It dawned on me yesterday that it seems really daft that we can plug in a USB memory device to the streamers (Nova in my case), but then have to remove the device and take it back to the computer to add more digital media.
Surely it would not be that difficult to make the device available on the LAN so that you could add files from your computer without having to faff with shutting down (maybe not essential but I would) , removing from streamer, taking to computer, plugging in, adding files, ejecting safely, plugging back into streamer and powering it up again.
If I’m missing something and this has been possible all along I’ll have to laugh.
Most Routers, including the ones from providers, nowadays have an USB port that is seen as a network device, so you can read data from any device.
Kind alike putting the USB into the router (better, an external HD with more data if needed) and do what you are looking for: read from any device, write from any device.
A Nas or server as the Core have that purpose. Buy an Innuos mini and you won’t have any hassle. Rip cd or send from PC the files towards the Innuos, without having to move from your chair.
Yes, my router could have a memory stick added which is not a bad suggestion - I think I’d just prefer to be able to transfer from computer to a memory stick/whatever attached to the Nova and let the Nova catalogue and offer me the files to play from local storage.
Trouble is I don’t necessarily want another device/NAS, I’d just like the memory device attached to the Nova via USB to be accessible on the LAN for writing as well as reading (locally or on the LAN when running as a server).
I just have to wonder why it’s an odd feature consideration - we can play from the directly attached USB device and it removes some potential network issues. If it sounds rubbish compared to a dedicated NAS why did they bother with USB attached media storage? Then again, they have Bluetooth and that’s poor.
I understand what you are saying. The Naim streamers run a version of Linux, and presumably the Linux OS will mount the inserted USB drive into a local file structure. So being Linux, a developer could always enable the built-in software called Samba which would allow folders to be shared out on the network. So in answer to your question, yes it could be done, but would someone like Naim want to do that. It’s another bit of SW that will need supporting, and possibly more regularly need patching for security issues.
USB inputs on Naim streamers generally sound as good as the UPnP/Server input playing the same files. I suspect this would not be the case if that input had to broadcast its availability over the network and run a file transfer process, all on an input which is directly coupled to the streaming board.
Does anybody know, what features the Star supports with regard to access to the ripped CDs? I think to remember something, but am too tired just now to research.
Yes, exactly 512GB flash drive plugged in, maybe 200GB used - it would be really handy to be able to add/remove files to this over the LAN and probably quite feasible.
I guess we simply don’t know how it would sound - if there was any deleterious effect you could enable and disable the feature once new stuff was transferred.
Sadly it’s non trivial. They would need to add both CIFs and AppleShare services and provide some method for minimum levels of security like adding users and groups and authenticating them. A quick dirty “read/write access for all” with no configuration is just a non starter these days.
How most other DACs address this is simply via USB ASIO digital input. Play directly via computer.
I do understand that’s not a solution to what you want either, especially since Naim streamers also don’t support that.
Fair enough, just trying to keep things simple I suppose without using a NAS or dedicated always on headless computer.
Can’t say I’ve often done an A/B of streaming vs local USB playback quality to reach any conclusion and if there isn’t any tangible benefit to locally stored audio over WAN streaming it may be simpler just to stick with that.
