Roon

JohnR · « **on:** 14 Jul 2015, 01:53 pm »

Could anyone explain what it does exactly?

(I give up on the other thread)

Phil A · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 01:59 pm »

https://roonlabs.com/
https://roonlabs.com/support.html
https://community.roonlabs.com/t/what-are-the-minimum-hardware-requirements/103
This is one of the answers from them on the Computer Audiophile
“@ Always.Learning...

The second part of your question... how could you use Roon to learn more about your collection?

That is really the magic.

When you install the server app, you tell it all the places where your storage lives. Then we pull down a TON of data about it, from a number of different sources.

We then weave all that data into an interface that is like a web magazine about your collection... album and track credits, artist and performer bios, composers, related musicians, influencing musicians, photos... with hyperlinks to let you surf it all.

So all the relationships and contexts that used to make albums and album art an essential part of music are presented not just as eye candy, but as something you can actually interact with and explore.

To top it off, this data is all dynamic. So when a new album comes out by an artist, the bios and artist info update. If there are guest players on the album, then the info about those guest players changes too. Very cool stuff.

It is the result of 15 years of work and is pretty awesome.

We can't wait for everyone to start using it.”

JohnR · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:01 pm »

Uhm. So... what does it do, exactly?

Phil A · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:02 pm »

Still reading through the many pages on the Computer Audiophile

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:03 pm »

"Roon is a complete music player software for library metadata location/identification, browsing, playback control, and streaming. Roon software allows for multiple simultaneous users, control points, and endpoints (multi-room, multi-control, multi-user playback)"

Phil A · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:06 pm »

“One thing I can say about endpoints is that we won't be supporting UPNP players. There are a lot of core features to Roon software that just aren't compatible with how UPNP needs to work.

That would rule out the Squeezebox, unfortunately.

But our protocol for discovery, communication, and streaming will be available for third party manufacturers to implement so their endpoints appear as Zones in Roon software, in the way that Airplay zones appear automatically in iTunes (but much better!).

I can't speak AT ALL for the actual possibility of it being achieved, but I am always at amazed what the squeezebox community continues to get out of those devices now that it is all open.

Maybe there is someone out there who could implement the protocol for squeezebox. Maybe there isn't.

I'd be happy to hear from someone and talk about possibilities. I can be pm'ed.”

“It might be good to start at the beginning and describe how things work...

When you first set up Roon software, you tell the system all the places where you keep music... various folders on the local machine, maybe a nas, maybe other computers in the house... and from then on, it will watch those folders for any audio files that might come into them.

Then Roon identifies all the files and starts gathering data about them... reviews, bios, credits (track and album level), lyrics, composers, related artists, collaborators, influences, labels, release dates... and then goes farther to identify artists and performers within the albums and gets information about them as well.

But this information isn't just static eye candy that you just read...

Roon generates links out of all this data and builds a surfable, searchable digital magazine out of your collection.

So, to give an example of how you might interact with it...

Say you are listening to "Kind of Blue."

You tap on the credits for "So What" and think "I don't know enough about Bill Evans."

You search for Bill Evans.

Now you are taken to a page that has a bio, all his own albums, albums he played on, people that influenced him, people he influenced... a lot of new paths from Bill Evans

You see all his main albums, all his appearances, albums he played with Miles Davis, albums he played with Stan Getz, collections on which he appears... a lot of music.

So you tap one of his albums, say "Alone".

You start playing the first track, and think "Why does this song feel so familiar? Who is the composer?"

You tap on James Van Heusen and find all the great songs he's written, tap on "Come Fly With Me" and end up at "Sinatra at the Sands".

So, depending on the type of music you listen to, I think you can imagine any number ways this can constantly be taking you down new paths in your collection.

And it only gets better when you step outside your private collection into the collection of a subscription service.”

JohnR · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:10 pm »

Lemme just post the following response to the post two up:

So it's a player that can get stuff off the network. Like JRiver.

And also... somehow able to integrate my DLNA (?) sources/sinks mo' better. That wouldn't be a bad thing... Is it really just a fancy DLNA controller? It would certainly be nice if that could be sorted out.

?

Phil A · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:17 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 14 Jul 2015, 02:10 pm

Lemme just post the following response to the post two up:

So it's a player that can get stuff off the network. Like JRiver.

And also... somehow able to integrate my DLNA (?) sources/sinks mo' better. That wouldn't be a bad thing... Is it really just a fancy DLNA controller? It would certainly be nice if that could be sorted out.

?

It would seem possible (but not guaranteed) per this:

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/hardware-end-points-supported-by-roon/89/26

"PnP/DLNA devices are some of the most difficult to support, but there are millions of them out there so we'd like to support as many as possible. We won't have any form of UPnP support done for next month's launch, but we will be working on it soon after.

I plan to write up something more detailed about UPnP soon. Stay tuned.
"

Phil A · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:18 pm »

Here's some info on how they leverage metadata

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/leveraging-existing-metadata-in-audio-files/210

Phil A · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:19 pm »

“Hello All,

I just wanted to say hello from the team at Roon.

We are excited to be telling everyone at last about something that has been years in the works, and we will have lot more to say as we lock down our launch features in the next week or so.

In the mean time, keep asking questions so we know what everyone wants to see from us.

To answer some of the questions here...

We will be making software that users download and install.
It will be a single piece of software that acts as either a server or a remote.
As a server it will run on Mac and PC.
As a remote it will run on Mac, PC, IOS and Android.

All of the awesome things that we are known for- from simple and utlra-reliable auto-discovery and inter-device communications to the metadata-driven user interface- will be part of what we do.

We are in beta on an incredibly solid platform, testing for coverage across platforms, resolutions, and form-factors, and confidently intend to launch in the second quarter.

Thanks,

- Rob Darling, Roon Labs”

JohnR · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:24 pm »

Phil... an answer to the question would be great.

WGH · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:26 pm »

Tone Audio has the best explanation so far:

http://www.tonepublications.com/spotlight/roon-is-here-worlds-first-in-depth-review/

JohnR · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:28 pm »

Still, nobody can answer the simple question [Edit: in their own words]: what does it do?

Phil A · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:34 pm »

The Tone Audio article is pretty good:

"Roon finds everything on your network, regardless of configuration, but a NAS offers the tidiest solution. With almost 11,000 CD’s in my collection, an 8TB QNAP NAS makes for reasonably priced, bulletproof storage. Invest the minimal cost difference between enterprise grade hard drives and standard grade drives to ensure long-term durability. Those needing further protection can easily add an equivalent external USB drive somewhere on the network as a mirror.
Once installed, Roon looks for primary and secondary storage, as well as creating a folder keeping an eye on for new music added to the collection. Where Sooloos took advantage of Exact Audio Copy to rip files in a proprietary FLAC format, Roon is much more diplomatic. While not offering their own ripping software, leaving you to use your favorite method of digitizing your music, Roon does access all the major audio files, and works with all resolutions, up to and including 24bit/384khz. Those with iTunes and other low-resolution libraries will enjoy a seamless integration with the rest of their digital audio files. Roon principal Enno Vandermeer is quick to point out that with so many CDs still in circulation, many music lovers have a favorite way to rip, so they’ve left it to the end user; rip with the software of your choice, move the resulting files to storage and let Roon do the rest. It works equally well with high-resolution files too, and while DSD is not yet supported, Roon’s Rob Darling makes it clear that DSD support will be available “very, very soon.”
All of Roon’s principals make it a point to joke about how as software guys, they would like to just keep geeking out on the program, but a line has been drawn in the sand, and version 1.0 is incredibly robust. Eight years of refining Sooloos didn’t hurt their game one bit. Knowing how committed this team is to providing the best musical experience again suggests that a subscription model is the way to go, so Roon can continue to innovate and you are always experiencing the best they have to offer"

WGH · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:36 pm »

A cheaper version of Sooloos that will play albums and cross reference every artist on that album with every other album they ever played on.

"Listening to the classic trio of Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia’s Friday Night in San Francisco, it’s merely a finger tap away from seeing all the other bands these guys played with...

"Starting with Al DiMeola, I was able to take a lap through most of his discography, added a few albums I didn’t have to my collection via Tidal and notice his birthday is coming up, recalling he was on Stomu Yamashita’s Complete Go Sessions, which led to another hour with Klaus Schulze, ending up with some early Santana."

mcgsxr · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:43 pm »

So it is library software that helps with browsing a large collection?

Sounds like a good idea these days, but it will be interesting to see how well they penetrate the market.

I am quite happy using LMS and iPeng for the meagre $ I have invested.

Phil A · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:49 pm »

Quote from: mcgsxr on 14 Jul 2015, 02:43 pm

So it is library software that helps with browsing a large collection?

Sounds like a good idea these days, but it will be interesting to see how well they penetrate the market.

I am quite happy using LMS and iPeng for the meagre $ I have invested.

And apparently gives you access to lots of additional data. I have JRiver and based on reading things would like to see if a new version will allow the integration of the HQ Player, which I have yet to try. I have lots of files, about 40,000 songs give or take. I have music servers (not networked at the moment) in a couple of rooms. Will be probably at some point making the jump to NAS sometime in the near future so it may be of interest to me.

JohnR · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:52 pm »

Phil, see I still don't get it, if I have a NAS already then why do I need another piece of software to "find" what's on it? JRiver already knows, as does any other player that I point to the NAS.

Phil A · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:53 pm »

In a way, it reminds me of a more detailed version of the old Music Plasma website (don't think it exists any longer) but with tons more detail. You would type in an artist. An example would C, S, N & Y and it would create a chart that would give you related artists such as Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Hollies, etc.

JohnR · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Jul 2015, 02:58 pm »

I have to say, I could see a story that says "this finds all the music on your network" and in the fine print says "you will not be bothered for even one second if I find more than one of the same thing" and in the even finer print it says "If you ask for a file to be played on a certain device, I will play it in the best possible format from the best possible source and will not bug you for one second about it".

Is that what it does?