Testing 1 2 3: Remote control/Android, Dutch version

[Pete10]

Hi,
I've been testing MM built 1388 this weekend, here are some of my findings.

- Dutch version: Install problems at the end when MM starts up for the first time: several popup windows, cannot create PF../MM../Trash folder, some nl locale folder, and ends with fail to install the language version (starts up in English). Maybe beta built not complete here?

- I recently go an Android smartphone, so I've tried to figure out how to use it to control MM.
Option 1: Monkeytunes + TunesRemote+ from the Android Market: works ok in MM4 (after fidddling with the firewall/router forwarding) , but with limited capabilities for control.
I do not like that Modern and Classical are not separated, as this is such a nice feature in MM.
Have not tested/bought the alternative Remote for iTunes app yet, since there is also ....

Option 2: DLNA, set up MM as both Server and Renderer. Used the excellent and free 2player app for DLNA control under Android. This works, but only for a limited set of file types. Is it right to assume that the renderer will NOT accept the same set of file types (-codecs) as the normal MM player? This seems strange, if MM4 can play a file, why let the Renderer refuse it? Transcoding seems very unlogical then (have not tested it though as I do not have the lifetime Gold version). Mostly interested in uncompressed music, flac/wma lossless, and both classical and modern.

So question is: is operating MM through DLNA the way to go or going to be too fidlly?

System: netbook, W7 dedicated to playing music, via USBDAC.

Thanks.

[Lowlander]

I assume the client doesn't support the file type(s). Most hardware clients are very limited in the file type(s) they support does MediaMonkey will need to send the files converted to a format the client understands. You can setup which file type(s) are supported by the client in the Media Servers settings and also conversion rules for those file type(s) that aren't supported.

[Pete10]

Thanks. For hardware devices I understand, but since the MM Renderer is internal and made by the MM people, it seems that it should be possible to stream any type that MM supports without transcoding, as all codecs are already in place. And if remote control is the goal, the Server & Renderer are even on the same machine. Perhaps a developer can shed some light on this issue.
P.

[Lowlander]

So you're using MediaMonkey as both client and server? I'm confused as you're talking about Android.

Used the excellent and free 2player app for DLNA control under Android.

Did you check the supported file formats for the server and make sure all file formats are listed as supported?

[Pete10]

I agree, it is confusing as there are many possibilities.
2player is an android app to play both local files on the android phone and on any DLNA server in the network, including the MM server (or windows media center libraries, or NASservers, but let's not make it more confusing...).
Moreover it can play the file locally on the phone, or on a stream-to device, such as an XBOX, a DLNA TV, or, indeed, the MM Renderer.
So why would I want to play files that are on my MM computer using MM Server+MM Renderer on the same PC? So that I do not have to get my lazy *** up from the couch... The phone it then a remote control for MM, using DLNA.

Of course I can also play them on my phone if I want that, and I agree that then it depends on what my phone with 2player accepts. Typically mp3 and wma are supported, flac not. By if I play on the MM renderer I know for sure that the codecs are there, so there is no reason why MM can not stream the file from the Server to the Renderer.

[Lowlander]

Are you using 2player to control MediaMonkey or are you streaming MediaMonkey > 2Player > MediaMonkey?

Did you check the supported file formats for the server and make sure all file formats are listed as supported?

[Pete10]

The former. The DLNA world this is called a media controller that establishes the datalink between server (play-from) en renderer (play-to device), and controls the playlist, without streaming the data itself through the intermediate device. I can switch off wifi on the phone and the music continues, so this seems indeed the case.
Anyway, fond another problem with the renderer, it does not play lists so it seems, I'll report it separately.

[rusty]

Hi,

I just tested this out and using MM as a renderer for flac files works fine via a controller such as PlugPlayer on an iPhone.

If it's not working for you, it might be another issue with the MediaMonkey Renderer.

-Rusty