Official OPPO BDP-93 Owner's Thread - Page 824

I've used MediaMonkey for years as a general media manager, what exactly is intrusive about it? It does a lot of things well and is relatively easy to use, but there are other programs that do specific things better. EAC is better at ripping, MP3Tag better at tagging, dBpoweramp at file conversion, etc., but for some, they would prefer an easy, all-in-one program. For instance, Foobar can do everything MediaMonkey can do and a lot more and is much more customizable (is that a word?), but it has a much steeper learning curve.

You can still pick and choose what functions you want to use without it "taking over" those you don't want to use. I still use its functions as a media manager and playlist creator, and occasionally use its DLNA capabilities, especially for streaming saved playlists. Also, most of the core functions of MediaMonkey are available in the free version. There is no need to be afraid of it.

One area it does really excel at is on-the-fly conversion of FLAC files to MP3 for synching with an iPod/iPhone. I don't use iTunes and I store only FLAC files, so the ability to synch files to my iOS devices can be difficult. MediaMonkey is a great tool for synching/converting FLAC to MP3 without having to store MP3 files, and it's on-the-fly conversion is fast. Again, "synching" is not a bad word, in this case it merely means that my iOS devices contain the same files (or a subset) as my computer hard drive.

As a general media manager/organizer, MediaMonkey is among the best (J. River is another excellent media manager). When you have tens of thousands of stereo and multichannel FLAC files, a good media manager becomes critical.
Edited by scolumbo - 2/26/13 at 9:55pm

I don't want to seem too overly negative or demean what might be appealing to others, but perhaps my needs are just much more simplistic. I have almost 8000 MP3/FLAC files (60GB), 2000 video files (87GB), and more than 800,000 image files (370GB). But I don't feel the need for a "general media manager". I much prefer to use specific media player or "organizer/player" products for each type of media. After experimenting with enough options over the years, I've settled on the particular software program I prefer to use for each media type. I do not use any "all-in-one" product.

I have constructed my own folder/file storage/organization for all my media. I then find a proper player that's appropriate for that media format. I have "instant search" capability to find anything anywhere on my hard drives by full or partial name if I don't already know where something might be (which is already extremely unlikely).

I don't want a piece of software telling me how to organize things, and I don't want to put all of my assorted media files in one place.

Perhaps. As it turns out I use Audiograbber rather than EAC because I prefer it. I don't use dBpoweramp because I never need to convert files, as I make my own MP3/FLAC files form my own CD's using Audiograbber and LAME/FLAC. I do use MP3Tag because it's just the best and most user-friendly and intuitive tagging utility I've tried.

Again, I feel both MediaMonkey and Foobar are too complex and non-intuititve for my needs. I use neither, but have looked at both to see what they can do.

I use Winamp as my music player. It's simple, plays everything, and it just works. I like its user interface and appearance, and I enjoy having the G-Force Platinum "visualization" plugin for "watching music" at the same time as I listen to music.

I use Jaangle as my main music organizer/player, although it has support for video files as well.

I use MusiFind Pro as my CD Database management system.

I use ACDSee as my image browser.

I want to launch the appropriate player when I want to play that media type. Call me a dinosaur.

I have no need or interest in a "media manager".

I don't use playlists.

I have no such need.

Again, that's not how I play media, and specifically not music.

I either know what I want to play and play it, or I put my 1100 FLAC files on "random" and just let the player entertain me with me not knowing what's coming next.

I've spent LOTS of money on purchased software, so free vs. non-free is not a deal breaker.

I just don't feel that MediaMonkey provides anything that I need or want that I don't already have and prefer from the multiple other individual products that for me just do a better job.

I never have such a need at all.

Call me a dinosaur. I'm an "anythingbutipod.com" member. I don't own an iPod, iPhone, iPad, or anything Apple.

I have a Cowon J3 portable music player, specifically because of its GLORIOUS SOUND and support for FLAC. It's a Windows-friendly device that is really just like a standard removable USB drive when connected to a PC.

I don't ever feel the need to "sync". I do my own manual COPY of music files from PC to J3, maintaining things there through either Beyond Compare or Free Commander, just the same as I do with folders/files on my local hard drives.

I have no iOS devices. And my music collection is essentially "stable" (new additions to my 1100+ physical CD collection have slowed considerably). I don't make playlists, and don't need to "sync".

Obviously your needs and habits are very different from mine. And for that MediaMonkey may be the perfect product... just like AOL is perfect for tens of millions of people. But not for me.

I'm sure they both might be... if you want that sort of product. I just don't. Same reason I don't use "My Documents", but have my data spread across my hard drives in folders of my own creation.

Try Jaangle, at least for music and video and as a wonderful "collection" organizer/player. I don't know about multi-channel FLAC files, but certainly it's capable of playing ordinary 2-channel stereo FLAC.

Well I don't personally like Winamp:)

But seriously this is getting a bit off topic, the use of media converters specifically for use with the Oppo 93 is fine but we seem to be getting away from that

Calling something "intrusive" simply because it has functions you don't want is an abuse of the language.

"Intrusive" implies intent to invade privacy, and as such is an accusation of evil intent on the part of the programmer.

Don't like it? Don't use it.

Don't call it evil just because you don't want to use it.

I've never used MediaMonkey, as I have my own collection of apps, some of which overlap with yours (Winamp, Mp3tag) - but I don't call other applications names unless they invade privacy or try to make you a captive in a walled garden. There are enough of those to criticize without tarring other programs with the same brush.

Agree we're getting way off-topic, but Philnick said it best, if it has features you don't want to use, fine, but calling a program "intrusive" has negative connotations that are not warranted in this case. And the comparison to AOL is apples-to-elephants.

I have +20,000 FLAC files spread across 2 HDD's and a NAS (double that counting backups), and MediaMonkey is essential for me to organize my files. I'm glad you found something that works for you.
Edited by scolumbo - 2/27/13 at 5:45am

I took media monkey off my computer after it tried a hostile takeover lol. Like someone above stated its too intrusive. Too many settings to deal with needlessly. When I buy something from HD tracks I import it into NERO and get a much friendlier interface and quality burns. No NERO isn't cheap but IMO I already have a small fortune tied up in home theatre so what's another 70 bucks for convienance and quality? As far as free programs, there are a bunch of ones just as good and you get the monkey off your back. Opinions will vary.

Exactly what I was thinking. At least the dinosaur took the time to explain his aversion to the Monkey.

If there was a "hostile takeover" that was user error. Absolutely no way MediaMonkey should take over anything. I don't even keep it running unless I want to use a "feature". Otherwise, I use 7 or 8 other fine programs to perform specific tasks.

Try Foobar, it is hands-down the best all-around program (IMO)and can do things that no other program can do if you take the time to learn how to install and tweak the hundreds of plugins that are available to do certain tasks. If you have simple needs, maybe a simple program is all you need. For me, I like to stream SACD ISO's, Foobar and J. River are the only programs that exist that can do that task.

Maybe I didn't give it enough time to get used to it, I just threw my 2 cents in. That's awesome about the SACD streaming, how and from where are you streaming these? Do you have them ripped onto your computer via the old play station trick?

Wow dinosaur lmao. I'm not objecting to the title but this dino has some state of the art toys and there's no sense in having them if you can't control them. Just sayin.

They call me Mr dino lol.

Yes, the ISOs are ripped using the PS3 ripper and stored on a NAS, although you could store them on any network-connected HDD, and streamed to my Oppo. It is one of the great features using Foobar since you can't play SACD ISOs directly on the Oppo. You can also stream DVD-A ISOs using Foobar, although I still have an ISO-capable 93, so I play these directly from an attached HDD.

All it takes is installing the UPnP and SACD decoder plugins (with some tweaking). The biggest downside to Foobar (besides the learning curve) is it is audio-only, but it just means you have to use other programs for video.

Very cool, I might have to get into this, its killing me not being able to back them up and have my SACD"s on my network. I guess once you get used to the procedure it's easy.

Yep, I started this because I wanted to backup my SACDs, especially after losing a very valuable, and expensive-to-replace OOP SACD due to an unfortunate mishandling accident.

Once you have the ISOs, the convenience of streaming them is enormous. There is not an audio disc in my collection I can't play using only my Oppo and a remote (CD, DTS-CD, DVD-A, DVD-V, Blu-ray, and now SACD) without ever touching the shiny disc.
Edited by scolumbo - 2/27/13 at 7:17am

That's great, I really need to do this. Thanks for your posts.

I use a couple of older external hard drives on my 93, and it always states "Not Supported" in the upper right hand corner of the screen. However, once that error presents itself, I am still able to go into the menu and access the content. Have you tried accessing the menu once you get that error, or are you seeing the error and just stopping because it states "Not Supported"?

I have always heard it was a handshake issue. My HDMI cables are only 6' and when I play video files via external HDD the time indicator on the front of the 93 indicates the file is playing, I get sound, but no video for about 4 seconds. If I rewind it, even before the video starts playing, it will play both video and audio from the beginning. I am confused, however as to why you do not get this while using HDMI 2. I will have to try this when I get home.
Edited by 4mula1 - 2/27/13 at 11:42am

'NERO' well I have used it a lot in the past, but it is coming off. 350mb+ of bloat that seems to get everywhere IMHO. Looking round, in particular on this thread, there are much easier, faster, more reliable and smaller programs to get the best out of my 93 are available. I too have invested heavily in my home theatre and only the best will do.
Edited by Rick R - 2/27/13 at 10:56am

It is definitely bloated, I guess I'm just used to it. But I don't use all that much. So next time I'll probably just get the burning rom. I just threw the monkey under the bus because I didn't really like it, that does not mean it doesn't work well.
Edited by comfynumb - 2/27/13 at 3:44pm

So much debate into audio ripping programs lol no wonder this thread is 824 pages strong...

I used Audiograbber to rip all my mp3s witht he LAME codec, 320kbps all highest settings.

Im testing it with my metallica S&M MP3s. I even tested the CD itself in the oppo as well to make sure.

Now it seems to be my speaker settings - i am not too sure, as whenever i play music from CDs or MP3 / FLAC even i tried, the sound is very distorted on my speakers. Playing music from the Amp's built in radio tuner is flawless and perfect, however whenever i throw any media at it from the oppo (besides Blu Ray, DVD etc) the sound is pretty shocking. It sounds like the BASS is set too high and causing alot of distortion.

My setup is as follows:

- Samsung E8000 64" 3D Plasma TV
- Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray Player
- Anthem MRX-500 A/V Receiver
- Paradigm Reference SA-35 v.3 (In Wall Front L/R)
- Paradigm Reference SA-15R-SM v.3 (In Ceiling Rear L/R)
- Paradigm Reference Studio CC-590 (Bookshelf - Centre)
- Paradigm Reference Seismic 110 (Subwoofer)

any help is appreciated, i am very new to the whole HT thing, though i have alot of experience in Tech so it comes in handy.

Hi, what media are you playing that sounds distorted? From a CD you burned or off a media player? It sounds like a setting in the 93.
Edited by comfynumb - 2/27/13 at 3:50pm

Sounds like analog outputs using the wrong speaker size in the Oppo settings to me. Speaker "size" is an unfortunately confusing term in the setup screen. Large means send the full frequency range to L & R speakers, small means send low frequencies to a sub instead of the L/R speakers. Sounds like maybe you've got both the speakers and the sub working on low frequencies.

I have tried MP3, FLAC and also the Original Audio CD Themselves of Metallica S&M Album


Hi i will check this in the settings and report back.

Keep in mind that if you are connected via HDMI the speaker settings in the Oppo are not used in that case check your Anthem settings. Have you ran ARC on the Anthem?

I second these. My old Yamaha AVR has a bass-management setting that sends the low frquencies to both the subwoofer and the speaker it was originally meant for - which applies regardless of how the signal gets into the AVR.

--Phil

Do I understand correctly that Blu-ray and DVD playback sounds OK but CDs are distorted? That suggests you have something screwed up in the Anthem for handling stereo audio input from the OPPO (while multi-channel audio is OK).

How are you cabled for audio from the OPPO to the Anthem? HDMI Audio or Analog?

Do you have ARC enabled on that input of the Anthem?

This is almost certainly a settings problem in the Anthem (not in the OPPO), but if you are using ANALOG connections from the OPPO, try lowering the output Volume on the OPPO (buttons at the top of the remote). In particular, if you have set positive values in the Analog output Speaker Configuration output volume trims in the OPPO you may be clipping the input of the Anthem. But this is unlikely as it would also happen with Blu-ray and DVD playback.
--Bob

I can confirm that this is indeed the case, since my Oppo is connected Directly to the Anthem via HDMI any settings i change on the Oppo Speaker Configuration doesnt do anything at all. It was obvious when i tried to use the "test sound" and nothing happened. I checked the speaker configuration settings in the anthem and it is all set to "small" - i changed a few of these and again it did not do anything for the sound.


Bob, i think you are correct as it is only effecting the 2.0 Stereo sound being sent from the oppo to the anthem. I tested a movie yesterday with only 2.0 sound and it too had the same issues. Poor sound quality. It sounds very bass heavy and distorted.

I will run the ARC again this weekend as i am getting my HT Cabinet and a Rug for the room, when i originally ran it i had nothing in the room, not even furniture. (Now i have a couch! the joys of moving into a new house) The room is not 100% ideal for HT setup as it has a tiled floor, but i am trying to take steps to correct this.

I dont remember running ARC for any stereo sound setup.

Sound is perfect for any multi channel audio but is poor for stereo audio.

You probably figured this out already, but speaker configuration in the Oppo has nothing to do with HDMI and only affects analogue output. If you said this earlier and I missed it my apologies.

I'm not sure i realized this, so before I blew my brains out trying to notice a difference in sound that wasn't possible thanks.

Wow dude........ that's pretty rad. Couldn't you have just given yourself a spanking instead?