pfarrell Wrote: > > Some of this realy depends on your usage model. > The SlimDevices SqueezeBox hardware has an embedded microcontroller > that can decode PCM, FLAC and MP3 in the fly, real time. > > So if you are streaming to one of them, you are done. > > If you are thinking of using a software player, > such as SoftSqueeze, or even WinAmp, then > the driving CPU usage is on the client machine. > The use would be to stream audio to the background audio system, and secondarily to use the same files to feed the house computers for audio and to use them to convert MP3 tracks for players. They have reasonable horsepower. The server would be used to store the master in a format compatible with SqueezeBox, and to use the local machines to do whatever conversion is necessary. > > I'm not sure I'm following you. Once the tunes are in the server > and the SlimServer is up and running, you use either the remote > control > for your SqueezeBox or an HTML window in your favorite browser. > I run Firefox on an ancient Toshiba laptop running Knoppix as > my control, I rarely touch the SqueezeBox remote control. > Understood. The idea is to store a lossless, high-resolution format on the server, and use that to feed the SqueezeBox or a local computer for playback. > > Store bought CDs have to be 'ripped' into a computer data file > and placed on your server's disk. There are zillions of ripping > utilities. > Yes, I know this. But none of the disks I have ever purchased have issues with DRM, so simple format conversions are easy. > > The Apple iTunes store sells music in a DRM, and Microsoft has its > own DRM. The playing of DRM's music is problematic, as most of > the DRMs are aimed at controlling playback onto a specific > hardware, and your Sun box is not in the top 100 list > of clients. > Ah. This I didn't know, though on retrospect it does not surprise me. And no, an old Sun on FreeBSD will not make the top of anyone's must-support list.
I'll look at the FAQ, but is it not possible for a computer that downloads the DRM-encoded whatever to convert it to a useable form? If not, then I will have to look into DRM more closely, and the various services for downloading music. If conversion of DRM-encoded music to a form that works for SqueezeBox requires a proprietary OS for the right conversion software, then some thought on my part on what is important is necessary. > > Most of the 'kids' listen to MP3s, a lot of them may > never have bought a music CD. MP3 files are not too > hard to convert on the fly even using software. > And they are absolute junk as far as audio quality goes. > > IDE drives are insanely cheap. $100 will buy new 250GB or larger > disks. > Sure. You can easily get a new 160GB drive for $20 or $30 if you are careful. -- DrJ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DrJ's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4920 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22854 _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
