I rarely use HDTracks (they need to get competitive with pricing)   but my usual DSD purchases from HighResAudio & Sound Liaison are pretty good.    Is it in the metadata but Synology does not show it ??  or its simply not embedded.  If it is embedded but Synology shows the double crotchet (music note) logo in place of the correct art cover,   try re-indexing the share.  

Yes, covers are in the metadata (via MinimServer they are visible) but it seems they aren't recognizable by the "mediaserver" - it's only an issue with DSD albums, with other formats there is no problem at all.

About HDtracks; there is a sale action for some jazz albums right now - up to 65%,

Kacper, on the odd occasion I use Mediaserver rather than Minim, I too get the covers for DSD albums. The only thing I can think of is to check that, if the covers are not embedded in the metadata, that the cover itself is present in the album folder and is called something generic. Then make sure that in Main Menu> Mediaserver> Browsing Settings the generic names are all in the list for "Display cover images".

Probably the answer Gary.    I always check metadata as a matter of course irrespective of where its bought from & always check or rename the art .jpg as "Cover",  Qobuz annoyingly are doing it wrong all the time & name the art .jpg by the name of the album,  but the art is embedded correctly.    I also have a lot or ripped CD's that got named as folder & as upper & lower case is important,  my Display Cover Images are written as >|  cover.jpg;Cover.jpg;COVER.jpg;folder.jpg;Folder.jpg;FOLDER.jpg   |< Kacper, check & copy/paste that line.  

If you open the album/file from HDtracks, there is no art.jpg etc., sometimes they add a booklet in pdf.

It seems they are using some metadata program for attaching the album covers .

For DSD I have to download the cover from the internet, named "cover.jpg" and then works perfectly. - With other formats that's not necessary.

You don't need a .jpg as (when) the cover art is embedded (linked to www) in the metadata.   I take a look with dBpoweramp or MP3tag to be sure,  & sometimes I go find a better quality (bigger) .jpg & replace with that.  Although I do have some albums without a .jpg,  I prefer to have one attached to the NAS album file for no other reason other than completeness.     

By the way Mike,-once again thanks for a "switch-tip"; since I use this small device, there is no problem with high res streaming