Computer Audio - which software player?

iTunes along with WMP are both works of the devil and neither are necessary using squeexebox.


I just rip to a separate HD on the PC, point squeezeserver at it, and it just works.
 
Basil said:
iTunes along with WMP are both works of the devil and neither are necessary using squeexebox.
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Squeezserver isn't necessary to use iTunes either, and I agree about WMP.

Itunes will play from a squeeze library, and squeeze will play from an iTunes library.

If you already have a computer, iTunes is a free download, and requires no costly external box like a squeeze-box. It sounds better too. :)

JC.
 
jcbrum said:
iTunes provides full tagging facilities for wavs, but the original file format, which doesn't provide for tags is not altered. Instead tags are kept in a separate database.

If you export a wav from iTunes, the tags are not carried over, which is correct file handling.

JC.
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Exceptionally risky strategy. The iTunes db can, and regularly does corrupt. At which point it's bye bye tags. If you insist on storing your files uncompressed, at least use AIFF, and tag them properly.
 
jcbrum said:
.

If you already have a computer, iTunes is a free download, and requires no costly external box like a squeeze-box. It sounds better too. :)

JC.
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iTunes is a software player that passes the PCM to a souncard, or external DAC. It doesn't have a "sound".

The whole point of SB is to provide a thin client that dissociates the computer from the listening room, providing multi-room capability if needed.
 
browellm, I can't agree with you on iTunes regular corruption. I suggest you may have defective equipment, but might not realise it.

My comment re: iTunes sound quality is that it sounds better than a squeezebox on squeeze server.

I have a MacBookPro driving AVI speakers through an Airport Express, but also use an RME Fireface, and Windows PC's. They are all better than a sqeezebox imo.

I have no wish to disassociate my computers from the listening room since they are all silent anyway, and my preferred method is a wireless laptop running iTunes.

Multi room capability is a standard feature of iTunes running on OS X. Any machine on a network will share any library on any machine with any or multiple rooms.

I agree Aiff is preferable to Wav, but atm i use alac which seems the best deal.

JC.
 
jcbrum said:
browellm, I can't agree with you on iTunes regular corruption. I suggest you may have defective equipment, but might not realise it.
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I have read comments in various places that iTunes misbehaves in Windows when the database gets too big. There is no problem in OSX.

My comment re: iTunes sound quality is that it sounds better than a squeezebox on squeezeserver
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Why? Both are capable of delivering a bit perfect stream to the DAC.
 
Labarum said:
I have read comments in various places that iTunes misbehaves in Windows when the database gets too big. There is no problem in OSX.
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As far as I'm concerned Windows itself is one big defect :) that's why they send you updates, seemingly about twice every day :)



Labarum said:
Why? Both are capable of delivering a bit perfect stream to the DAC.
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You're probably right Brian, I haven't tried the newer squeezebox stuff, but I didn't like the earlier kit.

JC.
 
I use 'Potamus' on Ubuntu as music player and 'goobox', preset to FLAC level 8, for ripping CDs. Don't see the point in all this tagging and indexing of files when a simple '/Music/Genre/Artist/Album' folder structure is more flexible.
 
a simple '/Music/Genre/Artist/Album' folder structure is more flexible.
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Exactly, a much easier solution than either itunes or WMP. I can find whatever I want in seconds via winamp on the PC or squeezebox on the main hi-fi.


As far as I'm concerned Windows itself is one big defect:) that's why they send you updates, seemingly about twice every day :)
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Not in my 10 years experience using it, updates one a month.
 
sq225917 said:
3 years of itunes never had a database loss.
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Good, I'm pleased for you. But at least aknowledge that it does happen to others, if that's your entire tagging schema, you're screwed.

jcbrum, I'm sure you don't mean to be patronising but it sure comes across like that. I'll leave you to enjoy your setup.
 
browellm said:
jcbrum, I'm sure you don't mean to be patronising but it sure comes across like that.
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Sorry you feel that way browellm, but your experience with iTunes is not the norm as others have testified.

I am sure it's not any defect in iTunes, but may be a Windows issue, or an equipment problem.

I am merely pointing out that on this point you may be mistaken, and that your earlier comment might be an uninformed erroneous conclusion.

No offence is intended. :)

JC.
 
Well i've been using itunes for years on both pc and mac (last year mac only) and i've never had any corruption problems.....
 
Browellm, It is puzzling that you should suffer database corruption with iTunes.

I have seen situations where the library is comprised of tunes which are stored in several different locations on various hard disks.

Then, if a disk is replaced, or the directory structure is modified, the library link to the file location gets broken, and iTunes can no longer find the file.

The remedy is to consolidate the library regularly, and especially before making changes. This process copies any remote files to the main library, so it then doesn't matter if they get moved or lost. There is a menu option to consolidate.

This can be avoided altogether by the preference setting which says always copy a tune to the library. Then you don't get broken links, because iTunes never needs to play remote location files.

JC.
 
jcbrum said:
Browellm, It is puzzling that you should suffer database corruption with iTunes.

I have seen situations where the library is comprised of tunes which are stored in several different locations on various hard disks.

Then, if a disk is replaced, or the directory structure is modified, the library link to the file location gets broken, and iTunes can no longer find the file.

The remedy is to consolidate the library regularly, and especially before making changes. This process copies any remote files to the main library, so it then doesn't matter if they get moved or lost. There is a menu option to consolidate.

This can be avoided altogether by the preference setting which says always copy a tune to the library. Then you don't get broken links, because iTunes never needs to play remote location files.

JC.
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Thanks for the tip. I don't use itunes, but I'm sure those that do will find it useful.

One small point, I don't think a sample size of two (not had a problem) is statistically significant. If you cast your net a little wider with a quick search, there *are* examples of iTunes database corruption, on both platforms. It's a database! If you can show me a database guaranteed never to corrupt, let's go and pocket the cash and we'll live happily ever after!
 
As much as I dislike agreeing with JC! I haven't heard of any major problems with Itunes, customers have had problems when libraries haven't been consolidated etc.
Keith.
 

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