Re: Network MP3 and then Multi-room Distribution

["keyvan2r" <keyvan@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "rb_ziggy" <richard.boreham@n...>=20
wrote:
> Had a look at the MediaCentre/MusicLobby and it does look very=20
good=20
> indeed. It may well be the sort of thing I'm looking for so I'll=20
have=20
> a bit more of a look.=20=20
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> Very much agree that selecting source tracks etc is pretty crucial.
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> One area that I'm not very clear on is the volume / source=20
switching=20
> side.  So please excuse a few (perhaps obvious) questions:
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> - Which components are providing the pre-amplification and (thus)=20
> volume control-  the sound-cards or the systemline?=20

The sound card(s) are providing the pre-amp functions and low-level=20
outputs. On most of the multi-channel (6ch) soundcards will let you=20
configure the extra (rear L+R and C+sub)will let you config as extra=20
zones. I prefer multi-sound cards. You can even set the DSP=20
(equalisers, etc) independantly for each zone / card.
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> - How do you control the volume, is this also done via MusicLobby?

Yes MusicLobby client handles volume, mute, transport and all=20
library, playlist navigation stuff very well indeed. it also does=20
the zone switching. One thing to bear in mind: when you switch zones=20
on one musiclobby client, the display on ALL clients change to show=20
that zone. This is a MC9 limitation and will be fixed soon. You can=20
also design your own mainlobby scene / buttons which sends commands=20
to MC9 via MLserver to do everything, and I mean almost everything,=20
IR, Homeseer, Serial, to name but a few. I have a scene with=20
playlist buttons that give me "one-touch" load-n-play playlists -
a=20
feature everyone really likes. Once you get used to it, you will=20
feel all other music management systems are old and klunky. Then you=20
have the whole PDA /WiFi control thing which is really cool. All=20
with glorious cover art and slick buttons.
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> - What soundcards do you use/recommend? (guess I'd be looking for=20
> a 'hi-fi' quality stereo card, all the latest/best/most costly=20
seem=20
> to be 5.1 type).
I am very happy with the M-Audio Revolution 7.1 (around =A365) very=20
good analog and digital output. I also have an old Audigy and a=20
SBLive, they all work fine. I would go for good cards with good SNR=20
(96 db or better). It also depends if you ripped your cd's to a=20
lower bit-rate say 320Kbps MP3 or lower, then you will not notice=20
the quality and resolution of the expensive cards. I keep my stuff=20
on lossless(ape) format. It's all subjective, but most modern cards=20
over =A335 should be fine.
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> - Do you have other sources in your setup (really thinking about=20
> radio here). If so how do you switch source in a zone etc?

Yes I do have 2 other sources feeding the systemline. One is a DAB=20
tuner with presets which I switch by commands from any MainLobby=20
scene on a touch panel, and the other is 2 x sony 400 CD changers=20
(again being controled by MusicLobby and velocity server). The=20
source switching is done on wall keypads wired back (cat5) to the=20
systemline.=20
But there many ways to handle source switching without systemline.=20
For example you could use an IR transmiter or RS232 controlled=20
matrix box at node 0 and have MLserver select your sources via=20
command buttons on your MusicLobby/MainLobby scenes.
I use a slinke for my IR, but you could use anything including=20
Girder for which there is MLserver plugin. Many IR products are=20
supported either directly or via girder.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask more if you need to

Keyvan R
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>