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Author Topic: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear [Solved -- firewall]  (Read 5086 times)

rash

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MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear [Solved -- firewall]
« on: November 09, 2012, 09:32:04 pm »

Hi,

I have a similar problem to that posted previously  http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=71796.msg485293#msg485293.  It was solved however I could not find the final solution posted publicly
 
I cannot get Wav or Flac files to stream natively out of MC17 to my Squeezebox Touch using Whitebear. I have set DNLA audio option is set to "Never Convert"
Only mp3's will play. Wav and Flac files arrive at the squeezebox but a "Cannot Play File Type" message displays on the SB Touch screen.
MC17 then skips songs until it finds an MP3 file.  Eventually MC17 locks up and I have to kill the application.

With the DLNA set at "Always convert" to MP3  there are no problems,  however this defeats the aim of streamng lossless  

Thanks
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JimH

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2012, 07:00:47 am »

Did you try the other conversions possible?  L16, etc...
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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2012, 07:04:37 am »

I cannot get Wav or Flac files to stream natively out of MC17 to my Squeezebox Touch using Whitebear. I have set DNLA audio option is set to "Never Convert"

Only mp3's will play. Wav and Flac files arrive at the squeezebox but a "Cannot Play File Type" message displays on the SB Touch screen.
MC17 then skips songs until it finds an MP3 file.  Eventually MC17 locks up and I have to kill the application.

With the DLNA set at "Always convert" to MP3  there are no problems,  however this defeats the aim of streamng lossless 


Two things:

1) Wavs and Flacs ought to play fine so I wonder if you have something odd in your LMS transcoder settings (LMS | Settings | Files Types) for Wav and Flac. => Perhaps you can tell me what settings you have?

2) Also try it again with MC set for "Always Convert L16 No Header"...

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2012, 02:34:04 pm »

Tried suggestions...problem is fixed!

I had set LMS to stream both Flac files and Wav in Wav in only format to reduce decoding load on the SB Touch. ( I felt it sounded a little better this way)

By allowing  LMS to stream FLAC as FLAC the problem went away.  I assume that Whitebear is using the FLAC encoder in LMS and that this setting had disabled it completely??

Thanks heaps for your assistance ;).  LMS settings below

UPnP Client  - Disabled

Plugins

UPnP/DLNA   - Disabled
Whitebear   - Enabled

File Formats

FLAC to

     AIFF  Disabled    
   FLAC Disabled (changed to native and it worked)
   MP3  Disabled
   PCM  Native

Wav  to

    AIFF  Disabled    
   FLAC Disabled  
   MP3  Disabled
   PCM  Native



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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2012, 09:13:41 am »

I had set LMS to stream both Flac files and Wav in Wav in only format to reduce decoding load on the SB Touch. ( I felt it sounded a little better this way)

When running locally on LMS, most Squeezeplayers can play Pcm, Flac, Mp3 & Aac natively. (And you may be right that the "Pcm" sounds better, because the player doesn't do anything to the stream other than just feed it to the DAC). However, for whatever reason, it seems that as far as external (Http) streams are concerned, the Squeezeplayers cannot take Pcm. So for this reason, (e.g. when using Whitebear), LMS needs to have the file type setting Flac=>Native.
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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2012, 11:46:13 pm »

Thanks Andrew,

Now that I have MC17 -> SBT working  I have another small issue.  It may be related to LMS or not.

The squeeze player appears, disappears  and then reappears at irregular intervals in the "Playing now" tree.  Initially it didn't bother me for adhoc listening ( I would just rest Whitebear to refresh the list immediately).

However I noticed that once the player disappears I have no control over playback until I reconnect to it.  I have to got to LMS to stop playback or adjust volume.  (Apologies f I should have started a new topic in this)


Thanks
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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2012, 03:06:45 am »

The squeeze player appears, disappears  and then reappears at irregular intervals in the "Playing now" tree.  Initially it didn't bother me for adhoc listening ( I would just rest Whitebear to refresh the list immediately).

Whitebear must toggle itself offline and online again in order to update its state to mirror any changes in the state of LMS. Specifically Whitebear toggles itself in the following cases: 1) whenever LMS itself goes offline or online, 2) whenever there is a change in the number of Squeeze players being served by LMS, and 3) whenever the LMS library name, or the name of any Squeeze player is changed.

Case 1) may be caused by bad plug-ins causing LMS to crash and restart. Case 2) may be caused by network dropouts causing LMS to lose and then rediscover its players. Fortunately case 3) only occurs quite seldom.

What version of Whitebear are you running? Recent versions contain features to reduce the sensitivity to case 2) dropouts...

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2012, 03:32:58 am »

I am running Whitebear 2.5.0.3212 (current)

 - I have 2 squeezeboxes  SB II and SB Touch.  Switching one unit off has had no effect.
 - There have been no Library or any name changes  ( however MC17 seems to be often updating tags in the background for last played etc)
 - I don't think it is the network dropping out.  The current file will continue to stream to the SBT and LMS  remains locked on to the player.  I am running LMS and MC17 both from the same Notebook.
    A network issue should drop both LMS and MC17 and stall playback
 - I will try to disable all unnecessary LMS plugins.  However I have been running LMS prior to MC17 and it has been extremely stable.

Note.  I have a Samsung TV that appears and disappears on the list as well.  Switching it off has no impact either.




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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2012, 03:58:11 am »


Ok, there are only two possible causes. Either Whitebear is actually toggling its status. Or there is a UPnP discovery issue between MC and Whitebear. The fact that you experienced similar issues between MC and a Samsung may indicate the latter rather than the former problem.

Are you using a current version of MC17? Earlier versions were a bit slow on UPnP discovery.

To test if Whitebear is toggling its status, in the Whitebear tray monitor application please turn on logging for General State messages, and check the log file if there are any restarts recorded.

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2012, 04:48:45 am »

I reset Whitebear with logging enabled.  (Time: 21:20)
Streamed content to SBT for 20mins.
The SBT and TV  appeared and disappeared several times.
During this period no event logs were recorded in Whitebear after it started.  See below

****  21:20:12.621  SetConnectionState()  v2.5.0.3212  ****
ConnectionState() => Reconnect

****  21:20:12.621  SetConnected()  v2.5.0.3212  ****
Server => Stopping...

****  21:20:14.058  SetConnected()  v2.5.0.3212  ****
Server => Stopped!!

****  21:20:19.059  SetConnected()  v2.5.0.3212  ****
Server => Starting...

****  21:20:19.067  CLI Recycled  v2.5.0.3212  ****

****  21:20:19.068  CLI Connected  v2.5.0.3212  ****

****  21:20:20.509  SetConnected()  v2.5.0.3212  ****
Server => Started!!


I may try to run a portble version of MC17 (.189) and try running on another system.  Can I use my registration key  for a second copy.


TX
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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2012, 05:21:02 am »

I reset Whitebear with logging enabled. Streamed content to SBT for 20mins. The SBT and TV appeared and disappeared several times. During this period no event logs were recorded in Whitebear after it started.

This really looks like a UPnP SSDP discovery problem. But there is no easy way to tell if it is due to a problem in MC17 or a networking issue. I suggest two things:

1) Download the UPnP Developer tools ( http://opentools.homeip.net/dev-tools-for-upnp ) and run the Device Spy application. Check whether the devices also come and go in Device Spy. If they don't, then MC17 may be the problem; whereas if they do, then you probably have a networking issue. If you have more than one PC then you can try running Device Spy on both of them...

2) In any case, your log indicates that Whitebear is NOT the culprit. But just to be on the safe side, you could turn on the two SSDP logging options, run another test, and attach the results. The contents of the log might also be useful to debug a network issue detected in 1) above.

I may try to run a portble version of MC17 (.189) and try running on another system. Can I use my registration key for a second copy.

PS I don't know anything about MC's license keys...

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2012, 05:59:21 am »

Installed device spy
Devices do not come and go.  They still come and go in MC17.

Its very late here...I will run and take a look at SSDP logs tomorrow

TX
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JimH

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2012, 07:10:30 am »

I may try to run a portble version of MC17 (.189) and try running on another system.  Can I use my registration key  for a second copy.
You can use one license on all "your" PC's (within reason).  Thanks for asking.
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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2012, 07:08:03 pm »

Ok I think I might have narrowed it down.  The appearing and disappearing of devices on the now playing tree issue does not appear to be caused by Whitebear, Network or LMS

I installed a portable version of MC17 on an external hard drive

1. Reset Whitebear
2. Devices including SB Touch and TV appeared.
3. Selected SB touch and began to stream music
4. Navigated other albums etc.  no issues works as expected.  :)

5. After stopping active streaming of music, the SB Touch went into idle mode.  It began appearing and disappearing from tree view.
   
    For me this isn't a problem.  There are no issues navigating while I am actively listening anymore.  I only lose the SB Touch if I stop streaming for a short while  (30 sec to a minute)

 
However when using the standard install on my notebook.  The constant appearing and disappearing of the DLNA devices ( regardless of their states ) from tree view makes MC17 streaming tedious.

The only thought I have is that I had an expired trial of MC 17.0.183  and I installed 17.0.189 licensed version over the top of it.  The fresh install of MC17 (.189) on the portable drive is working much much better in this regard.

R





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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2012, 05:55:30 am »

1. Reset Whitebear
2. Devices including SB Touch and TV appeared.
3. Selected SB touch and began to stream music
4. Navigated other albums etc.  no issues works as expected.  :)
5. After stopping active streaming of music, the SB Touch went into idle mode.  It began appearing and disappearing from tree view.

You said that you had similar issues with a Samsung device? Is the behaviour exactly the same as you describe above? (In which case it is almost certainly an MC issue).

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #15 on: November 13, 2012, 01:44:00 pm »

 I agree,  the issue seems to be isolated to MC17 (in my configuration environment).  Other software does not appear to  have the same problems maintaining a "lock" on DLNA devices.
By the way the portable version after working well for a while began to demonstrate the same behavior.  A reboot does improve things for a short while.  I now get the following error message.
 
"There was a problem controlling the selected DLNA device.  Double-check your device, server, and network settings"

MC has some nice features, particularly with high quality audio output and DSP room correction and I am extremely satisfied with the interface.   I may have to have it physically tethered to my DAC and use web remote or Gizmo to avoid the DLNA gremlins.

Thanks for your support Andrew.

R
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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2012, 04:26:04 am »

Hi Andrew,

After upgrading my antivirus software ( replaced McAfee ).  My Disappearing and reappearing of DLNA devices problems have stopped. ( I feel silly for not disabling the antivirus when troubleshooting earlier).

Given I can now stream reliably I have a problem that I can't seem to overcome....  I cant stream WAV files on MC17 via Whitebear.

The SBT error message is "Connection reset by local host "

MC17 audio is set to "Never convert".
LMS UPnP/DLNA disabled
LMS Whitebear Plugin enabled

 Flac and MP3s play OK.

.....I used to be able to stream all file types with "never convert ".  Note: I have been stuffing around trying to get the DLNA issues resolved and may have inadvertently changed a setting somewhere.

Thanks
R



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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2012, 05:52:02 am »

Given I can now stream reliably I have a problem that I can't seem to overcome....  I cant stream WAV files on MC17 via Whitebear.

Can you please do a quick test if it can play your WAVs when MC is set for Always Convert L16 No header?

Reason: Whitebear uses the same code pathway to play L16, WAV and AIF files (basically they all contain PCM but with different byte-orders and different file headers). So it would be most unusual if L16 works and WAV does not. It may be that you have exotic WAV's (perhaps having extended WAV headers, or odd sample rate or bit depth), but then I would need a sample of such a WAV file to debug it.

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2012, 02:11:35 pm »

I have tried the L16 No Header and it does not work.  The only conversions that do work are to Mp3.

R
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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #19 on: December 04, 2012, 04:13:05 pm »

I have tried the L16 No Header and it does not work.  The only conversions that do work are to Mp3.

Hmm. When MC is pushing Mp3 or Flac, the MC server pushes the stream direct to the Squeezeplayer. Whereas when MC is pushing L16, Wav or Aif, it pushes the stream to Whitebear, which proxies it and pushes it on to the Squeezeplayer. If the former is working, and the latter is not, then I think that you probably still have either an A/V firewall issue, or a network routing issue.

You may need to give me more information about your setup.

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rash

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #20 on: December 04, 2012, 06:16:50 pm »

Thanks! ..Problem resolved by switching off windows firewall  :D

I will figure out what the exact firewall issue is.  I had not made any changes  except change my antivirus. Whitebear does not appear in my list of programs to allow through the firewall.  I have  added the Whitebear tray icon ( no success ).  There are two copies of MC17 listed in the firewall list

Thanks Again

R
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AndrewFG

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Re: MC17 wont Stream WAV and Flac via Whitebear
« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2012, 05:24:38 am »

Thanks! ..Problem resolved by switching off windows firewall  :D
I will figure out what the exact firewall issue is.  I had not made any changes  except change my antivirus. Whitebear does not appear in my list of programs to allow through the firewall.  I have  added the Whitebear tray icon ( no success ).

In all, the following applications and devices need to talk to each other. So you need to make sure that neither your firewall nor your router are blocking any of these...

  • JRiver MediaCenter
  • WhitebearApplication.exe (if you installed Whitebear to start on login, or start manually), or
  • WhitebearService.exe and WhitebearMonitor.exe (if you installed Whitebear to start when the PC starts)
  • Logitech Media Server
  • All of your Squeeze players

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