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[Antoine.]

Hi, 

I have several grievances with the podcasts in JRiver (I use MC26):

1.TONS of double episodes appear in my feeds, it ruins the use of podcast really... I don't know why but in a lot of cases it has 2 versions of the same episodes. For example, if I use the https://rss.art19.com/the-daily rss feed for the NY Times podcast, it will sometimes download 2 versions of the same episodes, one that is effectively downloaded and indeed comes from this feed ("art19.com"), and another one from "chtbl.com". Happens with a LOT of podcasts. Sometimes the 2 episodes are from the same feed but one with http, one with https, or they will come from 2 different subsection of the same domain.

2. Update the downloading & file keeping rules by adding a rule that let you keep unread episodes only.

3. Move the podcasts to their own JRiver section (asides from Audio, Video, TV & Streaming). Frankly they don't belong to streaming and nesting them there make them unpractical to reach! This solution has the added benefit of allowing users who don't care for them to simply disable the feature and not see them unnecessarily.

I hope it's heard!

Antoine

[syndromeofadown]

I will add some of my podcast thoughts to your post in hopes it will get some attention.

There are a couple issues with podcasts that i have brought up before.

In MC settings there is an area called "Audio (CD Rips and Podcasts)". It has nothing to do with podcasts. This section should have podcasts removed from it because the podcast directory is set in the Podcast section.

Another issue is if the podcast directory doesn't exist, all podcast downloads will fail. A warning saying the directory doesn't exist would be very beneficial.

TONS of double episodes appear in my feeds

I have noticed this with some of my feeds. I attributed it to the feed changing, but really don't know why it does it. I can confirm it happens though.

Move the podcasts to their own JRiver section (asides from Audio, Video, TV & Streaming). Frankly they don't belong to streaming and nesting them there make them unpractical to reach!

I like them where they are now. It makes sense because you stream them. If you download the podcasts you can make your own custom view wherever you want.

When I updated to MC26 I had to re add all my podcast feeds. I haven't checked to see if they are included in the library backup when updating to 27. Support for OPML files would solve this. An OPML file holds RSS subscription information and most podcast apps support the import/export of them. It would be a great feature to be added in to MC.

I have more small suggestions but will save those for another day. Overall MC does a great job of handling podcasts.

[Antoine.]

The problem I have with a "no download" strategy is that undownloaded podcasts episodes (streaming episodes) aren't recognized as podcasts by playlists set to contain all media sub-types "podcast"... (although the specific episodes streaming files are marked as podcasts).

[syndromeofadown]

The problem I have with a "no download" strategy is that undownloaded podcasts episodes (streaming episodes) aren't recognized as podcasts by playlists set to contain all media sub-types "podcast"... (although the specific episodes streaming files are marked as podcasts).

I guess it makes sense the way this works because the files don't exist unless you download them.

One of my thoughts for how the podcast features could be expanded upon is to change the way the Podcasts home view works. I think it would be nice have a list that combined all the feeds into one then displays the latest 50. It could show them a little fancier with art, title, and description. Basically like the podcast websites.
One can dream, I wonder if something like this would remove your need to add them to playlists?

[Antoine.]

Well, I use playlists precisely for that type of things : Last 50, Last unread podcasts, etc. I also use them to weed out some episodes of podcasts feeds (some shows include short versions of their content and I don't want them).

An other benefit of podcast playlists for me is the ability to summon said playlists via a hotkey (or via remote, incidentally). Very useful, frankly central in my use of JRiver, when I'm using my HTPC in a "blind" (audio-only) mode.

Hence the need to have the streaming versions of episodes (not the locally downloaded files) fully recognized as podcasts by playlist rules!

[Antoine.]

Another problem: I switched to "download episodes I select" then reverted back to "download last 10 episodes" after a few days.

How come these feeds don't download new episodes now. Episode status remains "download disabled"...

I tried : updating the feed, restarting JRiver.

[Antoine.]

Another problem: I switched to "download episodes I select" then reverted back to "download last 10 episodes" after a few days.

How come these feeds don't download new episodes now. Episode status remains "download disabled"...

I tried : updating the feed, restarting JRiver.

Found it: Went to Streaming > Podcasts > "Enable auto download" (it was disabled for some reason).

[Antoine.]

Another problem I have with podcasts is when I'm trying to create a new custom Podcast view.

It is set up as follows: View as Categories > Show categories in this order : Album.

I don't understand WHY but JRiver decides in this view to disperse episodes of a same podcast on different Album stacks depending on other field values although they all share the same "Album" value.

Seems to be linked to their Album artist and Artist name (even though I didn't ask anything this). A same podcast with different artist values will be displayed in two separate stacks, although the album is named the same.

How can I force JRiver to ignore the artist & album artist name?