LAME MP3 encoder for Slimsever

[pellicle]

This is a request aimed at Slimserver and in specific the ability to convert to mp3 form other formats for bit rate limited streaming.
It is not a problem with SS or the current module version but added capability.

LAME is not included in SS because of licensing issues. In a normal Linux distribution or in windows this can be added fairly easily. But in the Thecus a module is required. So it appears a module to install LAME on the N5200 is required or inclusion of such in the SS module.

For myself this allows me to have one library of FLAC files and stream these in native format to my Squeezebox units and stream in MP3 to players not able to decode FLAC.

[pellicle]

Sorry, I see my request has already been logged on the Wiki as a request. I updated the Wiki with the specific program needed for MP3 transcoding.

[omega]

Can you give me a hint what exactly needs to be done for the LAME stuff?

What LAME programm do you need and what needs to be set for SS?

Andreas

[omega]

Ok, I've compiled and installed the LAME program on my N5200 and when I start it manually, it is running fine.

I've copied the exe to the SlimServer Bin directory so I'm pretty sure that SS will find it.

Does someone know how can I prove that transcoding using LAME in SS now really works? I only have Softsqueeze running for testing.

After these tests I could create an updated SLIMSERVER module just bundled with the LAME encoder. Are there any other encoders worth to be bundled with SS?

Andreas

[pellicle]

Slimserver checks to see if LAME is installed on the system. You can check whether it is detecting LAME by going to the main menu. Select a player under "Player Settings"

Select "Audio" after you are on the players setting main page.

You will see "bitrate limiting" section.
Select a value such as 64kbps and click on change.

If LAME is not detected you should see a message on the Slimserver page just above the bit rate selection pull down box which says:
"(Note: You do not appear to have LAME installed. SlimServer will need the LAME MP3 encoder installed on your system to do conversion to MP3. You can find out more about LAME here.)"

If this does not appear you should be able to stream to the selected player in MP3 at this low birate form either MP# encoded at a higher bitrate or from another encoding format such as FLAC or WAV. I tested with my Nokia n770 which cannot decode FLAC. If the capability is not present it streams in the native format of the song being played by default. So with the n770 it connects but does not recognize the format of the stream.

Thanks for the support Andreas.

If you can post the binary and instructions I can install and test to verify it is working.

[omega]

Hi pellicle,

you have PM....

Andreas

[pellicle]

Andreas,
I responded to PM,
Thanks,
Will let you know results. I can test pretty quickly.

[pellicle]

Andreas,
The executable worked. I removed the DAT extension, uploaded the file into the i389-linux directory and changed the properties to allow execution. After restarting Slimserver LAME showed as installed at the bitrate limiting menu.

Testing with my n770 verified transcoding of FLAC to mp3.

As always thanks!!

[omega]

Thanks for your test!

I might consider creating a new version in the near future with the lame transcoder included.

It depends on my time frame and how many users demands it....

Andreas

[pellicle]

Andreas,

Since it is so easy to fix on the current system my opinion is that it would be better to wait for SS 7 to release rather than spending more effort on 6.5.4. Others my disagree but that is my input.

In looking at the developers direction there is not another rev of the 6.5 planned.

I have posted the transcoding fix on the SS forum and can hep anyone if they have the need.

The number of SS users on the 5200 is growing. It is largely due to your modules coupled with the Thecus performance being better for SS than the other commercial NAS boxes. We are growing a following so your help is greatly valued.