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Contents 1 Linn DS players with Apple Macs 1.1 Media Library and Server 1.1.1 Ripping NAS 1.1.1.1 Configuration 1.1.1.2 Linking NAS storage to Mac 1.1.2 Standard NAS 1.1.2.1 Ripping 1.1.2.2 Tagging and Album-Art 1.1.3 Mac 1.1.4 iTunes Integration 1.2 DS Configuration 1.3 DS Control

Linn DS players with Apple Macs

External computers are used within a DS system to:

• Store and serve audio to DS (Media library and server)
• Configure the DS players
• Control the DS players

This document describes using an Apple Mac in the above scenarios. Note that the information provided here is not the only way to operate in these scenarios, nor is using an Apple Mac the only way to perform these functions.

Media Library and Server

There are 3 suggested setups for the media library and server:

• Library and server on a ripping NAS
• Library and server on a standard (non-ripping) NAS
• Media server running on a Mac, library on Mac or external device

Full integration of these solutions into iTunes is described at the end of this section. Note that for this to be successful the library must use an audio format which iTunes recognizes - hence suggest using Apple Lossless (also known as ALAC), as this provides data compression and metadata handling with NO loss of quality.

Ripping NAS

In this setup the ripping, library and media serving functions are all provided by the ripping NAS. Hence the only operations which require to be performed from the Mac are configuration of the NAS itself, and linking the NAS storage to the Mac to permit file transfers and iTunes integration.

Configuration

NAS configuration is performed

• using a web based interface, which can be operated from Safari
• using WHS Console for WHS (Windows Home Server) based devices. Setup on Mac described here

Audio ripping should be configured to use the Apple Lossless format - performed from the NAS configuration pages or by inserting a special disc supplied with the device into its disc reader.

Linking NAS storage to Mac

To permit file transfers between the Mac and NAS, and to allow full iTunes integration, the NAS requires to be connected to the Mac as a shared device (details).

Standard NAS

A standard NAS can be configured and operated in the same manner as the Ripping NAS described above, except that the ripping, tagging and album-art operations will be performed on the Mac.

Ripping

Ripping is the process whereby audio data is extracted from a CD and stored to a file. Whilst iTunes can be used for this, it is suggested that a secure ripper such as Max or XLD is used. Secure rippers greatly reduce the chances of errors in rips, and inform the user where there are problems.

• Max setup
• XLD setup

Tagging and Album-Art

Tagging and album-art operations setup track information which is then used by the media servers and players to provide this information to the user. The tagging and album-art operations are normally performed as part of the ripping process, however there may be cases where there is the need to update or modify this information on previously ripped audio. This can be done using iTunes as long as iTunes is using the same library as the DS media server. Further details here.

Mac

Using the Mac itself as a media server implies that the media server software itself runs on the Mac. The media library may reside locally on the Mac, or on a shared device. This option does require the Mac to be powered up when listening to the DS. Ripping and tagging are performed as described above in the Standard NAS operation.

Suggested media server software for Mac is Twonky (more information)

iTunes Integration

In order to integrate fully with iTunes the media library requires to be shared between iTunes and the UPnP media server used by the DS players. Once this sharing is setup all audio which is in supported formats can be handled in either environment whatever its source (ripped, downloaded etc.). Setup described here.

Note that:

• DS cannot play any DRM audio as these are restricted from playback on non-Apple devices
• iTunes cannot handle FLAC format audio files, hence the suggestion to use Apple Lossless format
• iTunes is NOT a DS controller - it cannot be used to control playlists or playback on DS players

DS Configuration

Configuration of DS players can be performed in 2 ways

• Using the web interface which can be accessed from Safari's Bonjour Collection (more information)
• Using the LinnConfig standalone application (setup details)

LinnConfig is required for software updates, all other configuration operations can be performed from either interface.

DS Control

Desktop control of DS players can be performed using the applications below:

• KinskyDesktop from Linn (setup details)
• Songbook for Mac from Bookshelf Apps

In addition to desktop control, there are a variety of handheld devices which are capable of controlling DS systems with the appropriate software, including iPhone/iPod Touch.