HQPWV (HQPlayer Web Viewer)

[llamaluv]

Hi all. I thought I'd create a thread in support of a project I've been developing over the last few weeks.

 

HQPWV is a remote control solution for HQPlayer. You install a server program on Windows or Mac, and from there, you can control HQPlayer from any browser on your local network. It works with both HQPlayer Desktop and Embedded versions.

 

Check out a quick demo video here

 

Read the installation instructions and download the executable on github

 

 

Beyond the typical music player functions, HQPWV maintains its own "metadata layer" to keep track of "liked" tracks and number of track plays (think Roon), and playback history.

 

Additionally, it offers "presets" (a combination of HQPlayer filter type and noise shaper type) which can be triggered based on the sample rate of the currently playing track. This feature is experimental, and I'm open to ideas on how I might refine this system based on what people would find most useful. It also has dark and light color themes.

I'm interested in any feedback or issues anyone may have while using it, as testing beyond myself has so far been limited.

 

HQPWV is free, and open-source.

[The Computer Audiophile]

So cool. Nice work!

[AnotherSpin]

It is very easy to control HQ Player in one mac from another mac via desktop sharing.

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

It is very easy to control HQ Player in one mac from another mac via desktop sharing.

Not so easy from a mobile though :~)

[SalD]

Hi @llamaluv ... this sounds great to me! I was just looking something similar just to have easy control of settings from my iPhone/iPad....

 

Do you think is it possible to implement the selection of output devices available into the same local network?

 

Thanks

[llamaluv]

4 hours ago, SalD said:

Hi @llamaluv ... this sounds great to me! I was just looking something similar just to have easy control of settings from my iPhone/iPad....

 

Do you think is it possible to implement the selection of output devices available into the same local network?

 

Thanks

Oh, good question.

 

Unfortunately, everything found in the top half of the the HQPlayer settings dialog can only be configured through HQPlayer itself.

 

That makes me think that I should find some way to communicate that in the HQPWV settings screen...

[bibo01]

7 hours ago, llamaluv said:

Unfortunately, everything found in the top half of the the HQPlayer settings dialog can only be configured through HQPlayer itself.

That is a pity. It limits considerably your "Plays nice with multiple instances of HQPlayer on the same network".

...unless @Miskafinds a way to allow external control of that part of HQPlayer too (fingers crossed).

[llamaluv]

10 minutes ago, bibo01 said:

Plays nice with multiple instances of HQPlayer on the same network

 

By that I meant that the program will function properly even when there's more than on instance of HQPlayer on the network. When there's more than one, you're prompted to choose which HQPlayer instance the server app should pair with.

 

HQPlayer doesn't allow for input device settings to be changed through its API (ie, by outside programs).

[Miska]

To be exact you can switch input devices, but not output devices...

[llamaluv]

Ergh, I meant output devices, since that's what was being asked about, thanks for the correction.

[bibo01]

1 hour ago, llamaluv said:

Ergh, I meant output devices, since that's what was being asked about, thanks for the correction.

Yes, I am sure that @SalDmeant changing between NAA devices

[Miska]

Output device configuration consists of more than just simple device selection, so it is not as straightforward as just selecting device.

 

And remember that NAA itself is not a device, it just reflects one or more devices behind it.

 

[SalD]

Thanks to everybody for your attention and your feedbacks to my question.

Actually I have 3 options for my devices selection and two NAAs. The first NAA is an ALLO combo with two connections to a Gustard dac in the living room. The second NAA is a raspberry PI4 linked to a Sony ampli-dac into the bed room. So, I can choose 3 options from HQP configuration panel: gustard coax, gustard usb, sony usb.

 

The HQP software runs on a MacMini M1 located in the living room with a 65'' TV as monitor (keyboard and mouse to be connected from time to time when needed). Clearly, it is not a "pc workstation" in a classical configuration for a consistent pc usage. By the way, I can take control of the MacMini through a MacBook Pro, but again it is not so comfortable to manage from the bed/bedroom (with HQP "server" running in such "background" mode).

 

For the many who have this kind of multi room and multi device configuration, HQPWV could be a very significant improvement in term of user experience in order to have a 360° digital audio solution. It could be something more similar to Roon Core and Roon remote interaction.

 

If feasible, an eventual "infusion" of HQP Remote Control with HQPWV could significantly improve HPQ for many applications with a variety of devices (inputs, outputs and controls, as well). Don't you think? 

[jvvita]

Nice work. Will it run alongside roon, or does it disrupt roon’s control over hqplayer?

[jvvita]

Ok. Just tested now. Works very well alongside Roon. Nice effort and development.  The presets are a killer feature. Congrats!

[llamaluv]

Thank you for the feedback on that, much appreciated.

[Bob Stern]

Works great in MacOS Mojave.  Thanks!

 

Impressive that you've made the first iteration so feature-rich!

[Bob Stern]

Bug report:   (Lee, do you want future bug reports here or on GitHub?)

 

In MacOS, when saving a playlist in which one track has a filename that includes an ampersand, your program converts the ampersand to "&".  Consequently, when you subsequently attempt to load that playlist, that track is skipped because the filename is incorrect.

 

Correct file path:

/Volumes/Portable/iTunes Portable/iTunes Media/Bach - Cello Suites - Rostropovich/1-13 6. Bouree 1 & 2.flac

 

Erroneous path saved in playlist:

file:///Volumes/Portable/iTunes Portable/iTunes Media/Bach - Cello Suites - Rostropovich/1-13 6. Bouree 1 & 2.flac

[llamaluv]

7 hours ago, Bob Stern said:

Bug report:   (Lee, do you want future bug reports here or on GitHub?)

 

In MacOS, when saving a playlist in which one track has a filename that includes an ampersand, your program converts the ampersand to "&".  Consequently, when you subsequently attempt to load that playlist, that track is skipped because the filename is incorrect.

 

Correct file path:

/Volumes/Portable/iTunes Portable/iTunes Media/Bach - Cello Suites - Rostropovich/1-13 6. Bouree 1 & 2.flac

 

Erroneous path saved in playlist:

file:///Volumes/Portable/iTunes Portable/iTunes Media/Bach - Cello Suites - Rostropovich/1-13 6. Bouree 1 & 2.flac

Great, this is just the kind of subtle stuff I was hoping would be uncovered :) Here or Github is good.

[jabbr]

Since I use HQPE on Linux, and have zero possibility of moving to either Windows or MacOS ... and particularly since this is a server based program, any consideration to a Linux version?

 

Since this is javascript would it run on Linux?

[The Computer Audiophile]

4 minutes ago, jabbr said:

Since I use HQPE on Linux, and have zero possibility of moving to either Windows or MacOS ... and particularly since this is a server based program, any consideration to a Linux version?

 

Since this is javascript would it run on Linux?

This can be run on a desktop or laptop and still control HQPe running on Linux. 

[llamaluv]

11 minutes ago, jabbr said:

Since I use HQPE on Linux, and have zero possibility of moving to either Windows or MacOS ... and particularly since this is a server based program, any consideration to a Linux version?

 

Since this is javascript would it run on Linux?

Hi, good question.

 

It definitely ought to be possible to run on Linux -- if you're comfortable installing Node.js and running the server from the source code found on github. If this is of interest and you need some guidance, feel free to post here or PM me.

 

I need to do more investigation on making an executable version that will run on Linux (though I'm not even sure which flavors this will be do-able for, as of yet). I gave it a try earlier but had no luck, but will now put this higher on my to-do list, thanks.

[Miska]

Installing node.js on Linux distributions is very straightforward from the main repository. You may need some additional packages, but Node based applications shouldn't be hard to get running. Node.js is very common platform.

 

[antonellocaroli]

seems to work on linux too

 

 

[llamaluv]

I've posted a new release on github - v0.9.4, which now includes a binary for Linux (thanks @jabbr and @antonellocaroli for asking about Linux, earlier).

 

Also fixes bug where a track in custom playlists would fail if the filename has certain special characters (thanks @Bob Stern).