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Music Server now bane of my existence

After years of waiting and rendering the landscape of servers as too complex, confusing and basically useless for my purposes, I've delved into the world of a Mojo Audio music server. The Biggest Dog they sell. Now, I've determined I'm technically in over my head and run out of invectives.

I need a "Music Server for Dummies" lexicon and flow chart. Yes, I will contact them this week also.

To my surprise, there is no drive with the new Mini Mac. So I need that. And how will I burn discs for friends? And do I just use the USB out from the server to my USB DAC for optimal playback? Which USB? Or should it be a USB conversion to coaxial? I researched and purchased a 3TB Western Digital hard drive for dedicated backup. Will that suffice for this?

I purchased the Apple wireless keyboard and outboard trac-pad to navigate.

I'm at a crossroads as to continue with predictable brain damage assembling all of the parts or return this and wait again for this industry to collectively simplify the process. I've gone with the MAC so I can easily interface with my iPod pieces. Thank you to all for insight into this gnarly subject.
celtic66
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Jult52, For me net result is flawless system, 15 min work every 6 months (or less often if I ripped <20 CDs) and no loss of quality over time. It didn't cost me time to rip CDs since I mostly ripped what I listened to (listening and ripping at the same time).

As for the risk - both backups are unused in storage and therefore safe and I cannot end up worse than you are, since I have original CDs. In case of disaster or theft you will loose all you CDs or LPs while I will still have my files. What is safer?

Yes, it might be complicated to set things up properly, but it is the case with setting of any computer. Quite painless and quick with Mac. It is one time job anyway.

Data backup itself is very easy - just connect HD and click on the icon. Backup once a year. If you're really lazy you can use Time Machine, on the Mac, that will do backup for you automatically in the background.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
As for the risk - both backups are unused in storage and therefore safe and I cannot end up worse than you are, since I have original CDs. In case of disaster or theft you will loose all you CDs or LPs while I will still have my files. What is safer?
Kijanki

Curious when the last time you checked the back-up hard drives to ensure they are functional?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Timrhu, After backup is done program performs automatic verification. I also check before next backup. At each time I have main HD and two unpowered backups in storage. Whole operation is about 15 min of my time every 6 months.

Server based playback is not a rocket science but requires some computer skills. Perhaps people who don't feel confident should stay with traditional CDP. There is no right or wrong but confidence is very important.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
15 minutes!??

How big is your library? My 1.5TB takes me a fair bit of time and that's using Thunderbolt!!

I back up to a RAID 5 NAS and 2 Thunderbolt drives :)
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Doggiehowser, Right now about 650GB in ALAC. I stated time I spend connecting, checking disk, starting program and disconnecting. I don't count time when computer is doing backup (few hours) while I'm watching TV. Sometimes I start backup when I go to sleep.
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