Problem with multi-disc albums on Naim app

[guildenstern]

I have posted this issue on the Naim forum, but all replies so far are telling me that the problem is in MinimServer. I don't think that's the case, but as I would very much like to solve the problem, here goes:

I'm using Naim app on iPad to control a UnitiQute2. Streaming from Synolgy NAS running MinimServer. I've ripped hundreds of CDs, some using dbPoweramp, some via iTunes. The Naim app is doing strange things for multi-disc sets. Generally, all is well for Disc 1 but for Discs 2, 3, etc., the Naim app lists each track as a separate, discrete album, showing a separate album cover image for each track.

In another system, I use an Auralic Aries streamer, and Auralic's iPad app (called Lightning DS), which also runs via MinimServer, does NOT have the same problem. It lists each album in a multi-disc set with tracks in order. Also, two other apps, Linn Kinsky and Linn Kazoo, both referencing MinimServer, are correctly displaying tracks for albums in multi-album sets.

So, can anyone help me figure out how to make the Naim app properly organize and display multi-disc sets? Thank you.

Attached:
(1) Screen shot from Naim app.
(2) Screen shot from Auralic Lightning DS app, same album.
(3) MinimServer Properties: Server
(4) MinimServer Properties: Advanced
(5) MinimServer Properties: System

                   

[NickD]

(28-06-2015 17:24)guildenstern Wrote:  I have posted this issue on the Naim forum, but all replies so far are telling me that the problem is in MinimServer. I don't think that's the case, but as I would very much like to solve the problem, here goes:

I'm using Naim app on iPad to control a UnitiQute2. Streaming from Synolgy NAS running MinimServer. I've ripped hundreds of CDs, some using dbPoweramp, some via iTunes. The Naim app is doing strange things for multi-disc sets. Generally, all is well for Disc 1 but for Discs 2, 3, etc., the Naim app lists each track as a separate, discrete album, showing a separate album cover image for each track.

In another system, I use an Auralic Aries streamer, and Auralic's iPad app (called Lightning DS), which also runs via MinimServer, does NOT have the same problem. It lists each album in a multi-disc set with tracks in order. Also, two other apps, Linn Kinsky and Linn Kazoo, both referencing MinimServer, are correctly displaying tracks for albums in multi-album sets.

So, can anyone help me figure out how to make the Naim app properly organize and display multi-disc sets? Thank you.

Attached:
(1) Screen shot from Naim app.
(2) Screen shot from Auralic Lightning DS app, same album.
(3) MinimServer Properties: Server
(4) MinimServer Properties: Advanced
(5) MinimServer Properties: System

Not a Naim user so can't be sure but if you put disc 1 etc in parentheses (disc 1) in the album title that should do it i think

[DavidHB]

@guildenstern

I don't use the Naim app (or an iPad) either, but plenty of other MinimServer users do, and I would have thought that, if there were a fundamental problem with the interaction between the two, we would know about it on this forum by now (unless the problem is very new). What makes the issue more surprising is that Lightning DS does not show the wrong information. Or maybe it does.

The first thing to check (unless you have done so already) is that your album tagging follows the guidelines in the Multi-disc albums section of this User Guide page. If these are followed, I would be surprised to see 'Disc n' appear as part of the Album title in the Control Point (as it does in Lightning). What happens on my control points is that, where '(Disc n)' or '[Disc n]' is appended to the Album name, it does nor appear in the title, but lower down the list, as a separate 'container' or sub-title. Also, the contents of all the discs appear in the same list, which does not appear to be the case with the Lightning screenshot you showed.

I suggest that you use a single multi-disc album as a test case. Following the User Guide carefully (and remembering that it is all too easy to get this kind of thing wrong - we all do it), check the album naming in MP3Tag, or another tagging program. As well as the requirements for multi-disc albums, you need to check that the ALBUM and ALBUMARTIST tags for each track allow it to be merged into the album, as described in the Albums and Folders section of this page of the User Guide. Also check that the DISCNUMBER tags are correct for each track. If you make changes, do a MinimServer rescan (and check the log for errors). Then see if the display changes in your control points. If there is still an issue, come back and give details of the album tags you have used in a further post.

David

[simoncn]

You have given the discs of this album different ALBUM tags, so MinimServer is
treating them as different albums.

The album "Piano Sonatas Disc 3" has the DISCNUMBER tag set to the value 3 for all its tracks. MinimServer is therefore formatting it as a multidisc album containing 3 discs with discs 1 and 2 missing. This causes MinimServer to use the layout you are seeing with the Naim app (with tiled view enabled).

I think Lightning DS uses its own layout rather than the layout provided by MinimServer. This might explain why the layout looks correct.

Can you post a screenshot for how the same album looks in Kinsky? Kinsky uses the layout provided by MinimServer.

Edit: See below for more information about the cause of the problem. I don't need to see a Kinsky screenshot.

[simoncn]

On further investigation, it turns out the problem is related to the way Naim app chooses the presentation layout for this album. MinimServer is sending the album contents to the control point as a UPnP album container with an additional subfolder "Disc 3". The "Disc 3" subfolder is causing the Naim app to use a folder-like layout for the album contents instead of an album-like layout. Kinsky, Kazoo and Lightning DS are using an album-like layout.

[stampie]

I've also experienced this behaviour, and could never work out why. Thanks for the explanation.

NB: If I use the Synology media server with the same files the problem does not occur, but I don't know what it does differently.

My todo list has a task to retag my multidisc albums (as most were ripped prior to using minimserver), but I haven't got round to it yet!

Nick

[simoncn]

(11-07-2015 21:14)stampie Wrote:  NB: If I use the Synology media server with the same files the problem does not occur, but I don't know what it does differently.

I presume the Synology media server doesn't send the additional subfolder "Disc n" that causes the Naim app to use a folder-like layout.

It might be possible to make MinimServer suppress this subfolder if the album contains one disc only. I will investigate this for a future release of MinimServer.