Scrubbing- Fast Forward

I think this has been raised previously. If I recall correctly, I believe that these lossy formats have variable bit rates which causes an issue with fast forwarding within an individual track.

Cheers .... that’s a shame

If you are using an UPnP server that is able to transform mp3 and ogg/vorbis to e.g. flac (or for better sounding to wav), you can use fast forward (in track navigation) for these files, too. (I am using minimserver on a synology NAS.)

Thanks Gert

I’ve already set MinimServer to transcode on the fly;

flac:wav24

I’ve just changed this to be;

flac:wav24, mp3:wav, aac:wav24

The FLAC Giles still convert to WAV, but the MP3 and AAC files, stay the same.

Presumably I’ve errored with the code.

What do you suggest? ????

It seems that my answer from yesterday evening was not submitted correctly. So I try it again:

The user guide of minimserver (minimstreamer) says that for most of the music formats you need a stream converter program for transcoding. Flac does not need one what will be the reason that this format works: 

http://minimstreamer.com/userguide.html#Transcoding

Probably this one is not configured or missing. Which platform you are running minimserver on?

A QNAP TS-212 (ARM processor)

You should check if the stream.converter property is set pointing to a ffmpeg or avconv program. Also you should check if this tool is installed in this specified location. I do not know qnap. In doubt you can ask in the minimserver forum. Simon (the developer of minim) usually does help very quick and good.

Thanks Gert

Yes the ffmpeg is already in the stream.converter property  .... so I guess I’ll try Simon’s expertise.

Thanks for all your efforts - much appreciated. ????

Hi, I have synology Ds116 (latest DSM) and Naim Uniti 1, minimserver and minimwatch installed, stream converter option pointing to ffmpeg.

I presume I have ffmpeg installed although I don't find it in opt folder.

Anyways, I don't have anything that remotely resembles fast forwarding option on any file type.

I don't understand how such trivial function is not implemented directly but you have to search for million of options to have it.

RMATOSEV, inline navigation should work out of the box without further workarounds when playing flac or wav tracks, but only when using the naim app. With mp3 or ogg/vorbis it does not work. Your uniti1 should have the latest firmware installed.

The ffmpeg only has to be installed in the minimserver's opt folder if it is not available on the NAS otherwise. You can check if transcoding of mp3 does work by checking the uniti's display (set to the right information mode) or the naim app.

I think technically inline navigation is not that trivial as it seems to be for the user. Maybe fast forward should be quite easy to implement, but for jumping backwards you either have to buffer all the data that already has been streamed (the uniti does not have enough memory for this) or the UPnP protocol has to offer the possibility to tell the server "please restart the stream at position x seconds again". I do not know if UPnP specifies this.

All sorted now and I can fast forward and backwards, regardless of the format and file type - all transcoded to WAV to suit the Naim streamer.

The AAC files were in MP4 format, so using mp4:wav24 (instead of aac:wav24) was the solution!

Many thanks to Simon at MinimServer, for all his awesome support ????

gert posted:

RMATOSEV, inline navigation should work out of the box without further workarounds when playing flac or wav tracks, but only when using the naim app. With mp3 or ogg/vorbis it does not work. Your uniti1 should have the latest firmware installed.

The ffmpeg only has to be installed in the minimserver's opt folder if it is not available on the NAS otherwise. You can check if transcoding of mp3 does work by checking the uniti's display (set to the right information mode) or the naim app.

I think technically inline navigation is not that trivial as it seems to be for the user. Maybe fast forward should be quite easy to implement, but for jumping backwards you either have to buffer all the data that already has been streamed (the uniti does not have enough memory for this) or the UPnP protocol has to offer the possibility to tell the server "please restart the stream at position x seconds again". I do not know if UPnP specifies this.

Gert, thanks a lot.
I am afraid, inline navigation does not work with me, there is absolutely nothing resembling slider on the status bar (on any file type, mostly flac).

Transcoding works (at least mp3:wav).
Any additional ideas?

Which firmware version does your uniti have installed? You find the streamer version either in your app via the info menu item (at least in the German GUI) or via the normal remote on the uniti's display in the settings menu. I had to check the exact sub menu name if you do not find it.

Greetings

Gert

I have all the latest firmwares and updates (firmware 4.40, IOS app 5.9) though things don't work also with older versions I have on other tablets (Nstream, Android app).

I'm puzzled...

I don't have that little circle slider as some users have.
I googled some other people's screenshots:

When compared to mine (see few posts above)

Hmm, I have no idea left, would could be the problem. Maybe you can try:

Stream a flac file from the synology media server. If this offers the small circle on the slider the problem would be a setting in minimserver. Then  you could ask in the minimserver forum.

Maybe there a differences in how flac files can be encoded? Perhaps try to stream a real wav file first? If this works you shoul try to transcode flac to wav. Wav does sound better than flac with the uniti btw.!

If nothing helps I would ask the naim support for further ideas.

Which version is your minimserver?

RMATOSEV

Check whether you have UPnP compatibility mode checked in the app settings and, if so, uncheck it. I seem to recall that this mode disabled some functionality in the app. Not sure whether seek to time was one but worth checking.   

rmatosev posted:

I don't have that little circle slider as some users have.
I googled some other people's screenshots:

When compared to mine (see few posts above)

That looks like the N-Serve app to me, not N-Stream/Naim app. 

Thanks guys, I tried all of your advice:

- transcoding to wav
- real wav
- UPnPcompatilibility on/off
- synology Audio Station/Plex media server
No luck...
I asked the question on Minimserver forum...
We'll, something may come out...

I think it has nothing to do with minimserver, otherwise you had seem the slider with the synology media server.

Also it does not have anything to do with the compatibility mode in the naim app. I tried to turn it on and still was able to navigate intrack.

I am very sure that the normal uniti1 was able to use this function. But as I have an uniti1 with the upgrade streaming board I cannot validate this.

If you have no playlists in your app (they would get lost) you could try to uninstall and reinstall the naim app.

As last option it woulf be best to ask the naim support.

Guys, thank you all for your efforts.
Just got myself Mu-so Qb and when run in the same environment as Uniti, it has inline navigation out-of-the box with no problems.
So, the only conclusion is: Uniti 1 without streaming/192 kHz upgrade board does not support it.
I'll just have to live with it.
To be honest, it was not a problem comparable to global warming!

I recommend to ask the naim support if it is really the uniti1 without inline/intrack navigation. I am quite sure that I could fast forward before the upgrade of the streaming board, too.