Hi,

I have been using Casatunes with Nuvo Grand Concerto for some time now and it works very well. The iPhone app was very welcome.

My music server PC is running Windows Vista (don’t ask) and my music library is managed through Windows Media Player. All files are lossless WMA.

I have an iPhone and recently bought a Macbook for my everyday computing. I find it complicated and time consuming to convert WMA files to AAC to be able to have them detected by iTunes and to use them on my iPhone. I am looking for a file format that would be compatible with Casatunes, the Mac and the iPhone. There is FLAC but its support is not great I believe,

I am considering moving everything to lossless ACC and using iTunes to manage the music library on the server instead of WMP.

From Casatunes point of view, is there any down side of using iTunes instead of WMP? Any extra steps, compromises, etc.?

Thank you for your advice.

Jean-Robert

Using the lossless iTunes format is a good idea and works well.
You do have to run “CasaTunesSync for iTunes” on the computer where you have the iTunes music whenever you add or remove music from your iTunes library or if you create new playlists that you want to use in CasaTunes. CasaTunesSync transfers the library to CasaTunes and optionally copies the music to the CasaTunes server (nice way to have a backup copy of the music and it will let CasaTunes play the music when the iTunes computer is turned off).
CasaTunesSync is generally pretty quick.
Also, CasaTunes will not play any copy protected music from iTunes. All iTunes Plus music is not copy protected and plays fine.

In addition to CasaTunesSync which runs on non-Mac PC’s that have iTunes music, we have a beta (but, very solid) version of CasaTunesSync for Mac’s.

Kim

ok! thanks for the answer.

I run iTunes directly on the server where Casatunes server is running (using Remote Desktop). I guess that it does not change anything in your explanation. That cancels the backup benefit… But my backup is already setup using an external hard drive.

I guess I will transfer to AAC and iTunes now.

Regards,

Jean-Robert

One more question. How can I control iTunes music from my Nuvo GC keypads? I now see Windows music and iTunes music on the Casatunes web interface, but there is nothing changed in the keypads.

Thanks!

Jean-Robert

You should see a new menu item appear on the keypads for your iTunes music.  It may be necessary to restart the CasaTunes Windows Service if this is the first time you have used iTunes with your keypads.  If this does not fix your issue, please contact us via email:  (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ok. I see it on the keypads too.

But I am considering using iTunes to manage my whole music library. In that case, is it possible to move the iTunes menu item up one level on the keypads? And maybe have Windows Music at a lower level or not present at all? It would make more sense than having to select iTunes among items like “clear all songs”, “by album, etc.

Thank you,

Jean-Robert

J-R, in v2.7 we have added support for selectable music services.  So if you no longer want to see your Windows music you will be able to disable it.  However, in v2.7 all music services will appear a level deeper on the keypads just as iTunes does today.  You can check out the other features of the upcoming 2.7 here

Great news! You guys really rock.

And 2.7 is expected soon?

Thanks.

JR

Before the end of the month (July).