Music-server tips

Nserve app as HH says, for IOS. There isn't an equivalent app for Android so you would need to use the Windows DTC or n-Serve for Mac if you are Android rather than IOS.

best

David

Hungryhalibut posted:

You need the nServe app. 

i installed the n serve app.  But how add a cover to an album ?

David Hendon posted:

Nserve app as HH says, for IOS. There isn't an equivalent app for Android so you would need to use the Windows DTC or n-Serve for Mac if you are Android rather than IOS.

best

David

i use an ipad, the n serve app is installed. My albums are present, cds ripped and downloads. But i don’t find the way to change the covers, specially to add some.   Perhaps is it not possible inside the app on the ipad but i must install the app on a pc, having not the mac?

Before i managed to change the covers using desktop client for the unitserve. But it doesn’t work anymore on my pc.

Changing album art for CD rips on the iOS N-Serve app is straightforward. You can do it on the N-Serve for Mac app too. Are you looking at downloads? These can’t be edited in the app. 

ChrisSU posted:

Changing album art for CD rips on the iOS N-Serve app is straightforward. You can do it on the N-Serve for Mac app too. Are you looking at downloads? These can’t be edited in the app. 

yes downloads.  So the downloads can’t be edited in the app.  Hungryhalibut was certainly talking about the rips.  Thanks Chris.    I know this can be done with metadatics or other programs, but i don’t want to use the computer.  It is not such a big problem not to have some downloads covers, the most important is to have the good title of the album.  

Sorry, I did not read your post clearly enough and did not realise you were talking about downloads. As you are already using a computer to do the download, it should not be an issue to use the computer to sort out the metadata. The easiest thing is to check that all the metadata is correct, and that you are happy with the album cover, before you copy the album to the UnitiServe’s downloads folder. I suggest you install dbpoweramp on the computer - it’s really easy to use. 

I agree fully with HH - and getting in the habit of checking/editing metadata at the time of download is vital: it is far easier to do then, than when you have downloaded lots of files and some time later discover some don’t show up in particular searches, or appear in the wrong order, or display no or wrong info. Keeping it on the computer until that is done is a simple means of prompting you to do it.

French Rooster posted:

David Hendon posted:

 

Before i managed to change the covers using desktop client for the unitserve. But it doesn’t work anymore on my pc.

The Windows DTC can't edit metadata or artwork in the downloads folder but should still work fine on rips. You have to use the latest version if your server is running firmware 1.7b, but anyway I see your issue is with downloads, so the Windows DTC won't help you.

I also dislike using a computer for my audio and avoid it as far as I can, but as HH says, it's very easy to do, so I suggest you grit your teeth (as the English expression goes) and sort out the album titles at least. Good luck!

best

David

Absolutely agree HH & IB,  I download to my computer (is there another way??)  check & edit if req the metadata & art prior to uploading to NAS.    I keep it on the computer until I'm 100% happy just in case I need to go back & start over,  then when I'm 100% I run a backup..

I use dBpoweramp & Mp3tag which I'm finding more useful in some respects as I've got used to to it.

David Hendon posted:

French Rooster posted:

David Hendon posted:

 

Before i managed to change the covers using desktop client for the unitserve. But it doesn’t work anymore on my pc.

The Windows DTC can't edit metadata or artwork in the downloads folder but should still work fine on rips. You have to use the latest version if your server is running firmware 1.7b, but anyway I see your issue is with downloads, so the Windows DTC won't help you.

I also dislike using a computer for my audio and avoid it as far as I can, but as HH says, it's very easy to do, so I suggest you grit your teeth (as the English expression goes) and sort out the album titles at least. Good luck!

best

David

It’s not using the computer for music - nothing to do with music, just file tags and the associated artwork file. And internally the Core is a computer, just optimised for sound quality.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Sorry, I did not read your post clearly enough and did not realise you were talking about downloads. As you are already using a computer to do the download, it should not be an issue to use the computer to sort out the metadata. The easiest thing is to check that all the metadata is correct, and that you are happy with the album cover, before you copy the album to the UnitiServe’s downloads folder. I suggest you install dbpoweramp on the computer - it’s really easy to use. 

i buy mostly the downloads on qobuz, there is the cover and title , but on the app the cover is not present.  On the pc the metadata is fine but not after i send it on the serve: no cover.  How change that ?

With the HDX and US, cover art should be placed in the same folder as the album tracks and be called 'folder.jpg' or 'cover.jpg' 

French Rooster posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Sorry, I did not read your post clearly enough and did not realise you were talking about downloads. As you are already using a computer to do the download, it should not be an issue to use the computer to sort out the metadata. The easiest thing is to check that all the metadata is correct, and that you are happy with the album cover, before you copy the album to the UnitiServe’s downloads folder. I suggest you install dbpoweramp on the computer - it’s really easy to use. 

i buy mostly the downloads on qobuz, there is the cover and title , but on the app the cover is not present.  On the pc the metadata is fine but not after i send it on the serve: no cover.  How change that ?

You need a metadata editor on your computer. DBpoweramp has one included, or you can use Metadatics, MP3tag and others. You can still use these editors on music files after they have been transferred to the Unitiserve if necessary.

If the metadata is fine when the album is on the PC, it will be ok once you transfer it to the serve. How do you know it’s ok on the computer, if you don’t have a metadata editor? Sometimes it can take a while for albums to show up on the Serve, and it may be a case of forcing a rescan via the DTC.

Hungryhalibut posted:

If the metadata is fine when the album is on the PC, it will be ok once you transfer it to the serve. How do you know it’s ok on the computer, if you don’t have a metadata editor? Sometimes it can take a while for albums to show up on the Serve, and it may be a case of forcing a rescan via the DTC.

i think it is ok because there is the album cover image jpg and after the tracks.  As say Klout10, cover art must be placed in the same folder as tracks.  I will try that.  On qobuz image folder and tracks seem to be separated.  

ChrisSU posted:

French Rooster posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Sorry, I did not read your post clearly enough and did not realise you were talking about downloads. As you are already using a computer to do the download, it should not be an issue to use the computer to sort out the metadata. The easiest thing is to check that all the metadata is correct, and that you are happy with the album cover, before you copy the album to the UnitiServe’s downloads folder. I suggest you install dbpoweramp on the computer - it’s really easy to use. 

i buy mostly the downloads on qobuz, there is the cover and title , but on the app the cover is not present.  On the pc the metadata is fine but not after i send it on the serve: no cover.  How change that ?

You need a metadata editor on your computer. DBpoweramp has one included, or you can use Metadatics, MP3tag and others. You can still use these editors on music files after they have been transferred to the Unitiserve if necessary.

i once tried to download metadatics but i don’t succeed with that. My pc is windows 7 i think. I rarely use it, more my wife. Perhaps i need windows 10?

Dbpoweramp will work with Windows 7. You really need to master one of the metadata editors if you are going to use downloaded music painlessly. It really isn’t hard. 

I think Metadatics is Mac only? Try DBpoweramp or MP3tag. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Dbpoweramp will work with Windows 7. You really need to master one of the metadata editors if you are going to use downloaded music painlessly. It really isn’t hard. 

ok, i will try.  I have this cover problem only with qobuz, not with hdtracks, highrez audio or tidal store. But i use more qobuz, more choices and less expensive. 

Back to the topic 

I do have a synology NAS which I'm using at the moment, but it is not living/listening room compatible as it is way too loud, I do not want to spend money on a linear power supply and it does create uncontrolled high frequency fields. Further I'd like to separate music from other files and get the best SQ possible, as streaming is my only source.

I like the option that both devices are connected via ethernet- cover artwork vise etc. but regarding SQ - has anyone of you compared any high end ethernet cables such as the Chord Sarum on both streamer and server vs. a high end digital coaxial cable from the core/hdx to streamer?

Of course I will demo everything myself but maybe some of you have any interesting experiences to share. 

Thanks again!

DL_Audio posted:

Back to the topic 

I do have a synology NAS which I'm using at the moment, but it is not living/listening room compatible as it is way too loud, I do not want to spend money on a linear power supply and it does create uncontrolled high frequency fields. Further I'd like to separate music from other files and get the best SQ possible, as streaming is my only source.

 

I like the option that both devices are connected via ethernet- cover artwork vise etc. but regarding SQ - has anyone of you compared any high end ethernet cables such as the Chord Sarum on both streamer and server vs. a high end digital coaxial cable from the core/hdx to streamer?

Of course I will demo everything myself but maybe some of you have any interesting experiences to share. 

Thanks again!

There is a current thread about ethernet cables, so have a read of The Great Ethernet Showdown.

Re NAS, Qnap is a popular one that is acoustically silent if fitted with SSDs (I don’t know how it compares with high frequency fields that you are concerned about). I used a Mac Mini as a NAS before adding Audirvana to turn it into a self-contained music player feeding direct to a DAC, and with SSDs its low power fan is only audible up to 2 or 3 feet away in a quiet room.

DL_Audio posted:

I do have a synology NAS which I'm using at the moment, but it is not living/listening room compatible as it is way too loud, I do not want to spend money on a linear power supply and it does create uncontrolled high frequency fields. Further I'd like to separate music from other files and get the best SQ possible, as streaming is my only source.

The advantage of a NAS is that its location does not matter, it just needs a network connection and does not need to be located in your living room. Try to put it on a different mains circuit to your Hi-Fi system - along with any other electrical devices, as far as possible. 

Using a Core or other device with SPDIF connection may also be worth trying, although you are then no longer using your streamer as a streamer, and you may get better performance for your money by connecting it to a standalone DAC instead. 

Innocent Bystander posted:

DL_Audio posted:

Back to the topic 

I do have a synology NAS which I'm using at the moment, but it is not living/listening room compatible as it is way too loud, I do not want to spend money on a linear power supply and it does create uncontrolled high frequency fields. Further I'd like to separate music from other files and get the best SQ possible, as streaming is my only source.

 

I like the option that both devices are connected via ethernet- cover artwork vise etc. but regarding SQ - has anyone of you compared any high end ethernet cables such as the Chord Sarum on both streamer and server vs. a high end digital coaxial cable from the core/hdx to streamer?

Of course I will demo everything myself but maybe some of you have any interesting experiences to share. 

Thanks again!

There is a current thread about ethernet cables, so have a read of The Great Ethernet Showdown.

Re NAS, Qnap is a popular one that is acoustically silent if fitted with SSDs (I don’t know how it compares with high frequency fields that you are concerned about). I used a Mac Mini as a NAS before adding Audirvana to turn it into a self-contained music player feeding direct to a DAC, and with SSDs its low power fan is only audible up to 2 or 3 feet away in a quiet room.

 

Most recent good quality NAS enclosures are similarly low noise.

This includes the low powered Synology devices - they are about 19dB(A) @ 1m, (for comparison most typical UK domestic environments range from about 24dB(A) to about 36dB(A) mean SPL during the evening).

Some older NAS drives (and some more recent higher powered ones intended for server rooms rather than for domestic use) can exceed 36dB(A).