ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
My new Essence MK II arrived today. I will be connecting it to the Aux In on my Beosound 5 but do not yet have the Behringer device to do so.
However, I did plug the Essence in and go through the setup process and all seemed to work. I could select music on the BeoMusic App from my Beomaster 5, although could not hear it as nothing was connected to the Essence.
I then went to my Beoplay V1 and tried to connect the Essence to it. All worked perfectly. V1 shows up in BeoMusic app. I could play music from the BeoMaster 5 to through the Essence to the V1. App would turn the V1 on and off.
Bow for the problem...all of a sudden I can not select any music and get it to play. The music shows up in BeoMusic app, but is dimmed out and I can not select any of it. I can go through all of the menus, album, artist etc but when I get to the final selection, all music is grayed out and non responsive.
Any thoughts? Help? Suggestions?
Betook shows both Essence and V1 properly connected. I can still access music from the BeoMaster 5 on the V1 directly, without using the BeoMusic app and the Essence so the Bombaster 5 seems to still be connected to the network properly.
Thanks!
Beolab 28s Beolab 9s Beolab 12-3s Beolab 1s Beolab 6000s 2 pairs Beolab 4000s Beovision 7-55 Beovision 10-40 Beoplay V1 32 inch Beovision Avant 32 inch Beosound 1 (CD player) Beosound 3000 Beosound 5 Core Essence MKII Beoplay M5
Question edited for typos as can not use edit function on my Apple computer.
Now for the problem...all of a sudden I can not select any music and get it to play. The music shows up in BeoMusic app, but is dimmed out and I can not select any of it. I can go through all of the menus, album, artist etc but when I get to the final selection, all music is grayed out and non responsive.
Beotool app shows both Essence and V1 properly connected. I can still access music from the BeoMaster 5 on the V1 directly, without using the BeoMusic app and the Essence so the Beomaster 5 seems to still be connected to the network properly.
Hi Razlaw,
is this issue you have only with the music hosted on your BeoMaster 5?For example, can you play TuneIn radio, from the BeoMusic App to the Essence/V1, without any problem?
Br,petros
I don't have a tune in account so have not tried that. I just discovered I can still play the last album playing before the problem occurred.
Also, the Beomusic app is picking up an old ios library that I never use. That is not grayed out, but I still can not get it to play.
Just tried Spotify. The V1 screen shows Spotify and the appropriate piece of music I selected but the speakers shut off and thus there is no sound.
I dont think Airplay and Spotify are actually usuable in this setup (http://bogo.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13858/~/how-do-i-set-up-beosound-essence-to-be-integrated-with-my-television%3F).
But, back to the issue with the grayed out content on the BeoMusic app, it is a known issue of the App. There should be an app fix coming out next week.
Btw, give one more try also with TuneIn. Creating a TuneIn account is free: http://www.tunein.com and does not require any subscription
Nothing works. All music shows up but can not select it. Have reinstalled apps. Reset Essence
First time I set up all worked perfectly....then stopped and no ability to get to work again. I guess I will return it and stay in my MasterLink world where things work.
You mean you also tried TuneIn and that did not work either?
I did not try Tune In. When i tried to sign up it wanted to charge me. So i went back and had another try at getting the Essence to work. And I did get it to work and I think I found the problem. Now I need a solution to keep it working.
When I set up the Essence in the main living area of my house, it works fine. However, I want to mount it in my basement next to the Beomaster 5 and also where a router is located. It seems as if when I place it close to the Beomaster 5 and the router, is when the problem starts. I thought perhaps it was too close to the router and that was affecting it so I tried connecting it with an ethernet cable. Still had the problem. Brought it back up to the main living area and got it working again.
I can't imaging being close to the Beomaster 5 would cause a problem? But maybe being close to the router?
Don't want to hi-jack this thread, but glad to see an Essence MK2 user. Can you confirm that Apple Lossless is now supported? Can the Beousic app see the itunes library including itunes playlists?
Hi Raz,
I am a similar problem with my Essence Mk2. The songs form my NAS was grey out whenever I restart it. I have read on various threads that you have to either switch on Deezer or Tunein to get it white. But what I found that works for me was that I have to toggle between the 2 services and the Essence will be able to access the songs after that. I have an A6 as well, same issue same solution.
Wee
steve1977: Don't want to hi-jack this thread, but glad to see an Essence MK2 user. Can you confirm that Apple Lossless is now supported? Can the Beousic app see the itunes library including itunes playlists?
Steve partially for you this may be an answer, and for Raz hopefully a good clue.
I find that when the items appear grayed out that means they are protected by a level of Apple's DRM.
Now that happens in these circumstances (based on my own experiences):
Mille has also stated many times that it is a restriction of Airplay on iOS iDevices that you can only ever play to one set of speakers and that B&O enforce that restriction where they can i.e. the Essence will not let you multi-link to another room if it is playing an AirPlay tune.
However if the iDevice is coming in via the Line-In then you have a work around :)
If you have a MacMini like mine running iTunes then you are able to broadcast from Mac OSX (i.e. its not an iOS) to any number of speakers -- this is how I operated sometimes -- it is less convenient as you have to have a screen or virtual screen up or use the iDevice Apple "Remote" iApp but it can be done ... and you get nothing grayed out ... but there again you are not using BeoMusic as your controlling App (except for volume).
BeoNut since '75
dreammer: Hi Raz, I am a similar problem with my Essence Mk2. The songs form my NAS was grey out whenever I restart it. I have read on various threads that you have to either switch on Deezer or Tunein to get it white. But what I found that works for me was that I have to toggle between the 2 services and the Essence will be able to access the songs after that. I have an A6 as well, same issue same solution. Wee
Wee Dreamer - I cant say that I have seen that behaviour but I shall now look for it !
I haven't had any 'greyed-out' issues.
I am not using an iTunes library - my personal file collection is DLNA-based.
One of the first things, that I did on the Essence, was to enable the TuneIN part, since (amongst other things) a priority was to get Netradio on my V1.
This might be the reason, why I had no troubles installing it (?)
@Raz
Don't give up on the Essence - I really do like mine and it is working flawless, since I started to use it.
One question: what is your priority for buying the Essence - what is the most wanted feature for you?
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Millemissen: I haven't had any 'greyed-out' issues. I am not using an iTunes library - my personal file collection is DLNA-based. One of the first things, that I did on the Essence, was to enable the TuneIN part, since (amongst other things) a priority was to get Netradio on my V1. This might be the reason, why I had no troubles installing it (?) @Raz Don't give up on the Essence - I really do like mine and it is working flawless, since I started to use it. One question: what is your priority for buying the Essence - what is the most wanted feature for you? MM
It sort of is and sort of is not iTunes.
Perhaps I was unclear:
They grayed out content, is an issue of the current app version most probably. I'd wait for the next app release that is coming this weerk
elephant: Perhaps I was unclear:
No, you weren't - at least not to me.
What I was referring to, was, that since I don't use iTunes (in either way), I would not experience this problem... If that really is where the problem(s) comes from.
I have had no 'greyed-out issues' with the current app version!
Whether (as petrosbeli writes) a coming version will be able to solve the problems of some of the BeoMusic users, I don't know.
Thanks for your replies. For the itunes users, any experience whether apple lossless and playlists are now supported?
steve1977: Thanks for your replies. For the itunes users, any experience whether apple lossless and playlists are now supported?
If you created the playlist in iTunes and if you have it loaded with your content then yes I believe it will work if both the playlist and the content are on the iDevice or if they can be verified and downloaded from your iTunes account in the iCloud.
If however you mean the new Apple Music streaming service and its playlists and their content that you have or have not downloaded on to the iDevice, then I believe the answer is no.
I am not sure what "apple lossless" means .... do you mean ALAC ?
elephant: steve1977: Thanks for your replies. For the itunes users, any experience whether apple lossless and playlists are now supported? If you created the playlist in iTunes and if you have it loaded with your content then yes I believe it will work if both the playlist and the content are on the iDevice or if they can be verified and downloaded from your iTunes account in the iCloud. If however you mean the new Apple Music streaming service and its playlists and their content that you have or have not downloaded on to the iDevice, then I believe the answer is no. I am not sure what "apple lossless" means .... do you mean ALAC ?
Thanks. I am not looking for Apple Music or other form of cloud-based support. However, I am also not referring to anything on my IOS device. I have a Max Mini with an ITunes library, which includes local music files and also locally created playlists. I can access them from the Apple Remote from my IOS device. I am wondering whether I could access the ITunes library (on my Mac Mini) directly through the Beomusic app on my IOS device and then play it to multi-room? Both accessing files and playlists.
And yes, referring to ALAC files (yet again in my Mac Mini based Itunes library).
I am about to make a (rather major) investment to convert my whole place to make it multi-room ready, but want to make sure that things will actually work the way I would like it given the need to rely on my ITunes library.
Thanks in advance!
I have not used my iTunes library at all for five years, since I purchased my Beosound 5. Prior to getting the Beosound 5, I do remember trying to make sure all of the music in my iTunes library was in the highest quality available at that time, whatever it was. The app does see the library and all of the cover art is there (unlike the Beomaster 5 library which shows virtually no cover art even though the art is present on the Beosound 5). However, much of it is grayed out and not accessible. And what is even more strange is there is a difference between individual tracks that are part of one album. For instance, one album I have in my iTunes library is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. All tracks are grayed out except for one.
My main priority was more ease in selection of music as opposed to walking over to the Beosound 5. I had intended to connect the Essence to my Beosound 3000 but dealer sent me the wrong cable and says that B and O does not have an rj45 to Aux In cable. I will be ordering the Behringer device and connecting to my Beosound 5. So at present I am only using the Essence with my V1. Other reasons I purchased it was a first step in to the Net Link world and wanting a new B and O toy.
petrosbeli: They grayed out content, is an issue of the current app version most probably. I'd wait for the next app release that is coming this weerk
Great! Hopefully the new app solves it. And it seems like comments here are directed to iTunes libraries being grayed out. I experience the problem with my Beomaster 5 library also.
I am able to turn on my V1 from the BeoMusic app and begin music from the Essence. If I added a NL converter to my MasterLink system, would I be able to do the same with the MasterLink TVs? And would I need one converter total or on converter for each TV?
Razlaw: My main priority was more ease in selection of music as opposed to walking over to the Beosound 5. I had intended to connect the Essence to my Beosound 3000 but dealer sent me the wrong cable and says that B and O does not have an rj45 to Aux In cable. I will be ordering the Behringer device and connecting to my Beosound 5. So at present I am only using the Essence with my V1. Other reasons I purchased it was a first step in to the Net Link world and wanting a new B and O toy.
In case you (still) have your BS3000 in your setup, that is how I would advice you to use the Essence.
Your dealer is definitely wrong on the RJ to Aux cable!!!
I use one - a RJ45/PL to RCA.
With the right adapter for the DIN/AUX-in you are good to go!
This way you can use the Essence in your ML-setup, wherever the Aux command is supported...
...and (like you do now) as connected sources on the V1.
On the other hand - using the ML/NL Converter would give you the 'genuine' integration of your ML and NL network.
I thought the dealer was wrong about the cable. They initially sent me an rj45 to PowerLink. When I advised them that is the wrong cable, their suggestion was that I buy an rj45 to RCA cable and and RCA to Aux In from them and then buy an extension cable from someplace else to connect the two at the right length.
They are not my usual dealer and are 1000 miles away. But I was in the mood to buy the Essence and my dealer did not have one in stock whereas this dealer did. They have, other than the cable, provided excellent service.
I decided to connect the Essence to the Beosound 5 instead of the the Beosound 3000 for a few reasons. As dealer could not provide me with the right cable for the Beosound 3000 quickly, I would need to order elsewhere, just as with the Behringer. Also, while I still have the 3000 it is not connected right now to my MasterLink system. My Beomaster 5 is hidden away in my basement, right next to a router and now the Essence. Thus it will be very easy to connect the Behringer as opposed to running a cable from the basement up to the main floor to connect to the Beosound 3000.
I will have exactly the same functionality with the Essence connected to the Beomaster 5 as I would with it connected to the Beosound 3000, won't I?
I am considering a converter, but am totally confused by them. For instance, with two Beovisions and a Beosound connected by MasterLink, and possibly adding the Beosound 3000 back in to the system, would I need just one converter or would I need more than one? I have been told and/or read both answers.
Some of the cover art from my Beosound 5 shows up in the App, but most of it does not. Perhaps I have the cover art in different formats on the Bombaster 5? How can fix that? Thanks!
Razlaw: I will have exactly the same functionality with the Essence connected to the Beomaster 5 as I would with it connected to the Beosound 3000, won't I? I am considering a converter, but am totally confused by them. For instance, with two Beovisions and a Beosound connected by MasterLink, and possibly adding the Beosound 3000 back in to the system, would I need just one converter or would I need more than one? I have been told and/or read both answers.
Yes, basicly you would. Connecting it to the BS3000 (if you have space for hiding the Essence box near the 3000) would be an easier task.
When it comes to cables - do remember, that Steve at Sounds Heavenly is an expert and will ship worldwide.
Normally you need only one NL/ML Converter. There are some Beoworlders, who have added more converters for specific reasons.
It depends on your wishes for the setup.
Best thing would be (either to search for this on the forum or) to wait for someone in knowing to give some hints.
One can have in a NL system more Beolink converters ML/NL (BLC). This can be done to add additional ML sources in a NL system. I have a BS3000 connected to a BLC, to another BLC I have connected a Beosystem 7000. The rest are only NL video/audio sources. So the NL is central system and there are two ML subsystems.
But your system as I understand is ML. Keep this with all it functionalities and add an Essence mkII in two ways:
1. Connect the essence as a additional source to your BS3000 with the special PL to line cable .
To play music from the Essence you have to choose AUX on your BS3000, than you can select anything on the Essence in the Beomusic App and play it to your ML system.
In principle it will be the same if you use the Beringer solution on the BS5
2. Connect a Beolink converter ML/NL (BLC) to your ML network. The BLC is in principle an intermediate between ML and NL; just for integration reason of both system.
Connect the BLC and the Essence to your LAN network. Than you have a fully connection of NL on one side and ML on the other side.
Note: the BLC must be setup for the type of ML setup you have. In this setup you can add more NL products and stil integrate the already owned ML products.
The sources of the Essence can be accessed directly by remote on the ML side (if the BLC is setup properly; restricted amount of ML sources). On the ML side you can 1) choose the source than 2) access/choose the sources of the Essence with the Beomusic app.
So practically you go to a ML tv for example. You give the remote command A.AUX ; the A.AUX is programmed in the BLC as the Music source in the Essence; the Music of the Essence is going to play.
The easiest/cheapest way would be the first option. If you want to integrate more NL devices to your ML system you should go for the second option. If you want to be ready for the future (more NL) you could choose for the second option.
steve1977: elephant: steve1977: Thanks for your replies. For the itunes users, any experience whether apple lossless and playlists are now supported? If you created the playlist in iTunes and if you have it loaded with your content then yes I believe it will work if both the playlist and the content are on the iDevice or if they can be verified and downloaded from your iTunes account in the iCloud. If however you mean the new Apple Music streaming service and its playlists and their content that you have or have not downloaded on to the iDevice, then I believe the answer is no. I am not sure what "apple lossless" means .... do you mean ALAC ? Thanks. I am not looking for Apple Music or other form of cloud-based support. However, I am also not referring to anything on my IOS device. I have a Max Mini with an ITunes library, which includes local music files and also locally created playlists. I can access them from the Apple Remote from my IOS device. I am wondering whether I could access the ITunes library (on my Mac Mini) directly through the Beomusic app on my IOS device and then play it to multi-room? Both accessing files and playlists. And yes, referring to ALAC files (yet again in my Mac Mini based Itunes library). I am about to make a (rather major) investment to convert my whole place to make it multi-room ready, but want to make sure that things will actually work the way I would like it given the need to rely on my ITunes library. Thanks in advance!
In a related thread, a member suggested that accessing itunes library does not work directlly, but only through a dlna server such as twonky. Is this correct from your expereince? http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/p/18829/163090.aspx#163090
Carolpa: Hi Razlaw, One can have in a NL system more Beolink converters ML/NL (BLC). This can be done to add additional ML sources in a NL system. I have a BS3000 connected to a BLC, to another BLC I have connected a Beosystem 7000. The rest are only NL video/audio sources. So the NL is central system and there are two ML subsystems. But your system as I understand is ML. Keep this with all it functionalities and add an Essence mkII in two ways: 1. Connect the essence as a additional source to your BS3000 with the special PL to line cable . To play music from the Essence you have to choose AUX on your BS3000, than you can select anything on the Essence in the Beomusic App and play it to your ML system. In principle it will be the same if you use the Beringer solution on the BS5 2. Connect a Beolink converter ML/NL (BLC) to your ML network. The BLC is in principle an intermediate between ML and NL; just for integration reason of both system. Connect the BLC and the Essence to your LAN network. Than you have a fully connection of NL on one side and ML on the other side. Note: the BLC must be setup for the type of ML setup you have. In this setup you can add more NL products and stil integrate the already owned ML products. The sources of the Essence can be accessed directly by remote on the ML side (if the BLC is setup properly; restricted amount of ML sources). On the ML side you can 1) choose the source than 2) access/choose the sources of the Essence with the Beomusic app. So practically you go to a ML tv for example. You give the remote command A.AUX ; the A.AUX is programmed in the BLC as the Music source in the Essence; the Music of the Essence is going to play. The easiest/cheapest way would be the first option. If you want to integrate more NL devices to your ML system you should go for the second option. If you want to be ready for the future (more NL) you could choose for the second option.
Thanks! If I am understanding correctly, it does not sound like I would gain much benefit from a converter, but I may be misunderstanding.
Connecting the Essence to the Behringer, if I want to listen to music from the Essence in a room with a Beovision I would do the following:
1. A. Aux on Beo 4. 2. Activate Essence from the App and select music
With the converter, again if I am understanding correctly, the process would be:
1. A. Aux on Beo 4 and music starts playing from Essence (last selected Essence source?) If I wish to to select specific music, then I would use the App just as above?
In other words it seems to me that the converter just gives me one touch access to music, but if I want to select music, there would not be much difference in operation?
Razlaw: Some of the cover art from my Beosound 5 shows up in the App, but most of it does not. Perhaps I have the cover art in different formats on the Bombaster 5? How can fix that? Thanks!
I looked at my cover art with a very old program, and confirmed that cover art is in different formats. I can now see which format works with the Essence and would like to change the others. Any good programs and/or methods for doing so?
@Razlaw
If you are on Windows, use MP3Tag.
http://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html
It requires a bit of work - when I was still doing this a lot, I prefered MP3Tag to the more 'automatic' methods.
I have never done it on a Mac, so ?
Millemissen: @Razlaw If you are on Windows, use MP3Tag. http://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html It requires a bit of work - when I was still doing this a lot, I prefered MP3Tag to the more 'automatic' methods. I have never done it on a Mac, so ? MM
Thanks! That is the program I was trying to use.I guess my computer skills are not very good today. I could not figure out how to change the size using it.
And sorry for yet another question.....When using the app, if I elect an album and then elect a specific track in the album, sometimes it does not start playing. Instead if briefly shows that track then briefly the next track...and so on, but never starts playing. What is it doing? What am I doing wrong?
PS MM Cables ordered as you suggested.
Razlaw:And sorry for yet another question.....When using the app, if I elect an album and then elect a specific track in the album, sometimes it does not start playing. Instead if briefly shows that track then briefly the next track...and so on, but never starts playing. What is it doing? What am I doing wrong?
when I get that behaviour its because my iOS can't get to the internet to verify that I have the rights to play that track ... that track ... that track ... this track is Ok its not marked with DRM ... that track ... that track ... et cetera
Razlaw: Thanks! If I am understanding correctly, it does not sound like I would gain much benefit from a converter, but I may be misunderstanding. Connecting the Essence to the Behringer, if I want to listen to music from the Essence in a room with a Beovision I would do the following: 1. A. Aux on Beo 4. 2. Activate Essence from the App and select music With the converter, again if I am understanding correctly, the process would be: 1. A. Aux on Beo 4 and music starts playing from Essence (last selected Essence source?) If I wish to to select specific music, then I would use the App just as above? In other words it seems to me that the converter just gives me one touch access to music, but if I want to select music, there would not be much difference in operation?
I chose to add a BLC because (a) I was not comfortable with th workaround concept of using AUX-IN on the BeoSound 4 and (b) I wanted to future proof for when I added additional NL devices ...
Now having lived with how tricky the BLC was to install, how it does OTA upgrades, and how it can be difficult to get going in my environment, and how DRM blocks some of my pass through plays I wish I had used the K.I.S.S. principle
Razlaw, congrats on the Essence MkII. I experience the music dimming from time to time. For me, it usually occurs for a short time after my server boots up. (I've got my server programmed to cycle through a restart every 10 days or so due to some other concurrently running apps which require it). But after a few minutes, the music is not dim and can be played.
I've also experienced a myriad of software issues with the BeoMusic App, almost all of which a force quit and restart on my iPhone have fixed.