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
Aware that there are several other threads that talks about MinimServer tweaks to a certain extend and of course there is MinimServers forum as well together with the online documentation, but looking now to switch from Twonky to MinimServers and would like to pick the community's collective brains for the best MinimServer settings when used together with Beosound Moment.
Of course there are also some small tweaking to be made on the Moment, thought limited, and the important one would be the switching to Expert mode. This made my Moment far more stable based on that it's not constant scanning for new DLNA data. After that I noticed that my Twonky after couple of month falls to sleep, well more coma, it's not responding which I then notice on the Moment :-) Hence why I'm looking at MinimServer.
Been toying around with a MinimServer Ubuntu Docker installation which works out fine and some tweaks seems to work fine. Also, recall that Moment is fairly limited to what it picks up from the DLNA tags based on the audio files (mp3/FLAC) and some of the nice tweaks that MinimServer has in the documentation doesn't really fly with Moment.
Also, based on the current MinimServer v2.x, did anyone manage to get the Artist image to work out or is this still only working with Twonky using 'beoartists' folder. Was this ever picked up and can be used with MinimServer or are there other tricks?
kimhav: Also, recall that Moment is fairly limited to what it picks up from the DLNA tags based on the audio files (mp3/FLAC) and some of the nice tweaks that MinimServer has in the documentation doesn't really fly with Moment.
Still the Moment works fine with Minimserver.
But some tweaks done also works fine for the Moment. For example I did set the transcode option to convert DSF files to WAV24;96 (24bit; 96kHz). Then I can play SACD ripped files directly to the Moment.
kimhav:Also, based on the current MinimServer v2.x, did anyone manage to get the Artist image to work out or is this still only working with Twonky using 'beoartists' folder. Was this ever picked up and can be used with MinimServer or are there other tricks?
I used a trick to get the artists visible in the Moment. But that has nothing to do with Minimserver.
Carolpa:But some tweaks done also works fine for the Moment. For example I did set the transcode option to convert DSF files to WAV24;96 (24bit; 96kHz). Then I can play SACD ripped files directly to the Moment.
If you converted the DSF 5.1 audio files to WAV 2.0 why didn't you opt for FLAC 2.0 - Any particular reason?
kimhav:If you converted the DSF 5.1 audio files to WAV 2.0 why didn't you opt for FLAC 2.0 - Any particular reason?
Don't need to be any additional conversions steps, for example dBpoweramp, would support direct conversion of SACD to FLAC. Hence why I was wondering :-)
Circling back to MinimServer, which works absolutely fine with Moment as indicated and suggested in lots of other threads in this forum. About the BEOARTISTS folder which is setup in Twonky through the Photo Album which I realise that MinimServer doesn't support and would needed to be implemented which I doubt would happen. Then again, is this something that has been raised as a possible workaround with Simon Nash as plugin/addon to MinimServer?
Additional question about the Moment then together with MinimServer; does it still make sense to enable Export Mode?
kimhav:About the BEOARTISTS folder which is setup in Twonky through the Photo Album which I realise that MinimServer doesn't support and would needed to be implemented which I doubt would happen. Then again, is this something that has been raised as a possible workaround with Simon Nash as plugin/addon to MinimServer?
The Artist pictures are added to Minimserver and are shown in the Beoliving app.
For the moment they will not be show in the Moment, because they are not in the right Moment Expert-Mode directory. I never figured it out ........ nor tested it. But you made me curious if it is possible.
Carolpa:The Artist pictures are added to Minimserver and are shown in the Beoliving app. For the moment they will not be show in the Moment, because they are not in the right Moment Export-Mode directory. I never figured it out ........ nor tested it. But you made me curious if it is possible.
For the moment they will not be show in the Moment, because they are not in the right Moment Export-Mode directory. I never figured it out ........ nor tested it. But you made me curious if it is possible.
Only using the Bang & Olufsen android app on my side, but the Khimo BeoLiving looks nice. But, about the Twonky Photo hack won't work since MinimServer doesn't support photo handling. But, if MinimServer would support that the folder, indexArtwork, would be possible to be deployed as beoartists including as dlna media; well then it would work else not.
kimhav:But, if MinimServer would support that the folder, indexArtwork, would be possible to be deployed as beoartists including as dlna media; well then it would work else not.
Minimserver scans and work fine/correct with this directory name. But the Moment doesn't pick up the Artists yet.
The question is: does the Moment use a dedicated directory for the Artist photo's or does it pick up the info from the scanned/indexed DLNA server?
maybe Lyle Clacke can comment: how are the Artist pictures selected in Expert Mode?
Carolpa:The question is: does the Moment use a dedicated directory for the Artist photo's or does it pick up the info from the scanned/indexed DLNA server?
BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1
mbolo01:The Moment relies on a DLNA photo service that Minimserver does not offer, as simple as that.
So NOT simple as that!
see below another picture now of the B&o app (pictures are coming from Minimserver)
Note: these pictures I added myself to Minimserver!
Some additional remarks:
1. I used for a long time another workaround to show the Artist Pictures on the Moment. It works perfectly.
2. In the end, it is not a big issue to me! Maybe even no issue.
3. But still it would be interesting to find out if it could work (maybe it will, maybe it won't).
mbolo01:As a Moment software beta user, i have had many interaction with B&O on this front.
mbolo01:Moment is simply looking a BEOARTISTS folder from the root of the DLNA Photo server and image files inside must exactly match the album artist name metadata in order to use the image in the artist’s tile.
What if there is a way to trick the system in a way that the Moment looks in the right directory and Minimserver scans these picture also.
Maybe simple as that! That's what I'm searching for.
Carolpa:What if there is a way to trick the system in a way that the Moment looks in the right directory and Minimserver scans these picture also.
mbolo01:As a former beta user you should then understand that the Moment does not browse a file system directories but a DLNA Photo server directory of the SAME DLNA server servicing the music. Unless Minimserver introduce a photo service (as suggested in this thread), I don’t really see what else you can trick, particularly on the Moment side.
Unless Minimserver introduce a photo service (as suggested in this thread), I don’t really see what else you can trick, particularly on the Moment side.
"Can't" lies on the graveyard and "Won't" lies next to him.
That is what I'm reading in your posts. Where is your positive attitude to reach, search, solve questions like these.
Maybe we solve it together, maybe not........... but not see NEW opportunities and examen them .............
Carolpa:That is what I'm reading in your posts. Where is your positive attitude to reach, search, solve questions like these.
While I'm not a developer, but one might say that some of the tweaks that Moment customers are looking for shouldn't be that much of an efforts, if the dev team is still around. Another option which is far fetched would be to ask B&O to make either the full software or partial software open source which would allow for tweaks. Of course I can't see this happen, but who knows they've kind of tried a few hardware projects such as the HiFiBerry were they dipped their toes into the sharing and developing something for the community.
About the Moment, is there a Moment 2021 thread and is it worth trying to compile a priorities list of update request to be shared from multiply customers.Who knows, they might cave in (can always wish).
Going back to the MinimServer, it's up and running and doing so fine and I can live without the Artist images which was kind of nice and I just need to use the Bang Olufsen app a bit more which I very rarely use.
Question then again about the Moment Expert Mode; does it make sense to enable this for MinimServer?
Carolpa:
Looks much better with the customized icons compared with the stock icons that Bang Olufsen app shows by default which looks quite boring. So thanks for this showcase of the BnO app.
kimhav:Question then again about the Moment Expert Mode; does it make sense to enable this for MinimServer?
Thanks for confirming with regards to Expert Mode and MinimServer. Twonky constantly updating the playlists quickly killed the Moment so that was the only option to get it to work stable.
And to summarize the all the tweaking that can be done with MinimServer won't affect the Moment unit but will have an impact, for the better, on the BeoLiving and Bang Olufsen app.
The follow-up question is of course what config/settings are you using with MinimServer v2`? Since I'm still exploring the wealth of parameters and tweaks available for MinimServer this is what I'm currently running with:
indexTags = Albumartist, Artist, Date, Genre, All Artists, ComposerserverOptions = indexArtwork=folder
Added the Albumartist to have the index sort by Albumartist instead of Artist tag and then of course the indexArtwork tag which we already discussed in the thread.
Minimserver is running with these settings:
alphaGroup = All=100contentDir = {F:\Photo}{F:\Stereo}displayName = BeoServerindexTags = AlbumArtist, All Artists, #Audioformat:Format, #AudioChannels:#Channels, #AudioQuality:QualityitemTags = Tracknumber.logLevel = infomergeFolderAlbums = trueserverOptions = indexArtwork=all, artworkFolder=BEOARTISTSstream.options = convOut=-af volume=+3dBstream.transcode = dsf:wav24;96, flac(88):wav24;96, wav(88):wav24;96, wav(>96):wav24;96, flac(>96):wav24;96tagFormat = Artist.displayFormat={$Artist}, Title.displayFormat={$Tracknumber^^. ^$Title^^}, AlbumArtist.displayFormat={$AlbumArtist}tagOptions = items.sortTags={#AudioChannels, Album, tracknumber}
This is the setting used for the Minimserver set for the Moment and Beosound 5 Encore (of course also accessable to other NL devices)
Another second Minimserver is running with "wider" specs (surround files for example, etc.)
See the differences:
1. indexTags: All Artists -> if only Albumartist is in the tag, it will also show for "Artist"
2. indexArtwork: set to all -> in a dedicated folder the artwork is searched, if not present the artwork from an album is shown
3. tagFormat: Title.displayFormat -> this way the server will show the <tracknumber>. <title>. It uses the tracknummer and title stored in the tags
Example: "01. Shine on you crazy diamond" is shown by the player/renderer
@Mbolo01
mbolo01:That said, I fully support your effort.
1. using Twonky
2. Set directory /Photo with all Artists pictures. Within is a subdirectory named "BEOARTISTS".
3. this /Photo directory is set-up as Photo's only
4. Name of picture file is identical to Name in music file tag
5. Twonky set as DLNA server on Moment; Moment set to Expert mode; rebuild the db.
No pictures shown? What did I forget since the last use of the Expert mode?
kimhav:The follow-up question is of course what config/settings are you using with MinimServer v2
see for example "Abbey Road"
There are two entries; one are all stereo albums, the other are multichannel versions of Abbey road.
Selecting the Stereo versions of Abbey Road; one can select the original USB version of 2009, the new 24bit-96kHz of 2018 and the Sessions CD's of the Extension Edition. If you give the command play in this screen, all the three choices will be played in succession.
but you can choose one of the three; below the 24bit-96kHz version is chosen.
Carolpa:2. Set directory /Photo with all Artists pictures. Within is a subdirectory named "BEOARTISTS".
mbolo01:If I’m reading you well, you misplaced the pictures. Artists pictures must be moved in the BEOARTISTS directory BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1
Carolpa:The /photo is the picture directory which is scanned by Twonky. Within this directory you find the BEOARTISTS directory. This directory contains the Artists pictures.
mbolo01: Carolpa:The /photo is the picture directory which is scanned by Twonky. Within this directory you find the BEOARTISTS directory. This directory contains the Artists pictures. Then I don't see any issue in your settings. I just did a reset on mine to confirm these settings and I can see the pictures properly associated to the artist tiles (I have a test library with a few albums). If your library is large, from memory, it can take some time after a rebuild to display the picture. I trust you have done all the possible controls, but here are the ones I'm thinking about: Control that you can properly see the artists pictures exposed by Twonky from the Twonky UI or any other DLNA photo renderer Look for any error message in the Moment notifications Make sure picture name perfectly match artist name as exposed by the Moment, names are case sensitive Check that there is no trailing blank character in BEOARTISTS folder name (depending on the O/S used)
If your library is large, from memory, it can take some time after a rebuild to display the picture.
I trust you have done all the possible controls, but here are the ones I'm thinking about: Control that you can properly see the artists pictures exposed by Twonky from the Twonky UI or any other DLNA photo renderer Look for any error message in the Moment notifications Make sure picture name perfectly match artist name as exposed by the Moment, names are case sensitive Check that there is no trailing blank character in BEOARTISTS folder name (depending on the O/S used)
I will recheck my settings. I will make a test environnement with a few artists and albums.
Note: Minimserver uses/scans the same pictures and compares it with the same music tags. There all works fine.
addition: what file type and file size do you use?
Carolpa:addition: what file type and file size do you use?
JPEG files and size is usually small, average 200KB.
Image size is a very good point, didn't think about that. I usually resize my album covers to be under 1MB as I think I remember having issues with the Moment when they were larger, so I would not be surprised that a large artist image fails to be processed by the Moment, I'll give a try.
EDIT: I added an album of a new artist with image size = 3.2 MB, there was no issue adding it
mbolo01: Carolpa:addition: what file type and file size do you use? JPEG files and size is usually small, average 200KB. Image size is a very good point, didn't think about that. I usually resize my album covers to be under 1MB as I think I remember having issues with the Moment when they were larger, so I would not be surprised that a large artist image fails to be processed by the Moment, I'll give a try. EDIT: I added an album of a new artist with image size = 3.2 MB, there was no issue adding it
my Moment keeps refusing to display the Artists,....grrr
Do you use the latest Twonky Server? At "mediareceivers" how are the settings for your Moment? thx in advance
note: duration of approval of thiz post 1 week.
Carolpa:my Moment keeps refusing to display the Artists,....grrr
I really don't understand why .... Mystery of the Moment.
I'm using Twonky Server 8.5.2 on a QNAP NAS.
The media receiver setting for the Moment is automatic and set to Generic Media Receiver / Advanced Media Navigation