Native Squeezeplay but can't play WMA files

[GreenBhoy]

Hi all!

I've had a search for an answer, but can't find my exact problem. My backend server is a Xtreamer Etrayz NAS running a linux distro.

I've been running my Joggler natively with the "Birds Like Wires" (thank you roobarb!) Squeezeplayer install fine for ages. All my music plays fine, but then again it's in MP3 format.

I've installed this exact setup for a friend who was mightily impressed with my etrayz/jogger, but he has a lot of files in WMA format which simply do not play on the Joggler - as I said MP3 files play fine. The error is like "Cannot Play file %jbfwjksd%kldfsldbn%sdkwbfwlfb%sddnlf%asdwwsgfer.wma"

I've gone in to Squeezserver and ensured that the WMAPlayer plugin is installed and running. I've also ensured that "WMA" is set to "Native" in Settings..Advanced...File Types

My understanding that these files are not WMAPro or lossless, just normal WMA from audio rips within Windows Media Player.

Any help would be very much appreciated as I don't fancy converting all his WMA files to MP3's (unless yo can recommend a converter that I can point & shoot at his library)

Many thanks, Tony

[Horatio]

I think WMA won't play unless it's been stripped of DRM. I found a good program to do this if you need one, just can't remember it off the top of my head...

[GreenBhoy]

Thanks Horatio

Didn't get it to work - but did find a free point n shoot converter - Switch Audio Converter. Lots of options and pointed it at his music library - all siorted thanks.

Tony

[gegs]

GreenBhoy - I'm glad you got a fix for your friend's WMA problem but the ability to play WMA streams would still benefit the Joggler community.

The WMA Player plugin relies on the presence of MPlayer to play WMA on platforms that don't natively support the format. Has anybody got WMA to play on either the stock OS or one of BuZz's images by installing MPlayer? It would be great if this worked because it would allow Napster accounts to work with the Joggler.

I'm going to have give it a go on Ubuntu, but if you know I'm wasting my time please tell me.

[GreenBhoy]

Hi gegs

Yes, I absolutely wanted the WMA files to work - but my Squeezebox server runs on a NAS server (Xtreamer Etrayz) running some very strange version of Linux installed via SSOD (SlimServer On Diskstation). So not your usual Linux Distro.

In my troubleshooting I got to the stage where I wanted to install mplayer (so as to transcode the WMA files before they hit the Joggler) but I can't work out how to install mplayer. Both sudo apt-get or sudo yum did not appear to be valid commands on the etrayz NAS box.

I also think that some users have has some success getting WMA files to work by installing the AlienBBC plugin within Squeezebox Server, but that did not seem to work for me...

Still at a loss to be honest I'm sure if you fix it for WMA you will fix it for WMA (radio) streams...

If you get it to work, please shout!

[gegs]

It's been a busy week both work and domestic wise. I'm itching to give it a go but I think it might be a fruitless exercise. I'm sure that if WMA was easy to play on the Joggler, some brighter spark than me would already have posted about running Napster on Squeezeplay.

I think this might have to wait until I have updated my Ubuntu distro (not as easy as it could be because I run it from a portable hard drive); it's something else I'm itching to do.

[Horatio]

Not sure if this helps, but I remember struggling for ages to get WMA files to play when i first set up my Ubuntu based, music-on-nas joggler, but then gave up and never got round to converting everything to mp3 -which i didnt really want to do anyway.

But then Greenbhoy started this thread and i thought id give it another go, I downloaded 'restricted extras' (codecs etc), enabled 'play wma' plugin, and now they play fine. Like i say tho, from what i remember, without being stripped of DRM they wont play.

Streams seem to work too. I had a bbc app in 'my apps' which never used to work, now it does and that says the file format is windows media. I dont have Napster but if theres any other way to test this im happy to do so. Running Natty btw.

[roobarb!]

I downloaded 'restricted extras' (codecs etc), enabled 'play wma' plugin, and now they play fine.

I didn't pick up on this at the time, but yes, for WMA content to work it has to be transcoded by Logitech Media Server before being sent to SqueezePlay for playback. Installing the restricted extras packages on the system running the server will provide the libraries needed by LMS to do this.

In my mind there's no point fighting this out at the SqueezePlay end because adding them to the native OS would be a bit of a chew. Get the server to do the hard work.

[gegs]

My Squeezebox Server is on the native OS (and on my Ubuntu stick when I'm running that). I suppose that means I can't add the restricted extras to the native OS and I'm stumped when trying to play WMA except when using my Ubuntu stick.

It's a pity though. My wife prefers the native OS.

[roobarb!]

My Squeezebox Server is on the native OS (and on my Ubuntu stick when I'm running that). I suppose that means I can't add the restricted extras to the native OS and I'm stumped when trying to play WMA except when using my Ubuntu stick.

It's a pity though. My wife prefers the native OS.

You could do it if you had another machine running the server software somewhere, which the Jogglers connect to. But if you're running the server on the Joggler itself, no. Well, I say no, most things are possible with Linux - you'd just need to manually install the libraries for WMA audio. Good luck with that.

[gegs]

The WMA thing isn't really a biggie for me. I'm happy enough with Spotify and the myriad of internet radio stations available (especially through the iPlayer and iPlayer Extras plugins).

My brother-in-law recently bought a Joggler on ebay which I pimped for him. He has a Napster account and several Squeezebox devices that he can play his Napster stuff on - just not on Joggler's Squeezeplay. I was looking to test WMA playback on my machine with a trial Napster account before applying it to his. He has Ubuntu on a stick but I think he mainly uses the stock OS. I'll try adding the restricted codecs to Ubuntu for him and see how that goes.

[GreenBhoy]

This has moved on somewhat! Thanks guys!

So what about my scenario whereby:

NAS device (Xtrreamer etrayz) running Squeezeserver 7.5.x
Joggler running O2 native with Squeezeplay

No Ubuntu running anywhere.

Do I still have to work out how to install mplayer on the etrayz (ARM based device)?

Regards GreenBhoy

[roobarb!]

Do I still have to work out how to install mplayer on the etrayz (ARM based device)?

I think you're definitely going to need to find some support for that device; I've never heard of one before, but I'd assume there's a forum or some support for it somewhere? Unless someone else here has one and has succeeded with it?