How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

[Porcus]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

Naim offers some single box solutions but the NDX is not one of them. My understanding is that it simply takes the place of a CD player in a traditional hi-fi system. I am treading cautiously here and appreciate your comments about other possible solutions at a lower price.

OK. Then there would definitely be cheaper solutions around.

My interest in the user control end of a streaming system is driven by the hope that some such apps would realise the potential of modern technology to greatly simplify the handling of a thousand or more CDs, and by the fear that some such apps do not provide a genuine improvement over my current procedure of lifting a CD off the shelf and stuffing it into my CD player!

Right ...

I read below in the thread that it is supposed to be user-friendly for a user who isn't very tech-savvy. Then my solution -- the excellent foobar2000 player -- is maybe a stretch. It is possible to make it work simple if the user can manage a "go to this window and type bach organ. Click on the correct album name and hit enter". I don't know whether that is feasible. The coder also has made the more simple Boom: http://perkele.cc/software/boom . Neither of these are particularly beautiful (although there are some very nice fb2k layouts being hacked together by fans of fb2k), but some of us don't care :-)



Apart from this, I know people who use smartphone apps.


Regarding the rip-right-once-and-for-all: Since you are listening mainly to classical music, then you should be aware of the pesky pre-emphasis discs, which require an EQ circuit (which is part of CD players). Nowadays dBpoweramp can log and tag these files, so even if you do not apply the EQ at once, you could retro-fix that. Search this forum or hydrogenaudio and read a bit.

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

... If I was to choose a DLNA approach, I'd definitely use Spoon's ASSET. DLNA can be badly implemented, so Spoon's approach is very welcome. And as Porcus noted, if you don't need synching, you can even use a small fanless PC as your player (and server for that matter) ...

I have just downloaded Asset UPnP for a 30 day trial, though I have not yet downloaded any front end UPnP software. Having looked back at your previous comments on this topic, I realise that I don't know what you meant by 'synching'. A clarification would be welcomed.

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

I have just downloaded Asset UPnP for a 30 day trial, though I have not yet downloaded any front end UPnP software. Having looked back at your previous comments on this topic, I realise that I don't know what you meant by 'synching'. A clarification would be welcomed.

David

Synching for me means the ability to stream music to multiple network music players in my home. That is, I'm playing the same track from my server but I'm hearing it on the network music player connected to my main stereo, a 2nd network music player connected to my AV system, and a third network music player sitting on my kitchen cabinet. This is what I can do now with my Squeezebox setup. Play the same thing to different players (at exactly the same time, which is critical when one can hear all the systems at once) *or* I can play different things (from the same server) to each of the network music players.

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

I have just ripped a 3 disc opera set and ended up with mismatched metadata tags. This was caused by me not remembering exactly which metadata tweaks I had made on previous discs in the set and partly because I changed metadata settings before re-ripping a couple of the tracks.

I attempted to fix this problem by reinserting one of the discs while running dBpoweramp, re-clicking the Metadata button and then reselecting my preferred metadata as a mixture from more than one of the available databases. However, there was no obvious 'Save' button to update my FLAC files and simply ejecting the CD left my previous metadata settings unchanged. What am I missing here? Do I have to re-rip the entire CD to make such changes?

I also viewed the metadata using MP3Tag but quickly realised that it was just as unclear how you could use that program to update the metadata embedded in a FLAC. Checking the Help file did not provide much enlightenment. Again, some guidance would be appreciated.

David

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

I read below in the thread that it is supposed to be user-friendly for a user who isn't very tech-savvy. Then my solution -- the excellent foobar2000 player -- is maybe a stretch. It is possible to make it work simple if the user can manage a "go to this window and type bach organ. Click on the correct album name and hit enter".

Regarding the rip-right-once-and-for-all: Since you are listening mainly to classical music, then you should be aware of the pesky pre-emphasis discs, which require an EQ circuit (which is part of CD players). Nowadays dBpoweramp can log and tag these files, so even if you do not apply the EQ at once, you could retro-fix that. Search this forum or hydrogenaudio and read a bit.

I have downloaded Foobar2000 but have not done much with it yet as I have been checking out how well my Oppo BDP-95 copes with metadata served up via Asset UPnP.

Thanks for the info about pre-emphasis, which was a new topic for me. However, I have failed to find any reference to where dBpoweramp logs such info.

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

I have just ripped a 3 disc opera set and ended up with mismatched metadata tags. This was caused by me not remembering exactly which metadata tweaks I had made on previous discs in the set and partly because I changed metadata settings before re-ripping a couple of the tracks.

I attempted to fix this problem by reinserting one of the discs while running dBpoweramp, re-clicking the Metadata button and then reselecting my preferred metadata as a mixture from more than one of the available databases. However, there was no obvious 'Save' button to update my FLAC files and simply ejecting the CD left my previous metadata settings unchanged. What am I missing here? Do I have to re-rip the entire CD to make such changes?

I also viewed the metadata using MP3Tag but quickly realised that it was just as unclear how you could use that program to update the metadata embedded in a FLAC. Checking the Help file did not provide much enlightenment. Again, some guidance would be appreciated.

David

hmmm, mp3tag should be simple. Open the files, right click on the Column Headings, Choose Customize columns, the check the fields you'd like to see columns for. Then save. Then back on your files, right click all the files from a set, then you can simply type in the album name, etc. in the left panel and hit save. If something is disc specific, just select that disk, and change number, etc. And for track specific info, just select that file, and on the left side enter new info. If a field doesn't show on left side, you can add, or just right click after selecting track(s) and choose extended tags. Then you can edit any and all tags from that panel popup.

Using dbpa, right click EDIT ID TAG should be just as easy too, just a bit different. At the bottom of the popup screen is a setting for whether you are editing multiple files or not. Just play around with all this a bit and it should start making sense. With classical music it is simply a must that you become proficient in editing your tags after ripping as rarely will they be what you want from the initial ripping.

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

Hi Gary,
I think my brain must have been out of gear when I made a brief check of editing a FLAC file in MP3Tag just before making my post. Looking back at it now, it is perfectly straightforward, just as you say.

As regards dBpoweramp the only tool I have used so far is the CD Ripper. Should I be using another program to edit the tags in a FLAC? I can't see EDIT ID TAG on my CD Ripper screen.

Edit: Found it! I'd forgotten that Edit ID Tag was a right click option on Windows Explorer.

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

Hi Gary,
I think my brain must have been out of gear when I made a brief check of editing a FLAC file in MP3Tag just before making my post. Looking back at it now, it is perfectly straightforward, just as you say.

As regards dBpoweramp the only tool I have used so far is the CD Ripper. Should I be using another program to edit the tags in a FLAC? I can't see EDIT ID TAG on my CD Ripper screen.

David

ripper is just for ripping. Once ripped, you'll do one of the following:

in Windows explorer, find the album you want to edit, highlight all the files, then right click, and one of the options will be EDIT ID TAG. (you might have had to tell it in configuration to show this option on right click). Then you get a popup screen. If you selected more than one file, you'll see all your tags. If a value says <different> that's because you've selected multiple tracks and they have different values (track no., title, etc.). You can click on the different or other value and edit away. Or you can add fields, etc. or remove fields.

Another approach is to use the batch ID Tag Editing. For this, go into windows task bar > all programs > dbpoweramp > dbpoweramp music converter or dbpa batch converter. And you'll "convert to" > ID TAG UPDATE (DSP). you need to setup the info, map, deletions, manipulations, additions, etc. there. Sounds like you need my first option, which allows you to adjust one cd set or album at a time.

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

Gary,
I actually remembered that Edit ID Tag was a Windows Explorer right click option shortly after my last post (and edited that post accordingly). I have now taken a note of how to edit tags in FLAC files so that I don't forget the process even if I put off that task for another week or two!

I had never looked at the batch converter before as the title did not seem relevant for my purposes at the moment. I can use it to display folders of FLAC files and can view the metadata. However, the 'Converting To' option list does not include 'ID Tag update (DSP)'. I think you mean the DSP option called 'ID Tag Processing', but that still assumes you are making some sort of file conversion, which is not something I need to do (unless you are suggesting I 'convert' a FLAC to a FLAC). I guess that is why you nudged me towards the Edit ID Tag procedure. Have I missed something?

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

correct, I meant ID TAG Processing (I was doing this from memory). When you covert to "ID Tag Processing" you're not converting your audio data at all (the FLAC file stays the same). Uses of the term "convert" here is a bit confusing/misleading. You'd just be doing editing of tags en mass. Probably not what you want to do. But what if, for example, you wanted to change the genre tag of 30,000 tracks with "Rock" to "Rock/Pop". You could easily do this with a few mouse clicks. But for what you're doing, I'd use the Edit ID Tag approach or mp3tag. Both will allow you to do the same thing (easily edit tags of the FLAC files).

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

... When you convert to "ID Tag Processing" you're not converting your audio data at all (the FLAC file stays the same). Uses of the term "convert" here is a bit confusing/misleading ...

Are you saying that when you select the DSP option called 'ID Tag Processing', the selection in the 'Converting To' drop down box is ignored? Or must you select FLAC as the 'conversion', as I previously assumed?

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

Are you saying that when you select the DSP option called 'ID Tag Processing', the selection in the 'Converting To' drop down box is ignored? Or must you select FLAC as the 'conversion', as I previously assumed?

David

sorry, more confusion based on memory. now at home on my computer. You select "convert to": ID TAG UPDATE (rather than FLAC). and then hit convert, then you'll get a popup that has the tabs about things you can do with the tags (add, delete, manipulate, map, etc.). If you don't see the "id tag update" in the covert to dropdown box, that means you haven't installed that codec from codec central. (other stuff you likely want is ARRANGE AUDIO, REPLAY GAIN, and TEST CONVERSION). For example, converting your FLAC files to TEST CONVERSION, will just use the build in data within the FLAC file to test whether the FLAC file is still a good file. For example, if I copy 50,000 FLAC files to a different harddrive. After I'm done, on the new drive, I'll batch convert all 50,000 files to TEST CONVERSION. This basically tests decoding all the files to make sure they haven't become corrupted. And if there are errors, it will tell me which files.

p.s. ID TAG PROCESSING is the DSP one uses in conjunction with converting to a particular file type (FLAC or MP3, etc.) and at the same time you want to do something to the tags (eg, I use this when I convert FLAC files to Lame mp3. And in ID TAG PROCESSING I use an option to take my "cover.jpg" artfile in the subdirectory of the album and embed it in the mp3 file (at the same time making it a smaller jpg file).

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

OK. I've just downloaded IT Tag Update, Arrange Audio and Replay Gain but I don't see Test Conversion in the list on Codec Central.

David

[garym]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

OK. I've just downloaded IT Tag Update, Arrange Audio and Replay Gain but I don't see Test Conversion in the list on Codec Central.

David

maybe test conversion is automatically installed. Do you see it if you select some files in batch convert, convert to, then in the dropdown list, you should see all your new stuff (after you install) an things like FLAC and maybe TEST CONVERSION?

[haggis999]

Re: How well does the Naim nStream app handle classical-oriented metadata tags?

You are correct; Test Conversion is already installed.

To change the subject, and ask my last question of the evening, what naming convention have you found most useful for FLAC files and the folders they are stored in?

David