MonkeySqueeze V3.0.1

[Gingernut63]

@ hispeedsurfer

If everything is working correctly, when music is played in MediaMonkey the same music will play on LMS and the Squeezebox device (MAC Address). It will override any music that was playing on the Squeezebox system beforehand. If the addressing for the music locations is in a different format due to the use of Sparc-Linux on a NAS then the Squeezebox music will stop but the MediaMonkey music will not play on the Squeezebox system.

A QNAP NAS has never been tested on MonkeySqueeze so it may not work, however there are a couple of things you can do. You may have done all or some of these suggestions. Read the section in the user guide "Logitech Media Server on a NAS Device". As stated in the text only ReadyNAS and Synology devices have been tested and known to work. The Synology NAS selection may also work for QNAP devices. Go to the Options page > Logitech Media Server on a NAS using Linux, and check the "Synology NAS" selection, then play music on MediaMonkey. If unsuccessful then uncheck Enable (aktivert) and leave "Synology NAS" checked, then play music on MediaMonkey. After this there is not much you can do apart from changing the format of the music folder addressing in the text boxes.

If the QNAP NAS does not use Linux and uses windows then deselecting all the selections in "Logitech Media Server on a NAS using Linux" may work.

Prior to Katteman and myself fixing the comms with ReadyNAS and Synology Linux NAS devices I install the PC version of LMS (Squeezebox Server) and used it to communicate successfully with MonkeySqueeze/MediaMonkey. The NAS and PC versions of LMS can co-exist happily provided you give the Music libraries different names and select the relevant library on your Squeezebox devices (all info in the user guide). Also the PC LMS does not need access to your music collection, again see the user guide. If you do this, at the very least you will see how the setup works correctly, which may help you with the NAS comms.

Goodluck, hopefully this info has been helpful. Let me know how you get on.

Cheers
Gingernut63

[hispeedsurfer]

Hi Gingernut63,

thank you for your detailed explanation. I tried your suggestion but it doesn't work as expected. On the other way I thought that MonkeySqueeze goal is a solution to manage musik remotly on the NAS.

Cheers
hispeedsurfer

[Gingernut63]

@ hispeedsurfer

Sorry to hear you cannot get the comms working between MonkeySqueeze and the QNAP NAS.

We would like MonkeySqueeze to work with all variations of the Squeezebox system, however we can can only program and test with the equipment we have. With respect to NAS equipment that is ReadyNAS and Synology devices. If anyone has a different NAS device and knows a little of VBscript programming then we would love them to do some testing for us. Post us in MonkeySqueeze Development and we will take it from there. viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59907

As explained in my previous post, the PC version can interface MediaMonkey with the Squeezebox system via MonkeySqueeze. If you're using MediaMonkey then the PC will be on, so this does work well in the short term.

Call back from time to time or better still become a follower of MonkeySqueeze on twitter and you will receive notifications of changes to the program.

Thanks for letting us know how you got on
Gingernut63

P.S. If you have another NAS brand and you have successfully got it working with MonkeySqueeze then we would like you to post your settings so other users can use them.

[Milopita]

Hi, I am also using a QNAP NAS. More precisely the following:

QNAP NAS TS-409 (Current firmware version:3.3.2 Build 0918T)
Squeezebox Server Version: 7.5.1
MediaMonkey version Version 3.2.5.1306
Monkeysqueeze 2.0.0
Squeezebox Radio (Firmware: 7.5.1-r9218)

I just got the radio and I love MediaMonkey. I haven't really explored all that the squeezebox radio can do yet, but I certainly like the idea of playing music on both MediaMonkey (and therefore my amp and speakers) as well as the radio in my kitchen.

My first problem is that version 3.x of MediaMonkey doesn't display the options screen of Monkeysqueeze properly. Surely that could be fixed? I am not really in the mood to upgrade MediaMonkey to a release candidate version. Second problem is although I think I have configure the options correctly (even the hidden ones by using tab and paste) I see no sign that Squeezebox is aware of what MediaMonkey is doing at all.

I'll try MediaMonkey 4.x out now, but any help here? QNAP NAS boxes are pretty popular...

[Gingernut63]

@ Milopita

Please read the recent posts between hispeedsurfer and myself.

As explained to hispeedsurfer, we can only test the NAS devices owned by the people who are currently involved with MonkeySqueeze development. It was hoped that the existing settings would work for other non-tested NAS devices. QNAP devices maybe popular, but unless someone with a QNAP device (or other) and a bit of VBScript knowledge puts their hand up to help, there will be no fix. It is also important to point out that all people involved with the development of MonkeySqueeze donate their time for free and do not receive payment for any work they do. Hours of development is carried out in their own time before any release. Pushing them to do more is not going to be appreciated. This applies to all developers on this forum.

As described in previous posts, you can use the PC version of LMS with MediaMonkey and MonkeySqueeze. If you are using MediaMonkey then the PC is on, so you can also use the PC version of LMS at the same time. The NAS and PC versions of LMS can co-exist happily provided you give the Music libraries different names and select the relevant library on your Squeezebox devices (all info in the user guide). Also the PC LMS does not need access to your music collection, again see the user guide.

I also suggest you get "in the mood" and continue to use MM 4 as there are no plans to develop MonkeySqueeze V2.0.0 for MM v3.25. MediaMonkey 4 provides a better display of the options page and offers improved functionality as well bug fixes. Upgrading to MM 4 beta is painless, quick and the official release is just around the corner. If you have your heart set on on MM v3.25 then download MonkeySqueeze V1.5 from the Addons site.

Will always continue to help any user with their problems but please don't take us for granted. Also the majority of this info is in the user guide.

Hope you find this info helpful.
Gingernut63

[Milopita]

Hi,

so the good news is that I got it working kind of. I upgraded to MediaMonkey 4 so that I can see the options screen properly. So now I am using:

QNAP NAS TS-409 (Current firmware version:3.3.2 Build 0918T)
Squeezebox Server Version: 7.5.1
MediaMonkey version Version 4.0.0.1448
Monkeysqueeze 2.0.0
Squeezebox Radio (Firmware: 7.5.1-r9218)

I have set the options for Monkeysqueeze up like this:

IP address: 192.168.1.60 (IP address of my NAS)
HTTP Port No. 9001 (Not the usual port, this is the one that the Squeezebox server uses as a QNAP QPKG installation
Device MAC Address: 00:04:26:29:7a:36 (Not the real MAC, but that's what it should look like)

Logitech Media Server on a NAS using Linux section

Enable - ticked
Synology NAS - NOT ticked
MediaMonkey Music Folder: \\NAS\Qmultimedia\MUSIC
Logitech Media Server Music Folder: /Qmultimedia/MUSIC

So this works, however the music coming out of my squeezebo radio is a good 3-5 seconds behind the music coming out of my PC. How can I sync the two properly. I saw a solution about installing a Squeezebox software player on my PC as a 'device' that can receive the stream from the Slimserver and then muting MediaMonkey but is that really the best solution? It is a bit clunky. Is there another way to delay Media Monkey or sync them automatically?

Thanks

[Gingernut63]

@ Milopita

Great that you have the QNAP working with MonkeySqueeze. The QNAP uses similar settings to a Netgear ReadyNAS DUO. What you have done is as instructed in the user guide although I notice you have linked MediaMonkey to the music folder via the network address and not a mapped drive. I also see that the QNAP uses http port 9001, not the default 9000 of the ReadyNAS or 9002 of a Synology Device.

As for the buffering issue I suggest you again read the user guide and the MonkeySqueeze Development topic (viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59907) to understand the lag issue and the history of MonkeySqueeze. Communications between MediaMonkey and the Squeezebox system are complicated as they use different code, VBScript and Perl respectively. To rectify the issue requires an understanding of both codes and then a way of addressing the buffering issue. In short, if it was easy to fix it would have been done so. Katteman is currently looking into the issue and is making headway but it will take time.

Thank you for posting your successful QNAP settings, I'm sure other users will find them very useful.

Gingernut63

[Gingernut63]

It is becoming obvious to me that some MonkeySqueezers are not fully reading the user guide before posting on the forum.

While not perfect (is anything) the user guide contains all important information in setting up MonkeySqueeze to communicate with a Squeezebox system. The layout of the guide is the sequence you would follow to setup the communications including all settings on the options page. The guide is also broken down into important headings which you can refer to individually when striking problems. Not all scripts have a resource as in depth as this user guide.

The postings in this topic are also a resource of information and it is expected that you would review the postings in case your issue has already been resolved. It is also important to note that where relevant, the user guide is updated with information from these pages.

There is also another forum/topic called MonkeySqueeze Development that can also be used for extra information in helping solve problems as well as keeping you updated with the latest improvements in the script. viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59907

If you have exhausted all the avenues listed, please feel free to ask for assistance on this topic, only too glad to help.

Cheers
Gingernut63

[Milopita]

Hi Gingernut63,

not sure if that was written with me in mind. I did read the pdf guide in full to try to work out how to make it work. I got there in the end but not before having to upgrade to MM$ in order to be able to see the options screen.

I know that a lot of the work going on, if not all of it in fact is done for free. For that I am grateful.

Forgive me if this is blunt but I have concluded the following really: With the lag issue of several seconds, the point of this development on a MediaMonkey streaming to SlimServer and then a Squeezebox radio is lost on me. I thought the idea was to get the players in sync. That isn't happening

What do you use this setup for with that kind of lag? To remotely control a squeebox?

[Gingernut63]

MonkeySqueeze and Expectations

MonkeySqueeze is a freeware program that is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied. It is not designed to do everything for everybody. If it doesn't do what you require then you can decide not to use the program. We do however encourage users to offer suggestions on ways to improve the program, and we endeavour to include these ideas where they coincide with the goals of the program. The current goals of the program are displayed at viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59907

Many people use MonkeySqueeze to interface MediaMonkey with a Squeezebox system. They understand the limitations of the program and are prepared to live with them (at least in the short term). It is also the only program of this type and that is why an effort has been made to make the program available on the Addons site. The program is constantly being improved with the hope of eventually overcoming the lag/buffer/sync issue. Presently if you run the program on a modern PC (and NAS) you can expect the lag/buffer/sync issue to fall to approximately 1-2 seconds which is acceptable for most audio tracks.

Development continues and the latest beta will be posted on the MonkeySqueeze Development site in the next couple of days.

Thank you to all of the people that have supported the program over the last couple of months.

Cheers
Gingernut63

[Gingernut63]

The latest beta release is available for testing on the MonkeySqueeze Development forum:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59907

[Josdeboss]

Hi Gingernut,

Yesterday I picked up my problem with Monkeysqueeze. In the post, next to my last reply I saw a screenshot of the options menu. Then it all became clear. Although I installed mediamonkey4, I didn't see the whole option page. (Small screen on the laptop).
Now it all works as expected. I just upgraded my server to 7.7.0 and it all still works.

Thank you
Jos

[Gingernut63]

@Josdeboss

Great news. I do like happy endings.

Thanks for the update
Gingernut63

[callesoroe]

Hi!

Just tried to install Monkeysqueeze. But I get this error when I start a song??

#error-2147467259
File: "C:\program Files(x86)Mediamonkey\Scripts\Auto\MonkeySqueeze.vbs",Line:361 Column: 1

I am running windows 7 home edition, Squeezebox server 7.6.1 and Mediamonkey 3.2.5.1306

How is this supposed to work. Should it show up as a player in the Squeezebox server program???

Excuse my ignorance, but I have not played arround with this plugin at all....

Michael

[Gingernut63]

@callesoroe

The first step Michael is upgrade to MediaMonkey 4 (use latest Beta/release client) as the current version of MonkeySqueeze works with version 4. Then go to the MonkeySqueeze options page: Tools > Options > MonkeySqueeze and click on the User Guide button and then read the user guide. It contains all the info you need to set up MonkeySqueeze.

The error you mention is indicating an issue with the HTTP port number, read the relevant section in the user guide to help you set it up correctly.

If you are still having problems, feel free to post questions in this topic.

Hope this is helpful
Gingernut63