Mediamonkey and a wireless music center

[gimme_music]

Hi all,

I guess this has been asked before (sorry in advance), but I can't seem to find an exact answer to my question:

I have a large and growing music collection all digitilized and organized with MediaMonkey. Every time I want to listen to my music I have to turn on my computer and it has to stay on while I'm listening.
My question: I would like to play back my music using MediaMonkey but without having to turn on my computer. While searching this forum and after googling I've learned that using a NAS-drive might be an option. I guess the NAS-drive should then be connected to an external receiver which is plugged in into your audio system.

Is it possible to get what I want: play back music using MediaMonkey without having to turn on my computer and listen to this music through my audio system.

Hope to hear from you!

Dennis.

[Lowlander]

No, MediaMonkey is requires a PC (Windows only) to run.

Depending on your needs the solution you find might work for you (without MediaMonkey). For playback you need to look at issues as Auto-Playlists (MediaMonkey only, although you can export them as static lists regularly). Also how well does any solution allow you to browse your collection. Some solutions have better interfaces (and tag compatibility than others).

[gimme_stones]

Is it really true there aren't any NAS-drives which can run a Windows-program like MediaMonkey?

Is a QNAPS NAS-drive running the program "slim server" maybe the solution to what I want?
(Slim server can stream MP3 to both software and hardware receivers)

Any comments from other users?

Thanks in advance!

Dennis.

[Lowlander]

Nearly all NAS's run a flavor of Linux or related open source Operating System. There are some NAS's that run Windows Home Server like those from HP. I don't know if users are able to install their own software on them and if MediaMonkey is able to run on it. (Windows Home Server is based on Windows Server which is able to run MediaMonkey).

Also I don't know if there is a NAS with audio out. Normally you would have some other equipment like the Roku Soundbridge that can play the songs on the NAS connected to the receiver or a receiver that can play music from a NAS directly.

[gimme_stones]

Thanks so far Lowlander:

So, maybe a QNAPS NAS-drive running the program "slim server" is the solution to what I want?

Dennis.

[Lowlander]

The keywords you're looking for are UPnP AV and DLNA Media Server. This is something you want in a NAS (Qnap supports it) and also in whatever device you connect to your receiver (or the receiver itself).

MediaMonkey can be used to manage tracks (tagging/renaming) of the files on the NAS (just as on your PC itself), but can't be used for playback (or just access to it's database) by/on other hardware.

You will need to evaluate how much of an issue it is to not be able to use MediaMonkey in this situation or that maybe you want a cheap computer next to the stereo (and connected to the TV) like the Asus EEE Box or Shuttle PC to be able to still use MediaMonkey.

[Peke]

I would more look in DLNA support but be warned that not all devices support all featureas that DLNA was made for (even by main developers/supporters), but it looks promising unless some sort of DRM ..... things up.

[Lowlander]

You should also look at iMonkey which can control MediaMonkey from an iPod Touch/iPhone or the less capable Wawi that can do basic remote control from a browser. This of course only make sense if your issue is that you don't want to go to the PC to control playback as you would still need a PC with MediaMonkey for this solutions.

You should also check out SmallNetBuilder which is a good resource on NAS devices.

[Guest]

As another user stated, you have to have a computer running to access MM. The only solution I have found that allows you to stream music and play it through a stereo independent of a computer is Sonos. I have a Sonos, and it works great. I keep my music stored on a NAS, which the Sonos can access, even if my PC is turned off. The only drawback to the Sonos is that it is pretty expensive. It works, though, and works well. You can get a package deal with 2 Sonos network devices and 1 remote for about a grand. The remote itself is $400.

Another solution, which is a lot less expensive is to get an Apple Airport Express. The Airport Express connects to your network either wirelessly or wired and connects to your stereo. You can stream music from iTunes or MM (with plug-in) to the Airport Express. If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you can use the program "Remote" to control iTunes or the program iMonkey to control MM. I use the Remote/iTunes setup with Airport Express, and it works very well. I haven't used iMonkey, though it appears to be less robust than Remote. With either of these solutions, though, you have to leave your PC on with either iTunes or MM running. You can get an Airport Express for about $100 and an iPod Touch for as little as $215.

The Sonos is definately better that the latter solution, but I'm not sure it's so much better so as to justify the price, now that you can control iTunes or MM with an iPhone or an iPod touch.

[gimme_music]

"The only solution I have found that allows you to stream music and play it through a stereo independent of a computer is Sonos. I have a Sonos, and it works great. I keep my music stored on a NAS, which the Sonos can access, even if my PC is turned off. The only drawback to the Sonos is that it is pretty expensive. It works, though, and works well"

Any comments on the Logitech Squeezebox (Duet) streaming music and playing it through a stereo using a NAS (PC turned off) ?
The Logitech Squeezebox is less expensive: about € 400 including a controller with a nice colour LCD-display.

I realize this is "Off topic" because I can't use MediaMonkey to play my music on a NAS, but any comments are very welcome!

Thanks!

[zxsix]

Any comments on the Logitech Squeezebox (Duet) streaming music and playing it through a stereo using a NAS (PC turned off) ?
The Logitech Squeezebox is less expensive: about € 400 including a controller with a nice colour LCD-display.

Thanks!

I haven't used one, but have been considering one. I can tell you that if you want one, you need to get to a Circuit City tomorrow. They are selling for $245 at their going out of business sale. My local CC has 2 left and I've been procrastinating.

[dmass]

Santa brought me a Logitech Squeezebox.... yea I got it early It's a very nice device and works quite well. Sound quality is excellent and it supports FLACs. It also allows for streaming from Live365, Pandora and several other internet based radio. The only downside to it is it requires you to have software running on a PC to stream your music files from. The wife bought it for me because I causally mentioned it one time. If I was seriously looking for such a device I would want it to read off my NAS device as that's were all my music is stored. But overall I've been happy with the Squeezebox the few days that I've owned it. Apparently there are some NAS devices that are able to stream directly to the Squeezebox, my low-cost DLINK-323 isn't one of them.

[zxsix]

Apparently there are some NAS devices that are able to stream directly to the Squeezebox, my low-cost DLINK-323 isn't one of them.

Not true based on the info at these links:
http://forum.dsmg600.info/search.php?se ... =318958986

[netcustoms]

You can stream your NAS drive to a Sonos Zoneplayer90 attached to your existing receiver and Download the free Sonos app controller to your Itouch, if you have one. If your Receiver isnt in close proximity to your router, you will need to buy a zone bridge but nevertheless, your cost will be 349 or 449 if you need the bridge. Easy way to start up a distributed audio system. Music Collection, Pandora, Last.fm and trial to Rhapsody... not cheap but not bad solution for NAS drives

[Mirfak]

What I'd like to see is DLNA client support for Media Monkey. I have a DLNA capable NAS where all my media files are stored. MM provides the cataloging and playlists on my notebook computer. What I want is the ability to select a playlist in MM and have MM tell my NAS to send the tracks to my DLNA capable media extender or DLNA capable receiver.

Thx