Quick primer on using a NAS as a media server? (mostly audio)

Hi all,

I'm currently looking into getting my first NAS.

In my research, I've seen that some have features as a media server, and some include transcoding (in-advance and/or dynamic on-demand).

I wasn't originally thinking about this when I started to look into getting a NAS, but I do have a bunch of MP3 and FLAC files, in a folder hierarchy like: /artist/album/mp3-or-flac-files

My clients are mostly Apple, Mac and iOS -- and I really mostly use the Mac, which has been kind of annoying when it comes to FLAC (I ripped them when I was using a PC) -- so the concept of somehow dynamically transcoding them for playback over my LAN does have some appeal.

Anyhow, can anybody give me a vague idea of what leading NAS (I'm mostly considering Synology or QNAP) actually does as a media server? eg, do you use some sort of app and/or web interface to browse and play folders of audio files on the NAS?

I guess I'm looking for some way of visualizing how I might actually use that, seems potentially handy, but it's very hazy.

Thanks kindly, -Scott

On QNAP, you can install MinimServer to transcode/convert your FLAC files..

http://minimserver.com/install-qnap.html

And as an alternative, you can use xACT to convert FLAC to something else - this runs on your Mac...

http://xact.scottcbrown.org/

sfx2000 said:

On QNAP, you can install MinimServer to transcode/convert your FLAC files..

http://minimserver.com/install-qnap.html

Click to expand...

Thanks -- and what do you use to browse/play?

For example, right I play audio on my Mac (mostly Rdio, which is like Spotify), and then use AirFoil to send it to a few sets of speakers.

Would I use some app to play my audio files as served by MinimServer on the NAS, which would then play on my Mac, which would then be routed by AirFoil to my speakers?

Thanks for any insight! -Scott

turnstyle said:

Thanks -- and what do you use to browse/play?

Click to expand...

I use my QNAP as a file store for my library, and stream from iTunes... simpler that way...

sfx2000 said:

I use my QNAP as a file store for my library, and stream from iTunes... simpler that way...

Click to expand...

Does MinimServer play a role in that, or are you simply opening the folder with media files on the NAS from within iTunes?

turnstyle said:

Does MinimServer play a role in that, or are you simply opening the folder with media files on the NAS from within iTunes?

Click to expand...

my iTunes lib is on the NAS...

Synology, QNAP, ASUS and others support iTunes and DLNA music distrib.

Thanks -- can you possibly give me an example of how I might use that?

Right now, I play audio on my Mac, and use AirFoil to send it to AirPlay devices -- is there some "better" way I could use a media server feature of the NAS?

turnstyle said:

Hi all,

I'm currently looking into getting my first NAS.

In my research, I've seen that some have features as a media server, and some include transcoding (in-advance and/or dynamic on-demand).

I guess I'm looking for some way of visualizing how I might actually use that, seems potentially handy, but it's very hazy.

Thanks kindly, -Scott

Click to expand...

I went through this a few years ago. I'll share what I discovered, rather than tell you that product X is best.

I decided to digitize my cd collection, having no experience with this prior. Since you already have digitized files, then you just need to know what I found out along the way to making the project successful.

1) Not all DLNA media players or media servers support all common media file formats. MP3 appears to be universal for audio files. Others are hit or miss, or at least were three years ago. You need to make sure that any potential candidate for media server can handle the files you want it to serve. If the server can handle it, can your client? My Sony DVD player has DLNA capabilities and it feeds music and video into the home audio system and main TV. It can't handle a wide variety of file types but it does what I need it to do. Serviio can transcode and stream video and music, both from files and off the internet, from a central server to a generic DLNA client, although the list of free video available is shrinking.

2) DLNA Media serving is pretty common. Now I'm using Twonky on my QNAP drive. Prior to that I used a USB drive that was plugged into my Asus RTN56U router. It worked great, although it was capable of serving only a limited variety of file types.

3) Transcoding takes power and some video sources take a lot of power, due to, I think, digital rights layers the video must go through prior to getting to your screen. Hulu via Comcast and Starz via Dish are almost not worth using because they're so choppy on some of my devices. Simple transcoding is becoming fairly common, I think, but still requires a lot of processing power relative to simple streaming.

4) Most plug in media devices don't support DLNA unless you jump through a lot of hoops, such as installing Plex Server and Plex client. Free and easy DLNA cuts into the profits of the services the streaming media device sells.

My recommendations are to list the types of media you want to stream and are likely to ever stream and then make sure your servers and players can support them. Disregard all advice that says X is best.

While I can't recommend a good NAS, there is at least one private cloud solution that should suit your needs just as well, while providing a simple and straightforward user experience. I think you should consider it as an alternative.