Switching from J. River Media Center, does MM do ...

[winterminute]

I'm sick of JRMC, I won't go into it here, but suffice it to say I'm looking to move on. There is one feature that I live and die by and that's the ability to sync to a folder similar to how you would sync to a device. I'm wonder if MM has something similar or some other solution that will work for my workflow.

Here are the details for my worklow:

1) I have a ton of full albums in FLAC, MP3, WMA
2) I have an iPhone, Zune, Windows Media Center, Xbox
3) Using auto-playlists, I build a list of all of the songs I want to sync to these other applications/devices.
4) Using their SyncToFolder feature, I sync the auto-playlist converting all the FLAC to WMA Pro (for Zune, Windows Media Center, Xbox) and MP3 (for iTunes) via dbPoweramp command line converter. WMA Pro because the quality to size ratio can't be beat, at least for devices that support it.
5) JRMC also creates an M3U for the auto-playlist.
5) I configure iTunes and Zune desktop software to watch the folder that contains the transcoded files and then I sync from there.

That way I can do all my management in a power-user software (JRMC, MM, etc) and Zune, ITunes, etc are just "dumb" copies of my data. Now, I wouldn't even need this workaround if I could sync directly to iPhone and Zune using JRMC, but they're sitting on their high horse about iPhones and Zunes. I understand the MM has actually realized that people have iPods/iPhones and have sync support so that''s a good thing, but I still need to sync to my Zune.

To put it simply, I need the ability to take a subset of my library (based on song attributes) and copy (ortranscode, if needed) to a separate file location. Is there a way to do this in MM? Even if it required using a built-in encoder that would be fine.

Here's to hoping that I can leave JRMC for greener pastures ...

[Lowlander]

Actually both Microsoft and Apple work hard on making it difficult to sync to their devices. I'm not sure anyone is able to sync to the Zune other than the Zune software itself.

I think you should be able to sync by setting up a sync profile using a drive letter.

[winterminute]

I totally understand that MS/Apple are going out of their way to make it hard; I just apperciate the fact that MM is willing to invest the time/money to find workarounds. I don't hold it against MM that they don't have Zune support as they user base isn't large enough, but for iPhones/iPods? It is just to big to ignore...

Anyway, I played around with "Generic Portable Audio Device", but couldn't get it to show up anywhere so I figured it wasn't intended to do what I was trying to do. I get "No Active Device has been detected". Are there any docs on how to configure this?

Any rumors if MM is going to explore some workarounds for Zunes?

[nohitter151]

Any rumors if MM is going to explore some workarounds for Zunes?

The problem with Zunes is that no one has figured out how to bypass their security, and no one seems invested enough in the devices to figure it out. Google around -- you won't find even one single Zune software alternative.

[winterminute]

I figured out how to configure a Device Profile that allows me to sync to a folder. However, when I tried to sync 4 mp3 I got a generic error message about unable to sync/copy (can't remember exactly). It failed on all 4 files. It did create the correct folder structure in the target folder, but wasn't able to put ANY files there. I figured I try with some other files, but the sync engine doesn't appear to do anything. It says "Prepaing List of tracks" then the status disapears and nothing happens. I deleted the target folder structure to reset everything and still nothing happens - the folder structure wasn't recreated this time. I also copied the DLL and created a new Device Profile, but even then nothing happened.

I remove as many options as I could from the DeviceProfile and configured it to sync one file to get this debug output:

Code: Select all

[7412] Thread has started 1228
[7412] Thread initialized 1228
[7412] Thread has finished 1228
[7412] Thread has started 1052
[7412] Thread initialized 1052
[7412] Going to make final callback 1052
[7412] New thread starting 1
[7412] Thread has started 7764
[7412] Thread initialized 7764
[7412] 7764 DB exec SQL: UPDATE Devices SET LastAutoSynch=40209.641567488 WHERE ID=41 
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 261303.
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT * FROM Filters ORDER BY Pos 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT * FROM Filters WHERE ID=18 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT id FROM Songs WHERE ( Songs.TrackType=2 ) 
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 480657.
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT * FROM SynchLocation WHERE SynchLocation.IDDevice=41 
[7412] Synchronize: Preparing albums
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 383.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 533.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 1094.
[7412] 7764 DB query prepare finished, took 83.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 210.
[7412] 7764 DB query prepare finished, took 79.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 194.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 1009.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 218.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 198.
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT SynchAllMusic FROM DeviceFilters WHERE IDDevice=41 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT Artists.Id, Artists.Artist, SynchArtist.MaskPath, SynchArtist.FilterID FROM Artists INNER JOIN SynchArtist ON (Artists.ID=SynchArtist.IDArtist AND SynchArtist.IDDevice=41) 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT Songs.* 
[7412] FROM Songs 
[7412] WHERE ID IN 
[7412] (SELECT Songs.ID FROM Songs, ArtistsSongs WHERE Songs.ID=ArtistsSongs.IDSong AND ArtistsSongs.PersonType=1 AND ArtistsSongs.IDArtist=28903 
[7412] UNION 
[7412] SELECT Songs.ID FROM Songs, ArtistsAlbums WHERE Songs.IDAlbum=ArtistsAlbums.IDAlbum AND ArtistsAlbums.IDArtist=28903) 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT NULL FROM PodcastEpisodes WHERE PodcastEpisodes.idTrack=? 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT Songs.* 
[7412] FROM Songs 
[7412] WHERE ID IN 
[7412] (SELECT Songs.ID FROM Songs, ArtistsSongs WHERE Songs.ID=ArtistsSongs.IDSong AND ArtistsSongs.PersonType=1 AND ArtistsSongs.IDArtist=28951 
[7412] UNION 
[7412] SELECT Songs.ID FROM Songs, ArtistsAlbums WHERE Songs.IDAlbum=ArtistsAlbums.IDAlbum AND ArtistsAlbums.IDArtist=28951) 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT NULL FROM PodcastEpisodes WHERE PodcastEpisodes.idTrack=? 
[7412] Synchronize: Preparing podcasts
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 365.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 467.
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT SynchAllPlaylists FROM DeviceFilters WHERE IDDevice=41 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT Playlists.*, SynchPlaylist.MaskPath FROM Playlists INNER JOIN SynchPlaylist ON (Playlists.IDPlaylist=SynchPlaylist.IDPlaylist AND SynchPlaylist.IDDevice=41) 
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT * FROM DeviceTracks WHERE IDDevice=41 
[7412] 7764 DB exec SQL: UPDATE DeviceTracks SET Status=0 WHERE IDDevice=41 
[7412] Synchronize: Testing free space 1.
[7412] Forms: Received WM_ACTIVATEAPP
[7412] Forms: NormalizeTopMosts: Level: 0
[7412] Winamp simulation window received messsage 28
[7412] Winamp sim - ignoring.
[7412] 7764 DB open SQL: SELECT Lyrics, Comment FROM Songs WHERE Songs.ID=? 
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 506.
[7412] 7764 DB lock finished, took 289.
[7412] Synchronize: Copying tracks
[7412] 7764 DB lock successful.
[7412] Synchronize: Finished
[7412] DB: Deleting prepared query: SELECT NULL FROM PodcastEpisodes WHERE PodcastEpisodes.idTrack=? 
[7412] Thread has finished 7764

I don't see any obvious errors here, but maybe you guys know whatyou're looking for.

[chrisjj]

I have the same requirement as you and have succeeded in setting up MM sync to folder. I used the USBMass1.DLL but since it cannot target a folder only a drive, I also used at SUBST drive. However, I would suggest you get into this only if you are desperate. Outstanding MM bugs ranging from failure to delete old items (reported over a year ago and still unfixed) to spontaneous termination without any error report like you have experienced makes the process very unreliable.

I am currently investigating migrating to JRiver Media Center so would be interested to hear how it didn't meet your requirements beyond compatibility with Apple devices, which I don't need.

[nohitter151]

... Outstanding MM bugs ranging from failure to delete old items (reported over a year ago and still unfixed) to spontaneous termination without any error report like you have experienced makes the process very unreliable......

Reported by you and not reproducible by anyone else, keep in mind.

[chrisjj]

Reported by you and not reproducible by anyone else, keep in mind.

I see no evidence it is not reproducible by anyone else.

[nohitter151]

Reported by you and not reproducible by anyone else, keep in mind.

I see no evidence it is not reproducible by anyone else.

http://mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ed#p198553

[chrisjj]

That only shows you were unable to reproduce it. I appreciate your effort on this problem, but it doesn't show no-one can reproduce it. I'd guess the number even using this feature is tiny.

[chrisjj]

Outstanding MM bugs ...

Including corrupt output files, suspected cause: http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewto ... 50#p245050

[Mizery_Made]

At http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=5531 jiri wrote

> I can't reproduce, playlists on a SUBSTed drive are always properly deleted upon synchronization.

That shows that Jiri (a developer) was unable to reproduce. While the fact only you, Nohitter & Jiri have commented on its reproducibility doesn't necessarily indicate that no-one can reproduce, the lack of anyone else reporting your same findings in there suggests that no-one (other than you) were able to reproduce and reported.

[chrisjj]

While the fact only you, Nohitter & Jiri have commented on its reproducibility doesn't necessarily indicate that no-one can reproduce

Thanks for the confirmation.

[Peke]

FYI I'm not sure it is relevant but Subst drive in case it is scanned to MM library it will duplicate Drive IDs which can/will make issues with library and that could be the possible reason for issues.

[winterminute]

The reason I'm looking to replace JRMC with MM is because of the following:

1) Their attitude on the forums. If you disagree with them, they'll either tell you its your fault, ignore you, or just delete your post. In today's world, JRMC is an expensive piece of software, so I expect more.

2) They're trying to wage a war against Apple based on principals by not offering iPod/iPhone support. In the end, Apple continues to make lots of money and JRMC"s users get nothing. Nobody's saying that Apple makes it easy, but you either respond to the needs of your users or you don't.

3) The future direction of the product seems to indicate that they'd rather become a 10FT Media Center (ala Windows Media Center, Boxee, etc). I have no use for that, I just need a killer music manager. I'm running v12, but v13 and v14 don't see as focused on music so I haven't upgraded.

The one place where it seems that JRMC has the edge of MM is around metadata, tagging, etc. I can easily extend the schema to add my custom fields (including support for multi-valued fields), plus I can add support for almost any tag that exists in my files.