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[cncb]

Yes.  This happens on both the LG G6 and Pixel.  The G6 has that option and it's set.  The Pixel does not have that option, it's just set by default apparently.

Is your WiFi signal solid?  Playback will stop if it switches networks (WiFi to cellular or vice versa).  None of my devices seem to need it and if you have the "Keep WiFi on" option enabled it shouldn't be necessary, but we could try to add a "WiFi lock" to see if it fixes the problem.

[cncb]

Could you try to disable WiFi (play to the device via cellular only) and see if you still have the stopping problems?

[hoyt]

Is your WiFi signal solid?  Playback will stop if it switches networks (WiFi to cellular or vice versa).  None of my devices seem to need it and if you have the "Keep WiFi on" option enabled it shouldn't be necessary, but we could try to add a "WiFi lock" to see if it fixes the problem.

Yes, wifi is strong.  I setup a ping every 10 seconds to check my phone when the screen turns off.  It stops responding to pings after a bit over 2-3 minutes and never advanced to track 2.  Oddly though, I played through 3 albums straight on JRemote yesterday while painting.  I've just done the same test with JRemote and the same thing happens (stops responding to pings), but it advanced to track 2 and then 3.  Do you do any caching in MO 4Media?

Could you try to disable WiFi (play to the device via cellular only) and see if you still have the stopping problems?

Testing on my work cell at the same time and it appears to not have the same issue with cellular data.

[hoyt]

I disabled battery optimization for MO 4Media and it just advanced tracks.  This seems to have solved it, I'll be doing more painting today, so I'll have the phone setup without touching it for a few hours.  Will let you know if this doesn't resolve it, but seems good!

[cncb]

Thanks for figuring this out.  Are you OK with changing the battery optimization setting or do you want me to add something to the app?

[hoyt]

Thanks for figuring this out.  Are you OK with changing the battery optimization setting or do you want me to add something to the app?

I'm ok with changing the setting.  Might want to put a note about it somewhere in the help though?  I checked and didn't have this set for JRemote or Gizmo, so I assume someone else might end up stuck in the same situation. 

[cncb]

I checked and didn't have this set for JRemote or Gizmo, so I assume someone else might end up stuck in the same situation.

I think this is probably due to MO not doing a WiFi lock although I'm not sure why it works on some devices without it.  I will go ahead and add the lock for the next release to hopefully avoid this issue in the future.  Thanks for your help with this.

By the way, to answer your earlier question, MO doesn't do any caching beyond what the built-in Android media player might do for the current playing track.

[cncb]

I have submitted the 1.2.0 update which should be available shortly.  The main added items are seeking buttons, gapless playback, and optional rating buttons in the main notification.  I'm not sure if it is perfectly gapless, but it seems very close to me.  Also, I didn't create a new, separate notification for the rating buttons because I had to implement "scrolling" of the buttons anyways.

[Gatherum]

I hate to relay the bad news but none of the buttons in the notification work now. I tap them but nothing happens. Also, no rating stars were added to the lock screen notification.

On the bright side, gapless play-back seems to be working pretty well. Thank you!

[cncb]

Tap the new star button at the end and it will show the rating buttons.

I am not sure why the buttons in the notification are not working for you (I actually was under the impression you did not see the notification at all).  The notification buttons work on the various devices I have tested although I think hoyt was having similar problems.  I wonder if it is some kind of permissions issue?

[Gatherum]

Aye, the star button doesn't do anything and neither do any of the others.

[cncb]

It appears to be an Oreo-only issue.  Sorry about that.  I will try to find a fix ASAP.

[Gatherum]

Also, no additional lock screen buttons. I'm curious to know how Android generates this if you didn't write in this feature yourself.

[cncb]

I submitted an update that should fix the Oreo notification buttons.

I think you probably would get the same lock screen for other audio playback apps since I'm pretty sure that Android just creates it from the metadata supplied by MO and standard playback controls.

[Gatherum]

Mm. It would be super cool if that could be manipulated!

The buttons work now, at least.

[Gatherum]

I have an idea:

Would it be possible to include options in Settings > Device Playback that allows conversion to PCM 16- and 24-bit?

[cncb]

This should be possible and I will try to fit it into the next release which should be ready pretty soon.

[Awesome Donkey]

I decided to try this remote this morning... wow, it actually works pretty well! This is the first remote that I've used that supports gapless playback, which is a plus when listening to Pink Floyd albums for example. But I've got some feedback including one issue, an issue/request type of thing, a couple questions and a straightforward request. I've noticed two issue thus far, which the first one is kinda a deal breaker at the moment...

- I can't use my finger to seek in the progress bar (by dragging around). Instead it pops up a little menu with seeking X amount of seconds options.

This is actually pretty annoying, as I'm very used to using my finger to drag and seek within songs. It's just fast that way, IMO. I do like the seeking options though, but still, much faster by dragging. This next one is more of a request than an issue.

- When scrolling down the list of artists, it takes me a long time to get down to the bottom. In JRemote, it has scrolling that becomes faster (then jumps to letters of the alphabet, allowing me to scroll down to the bottom faster). Is something like this possible with this remote? It'd really help, since I have nearly 1000 artists in my library.

This can be mildly annoying, to be honest. First world problems, eh?

Now a couple questions...

1. I have my media network setup to "Don't convert audio", so the remote shouldn't do this either, right? Yet, High is the highest conversion quality available for audio so I'm not sure if it's converting regardless of the option, so there's some confusion there. Having "Original" as an option for the quality (even if it's simply placebo) might address any confusion there (kinda goes with Schmengie's idea above, which makes sense). I guess I could simply add flac to the list of file types to NOT convert? IMO, it's confusing.

2. (I know there's very little chance, e.g. a snowball's chance in hell) and I can't believe I'm asking this... but I'm wondering if this could possibly be ported to Windows as a UWP type of app? Reason being, I've got some cheap Windows 10 tablets, which could make perfect use of being a remote for MC. Panel works, to an extent (which hopefully improves in time), but having a dedicated app for that makes sense. However, from a software developer's point of view, investing time, money and effort in a platform that's more-or-less on life support (at least Windows 10 Mobile) for very little gains, it doesn't make much sense. But just asking anyways, even though I can guess the answer.

Finally, a request...

- Kinda goes along with the "don't convert audio" subject above, know how when playing back audio in JRemote, it has a little icon showing the type of audio playing (e.g an orange FLAC button)? Yeah, that. It would be VERY useful and aesthetically pleasing as I get a warm fuzzy feeling seeing FLAC being sent over DLNA and playing back on my phone.

This remote has inspired me to consider finally implementing my plan of getting a NUC (or an IdNuc) with either Linux or Windows on it, installing MC on it, cloning my music library that's stored on my main computer to a new hard drive (so it is on its own device, and I won't need my PC turned on to play music to my phone, for example) and using this remote for dedicated music playback/DLNA renderer around the house at any time of day. I've been procrastinating about it though, because lack of gapless playback over DLNA to my handheld devices was the main deal breaker (was hoping it'd come in Gizmo, JRemote or eos), but this remote solves that issue.

[cncb]

Thanks for the feedback.

- I can't use my finger to seek in the progress bar (by dragging around). Instead it pops up a little menu with seeking X amount of seconds options.

It seemed like the buttons might be better for more accurate and "finer" seeking but I understand how dragging the progress bar would be easier to use.  Perhaps I could add an optional seeking progress bar that would pop up in place of the buttons?

- When scrolling down the list of artists, it takes me a long time to get down to the bottom. In JRemote, it has scrolling that becomes faster (then jumps to letters of the alphabet, allowing me to scroll down to the bottom faster). Is something like this possible with this remote? It'd really help, since I have nearly 1000 artists in my library.

Nothing as nice as the JRemote scrolling but there is the ability to jump to letters.  Tap the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the list and make sure it says "Jump to" in the search box.  Type a letter and tap the search icon in the keyboard to jump to that letter.

1. I have my media network setup to "Don't convert audio", so the remote shouldn't do this either, right? Yet, High is the highest conversion quality available for audio so I'm not sure if it's converting regardless of the option, so there's some confusion there. Having "Original" as an option for the quality (even if it's simply placebo) might address any confusion there (kinda goes with Schmengie's idea above, which makes sense). I guess I could simply add flac to the list of file types to NOT convert? IMO, it's confusing.

Sorry this is confusing.  It seemed like this was the best way to present conversion settings without having to have a setting for each possible file type.  The Quality setting only applies to file types not in the list (i.e. the files that will be converted) so "Original" does not make sense in this case.  I am open to suggestions to make this clearer.

2. (I know there's very little chance, e.g. a snowball's chance in hell) and I can't believe I'm asking this... but I'm wondering if this could possibly be ported to Windows as a UWP type of app? Reason being, I've got some cheap Windows 10 tablets, which could make perfect use of being a remote for MC. Panel works, to an extent (which hopefully improves in time), but having a dedicated app for that makes sense. However, from a software developer's point of view, investing time, money and effort in a platform that's more-or-less on life support (at least Windows 10 Mobile) for very little gains, it doesn't make much sense. But just asking anyways, even though I can guess the answer.

Sorry,  I loved my Windows Phone right up until they pulled the plug but any port would most likely be to iOS.

- Kinda goes along with the "don't convert audio" subject above, know how when playing back audio in JRemote, it has a little icon showing the type of audio playing (e.g an orange FLAC button)? Yeah, that. It would be VERY useful and aesthetically pleasing as I get a warm fuzzy feeling seeing FLAC being sent over DLNA and playing back on my phone.

It might not give you the "fuzzies" , but if you click the "more" button next to the transport buttons, it will show you an "Audio Path" which will indicate whether or not the audio is being converted.

[Awesome Donkey]

It might not give you the "fuzzies" , but if you click the "more" button next to the transport buttons, it will show you an "Audio Path" which will indicate whether or not the audio is being converted.

Hmmm, it says converting file from FLAC so I guess it is converting (what's it converting to?). Anyways after adding flac to the file types to NOT convert list it works and it's now playing back as FLAC. Groovy.

It seemed like the buttons might be better for more accurate and "finer" seeking but I understand how dragging the progress bar would be easier to use.  Perhaps I could add an optional seeking progress bar that would pop up in place of the buttons?

I can see how having both could be useful to have. Having a way to switch between them (e.g. toggle button) would likely help (or press and holding on the previous/next buttons for the seeking buttons to pop up). But yeah, gotta go fast so dragging to seek works best for me.

Nothing as nice as the JRemote scrolling but there is the ability to jump to letters.  Tap the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the list and make sure it says "Jump to" in the search box.  Type a letter and tap the search icon in the keyboard to jump to that letter.

Okay, that's a good compromise (and actually faster than JRemote to getting towards the end of the list).

Sorry this is confusing.  It seemed like this was the best way to present conversion settings without having to have a setting for each possible file type.  The Quality setting only applies to file types not in the list (i.e. the files that will be converted) so "Original" does not make sense in this case.  I am open to suggestions to make this clearer.

Hmmm, I've got an idea. Perhaps a compromise would be to add another toggle at the top (below the two existing toggles) to disable ALL audio conversions (which then will disable the conversion quality toggle and the file types to NOT convert list). That way no files will be converted, for those users (like myself) who'd like it that way and only have one type of files (e.g. FLAC). But having it only convert specific file types does come in handy for those users with files (e.g. DSD files) that won't playback without conversion to PCM.

Sorry,  I loved my Windows Phone right up until they pulled the plug but any port would most likely be to iOS.

As I expected, it was worth a try.

It might not give you the "fuzzies" , but if you click the "more" button next to the transport buttons, it will show you an "Audio Path" which will indicate whether or not the audio is being converted.

It says Playing flac, so I'm feeling rather fuzzy now. So this is a good compromise too AND it's playing my 24-bit/192 kHz albums with no issues.

I'm pretty content now, so I've subscribed and I'm going to play with this more throughout the day. I guess I'll start prepping my DLNA renderer plans now.

Keep up the good work!

P.S. Can the audio path display other stats like bit-depth, sample rate, bitrate, etc. if possible?

[cncb]

I can see how having both could be useful to have. Having a way to switch between them (e.g. toggle button) would likely help (or press and holding on the previous/next buttons for the seeking buttons to pop up). But yeah, gotta go fast so dragging to seek works best for me.

I will work on this for a future release.

Perhaps a compromise would be to add another toggle at the top (below the two existing toggles) to disable ALL audio conversions (which then will disable the conversion quality toggle and the file types to NOT convert list).

Good idea.  I will add this for the next release.

P.S. Can the audio path display other stats like bit-depth, sample rate, bitrate, etc. if possible?

This was my original intention, but the Android media player does not seem to be able to provide this information (for conversions).  I could display this information for files not being converted.

Thanks.

[Awesome Donkey]

I could display this information for files not being converted.

Which would be perfect.

Thanks!

[Hendrik]

1. I have my media network setup to "Don't convert audio", so the remote shouldn't do this either, right?

Just for the record, those media network settings do not influence the behavior of the MCWS service that serves the files. The remote is in full control how it gets its files delivered, original or converted.

[hoyt]

I have a few requests/ notes:
1. It would be nice to set the audio conversion by network (wifi vs mobile data).  So when on mobile data, I want to convert to MP3 at a medium quality.  When on wifi, I want no file conversion.
2. When I initially flip to the Library tab, the list type is in a list format.  I hit the list button and it doesn't change, then I hit it again and it goes to a thumbnail type.  I'd like it to stay as thumbnails, but it seems to reset every time.
3. When I'm browsing my lists (Audio > Studio > Artist > Album), then I want to go back, I often hit the back button on my phone.  This closes the app.  Instead I need to use the <- arrow.  I'd like to use the <| icon on my phone.
4. I'd like to be able to choose, somehow, different tags to show in different views.  I don't know how I want this to work, but it's something that I can't do in JRemote or Gizmo that I've always wanted.  For example, when playing the genre of Classical, I want to see on a playing now display, the Orchestra and Conductor tags face up.  Again, no idea how to implement that but something that would be nice.

Something that I really like that no other remote has done:
When I change zones, the app keeps me in the same place of my library.  I often go through the process of finding what I want to play, hitting play, then saying !@$, wrong zone.  In MO 4Media, I still say !@$, but it's more easily fixed.

[cncb]

1. It would be nice to set the audio conversion by network (wifi vs mobile data).  So when on mobile data, I want to convert to MP3 at a medium quality.  When on wifi, I want no file conversion.

This is already in the next update which should be available soon.

2. When I initially flip to the Library tab, the list type is in a list format.  I hit the list button and it doesn't change, then I hit it again and it goes to a thumbnail type.  I'd like it to stay as thumbnails, but it seems to reset every time.

I will look into this.  It is supposed to remember the last setting.

3. When I'm browsing my lists (Audio > Studio > Artist > Album), then I want to go back, I often hit the back button on my phone.  This closes the app.  Instead I need to use the <- arrow.  I'd like to use the <| icon on my phone.

I will look into adding this.

4. I'd like to be able to choose, somehow, different tags to show in different views.  I don't know how I want this to work, but it's something that I can't do in JRemote or Gizmo that I've always wanted.  For example, when playing the genre of Classical, I want to see on a playing now display, the Orchestra and Conductor tags face up.  Again, no idea how to implement that but something that would be nice.

I was considering doing this before.  This could be done with expressions, but would require you adding some calculated expression fields to your MC library.  I would consider adding this to a future release if you are comfortable with that.

[syndromeofadown]

Hi cnbc.
My first impression of your app is very good but I am having a couple issues with it.

Adding a server only works for me if I fill out user name and password in the app. i don't have authentication turned on in MC so it shouldn't require a password. Also it doesn't matter what text I enter for them as long as the fields aren't blank.

My other issue is volume. When the volume keys on my tablet are pressed the app show changes in volume of 5% intervals but there's no change in volume. Ideally there would be 1% intervals, and it would change the volume.

My server is an IdPi with latest updates, my playback device is an Axiom Air, my Android device is Galaxy Tab A 2016.

[struct]

Just downloaded for a try.  Very nice.

How far away might be Google Cast?

Thanks

[cncb]

Adding a server only works for me if I fill out user name and password in the app. i don't have authentication turned on in MC so it shouldn't require a password. Also it doesn't matter what text I enter for them as long as the fields aren't blank.

I will look into this but it sounds like you are able to connect by putting in any credentials?

My other issue is volume. When the volume keys on my tablet are pressed the app show changes in volume of 5% intervals but there's no change in volume. Ideally there would be 1% intervals, and it would change the volume.

My server is an IdPi with latest updates, my playback device is an Axiom Air, my Android device is Galaxy Tab A 2016.

I can change it to 1%.  5% was kind of arbitrary since it seemed like 1% might be too fine of an adjustment.  Is your playback device a DLNA renderer (seems to be a musical keyboard)?

[cncb]

How far away might be Google Cast?

Sorry, I am not sure.  You are the first person who has showed any interest.  I want to work on a few other things first, so if I add it (sorry, no guarantees) it probably would be a few months out.  Thanks.

[Awesome Donkey]

I've noticed a somewhat weird issue. Sometimes when going through the Library switching between artists, the cover art displayed is for a previous artist/albums I was looking at, and thus it's the wrong cover art (like it's cached and being displayed for the wrong albums even though the albums have embedded cover art). I've noticed this especially with artists where I have a good number of albums for (e.g. over 100). I'll see if I can get a screenshot of it happening next time.

[Awesome Donkey]

I've noticed another (somewhat trivial) 'issue', if you would call it that.

I've noticed if you "minimize" the app (meaning it's not in focus, could be another app in focus) and come back to the app, the tabs (doesn't matter if they're on top or bottom) become aligned to the left, instead of being aligned in the middle like it normally is.

Example (highlighted in red): https://i.imgur.com/tYbQt4I.jpg

Of course, clicking on each tab makes it align in the middle again (which, IMO, it should stay aligned in the middle all the time).

Example of how it normally (should) look: https://i.imgur.com/ebX1rpX.jpg

[syndromeofadown]

I will look into this but it sounds like you are able to connect by putting in any credentials?

Correct. I can enter any text into the user name and password to successfully add a server.
Note that if I edit a server there's no way to connect, I have to add a new one with the username and password non-empty.

I can change it to 1%.  5% was kind of arbitrary since it seemed like 1% might be too fine of an adjustment.  Is your playback device a DLNA renderer (seems to be a musical keyboard)?

Axiom Air is DLNA renderer:
https://air.axiomaudio.com/
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=104473.0

In the Axiom Air settings (edited using the Axiom Air android app), there are options for startup volume, max volume, and one click volume steps. I have volume step set on 1 which is probably where other remotes get the 1% intervals that i am used to.

[cncb]

Sometimes when going through the Library switching between artists, the cover art displayed is for a previous artist/albums I was looking at, and thus it's the wrong cover art (like it's cached and being displayed for the wrong albums even though the albums have embedded cover art).

I noticed what might be a similar issue when switching between servers a lot for testing (the displayed thumbnails get out of sync).  I already added a manual "Clear Image Cache" function for the next release.  Maybe it will help with your issue too.

[cncb]

I've noticed if you "minimize" the app (meaning it's not in focus, could be another app in focus) and come back to the app, the tabs (doesn't matter if they're on top or bottom) become aligned to the left, instead of being aligned in the middle like it normally is.

This is a longstanding issue that I haven't quite been able to pin down yet.  I should eventually fix it .

[cncb]

Correct. I can enter any text into the user name and password to successfully add a server.
Note that if I edit a server there's no way to connect, I have to add a new one with the username and password non-empty.

I still need to test this but it won't let you put in fake credentials for an existing server?

In the Axiom Air settings (edited using the Axiom Air android app), there are options for startup volume, max volume, and one click volume steps. I have volume step set on 1 which is probably where other remotes get the 1% intervals that i am used to.

Thanks for reporting this.  It is fixed in the next release.

[syndromeofadown]

I still need to test this but it won't let you put in fake credentials for an existing server?

It will let me put in fake credentials but it has to be done when adding a new server.
If I add them to an existing server by choosing "edit" it won't connect.

[hoyt]

This could be done with expressions, but would require you adding some calculated expression fields to your MC library.  I would consider adding this to a future release if you are comfortable with that.

Yeah, depending on what you figure out that could work, I'd be comfortable doing this.  If it went into a new field, like Mobile Track Name, Mobile Album Name, etc, and I could just fill my whole library with Mobile Track Name =[Name], except if Classical, I could do it differently, that'd be great. 

[cncb]

v1.3.0 is now available.  The main addition is Downloading with Offline playback but see the second post for all the changes.

[hoyt]

v1.3.0 is now available.  The main addition is Downloading with Offline playback but see the second post for all the changes.

Wow, that's awesome!  I'm trying to get the Offline mode to work right now and I've setup the download on two different devices, with a similar outcome.  I hit the play button next to an album, and choose Download.  On my LG G6, I can tell the phone is trying to download something because the down arrow icon flashes in the upper status bar a few times.  Then I go to Settings > Downloads and the album I've selected says 0 MB, 0/6 files. 

I tried changing the conversion settings (no conversion vs MP3), but this stays the same.  On my Pixel, it does something similar, but I don't see the downloading icon in the status bar.

[cncb]

Did it prompt you to give MO storage access permissions?  Did it show you a confirmation message of the download details where you could cancel or download?

[hoyt]

Did it prompt you to give MO storage access permissions?  Did it show you a confirmation message of the download details where you could cancel or download?

I didn't get an android prompt for access permissions, but it did tell me that I needed to select a folder.  I did that in the Downloads setting.  It now says Internal Shared Storage.

Edit: I just checked the app pref, and it does have access to local storage in the Android App Permissions.

I do see a popup that says Download Details, X files, X thumbnails, X MB, etc, and I click Download but that's where it stops. 

[cncb]

Strange. Sorry it is not working for you.  You can go to the Downloads screen in MO and select the menu for the download and select "Update/refresh" and it will try again.  Also, are you trying to download over Wi-Fi or cellular?

[hoyt]

Strange. Sorry it is not working for you.  You can go to the Downloads screen in MO and select the menu for the download and select "Update/refresh" and it will try again.  Also, are you trying to download over Wi-Fi or cellular?

I tried that and it still hadn't downloaded.  I was trying to see if my MC server was reacting and when I hit refresh, my CPU jumps a bit, for roughly 30 seconds or so.  That's why I had tried changing it to no conversion, thinking perhaps MC wasn't converting to MP3 properly. 

I'm connected via wifi, on the same network as my server.  I just tried disconnecting, same thing occurs.

I just looked in the "Downloads" on Android and there are a bunch of "Unsuccessful" items in my downloads folder:

Thanks!

[cncb]

What happens if you tap on one and retry the download from there?

[hoyt]

What happens if you tap on one and retry the download from there?

It flips from Queued to In Process and back to Queued.

[Gatherum]

Just wanted to drop in and let you know that selecting PCM 24-bit in conversion options causes assets to be converted to PCM 16-bit instead--at least according to audio path.

However, WAV 24-bit works, also according to audio path.

What is the practical difference between the two, anyway?

[cncb]

Just wanted to drop in and let you know that selecting PCM 24-bit in conversion options causes assets to be converted to PCM 16-bit instead--at least according to audio path.

However, WAV 24-bit works, also according to audio path.

What is the practical difference between the two, anyway?

Sorry, I will fix that for the next update.  It is just displaying it incorrectly.

I think WAV adds some additional "header" information but one of the JRiver guys would have to explain it.

[Gatherum]

So it is actually converting to PCM 24-bit; it's just misreporting?

[cncb]

So it is actually converting to PCM 24-bit; it's just misreporting?

Yes.

[cncb]

Note that Downloading does not currently work over a SSL connection, at least with the certificate generated by MC (seems to be hoyt's issue).  I will try to fix this but it might be that I just have to disable downloading for SSL.