Topic: Next Step (Read 3362 times)

Day Radebaugh · « **on:** June 06, 2021, 07:32:02 pm »

I am a recovering Roon user. I gave up on Roon because there was no support; when I had a problem, it was referred to a forum, where lots of people had lots of things to say but the problem was essentially ignored by Roon Labs.

So onward--willing to try JRiver. I have an extensive collection of ripped CD's and downloaded music on a NAS on my network, and subscribe to Tidal. I know that JRiver will manage my library of music.

Can it also incorporate Tidal?

Will it stream over WiFi to my Ayre QX-5 digital hub, which which is accessible via DLNA/UPnP on the network, or do I need to hook it up to my audio system via USB cable from my laptop?

If it can do these things, do I need to by the Media Center, or will one of the earlier free versions do the job?

Thanks

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2021, 04:08:53 am »

Quote from: Day Radebaugh on June 06, 2021, 07:32:02 pm

Can it also incorporate Tidal?

Unfortunately, no it doesn't and likely won't.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2021, 08:40:48 am »

Can it steam to a DLNA/UPnP device over my network?

Thanks

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2021, 08:45:00 am »

DLNA, yes you can.

https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DLNA

The best way to find out for yourself would be to download and use the 30 day free trial of JRiver Media Center on macOS and see how well it works for you and your DLNA needs.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2021, 08:57:43 am »

Thank you very much. Will do exactly that.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2021, 07:12:34 pm »

Downloaded MC 27. Imported my NAS music library, was able to easily play selections on my Macbook. This worked well. However,

1. Found this software unstable. It would freeze up, and I had to use Macbook's Force Quit Applications to kill it. Multiple times.

2. Sent music to my Ayre QX-5 using Send To command, but was unable to mute or even turn down the sound on my Macbook.

Suggestions please?

Thanks

JimH · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2021, 10:06:18 pm »

Don't kill it. Wait.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2021, 04:38:34 pm »

Making progress. However, I could use some help sorting out a) which output gets the sound and b) controlling sound level. I have something playing to my Macbook, and something else to my DAC, an Ayre QX-5.

What is the best way of sending sound to the DAC and turning off the sound on my Macbook? The Player seems to take over the sound on my Macbook. Second, I will have 3 links in the final chain when I'm playing to the DAC. First is the Macbook, second is the DAC (with its own volume control) and third is a preamp, also with its own volume control.

If there are obvious answers, pls let me know. In any case, I'm going to study up on https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Getting_Started

Thanks for the help.

JimH · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2021, 04:50:48 pm »

On the wiki read about Media Network and Zones. Your DAC is a DLNA zone.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2021, 05:36:40 pm »

Thank you for the help.

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2021, 02:33:48 am »

Quote from: Day Radebaugh on June 08, 2021, 04:38:34 pm

The Player seems to take over the sound on my Macbook.

You likely have exclusive mode enabled for the CoreAudio audio output in MC's options. This is important and should be left enabled if you care about bit-perfect output of your audio. However if you don't care about it (and don't care it'll go through the macOS system mixer) you can disable exclusive mode to hear system sounds and other things while MC is outputting audio.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2021, 11:45:26 am »

I finally got JRiver to play to a DAC attached via USB to my Macbook, and to send to a DAC on my LAN, but I have no clue how I did it. Is there a better explanation of Zones than in the Wiki? My needs are pretty simple: I want to control playing of my library from a Macbook and send it to one of two DACs that I have, which can be reached by USB or WiFi. The Wiki on Zones was not very informative.

In short, is there a JRiver for Dummies?

Thanks

JimH · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2021, 01:23:03 pm »

We don't offer a Dummies version.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2021, 03:48:40 pm »

Is there at least a good explanation of how to set up zones?

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2021, 03:50:39 pm »

It's explained on the wiki. You can also read topics on the forum by searching.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2021, 04:03:07 pm »

If the Wiki and this forum is all there is to teach one to use JRiver, then this product is clearly for people who already know how to use it.

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2021, 04:15:15 pm »

Please describe the problem you have.

As you describe above, I think you just need to add the DAC as a second zone.

Zones can have different audio settings.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2021, 03:08:04 pm »

Add a Zone
Under the Player menu, choose "Zones", then "Add Zone"---I did this

Configure a Zone
Your new zone will appear under Playing Now. Click on it and use the standard options to select a sound device. (Each zone has its own device.)--I tried to do this. I clicked on the zone, used Player/Playback Options, but ran out of ideas. There was nothing I could find that allowed me to choose a device (Ayre QX-5 DAC) or how to play to it. I'm stuck.

Day Radebaugh · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2021, 07:02:33 pm »

What appears to be missing is any connection between setting up a zone and associating this with a device. I would have thought, in the process of adding a zone (which I configured as Generic DLNA as suggested) that somewhere you would associate this zone with a device, most likely identified by its IP address on your network. I can find no menu which presents me with a list of devices that one would direct output to on my network.

JimH · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2021, 07:13:57 pm »

Your DLNA device will appear as a destination in the upper section of Playing Now. The DLNA topic on the wiki has more information on this.

Start playback to it by clicking on it.

Open a new tab and start playback somewhere else. Now you have two zones playing. Toggle between them by using ctrl-T.

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Author Topic: Next Step (Read 3362 times)