leighnjo

My reply is posted as the second post on this thread. please excuse not replying properly.

We followed the instuctions including the "Automatically Add To iTunes" but the rips didn't appear in the iTunes directory. We are ripping on a System 7 PC and running iTunes on the PC. The instuctions don't really cover iTunes on a PC. Regardless, we tried lots of different iTunes files as the location for the rip but either got nothing or got incomplete rips with lots of problems (only 2 of 14 songs appeared and they were missing tracks so the sound was distorted). I am sure we are missing a step or steps when selecting a target file for the AIFF rips. As I indicated before, the archival rips using FLAC to an external USB drive are perfect. Any help would be appreciated. Your CA Academy write up on CD ripping strategy and methodology is excellent.

I am using the ripping methodology set forth in the CA Academy. I am ripping using dBpoweramp with an archive copy to an external drive in FLAC and a second rip in AIFF to be played through i-tunes. I am on a PC running System 7. The rips are ok but I can't figure out how to save the AIFF copy in the i-tunes directory or to give i-tunes access to the file. It is important that I rip to i-tunes because I am using AppleTv to play the ripped cd's through my main system. I am very happy with the use of the AppleTv and i-tunes when I ripped directly in i-tunes but I want to take advantage of the one step rip of the archival copy to an external drive and make use of some of the other features in dBpoweramp. I would appreciate any thoughts as to how to make this work.

attorney specializing in bankrutpcy

I guess the site was relatively new when I first signed up. It has grown but still seems to be one of the more civil and helpful sites around. I was thinking of a budget for a DAC to be up to $500. I have seen good things printed about the Cambridge DAC Magic and the Bereford TC 75 which are in the price range.

I have been monitoring this site for some time but have not posted in a long time. I have developed a conceptual design for a music server and am soliciting advise. My objective is to improve the visual interface with the CD collection which is currently in a Sony 300 disc player. The problem with the present setup is you have to refer to a notebook of the CD covers to determine which CD to play. So, in addition to improving the quality of the playback, a major objective is the visual interface and ease in preparing playlists, etc. Although I am pro-mac, my recent experience is with PC's because of software considerations, particularly at work. I have an older Dell machine attached to the internet using a Apple Extreme router. I plan to attach a large external HD to the router and limit storage to i-tunes ripped with AIFF lossless. The router is hardwired using ethernet powerline and it works great with a print server, 2 HD Tivo's and a blueray OPPO. I have it wired to attach an AppleTv in the AV rack running to a Denon AVR 4306. I am considering adding a DAC between the AppleTV and the Denon using Optical Digital (the USB out on the AppleTv isn't usable unless hacked and not sure it would output audio even if hacked). I considered a Mac Mini but I am influence by the HDMI interface and the ease of use in favor of the AppleTv. I am not one who wants to spend time tinkering with a computer which seems to be required to get a Mac Min to work in a home theater environment. I plan to control the i-tunes using an RTI remote system which can learn the AppleTV remote codes. I am favorably impressed with the AppleTv visual interface which, I understand, is a modified version of the Frontrow from the Mac Mini. The AppleTv will be in a home theater environment not a listening room. The objective is to improve the audio experience by being able to make music selections on the TV screen with improvement of the audio quality not being the most important consideration.

My AV system includes a video processor which feeds audio directly to the Denon AVR 4306 via HDMI. I like the AppleTv over the Mac Mini because the ATV has an HDMI out. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts as to a system that uses the HDMI to stream audio to the AV receivor using ATV?

Front Row is the interface I was referring to. Sorry about the mistatement. I am leaning toward the Front Row which I can control using my RTI RF remote. I am pretty well settled on the Mac Mini using I-tunes. My only open area is the external DAC. They aren't cheap and I wonder if we will be able to appreciate the difference between an external DAC and the DAC in the Denon. All my equipment is in a rack and I am also concerned about positioning the Mac Mini so we can add CD's after the initial load. If the ripped CD's are on an separate USB or firewire HDD could I simply detach the data drive and update it by ripping the CD on the main computer, which would be an I-Mac located in another room? Also, what type of connection would be used to connect the audio from the Mac Mini to the Denon and/or an external DAC?

Chris ask to info on the Harmony remote control of the front end program on a mac mini, A discussion of the use of the Harmony on a Mac is discussed here: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/11/tuaw-review-remote-and-the-mac/ Although the discussion is regarding programming the Harmony remote from a mac computer, it does discuss controlling a mac computer including Front End. Please note the follow up remarks, some think the Harmony is "quicky" regarding front end and others praise its ability to fully control the computer doing away with the need for a keyboard and mouse!

A review of the manual shows a PURE DIRECT mode which is described as "...all circuits and processes not required for the selected input source...as well as digital circuitry and other unnecessary circuits for analog audio inputs are automatically turned off so the music signals can be reproduced with high sound quality." I intend to go to the 4306 board and inquire as to whether this mode will do the trick. My univeral remote should be able to be programmed to go to PURE DIRECT when music from the mac mini is played. The 4306 has an analog imput for "CD player" as well as a digital optical and coaxial imput.

The Apple mac mini can be controlled by a Harmony remote. If you go to the Harmony website I think you can still do a test ride. Under media center pc's you can go to apple and specify a mac mini. Also, a google search will reveal other programs that can be loaded to control the mini. Yes, I like the Front end interface which is pretty much the same as the AppleTv. In fact, the AppleTv remote (very simple) may work with the mini. I have ruled out the McIntosh units based on price.

I have done some research on the Opus. The only thing I do not like is the visual interface. I really like being able to view the collection on the TV with either the Vista, Mac Frontend or AppleTv interface. The Opus doesn't appear to have any TV imputs only viewing on the Opus built in screen. I don't understand your comment on a remote with a web browser. I have a RF programmable remote, an RTI2+ which can be programmed to control the Mac Mini Front End program which is almost the same interface as the AppleTV. That should give me all the control I need over the Front End program running i-tunes. Alternatively, can't the Mac Mini run a wireless internet using Internet Explorer which could then be controlled througn the univeral remote or the apple remote?

I recently came across this board and am very impressed with all the expertise. I am not technically advanced. I have a system that is mainly oriented to TV and DVD but would like to improve the music section by going to a computer based system to get rid of some 300 CD's now housed on a Sony CDP-CX350, On the audio side, I have a Denon AVR-4306 bi-amped to Paradigm Studio 20's and a OM-100 sub. The question is between a Mac system or one of the Vista based systems. I have read here about the Mac-mini and have done some research on Windows based systems the Windows based systems being sold all seem to be more AV oriented than music. I don't need all the video capabilities that are included in the Windows based systems (they're already in place) and I am very confortable with Mac having used them in the past. My questions are as follows: 1. Is an external DAC really needed to create a decent system? Will it improve the sound significantly over simply going direct from the computer to the Denon. 2. The AppleTV seems to be an alternative to use streaming the music wirelessly from a base computer or a NAS. I really like the interface from AppeTV as being able to visually see the collection, cover art, etc is important. 3. What other alternatives should I consider? You can tell by the questions that I am a beginner as far a good quality audio is concerned. Any help would be appreciated.