OS X and Naim Qute - MIME types

[beethamd]

Hi - When I try to play m4a files, the Naim is saying it's an invalid file format, but playing off USB is fine. Any ideas? Issue is only when streaming via Minimserver.

Firmware version is 3.13.0. I'm using a Mac Mini with Mountain Lion.

Thanks!

[simoncn]

(06-10-2012 13:09)beethamd Wrote:  Hi - When I try to play m4a files, the Naim is saying it's an invalid file format, but playing off USB is fine. Any ideas? Issue is only when streaming via Minimserver.

Firmware version is 3.13.0. I'm using a Mac Mini with Mountain Lion.

Thanks!

Do you see the problem with m4a files containing ALAC audio data, or with m4a files containing AAC audio data, or both of these?

Does it work if you play the files using UPnP streaming from other music servers? If so, which other servers have you tried?

[beethamd]

It's just with AACs, although I have no ALACs to try. Have tried Twonky which works OK, but no others.

[simoncn]

(06-10-2012 17:20)beethamd Wrote:  It's just with AACs, although I have no ALACs to try. Have tried Twonky which works OK, but no others.

This is a bit puzzling. Both MinimServer and Twonky stream .m4a AAC files using the MIME type 'audio/mp4', which is the standard MIME type for these files (see this document).

The only difference I can see is that Twonky includes additional DLNA parameters in the protocolInfo attribute and MinimServer doesn't include these parameters.

I used Kinsky on Windows to view this information for a test .m4a AAC file.

Twonky:
http-get:*:audio/mp4:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO_320;DLNA.ORG_OP=01;DLNA.ORG_FLAGS=0170000000000000000000​0000000000

MinimServer:
http-get:*:audio/mp4:*

It's possible that the Naim Qute requires these additional DLNA parameters, though I'd be surprised if this is the cause of the problem.

Do you have any other files (e.g., FLAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF) that you could try? This would show whether the problem is specific to .m4a AAC files or whether it applies to all files streamed by MinimServer.

[beethamd]

Hi - Other mp3s play OK. I tried playing an ALAC, with the same issue - it's complaining that it's not a supported format. Interestingly, Twonky wont play ALACs either.

One thing I did notice yesterday...

I played the first track of an m4a encoded album and the first track of the album played OK, but then when I tried track two it failed. When I went back to track one that also now failed. I was able to replicate this again today.

So - in summary, for me - Twonky plays m4a and mp3 ok but not ALAC. Minimserver plays mp3 only - no m4a or ALAC.

[simoncn]

(07-10-2012 12:42)beethamd Wrote:  I played the first track of an m4a encoded album and the first track of the album played OK, but then when I tried track two it failed. When I went back to track one that also now failed. I was able to replicate this again today.

This could be an important clue. Some questions:

1) Did this happen while using MinimServer as the server?
2) Did the control point send a multi-track playlist to the Naim Qute, or were you selecting individual tracks to play from the control point?
3) Which control point are you using?

[beethamd]

Yes - while using MinimServer. I was just using the remote on the UnitiQute to navigate to the first track of that album.

I have since tried to access the same songs on the album using the BubbleUPnP (on my mobile) as the access point - same result. It's OK with Twonky but not using MinimServer.