QQ Media Player NUC Buyers Club - Discussion

[HomerJAU]

Here’s something to think about:

Kodi can act as a Server. Other devices on your home network can access disc drives connected to your Kodi NUC.

So with your NUC left on, you can have PCs or Macs access your disc(s) connected to the NUC. NUCs are power efficient so cheaper to leave your NUC running than your PC. They start from cold way faster than a PC too, so switching them on/off as required there’s little delay to use.

 

[HomerJAU]

So if I did a mash-up of both of your examples, I could end up with something like this:

That will work but you don’t need to duplicate the files (if understand you correctly). Just the folder structure for Kodi’s ideal categories.

So if you had an Upmix album you are sharing, just one copy in P2P, if it’s not shared, one copy in (non) P2P

 

[humprof]

That will work but you don’t need to duplicate the files (if understand correctly). Just the folder structure for Kodi’s ideal categories.

So if you had an Upmix album you are sharing, just one copy in P2P, if it’s not shared, one copy in (non) P2P

Right--I wouldn't need to duplicate albums/files. (But for my own organizational/classification/housekeeping purposes, I would still replicate the subfolder structures under both P2P and non-P2P.)

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Right--I wouldn't need to duplicate albums/files. (But for my own organizational/classification/housekeeping purposes, I would still replicate the subfolder structures under both P2P and non-P2P.)

I believe that would work just fine

 

[humprof]

I believe that would work just fine

Actually, after talking this through with another friend, I finally realized that it doesn't even need to be that complicated. That is: no need to put the shared folder inside of a parent folder if Kodi can have multiple "sources." I can just do

\Music (Shared)
\Music (Not Shared)

and create identical subfolder structures within each of those parent folders. Then I can tell Kodi to look in both sources but restrict file-sharing to the first.

And now I'll quit hogging bandwidth and yield the floor! Thanks again, both of you.

 

[HomerJAU]

Actually, after talking this through with another friend, I finally realized that it doesn't even need to be that complicated. That is: no need to put the shared folder inside of a parent folder if Kodi can have multiple "sources." I can just do

\Music (Shared)
\Music (Not Shared)

and create identical subfolder structures within each of those parent folders. Then I can tell Kodi to look in both sources but restrict file-sharing to the first.

And now I'll quit hogging bandwidth and yield the floor! Thanks again, both of you.

Excellent (that’s what I posted earlier )

 

[humprof]

Excellent (that’s what I posted earlier )

Yep. I just had to make a few circles around the driveway before I was ready to shift into second gear.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

The thing to remember with kodi is it dosent matter where the music files are or the names of those files. It works from tags.

 

[Davey-J]

Ive been a Kodi user for maybe 5 years or so now. Ive tried other media players during that time. But kodi is the only one that stuck.

Im kinda doing this with you. The kodi version im currently using is probably 2 years old. Ya know if it aint broken....

How many of you are 1st time kodi users?

I have used Kodi briefly about 5 years for TV/movies but never as a media player. After reading the tutorial on setting up media, I clearly have some work to do over the next couple of weeks getting my library in shape (tagging, re-structuring, etc) to take full advantage of Kodi and all the visuals.

I am a Mac user without access to a windows machine. I want to use the features of MMH as well, so I need to figure out how to do this best (purchase windows laptop, use Parallels, etc?). I’m going to be busy over the next few weeks I see…

Dave

 

[beerking]

Ive been a Kodi user for maybe 5 years or so now. Ive tried other media players during that time. But kodi is the only one that stuck.

Im kinda doing this with you. The kodi version im currently using is probably 2 years old. Ya know if it aint broken....

How many of you are 1st time kodi users?

First time for me .
Been using Jriver but only on a casual basis.

Looking forward to the helping hand

 

[barfle]

Well, before my NAS took a shit, I usually streamed from it through my Oppo 105, although I could also stream from it with my Marantz pre-pro and my Roku Ultra.

The music files, usually MP3s or FLACs were in a music folder, with subfolders for each letter of the alphabet and one for numbers. Inside those were folders for each band (pop and jazz) or composer (classical) Inside those were folders for each album. I was pretty good about getting the metadata tags in, although I also have a pretty big folder of stuff that needed tagging.

FWIW, that “music” folder is simply a copy of the music folder on my PC. So even though the NAS might be lost (still working in it), I’m OK with all the bits and bytes.

It looks like this NUC project will use Kodi to find a music file from the LAN (Ethernet) and play it through HDMI with added graphics.

I didn’t expect this opportunity to fiddle with streaming playback. But I’ll be clueless once it shows up.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

It looks like this NUC project will use Kodi to find a music file from the LAN (Ethernet) and play it through HDMI with added graphics.

Thats correct. It will also stream music from any internal or external drive that is connected to the NUC. It can also use all of them as sources simultaniously.

 

[humprof]

Here's another quandary: ISOs. A not-insignificant portion of my current digital music library consists of ISOs (I'm in the habit of just playing these in foobar or VLC or, in the case of BDA ISOs, via my Oppo, in the form of BDMV folders). I understand that the contents of ISOs can't be "tagged" in the way that individual files can. So...I guess this means I'm in for a lot of ripping--which is to say, a lot more work (and a lot more disc space eaten up).

I know how to rip--and have the requisite software for ripping--all the various types of physical media & ISOs; it's just that I don't enjoy doing it. (And don't relish the prospect of filling up so many more gigabytes.)

I don't suppose MMH has a tool that quickly/easily/simultaneously rips and tags an ISO, or at least a DVD ISO?

 

[HomerJAU]

If you already have ISO files the most time consuming task is already done. Reading data off BDs is slow, nearly an hour for a full disc with video.

With ISOs on my maxed out PC with multiple NVME SSD drive an ISO gets converted to MKV at over 1200MB/s (A bd disc reader maxed out at maybe 12MB/s.

Step 1: Use MakeMKV to convert the ISO (disc) title you want to and select only the audio streams you want (just Atmos for example) and create MKA file (Matroska Audio file). Do not select the video stream.

Step 2: use MMH 9 ‘Chapter Editor’ to tag the MKA with ‘Get Tags from MusicBrainz’ command, this gets the chapter titles, and other tags including MusicBrainz IDs.

Create a folder in your on Kodi storage drive (your USB drive by the sounds), under the category sub-folder ‘Atmos’ in this example, name the folder something like ‘Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (Atmos) (BDA) (2024 Rhino)’

Copy the MKA file into that, add the folder.jpg cover art.

Rinse and Repeat.

When the NUC arrives, insert your drive into NUC, follow some simple instructions to set the ‘Music Source’ in Scan the source and Kodi reads the tags and process them, adds every file to its database and UI.

You play one, or two or all and admire what you’ve just achieved. Enjoy the music and think. Why the f*** didn’t I do this years ago!

 

[HomerJAU]

Then you ask: How can I use my phone or tablet as a really nice hand held remote with graphical UI to play music? You download a free app connect to your NUC via WiFi and whip yourself for not doing this years ago

Android Phone/tablet
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.xbmc.kore&hl=en_AU

Apple iPhone or iPad:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/official-kodi-remote/id520480364

As I said elsewhere on QQ, when I first did this I said to my self, if someone at my local HiFi store demoed this to me 2 years ago and said I could buy this this media remote with a 10” screen showing all be album covers and I could play any song for $3000, I would have plonked down the cash immediately.

Now it’s yours for free using an existing smart phone or tablet and a $150 media player and a $100 usb drive.

 

[jefe1]

I am such a newbie I have ISOs but have not done any serious ripping. I am trying to jump start myself into the modern age by getting this NUC.
I will have to boot up my desktop for ripping that has been sitting idle in favor of my tablet and phone

 

[humprof]

If you already have ISO files the most time consuming task is already done. Reading data off BDs is slow, nearly an hour for a full disc with video.

With ISOs on my maxed out PC with multiple NVME SSD drive an ISO gets converted to MKV at over 1200MB/s (A bd disc reader maxed out at maybe 12MB/s.

Step 1: Use MakeMKV to convert the ISO (disc) title you want to and select only the audio streams you want (just Atmos for example) and create MKA file (Matroska Audio file). Do not select the video stream.

Step 2: use MMH 9 ‘Chapter Editor’ to tag the MKA with ‘Get Tags from MusicBrainz’ command, this gets the chapter titles, and other tags including MusicBrainz IDs.

Create a folder in your on Kodi storage drive (your USB drive by the sounds), under the category sub-folder ‘Atmos’ in this example, name the folder something like ‘Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (Atmos) (BDA) (2024 Rhino)’

Copy the MKA file into that, add the folder.jpg cover art.

Rinse and Repeat.

When the NUC arrives, insert your drive into NUC, follow some simple instructions to set the ‘Music Source’ in Scan the source and Kodi reads the tags and process them, adds every file to its database and UI.

You play one, or two or all and admire what you’ve just achieved. Enjoy the music and think. Why the f*** didn’t I do this years ago!

Appreciate all of that, especially the MMH part of the equation. And I know, intellectually anyway, that with MakeMKV it's normally a relatively easy process to rip whichever streams I want from BD and DVD. (SACDs and SACD ISOs are a little more complicated, though I also have the knowledge and the technology to do that, and just need to buckle down and get on with it.)

But just know, in case it wasn't already clear, that I Fear Change and am a bloody-minded contrarian, so I will kick and scream and kvetch all the way. I actually like the experience of a disc (or, with ISO, an ersatz disc): seeing the splash screen, navigating the menus, (very) occasionally getting a cool animation, etc. But I guess this way I will have my cake and eat it too.

 

[HomerJAU]

Kodi supports ISOs but can’t get tags and metadata into its Music database (library). You’d need to use its file browser to navigate (like VLC) with limited Kodi UI (like the Windows File Explorer)

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Appreciate all of that, especially the MMH part of the equation. And I know, intellectually anyway, that with MakeMKV it's normally a relatively easy process to rip whichever streams I want from BD and DVD. (SACDs and SACD ISOs are a little more complicated, though I also have the knowledge and the technology to do that, and just need to buckle down and get on with it.)

But just know, in case it wasn't already clear, that I Fear Change and am a bloody-minded contrarian, so I will kick and scream and kvetch all the way. I actually like the experience of a disc (or, with ISO, an ersatz disc): seeing the splash screen, navigating the menus, (very) occasionally getting a cool animation, etc. But I guess this way I will have my cake and eat it too.

my advise would be, try to start small.

 

[HomerJAU]

I am such a newbie I have ISOs but have not done any serious ripping. I am trying to jump start myself into the modern age by getting this NUC.

It’s very easy once you’ve done a couple, I generally play music and read QQ posts, while my PC is ripping a disc, it’s not a painful experience but does take time. But take your time, just do a few at a time, start with your favourites and work through your collection. It doesn’t have to be complete, you do it at your leisure.