[undertow]

Hi guys,

I purchased a cheaper small system with a Yamaha Universal Blu Ray player which also can read the FLAC files perfectly like an Oppo, but you have to have the TV on where Oppo has a newer Media Player App that will allow you to control the USB drive hooked up via an App used on a tablet.

Yamaha also has a Media App that will do this, however not on the machine I just got. It will only act as a Remote control unit for standard functions, and not display file information on the tablet. This program has full functionality with other Yamaha units. But not this one for some reason.

Seen here :

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/blu-ray_players_and_dvd_players/blu-ray-players/bd-a1040_w/?mode=model

I don't want to add a full blown PC. I would like to keep the system with a single USB drive hooked directly to the Yamaha Blu Ray player and its DAC not having to turn the TV on to see the files on the FLAC drive, and if possible use an App 3rd party maybe that would allow you to see the FLAC drive, and make file selections from the tablet using the available DLNA capability over the network that the Yamaha can take advantage of.

I was thinking JRiver might be a good choice, but looks like you need to first install it on a full function PC not a stand alone hard drive, and then the JRiver App would work on a tablet. Again not looking to run all fully loaded PC with operating system to just access these FLAC files connected to a blu ray player.

Thanks

[Phil A]

Does this help?  http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DLNA

[Phil A]

I have not tried it but it was a similar procedure to get the Gizmo App up and running on a cheapo Android Tablet (I use an iPad mini for the main system) with a music server in a secondary system.  I have a hard drive attached to a couple of Oppo players (the old BDP-93 is on the same cheapo Android Tablet as they don't have an IOS version) and I have an old iPhone 5 with the App for the BDP-103.  It's on my agenda to try it just backed-up with various audio and non-audio things at the moment and the systems I would try them on are my 3rd and 4th systems and not critical.

[Vincent Kars]

DLNA is a standard for streaming AV
Just like TCP/IP it is not tied to any operating system
A DLNA application on any common platform acting as a control point will do assuming the Yamaha supports this.

JRiver is DLNA compliant but you need to install it on a computer hooked to the network.
Looks like you don’t want this

UPnPlay does a nice job but it is Android
http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Android/MediaPlayers/UpnPlay.htm

Apple don’t support DLNA, they want you to use their own proprietary standard (Airplay)
Your best bet is to look for an app for the iPad supporting DLNA
In this case you use the iPad as a control point

[undertow]

Bottom line the Jriver program would run about $50 bucks. This program may or may not do what I need it to anyway. Unfortunately I don't need the Jriver for anything other than the Media App part of it in order to access the FLAC drive on the network and give an interface to work with.

The biggest issue is do you need to Load Jriver on the PC (in turn on the solid state drive) with an operating system to now transfer all the FLAC files into so that Jriver will even work with these files remotely?

Or will the Jriver APP alone on the Apple allow somehow Access to these FLAC files showing up from the Yamaha being connected to the network allowing the Jriver system to organize and play them via the media APP function via DNLA?

I really just want a decent APP to interface the already existing generic FLAC file system on a quiet Solid State Hard drive which is only hooked to the Network via the Yamaha player which has DLNA recognition. Unless we know this I don't know if it will work at all.

[Phil A]

Here's some Apps from a quick search - http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/dlna-streaming

[undertow]

Very few blu ray universal format machines will even handle FLAC files which is another consideration,  and seeing the Yamaha with their app it seemed a perfect option vs. another Oppo accept of course now getting a hold of the machine to only find out you get limited use of that app with this specific model!

And even on Yamaha's site they don't give much in the way that it will not work like this, as a matter of fact its a bit deceiving that it will work with the full music access library from the screen shots, but then they have a disclaimer "some functions may not work with all units" which of course is the only important function on their blu ray players that won't work!

[undertow]

Phil A,

Maybe that :

PlugPlayer DLNA/UPnP servers

APP would work, but note it says "Server" which I am sure if I was running an operating system on the FLAC drive this might work, but I don't know it will recognize just RAW Flac Files on a hard drive.

For 4.99 I guess I could download and try it, but then again now it is being pointed out that the Apple might not even really work with a DLNA setup directly anyway as this app says something about another iDevice..Which I don't need to access I need to Access a Yamaha interface so no clue if this will work like that or not. 

[Phil A]

I just did a quick search and there are likely other Apps.  I picked up an $80 Android Tablet at Sam's Club (and I think it is that price until tomorrow).  I did it for 2 reasons.  The Android App for the Oppo BDP-93 since my master bedroom feeds the outdoor speakers and there is a hard drive attached to the Oppo.  I also picked it up for Gizmo for JRiver in a secondary system.  JRemote is in the trial phase for Android and that's what I use on the iPad mini in the main system.  So far, I like JRemote more than Gizmo so I may get that for the Android Tablet.

[JRace]

he Yamaha (unlike the Oppo) will not act as a media renderer, therefore you cannot push music to it from another source.
You will only be able to control it directly, and unless Yamaha updates the firmware you will need the Tv on.

Either eus it with the TV on, or
use the OPPO, or
buy a Media player
-starting at $50 for a Rasberry PI and SD card.

[undertow]

JRace,

I think I agree and realized this might not work so easily as I thought. I figured by now most of these guys especially since Oppo pushed the envelope over the last couple years would have worked this out to work similar. Guess not.

[Vincent Kars]

Had a quick look at the manual
It is pretty frugal on DLNA. All it says is can play the contents of other DLNA compliant devices.

As you are talking dBpoweramp you are on Win.

Try Explorer > network environment.
Do you see the Yamaha?
Start WMP and enable media sharing or install the trial version of JRiver and enable the media network.
Can you see the Yamaha and if you do does it broadcast the content of the SSD?

Install any of the apps Phil mentioned. Do you see the content of the SSD?

[undertow]

Vincent Kars,

Yes DB Poweramp is used originally to rip the music to FLAC, but it is then transferred onto a Solid State hard Drive which is directly plugged USB into the player be it Oppo or Yamaha, it is not running windows on the network at anytime while using the main audio system nor does this system see the original ripping computer even on the network to access those music files, they are directly ripped to an outboard drive in FLAC period off that drive which is no longer even plugged into the PC with an operating system.

I get what your asking, but that's the point I don't know how that would work with the DLNA seeing the Yamaha, and then even seeing the FLAC drive behind it without a windows OS or something also loaded onto that drive. I don't know, that's why I don't want to go too deep and looking for some answers here to see how far this has to go.

[Vincent Kars]

Looks like you are struggling to understand how DLNA works.

DLNA enabled device exchange their capabilities hence they know what each other can do.

You have a Yamaha and it is DLNA compliant
You have a SSD connected to the Yamaha
You want to use an iPad to control it so browse the audio on the SSD and select something to play.

In case of DLNA there are 4 type of devices
1. DMS -- Digital Media Server -- where the media resides
2. DMP -- Digital Media Player -- where the media is played
3. DMR -- Digital Media Renderer -- where media is played, but with ability to respond to a controller
4. DMC -- Digital Media Controller -- software control of the renderer -- functions as a remote

The whole question is, is the Yamaha a DMS
Will it broadcast the content of the SSD to a control point?
Is it also a renderer so can it be controlled by a DMC?

Pretty technical hence I suggested simply to try it.
Can any media player e.g. WMP or JRiver browse the SSD and play a track on the Yamaha.
If this is the case you know this works.
If it work you might have a look at any App as suggested by Phil to use the iPad as a DMC

Clear?

[undertow]

Vincent Kars,

Understood.

I think where some of the confusion which I tried to avoid occurred here that the JRiver program states it can also work as a network DLNA media interface of some sort which is a separate APP from the main JRiver program.

[vonnie123]

JRiver Media Center 20 is a great program and will accomplish what you want.  Your Yamaha AVR will work as a renderer, and is DLNA compliant.  Your music files can play direct from the PC.  I have an older Yamaha Aventage RX-A3010 and it works like a champ (also serves as a renderer for my Bryston BDP-1).  I use the JRemote app (which is now part of JRiver) on my iOS ipad to control the tracks.  you can select Generic DLNA, upnp, or 24 bit hi-res decoding under the Media Network options.  I have the master license (PC, Mac, Linux) and just picked up their Id unit which is digital music player compatible with HDMI and USB.  awesome device.

What you may find frustrating is learning the JRiver program. The forum and wikis are the source of guidance for how to use the program, since they don't employ an owners manual.  what you're trying to do is pretty straightforward, and shouldn't be too difficult to get going.

JRemote is available at the AppStore.  runs about $10.

[undertow]

Vonnie123,

I do understand what you are saying, however this would require a pc running which is what
I am trying to avoid.

[JRace]

Unless somehow JR will run on the SSD drive with no PC when plugged into the Yamaha I am going to assume the JR remote control on the iPad will not find it via DLNA or any other method for that matter.

That will not work.

JRiver needs to run on a computer.

Couple of things...
1) which AVR?
Does it have a USB port that you can plug the drive into?

2) Not sure if you fully understand the hardware/software stuff (no offence intended), but no APP will do what you want.
All the APP can do is facilitate the transfer of bits from point A to Point B. So don't look for software to do what you need, you first need the hardware, the an app that works with that hardware.

What you are needing is a Media Server (Point A) to send the audio to your AVR or DAC (point B).

It does not look like your BD player will function this way.

Instead you need some device that reads the bits off the drive and sends it out to the AVR or DAC.
The app will only control that device.

Unless you really need disc playback I would return the Yammy as it is not what you need.

[undertow]

JRace,

The Yamaha works NO problem with a USB drive connected and has its own Music Server File system that works just fine,  BUT you have to connect it to the TV monitor right now as the Yamaha Media APP does not work for this unit to give you the "2 way interface" such as the newer OPPO app does with their Blu Ray player to get all FLAC files for selection. Funny thing is that the Yamaha APP does work with a couple of their AV receivers, and with their Network player for 1900.00 bucks.

I figured if there is another way to access basic FLAC files SEEN on a DLNA network their might be another option or APP out there to allow access to the files to feed back the graphic interface to the Ipad bypassing the Yamaha program as long as the hard drive was seen on the network thru the Yamaha via DLNA.

Thanks

[vonnie123]

Vonnie123,

I do understand what you are saying, however this would require a pc running which is what
I am trying to avoid.

I would have no issue paying for JR 20 loading it to the hard drive setting up the library and then paying the 10 for the remote app on top of it to control the JR database via DLNA thru the Yamaha, but I am going to assume without a C: drive installation of JR on a fully functioning PC  with operating system and processor my application of hooking up the SSD drive direct to the Yamaha with NO PC is dead in the water.

Unless somehow JR will run on the SSD drive with no PC when plugged into the Yamaha I am going to assume the JR remote control on the iPad will not find it via DLNA or any other method for that matter.

sorry, assumed you were running a PC.  you might be able to get there with an JRiver Id with an external USBdrive attached.  control would be accomplished via JRemote on the ipad and an access key assigned with the unit.  the Id would connect to your AVR via HDMI.  you need a monitor to set up the Id but not to run it for music - just setup and updates.   You should float the question in the JRiver forum.  admin Baseball Bob would confirm function without the PC.  I added a link regarding the Id.


http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=89084.0