Best Computer Audio Player Software?
Jan 4, 2017 at 5:09 AM Post #121 of 376
  I, too, had problems with EAC.  Some tracks just would not rip.  Switched to dBPowerAmp, which solved all the problems I was having.


hi
maybe the cd is copy protected ,the new version of eac doesn't rip these tracks , you should use an older version
why tracks doesn't rip ,just for curiosity
thanks
 
Jan 4, 2017 at 9:24 PM Post #123 of 376
This was a couple of years ago with a few older discs. Not damaged that I could see and not protected.
 
Jan 19, 2017 at 12:50 AM Post #124 of 376
Reposting my question from another mostly Mac based thread as I'm moving to Windows from OSX.
 
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Can someone get me on track?
 
I've been stuck with Apple way too long and am moving some stuff back to Windows. I don't know how a few things would work in Windows these days though, it's been 15 years.
 
I'll be using Roon to play back music on a Windows machine as I love the way I discover music with it in my library and combined with Tidal.
But I think it's not the best library manager and I also need to connect an MP3 player and get music on that as well.
The MP3 player's sole purpose would be to connect it via USB in my car.
What I use now is an iPod classic 160GB (already too small), iTunes for managing the library and Roon for playback.
 
So my questions are:
- what HUGE capacity MP3 player with USB would you recommend? Not concerned about HQ sound, it's just for in the car.
- how do I get music onto it? Via USB, sure but do I need an application for that? Or can I do it straight from Windows?
- what application would be a good library manager to organise and edit metadata like iTunes when used in the classic view mode? Could that application also transfer music to an MP3 player?
- is it possible to do all this via Roon? I mean managing a library (in an easy way, not album by album) and transfering to an MP3 player?
 
Any Windows tips on media management and media applications in general would be very welcome. I'm also looking to play back my movie library mkv files via network on the TV. Needs to be able to playback 4k and Atmos as well though.
 
Jan 19, 2017 at 5:31 AM Post #125 of 376
I can answer some of your questions AppleheadMay.
 
On my Windows laptop, I use JRiver Media Centre to rip my CDs and do all my tagging and library management. It is a very flexible tool for library management - It can do almost anything you want in this regard, although not necessarily that intuitively. You may need to do some googling to work out the best way of doing some more complex library management.
 
I used to use JRMC for playback as well, but moved to HQ Player because it sounded better. But HQP has non-existant library management etc, so I just import the whole music folder created by JRMC into HQP's own library. A simple one click action. I keep maintaining the original library with JRMC and occasionally import the changes into HQP - very simple one click.
 
I've recently replaced HQP with Roon 1.2 because latter is even better SQ and a vastly better UI. Roon simply finds JRMC's music folder and there's an option for the original folder to be left untouched. When Roon 1.3 comes out shortly, I'll need to check how good its new tagging/library management is. Then decide whether to ditch JRMC altogether, or still keep it to maintain my master library.
 
JRMC has an export to various-file-lypes feature. Such as export FLAC to mp3 or wma etc with various quality options. You can export in bulk to say an mp3 folder. Then import that to a portable player or usb drive. I've done this to convert my main FLAC files to my old iPod Touch via iPod's own USB cable, and to a usb stick that plugs into my car's player. With the ipod, there was some faffing around to get the files into iTunes, but it can be done.
 
Edit: My comments re sound quality particularly relate to HQP's and Roon's support of server endpoint kind of magic boxes like microRendu and SOtM-SMS-200, which are appropriate for high end systems. If you're simply connecting your laptop etc direct to a typical decent DAC, then the SQ differences between these music apps are much more subtle.  
 
Jan 19, 2017 at 7:42 AM Post #126 of 376
  - how do I get music onto it? Via USB, sure but do I need an application for that? Or can I do it straight from Windows?
- what application would be a good library manager to organise and edit metadata like iTunes when used in the classic view mode? Could that application also transfer music to an MP3 player?

Most media players do have an option to synchronise/convert to a portable.
You make a playlist as the capacity of your portable is in general to small to hold the entire library and tell what format you want e.g. high bit rate MP3.
I use MusicBee, an nice piece of freeware with a excellent interface.
An example can be found on my website: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Players/MusicBee/MusicBee_Sync.htm
 
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:07 PM Post #127 of 376
  Reposting my question from another mostly Mac based thread as I'm moving to Windows from OSX.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
So my questions are:
- what HUGE capacity MP3 player with USB would you recommend? Not concerned about HQ sound, it's just for in the car.
- how do I get music onto it? Via USB, sure but do I need an application for that? Or can I do it straight from Windows?
- what application would be a good library manager to organise and edit metadata like iTunes when used in the classic view mode? Could that application also transfer music to an MP3 player?
- is it possible to do all this via Roon? I mean managing a library (in an easy way, not album by album) and transfering to an MP3 player?
 

You could mod an iPod with a SD/mSD/CF card... its possible to go 256, 512, or 1tb... Or get a Fiio X1 and max out the storage
 
Jan 19, 2017 at 7:31 PM Post #129 of 376
  I can answer some of your questions AppleheadMay.
 
On my Windows laptop, I use JRiver Media Centre to rip my CDs and do all my tagging and library management. It is a very flexible tool for library management - It can do almost anything you want in this regard, although not necessarily that intuitively. You may need to do some googling to work out the best way of doing some more complex library management.
 
I used to use JRMC for playback as well, but moved to HQ Player because it sounded better. But HQP has non-existant library management etc, so I just import the whole music folder created by JRMC into HQP's own library. A simple one click action. I keep maintaining the original library with JRMC and occasionally import the changes into HQP - very simple one click.
 
I've recently replaced HQP with Roon 1.2 because latter is even better SQ and a vastly better UI. Roon simply finds JRMC's music folder and there's an option for the original folder to be left untouched. When Roon 1.3 comes out shortly, I'll need to check how good its new tagging/library management is. Then decide whether to ditch JRMC altogether, or still keep it to maintain my master library.
 
JRMC has an export to various-file-lypes feature. Such as export FLAC to mp3 or wma etc with various quality options. You can export in bulk to say an mp3 folder. Then import that to a portable player or usb drive. I've done this to convert my main FLAC files to my old iPod Touch via iPod's own USB cable, and to a usb stick that plugs into my car's player. With the ipod, there was some faffing around to get the files into iTunes, but it can be done.
 
Edit: My comments re sound quality particularly relate to HQP's and Roon's support of server endpoint kind of magic boxes like microRendu and SOtM-SMS-200, which are appropriate for high end systems. If you're simply connecting your laptop etc direct to a typical decent DAC, then the SQ differences between these music apps are much more subtle.  

 
Thanks very much for your tips and recommendations!
Roon will be my player, I purchased the expensive lifetime license. :)
I was more or less thinking of Jriver as well for management and because it has other media capabilities as well. Just looks complicated after 15 years of Mac but I'm sure I'm going to find my way after over 30 yeasr of computer experience, some of that time professionally as well.
Thanks for helping me on my way with media in my Windows adventure!
Awaiting delivery of my Asus Rog 17" i7 7700 laptop I found at a nice price that I will use for experimenting and trying out stuff as well as portable use of course.
And gathering parts for a high-end desktop I'll assemble and configure myself like I used to do the first 15 or 17 years of my computer life. :)
 
  Most media players do have an option to synchronise/convert to a portable.
You make a playlist as the capacity of your portable is in general to small to hold the entire library and tell what format you want e.g. high bit rate MP3.
I use MusicBee, an nice piece of freeware with a excellent interface.
An example can be found on my website: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Players/MusicBee/MusicBee_Sync.htm

 
Though I'm already a bit biased towards the functionality of Jriver I'll sury download a trial of MusicBee as well.
You're the second person recommending it to me, thank you for the info!
 
  You could mod an iPod with a SD/mSD/CF card... its possible to go 256, 512, or 1tb... Or get a Fiio X1 and max out the storage

 
Nope, if I'm going Windows I'll leave the iPods alone. I'm sure there are other nice MP3 players like the Fiio you mention.
How do you mean max out the storage of the X1? With SD cards? Does the X5 v3 not have the largest total capacity of all the Fiio's?
Don't any of them have internal built-in memory? 
 
  Does it really make a difference what player you use? Honest question here, just getting into listening at my desk. I normally use VLC for my FLAC's

 
Sure does. For audio quality the difference between players is minimal at best to my ears but concerning functionality there is a lot of difference so I think one could best get the software that has most of the features and functionality desired. For me I have some high demands in functionality of the player I will use for library management and I enjoy using Roon as a player.
 
Jan 20, 2017 at 5:46 AM Post #130 of 376
JRiver's tagging and library management system is complicated partly because it's so powerful. And partly because it's just not that intuitive IMO.
For example, you can completely change the whole underlying folder structure and the filenames of your music files into any which way you choose. But you have to really plan out how to do that most efficiently.  
 
But if you're not expecting to do advanced manipulation, you may find that a free/lower cost/simpler app will do enough. As might Roon 1.3
 
Although, JRMC costs MUCH less that Roon to start off with, JR regularly (at least once a year) produces a chargeable upgrade, so the costs do mount up.
However, as I don't use it as my main music app, I'm not particularly tempted by the upgrades, so I'm now at least 4 generations behind, but everything I need still works fine. 
 
PS. I also recently went for Lifetime Roon license. From what I've seen so far, these are real professional guys who are out to win the long game.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleheadMay /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I was more or less thinking of Jriver as well for management and because it has other media capabilities as well. Just looks complicated

 
Jan 20, 2017 at 8:33 AM Post #132 of 376
There have been all sorts of apps mentioned in this thread. so I'm assuming that some will be lower cost than JRMC.
But I started my PC audio journey with JRMC, so have not personally tried any of the others.
 
The exact details of Roon 1.3 tagging/library management  have not been disclosed to my knowledge, other than there will be some. Compared to 1.2 where such management is very limited.
1.3 will also have lots of DSP, including upsampling and parametric EQ. So all in all a very substantial release, that has been "a few weeks away" for some weeks now whilst they're ensuring it's exactly right.  See the Roon community forums (on the Roon website) 
 
Jan 20, 2017 at 9:12 AM Post #133 of 376
 
 
Nope, if I'm going Windows I'll leave the iPods alone. I'm sure there are other nice MP3 players like the Fiio you mention.
How do you mean max out the storage of the X1? With SD cards? Does the X5 v3 not have the largest total capacity of all the Fiio's?
Don't any of them have internal built-in memory? 
 
 
Sure does. For audio quality the difference between players is minimal at best to my ears but concerning functionality there is a lot of difference so I think one could best get the software that has most of the features and functionality desired. For me I have some high demands in functionality of the player I will use for library management and I enjoy using Roon as a player.

 
You can use iPods flashed with Rockbox and play FLAC and MP3 and other formats.... its just like a external drive you copy files to through Windows.... Its a cheap method 
 
I said X1 because I wasnt sure how much you wanted to spend... yes X3 and X5s I believe have more capacity.... basically you can stuff mSD cards into them and swap them out if you need more music... 
 
Jan 22, 2017 at 6:16 AM Post #134 of 376
  There have been all sorts of apps mentioned in this thread. so I'm assuming that some will be lower cost than JRMC.
But I started my PC audio journey with JRMC, so have not personally tried any of the others.
 
The exact details of Roon 1.3 tagging/library management  have not been disclosed to my knowledge, other than there will be some. Compared to 1.2 where such management is very limited.
1.3 will also have lots of DSP, including upsampling and parametric EQ. So all in all a very substantial release, that has been "a few weeks away" for some weeks now whilst they're ensuring it's exactly right.  See the Roon community forums (on the Roon website) 

 
I read up a bit and indeed Jriver seems like a very good option, lots of functionality and deep library management.
Just going to check out the video part still. I'd need mkv compatibility which I'm sure it has but with full surround poaasthrough for the latest standards. I know Plex OSX has a problem with that, not sure if it's like that on Windows as well though.
Found some info on Roon 1.3 but not sure how official it is. Nothing about the library mangement though, except for some will be included.
Thanks for the advice!
 
   
You can use iPods flashed with Rockbox and play FLAC and MP3 and other formats.... its just like a external drive you copy files to through Windows.... Its a cheap method 
 
I said X1 because I wasnt sure how much you wanted to spend... yes X3 and X5s I believe have more capacity.... basically you can stuff mSD cards into them and swap them out if you need more music... 

 
I'm going to leave iPods and modding for what they are but those Fiio's look nice.
I think the biggest one accepted 2 X 256GB cards while the other only up to 2 X 128GB? 
Is there really no internal storage on these?
 

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