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Aurender A10 setup - loading from CDs

Just purchased A10.  The instructions in the quick start guide for connecting to my local network worked. The A10 appears to find the Aurender app on my iPad. And the app appears to communicate with the A10.

 

My goal has been to move my CD collection to the A10.   Unfortunately, I am completely lost when comes to how to do this. What I’ve tried doesn’t appear to work. Here’s what I’ve tried.

Strategy 1:

          Following the online App Guide on the Aurender site, tried making the direct local network connection between my MacBook Pro and the A10.  The first three steps when well:

  • 1.     Locate the Finder menu bar at the top of your desktop.
  • 2.     Click GO -> CONNECT TO SERVER from the navigation bar.
  • 3.     Type in 'smb://' followed by your Aurender's IP address. (For example: smb://192.168.1.171) The IP address can be found under SETTINGS -> NAS.

 

Step 4 didn’t appear…

4.     Click Connect and a window will appear with folders labeled hdd1'and 'hdd2' Open the folder.

But the popup window for Step 5 did appear:

5.     A popup window will ask for a Username and Password. They can be found in the iPad application under SETTINGS -> NAS.

Unfortunately, when I went to SETTINGs -> NAS [Server], instead of giving me a Uusername and password, I was asked to provide a username and password.  I can’t find these anywhere, so this is a dead end for me.


Strategy 2:

The online App Guide also has a section describing how to add music to the A10 from an external USB memory device. To try this, I first dragged two album files from my iTunes music directory on the MacBook to a 4TB external HD. I then plugged in the HD to one of the A10’s USB ports.

I tried copying these albums following the instructors under the “Disk Information” tab in “Settings” on the app. I did the copy all command to music1 and the albums now appear in the playlist editor. Success, but none of the album art came over and its now clear how it could be added. Nor am I confident that this is the longterm solution.


I'm a newbie to computer audio beyond ITunes/iPod.  Any advice about how to get beyond this impasse?


yellowstone
rinpoche
152 posts
 
This process sounds totally counter-intuitive. I mean, we use iTunes or Apples because they are so easy -- but the Aurender does not seem compatible. Are there any other servers like this that are easier to use with iTunes? 
hgeifman
1,193 posts
 
@rinpoche, The album cover art transfer problem is NOT with your Aurender.  The REAL problem is with iTunes since it stores the album's cover art in an encrypted, hidden file.   The Aurender transfer process assumes, INCORRECTLY, that ALL the information is stored with the album content and, unfortunately, it is NOT.  I believe, but not 100% sure, there are other album management systems that maintains all the album information in one single file.  An example of this was mentioned above such as db power amp (I think).  I assume (??) several other software programs do the same.

As I explained above,  if you are using iTunes, you have to download the Extract to Folder.jpg Script from Doug Scripts (cost is $1.99). The Script run process is vey easy but it takes time depending on the number of albums (Do not copy all your files at one time.  Do it in small batches).  This script is required since it stores the album cover art image in the CORRECT location and includes the CORRECT name (Folder.jpg) for handling by the Aurender.  Please check the Script for any updates. This very simple, to use script copies the encrypted, hidden album cover art to the correct location for an easy copy over to your Aurender.  The process is fairly easy once you know what to do.   

In summary, iTunes does NOT STORE the album cover art within the album folder but "HIDES" it in another encrypted and hidden folder. This means the Aurender setup coming from iTunes requires you to run Doug Scripts to extract the album cover art in your transfer process.

NOTE:  Please remember that the Aurender requires the album cover art to be stored with the music files and named folder.jpg.   The correct album cover art file naming will enable the cover art to be displayed on the Aurender iPad app.   I am going to repeat this since the first time I ran Doug's Scripts, I selected the wrong program (whoops, my error).  You have to SELECT the "Extract to Folder.jpg Script" from Doug Scripts (cost is $1.99). This naming enable the Aurender to display the album's cover art on the iPad.  The scrip stored the Folder.jpg file in the correct location (included in the album).

I hope the above helps.  It took me 2+ weeks of total frustration until I discovered the above steps.  If needed, an email to support@aurender.com should get you some assistance. 



 
rinpoche
152 posts
 
Hello Hgeifman! 
Thank you -- that is so sweet of you. I really appreciate it. I ran Doug's Scripts and will know on Tuesday when the Aurender arrives if I did it correctly. However, I am not sure I used "Extract to Folder"....I think I used "Save Album Art to Folder...." -- that is what Aurender recommended. Are they the same? Aurender then also recommended some other process that was just not in my zone (db power something or other). Did you do that as well? I am grateful to you (and others) who have figured this out. Personally, I don't really even care if I have artwork, but Aurender technical support said the Aurender app works better with artwork so it is necessary. Here is where it is an Aurender problem -- they know iTunes is encrypted (as you say) and we need it to run the app properly. But I am looking forward to it nonetheless. Also, how do you like the sound?????? 
hgeifman
1,193 posts
 
@rinpoche, You are welcome.  After you run Doug's Scripts, go to the folder where the albums are saved and look for the file named "Folder.jpg".   Click on it to confirm the album art is displayed.  The file must be named folder.jpg so the Aurender can display the cover art on the iPad.   If the file is named "album name.jpg", you ran the wrong Doug's Script.  There are 2 album art scripts.  The "Save Album art to Album folder is the WRONG one.  The correct Script is "Save album art as folder.jpg".  It seems you ran the correct script but to be safe, I would verify it.  

You mentioned "Aurender then also recommended some other process that was just not in my zone (db power something or other)".  I do not know what this means.  

The album cover art is highly recommended since it makes it easier to find your albums on the iPad.   Aurender Customer Support recommends cover art because albums are easier to find.

When you install your Aurender A10, please update its firmware.  The update process may be automatic when you connect it but I cannot remember.  On the iPad Conductor App, go to setting and check for updates.  The Aurender Conductor App is installed from the Apple Store on your iPad.   I strongly recommend your Aurender A10 be directly wired to your router (hard wired).  Wi-Fi is not recommended.    

I also recommend you implement Tidal Streaming at $19.99 per month.  Tidal steams using uncompressed CD quality albums and also offer over 10,000 MQA Coded Albums.  Your A10 DAC includes full decoder MQA technology and is a fully compliant MQA end-to-end solution enabling you to play back MQA audio files for very high quality.  

I own the Aurender N10 Music Streamer and like it very much.  Its addition to my audio system substantially improved my sound quality over my MAC Book Pro computer.  You are going to like the A10 very much.
rinpoche
152 posts
 
Hi Hgeifman!!
Perfect. I will do exactly that and let you know. I will check. It seems I ran the right script, but was I successful? That is what I need to find out and will look at the folder as you suggest. I can send you the Aurender instructions, something about a parallel desktop..?????

I have Tidal HD already. Love it. And I am getting the N10 -- not the A10. My DAC, however, is not MQA compatible so I won't be using that feature. Oh well, I am happy and looking very much forward to its arrival on Tuesday. I was also using my MacBookPro so I look forward to improved audio quality. It just keeps getting better and better. 

But I am also looking forward to the ease of use. Right now I have to get up and walk over the the computer to change songs, etc. This will be such a pleasure and I can stop hurting my back!!

I will be in touch -- stay tuned on Tuesday for the execution. Fingers crossed. 🤞🤞🤞 
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