Controlling foobar with an Android phone

[asdf1000]

Hi all

 

I've been playing music on my Windows PC using foobar and it plays at the native bitrate and native format, eg 24/192 ALAC, without issues - and sounds great.

 

But when I use BubbleUPNP on Android to control foobar on Windows, it plays at 16/44 PCM on foobar, no matter what the file type or bitrate I choose. So everything gets downsampled.

 

I can't for the life of me work out why. I've been through all the settings of the phone app and foobar but I could have missed something.

 

Has anyone had this issue or know where the settings may be?

 

Or even better, is there a better Android app for controlling foobar?

 

Cheers! :-)

[Cebolla]

Hi

 

Strictly speaking the BubbleUPnP Android app cannot be used as a Foobar2000 remote control, but it can be used as a UPnP control point. This means that you must have installed the foo_UPnP plugin component for Fb2k to provide it with a UPnP renderer, which is what the BubbleUPnP Android app would actually be controlling. The foo_UPnP UPnP Renderer appears by default as "foobar2000 Renderer (Windows user name) [Windows computer name]", in the BubbleUPnP Android app's RENDERER list.

 

The foobar2000 Renderer has no resampling capabilities of its own and it simply engages any DSP, including resampling, already configured for Fb2k own playback output. If you are certain that no downsampling is occouring when playing the files on Fb2k's own Windows user interface, then the only way that its UPnP renderer will be downsampling is if the UPnP/DLNA media server is applying it on the files on the fly while they are being streamed, ie, via its transcoder. So it'll all be down to which UPnP/DLNA media server you are using and (hopefully) how that can be configured.

 

I'm guessing, since you haven't mentioned any UPnP/DLNA media server (let alone mentioned using the foo_UPnP plugin) that you are using one of two possibilities:

 

either, Windows own built-in DLNA media server - appears just as the Windows computer name of the Windows PC running Fb2k, in the BubbleUPnP Android app's LIBRARY list;

 

or, the UPnP media server also provided by the foo_UPnP Fb2k plugin - appears as "foobar2000 Media Server (Windows user name) [Windows computer name]", in the BubbleUPnP Android app's LIBRARY list.

 

If the UPnP/DLNA media server you are using in BubbleUPnP is the Windows built-in one, then unfortunately there's nothing you can do (other than use another UPnP/DLNA media server). The Windows built-in DLNA media server has a poor reputation when used for streaming audio files. One of the problems with it is automatically downsampling when not required!

 

If you are using the foobar2000 Media Server, then its transcoder is most likely engaged & configured to downsample. It can be configured not to transcode, though it is a bit klunky to set up (as is the rest of Fb2k!):

Bring up the Fb2k Preferences pop up Window (press ctrl+p, or from the File>Preferences menu, or from the Library>Configure menu);

 

Go to Tools>UPnP>Server>Basic Settings;

Make sure the "Always use the Default streaming profile" is ticked;

Make sure the "Add WAV & LPCM 44.1/16 compatibility streams" is not ticked;

Press the Apply button;

 

Go to Tools>UPnP>Server>Streaming Profiles;

Make sure the 'Default' profile is the one selected to edit;

Set the "samplerate range" and "Max bit depth" to what's required for your entire music file collection, eg, if you have music files ranging from 16/44.1 to 24/192 then set "44100" to "192000" max bit depth "24";

Make sure "Transcode" is set to "never" and the "Except Extensions" text box is blank and both the ("Except:") "lossless and" "Internet connection" tick boxes are not ticked;

Make sure "Decode" is set to "never" and the "Except" text box is blank;

Press the Apply button.

 

Note, any new foobar2000 Media Server configuration changes won't apply to the music file tracks from that Library contained in BubbleUPnP Android app playlists you already have. So you'll need to recreate those playlists in the BubbleUPnP Android app.

 

If configuring the foobar2000 Media Server looks too tricky, then you can install & use another UPnP media server on the Windows PC, such as the excellent music file dedicated MinimServer. MinimServer doesn't do any transcoding by default when you first install it - that requires you to also install and configure its optional MinimStreamer module:

MinimServer features

 

Of course the ultimate alternative, would be not to use UPnP/DLNA network file streaming and therefore not use the BubbleUPnP Android app nor the foo_UPnP Fb2k plugin! You could try an actual 'remote control' Android app for Fb2k, such as foobar2000 controller.

 

Hope this helps!

 

John

[asdf1000]

Wow, thank you so much John for taking the time to reply. I was using foobar media server and while I thought I had done all the configs you mention, I will recheck everything this weekend. I'll also try the controller app you mentioned. Thanks so much again. I'm sure this would help somebody else out there making the same mistakes I've made ! :-)

 

 

Sent from my Blackberry DTEK50 using Tapatalk

[whoozwah]

I'd just go with foobarcon pro. It's like 2 dollars. You just install a plugin in foobar and the app on your phone. you tell the app the ip address of the machine with your foobar on it and it works.

[Cebolla]

Indeed. FoobarCon is another 'ultimate alternative' example of a controller app that works directly (via supplied plugin) with foobar2000, so not using UPnP/DLNA streaming, similar to the foobar2000 controller app I mentioned.

[CatManDo]

Or even better, is there a better Android app for controlling foobar?

 

I've been using Foobar2000controller for a long time. It works fine.

 

But I don't use the Foobar library function, so I can't say how convenient it is to use the library with the Android app.

 

http://foobar2000controller.blogspot.com

[asdf1000]

Thanks all. I tried foobar2000controller. I was having major issues with the foobar2000controller template last night

 

The following 2 templates show without problems when I go to :Computer Audiophile - CA - Where HiFi and High Tech Converge

 

• ajquery
  
• default
  

 

I got all the files from here: https://bitbucket.org/oblikoamorale/foo_httpcontrol/downloads and followed the instructions in the readme files

 

I installed foo_httpcontrol_0_97_17.zip but should I have installed foo_httpcontrol_0_97_15.zip instead? That's the only thing I haven't tied yet.

 

It was heartbreaking. I'm so close to getting it working but I got stuck on the most important part for over an hour yesterday.

 

Apart from reading the instructions in the zips, I'm not sure how anyone can help me though, unless someone has run into the same issue and knows the workaround.

 

I'm running Windows 10 Pro and the latest windows version of foobar.

 

FoobarCon would rely on the same http control template I'm guessing, so I'd run into the same problems? Might give it a shot anyway.

 

Frustrating because I'm so close! :-)

[Cebolla]

The both the foobar2000 controller and the foobarCon apps require you to install their own templates to work with the foo_httpcontrol plugin component (or equivalent foo_foobarCon component in the case of foobarCon - see below), using the supplied (computer side) installer setup software - so not the default & ajquery templates found on the foo_httpcontrol's own site.

 

Their setup software also installs the required foo_httpcontrol plugin component (for foobar2000 controller) or foo_foobarCon plugin component (for foobarCon), as well as the foo_playcount plugin component (optional for foobar2000 controller), so you shouldn't manually download & install the latest version of foo_httpcontrol from its own site. I can see why you did it, since the foobar2000 controller app blurb on Google Play does mention those plugins as "Components needed".

 

The correct installation instructions are located here (the pages include the link to the appropriate setup application):

foobar2000 Control

foobar2000 controller: How to start

 

foobarCon

https://sites.google.com/site/foobarcon/

There is also a zip file available to use instead of the foobarCon setup application, if you want to manually install the plugin components and templates for it:

https://sites.google.com/site/foobarcon/manual_install

 

I believe it should be ok to replace the foobar2000 controller's setup application installed older version of the foo_httpcontrol component with the current version from its own site (though don't replace the templates, don't forget). However, you cannot do the same with foobarCon, as its setup application installs a customised version of foo_httpcontrol called foo_foobarCon, which is completely incompatible the standard version.

 

BTW, did you sort out your original downsampling problem?

Was it due to foo_UPnP's foobar2000 Media Server's transcoder?

[asdf1000]

The both the foobar2000 controller and the foobarCon apps require you to install their own templates to work with the foo_httpcontrol plugin component (or equivalent foo_foobarCon component in the case of foobarCon - see below), using the supplied (computer side) installer setup software - so not the default & ajquery templates found on the foo_httpcontrol's own site.

 

Their setup software also installs the required foo_httpcontrol plugin component (for foobar2000 controller) or foo_foobarCon plugin component (for foobarCon), as well as the foo_playcount plugin component (optional for foobar2000 controller), so you shouldn't even manually download & install the latest version of foo_httpcontrol from its own site. I can see why you did it, since the foobar2000 controller app blurb on Google Play does mention those plugins as "Components needed".

 

The correct installation instructions are located here (the pages include the link to the appropriate setup application):

foobar2000 Control

foobar2000 controller: How to start

 

foobarCon

https://sites.google.com/site/foobarcon/

There is also a zip file available to use instead of the foobarCon setup application, if you want to manually install the plugin components and templates for it:

https://sites.google.com/site/foobarcon/manual_install

 

I believe it should be ok to replace the foobar2000 controller's setup application installed older version of the foo_httpcontrol component with the current version from its own site (though don't replace the templates, don't forget). However, you cannot do the same with foobarCon, as its setup application installs a customised version of foo_httpcontrol called foo_foobarCon, which is completely incompatible the the standard version.

 

BTW, did you sort out your original downsampling problem?

Was it due to foo_UPnP's foobar2000 Media Server's transcoder?

 

Hi Cebolla, I never solved the downsampling issue as I never got foobar2000 to work. I will re-try with your latest advice though. Yes I went around getting the wrong templates it seems.

 

Somebody else mentioned on Hydrogen Audio that using BubbleUpnp on Android as a control, this app will do all the rendering which is why it plays at PCM 16/44 on foobar2000. They said to use a proper control app, not a rendering app, to get around this - the same 2 apps you've mentioned.

 

I'll get around to it this week. I'm so frustrated I'm pondering a microRendu to completely part with a PC for good, for music playback and control.

[Cebolla]

Somebody else mentioned on Hydrogen Audio that using BubbleUpnp on Android as a control, this app will do all the rendering which is why it plays at PCM 16/44 on foobar2000. They said to use a proper control app, not a rendering app, to get around this - the same 2 apps you've mentioned.

No, no & thrice no - not sure where that person got that idea from! If that were true there'd be no way you could use the BubbleUPnP Android app to control a purpose built UPnP renderer, like the the microRendu.

 

Apart from being a proper UPnP controller app, the BubbleUPnP app does have a built-in UPnP renderer, but that's used to play music back on the Android device its installed on - that's what rendering means. It also has a built-in UPnP/DLNA media server, but that's only to provide music files stored on the Android device and it doesn't even transcode (for UPnP devices). You can engage an internal transcoder for Chromecast, but that's not UPnP/DLNA (& another topic).

 

Incidentally, I've just spotted your new thread about an issue with the QNAP Music Station. Can't be a coincidence, but also about a problem with downsampling ALAC?

Is Music Station the UPnP/DLNA media server you're actually using (so not the foo_UPnP one)?

 

I've never used Music Station, but it could well be automatically transcoding those hi-res ALAC files to 16/44.1 pcm. There may be a setting to prevent that. However, as it's a QNAP, my recommendation would be to install & use MinimServer instead. Definitely no unexpected transcoding with that UPnP media server! See features linked in my first post; installation instructions:

http://minimserver.com/installing.html

[asdf1000]

No, no & thrice no - not sure where that person got that idea from! If that were true there'd be no way you could use the BubbleUPnP Android app to control a purpose built UPnP renderer, like the the microRendu.

 

Apart from being a proper UPnP controller app, the BubbleUPnP app does have a built-in UPnP renderer, but that's used to play music back on the Android device its installed on - that's what rendering means. It also has a built-in UPnP/DLNA media server, but that's only to provide music files stored on the Android device and it doesn't even transcode (for UPnP devices). You can engage an internal transcoder for Chromecast, but that's not UPnP/DLNA (& another topic).

 

Incidentally, I've just spotted your new thread about an issue with the QNAP Music Station. Can't be a coincidence, but also about a problem with downsampling ALAC?

Is Music Station the UPnP/DLNA media server you're actually using (so not the foo_UPnP one)?

 

I've never used Music Station, but it could well be automatically transcoding those hi-res ALAC files to 16/44.1 pcm. There may be a setting to prevent that. However, as it's a QNAP, my recommendation would be to install & use MinimServer instead. Definitely no unexpected transcoding with that UPnP media server! See features linked in my first post; installation instructions:

Installing MinimServer and MinimWatch

 

Whoops, my other thread about Qnap Music Station is completely separate. I've only just started using that today, trying it out of frustration in not being able to get foobar2000 going. So that defintiely had no involvement in the downsampling. I will give foobar2000 another crack this week with the advice you've given about the PC side installation (which is where I hit a wall last week).

 

Failing that, MinimServer will be the next step, and the first step in hopefully parting with the PC for music playback! :-)

 

Thanks heaps again for your help - greatly appreciated

[jfaok]

A friend of mine uses Monkeymote on his android device to control Foobar. Seems to work very well for him. https://www.monkeymote.com

[PeterMac]

I tried Foobar2000 controller it's not bad but can't read .cue files in "Files" tab. I have all my music in CUE+FLAC/APE format, and Foobar2000 controller it's not very comfortable in use. When I click on .cue file it read it but very often from second track, and I have to swipe to "Playlists" tab to see all tracks, also do not refresh this playlist most of time, I have to click refresh manually.

 

Do you know good remote for someone who use CUE+FLAC format, I wish to have reading my music like Foobar mobile do when I browse my music in "Media server". Read perfect all tracks names from CUE+FLAC/APE files in folders also with cover but only play them on smartphone

[chauphuong]

Try FoobarCon, not Controller

[PeterMac]

I tried FoobarCon and it's fantastic !!! that's what I was looking for, thank you for recomendation, muuch better than Foobar controller, first read all .cue+flac files corectlly always play from first track when I hit on .cue file. also Grid Mode is fantastic  almost perfect for me. One really small con is when I select SACD.ISO file with Stereo and Multichannel tracks it can't correctly sort them, It mix them by track title so I have double tracks with same names one in Stereo other in Multichannel  hope you know what I mean.

Already bought FoobarCon PRO version, I hated ads in free ver.

[chauphuong]

I try storing music on another computer in the same network as the computer where Foobar2000 is installed. Both FoobarCon and Foobar Controller, while working flawlessly with music stored in the Foobar2000 - installed computer, just cannot browse the Network to see and access the other computer to play music stored there. Any advice?