CAV6.6 / MC11 link software - Page 2

And on another note...
After I updated to the .251 version of MC11, my second and third zones stopped working. Same deal with .275 (the RC). Did anyone else see issues after an update?

Yes, I had to go and manually reselect all the zones. That and .274 seemed to have volume control problems.

MC supports TV tuners (of which I have none) but I don't believe it supports any FM tuners.

So either your app would have to know about tuners or be able to 'interface' with another program that did. Axife is one (commercial) app that does a pretty good job of handling the dozens of different tuner choices.

-Bill Kearney

Sorry for being dense, but what did you mean by "Yes, I had to go and manually reselect all the zones. That and .274 seemed to have volume control problems."?

No, most USB FM tuner devices provide a line-out audio signal, not a stream. Even with the various tricks one can use in MC11 I don't think it'd be possible.

This is sort of why I figured it'd be better to have your app handle interfacing directly. Really what I'm after here is imitating one of the Russound tuners, not feeding the audio in the PC. Since your app has the serial port I figured this might be the place to start.

Although, any idea what it'd take to interface through an R-NET port?

And grayvader, MC11 forgot which devices were associated with which zones. So I had to manually go into the zone manager for each zone and reselect which device it should use. I can't be any clearer than that and perhaps it'd be better to have that conversation over on j.river's own forum for MC11 and not clutter up the threads here.

Hyslopc,

I have used a free app called Radiator in the past that supports a wide variety of FM tuner cards. It also has an SDK and several plugins developed for it. See below for a link to it and its plugins page. I have previously controlled it from the command line, girder, etc. I don't know if this would work, but I figured I would mention it.

(I tried to post links, but the board wouldn't let me since I have less than 5 posts. You can search Google for "radiator radio" and it should be the first or second link at flesko.cz.)

I have been using your app for several weeks now and love it. Thanks a bunch for putting it together. I really like the idea of being able to browse playlists and look forward to that feature being added.

One other thing I would love to have would be the ability to browse by Genre (Rock, Country, Classic, Blues, etc) like we do Artist now. I find that usually I am in a mood for a particular type of music rather than a particular artist anyway. I know that you can configure a view by Genre grouping as an option within JRMC, but I believe that only browsing by artist is available from the keypad using your app, correct?

Lastly, I was originally using Girder by way of Netremote to control my Russound wirelessly with my PDA. With it, you can use your PDA to control zones, select sources, setup playlists, view album covers, lyrics, etc... My only problem is that the Russound only has one RS232 port (that can be active at any one time). I currently need two, one for your app, and one for Girder. Do you know of a way to connect multiple serial channels to the Russound? I considered using a splitter, but I don't know if the Russound protocol can handle multiple devices controlling it over the same channel.

Another option would be for your app to relay commands to the Russound from either a socket connection or a web interface... that would open up many possibilities. I am assuming these would also be possible with the API you mentioned previously.

Joey

Ditto on what Joe's saying here. I too have Girder but not (yet) in use to interact with the CAV6.6 (but I'd like to).

This is why I ask about the R-Net port. I'm wondering what might be possible in using (misusing?) one of them for these other purposes?

Meanwhile, however, a scheme that passes messages either in via Girder to the plug-in or vice-versa might be a solution. Depending on what you need in girder would determine the complexity of it.

Given how looooong MC11 has been in beta, let alone "release candidate" (ha!) I wouldn't hold my breath here.


The commercial app Axife has a compatibility list. That might be one place to look for range of device interfaces.


What language are you using for the app?

Is there any documentation on this plug-in? How can I control the name/number of zones it offers to the CAV6.6? What cable pinouts does it require (and is there a way to use hyperterminal to speak to the unit just to see if the link is working?)

So, the latest rev supports three sources? Is there a way to control how many sources it provides and their position? As in, I've got the sources on the CAV setup to provide:

source 1: mp3
source 2: dvd
source 3: tivo
source 4: tuner
source 5: cd changer
source 6: mp3

Can I configure your plugin to match up to this? The rationale behind the grouping of them is that some zones have A-Bus slaves on them which can only select from 4 sources. I can use the master Uno keypad to select the other two (5&6) if needed. But for typical use I'm likely to rotate between the MC11 mp3 playback, Tivo and the Tuner. Thus I need the plugin to rearrange what's on which source.

Also, the plugin crashes if the MC11 app is in the process of doing a Library -> Update from Tags action. It seems MC11 decided to "forget" the track names from about 3000 of my files. If I run the 'update from tags' function and try to use a keypad the plugin crashes. Not a typical problem, to be sure, but might it be something that could be handled?

This is a little off topic, but I fits with MC11 and the plug-in...

I am experiencing of odd problems, and I am wondering if anyone else is/has had them?

I have a couple fo mp3s that are 0.5 - 1.5 hours long (they are audio books). When I play them, it works for a time then the audio slows when down, stutters, skips, etc. I can make it return to normal, by running down stairs and moving the mouse around or hitting a key on the keyboard. They usually play fine for about 10-15 minutes then start doing this - move the mouse - play fine for 10-15 minutes... and so it goes. It will also happen with a normal 2-5 minute mp3 if the CAV is in party mode and all six zones are playing. Then is only takes about 45 seconds to goof up.

The computer is running XP with SP2, M-Audio 410 card, Athlon XP 2000. It is dedicated to distriduted audio 90% of the time (10% home theater), so no other processes are running: only MC11 and the CAV plug-in.

Any thoughts?

Could you put a few of them into the readme file inside the zip archive? It'd help the next person...


I have more zones in MC11 than I feed to the CAV6.6. The machine running MC is a rack-mounted touchscreen in the home theatre room. That room is on it's own amplifier and not part of the Russound setup. Thus I have an MC11 zone all it's own. I also have one for an FM transmitter (good for headphone use during lawn work). So I need to have it NOT force those zones onto the CAV6.6 keypad displays. I'm fine with having to rejigger the wiring to make it happen if need be.

Also check the power management settings and/or other background processes. Things like the Index Service come to mind. If, for some reason, those things think the machine is "idle" they might start gobbling up CPU.

You could also use the Performance monitor to keep a much more fine-tuned chart. The task manager will only show you what happened to be consuming CPU when you're looking at it. You can setup a performance monitor log to watch the Process object and then setup Counters on just certain apps.

To test it, get all the apps started. Then start the task manager, sort by CPU consumption and leave it on top. Disable any screen savers (this might affect the stuttering). Then come look at what shows when the audio stutters. If a certain app, besides System Idle, is chewing up CPU you could then setup a Performance log on it.

But this might be better asked over in the MC11 forum on J.River's site.

What, if any, messages can you see when an A-Bus keypad is used? Can you see any of the keypresses? Can you send it an Off command? I just hooked up an A-KP2 out on the deck and, to my dismay, is doesn't appear to listen when an Uno sends an "All Off" command. Any idea what the "Status" jumper on the A-KP2 does when operating off a CAV6.6?

Anyone still have FlashMagic on their computers. I was going to update my keypads today, but the FlashMagic link is down. And I can't find another copy on the internet.

Thanks for any help.

post your email address and I'll send it on...

Grayvader... Thanks for helping me out.

Apparently the FlashMagic site was just down for a few hours, as I was able to download it this morning. I guess a needed to have a little patience.

Thanks again.

Actually, I have written my own interface to the Russound CAV for Girder. I would have responded earlier, but haven't been able to spend a lot of time recently due to work demands. I am getting back on this project now and am trying to get some of the issues ironed out. I am not a Girder expert, but I essentially wrote an excel spreadsheet to automatically calculate each command with the CRC and then hardcoded the commands manually in Girder. Once in Girder, it can be controlled by many other sources (PDA, website, etc).

I am trying to simultaneously control the Russound with Girder and your app. I would definitely be willing to assist in any way possible. I will send you my email address in a PM.


I am not sure either but I haven't really looked at the API. I am more of a hardware guy myself. I have used NetRemote with the PDAs I am using to control MC11 and with it, you can set the root of a library list folder and display it in any way desired. I don't know if they give you access to this via the API. Are you actually displaying the playlist or a library list on the keypads? If you are using playlists will the API allow you access to the library listing instead (which you can customize the listing of also)?

thanks,

Joeberg

hyslopc, joeberg

if you guys want/need any assistance integrating or working with Girder let me know. G4 is in beta. PM me if you are interested in looking at it. There is a new serial plugin that will allow you do most anything needed with the CAV via lua.

Girder is cool and all, but what this little app really needs is Playlist capability via the keypad and straight to MC11!

Exactly what I mean!


Man, I wish I wasn't such a dumba** when it came to programming: I would offer to help. But alas, this is not my stength... I just like messing with the stuff!

I would like to get this download if possible have a CAV in use and currently assembling media centre with a view to superseding the RNET link with RS232. Anyone able to point me in the right direction.