Stupid but... How do I get back to album view? Plus bonus nearsighted observations :)

[MLB]

I obviously just began using the app and am an idiot. I was looking at the album view with art and it is on in the settings but I have no idea how to get to it. All I can see are Local Folders in the area Music Library. Baffling.

[UPDATED IDIOCY] Well, as always, just as you post your problem, and are checking to describe it properly, you figure out the solution. I'm going to post anyway because the solution seems very counter intuitive and I couldn't figure it out for literally 30 minutes so I think knowing the problems of new users would be very helpful. Did I mention I'm an idiot? Well, not always :)

So, it says I'm in the Music Library section, subtitled Local Folders. But I'm not. Clearly I should be able to back up and choose a different view if in the library, right? But it's impossible. And you can't even get where I am from the Music Library despite telling me I'm there by the title at the top.

I only found the way out by randomly going to Media Servers and then after going to Local, then you see only 2 options, Local Folders and This Device. Click on Local Folders as I must have eons ago, like 1 hour, and you end up in this weird mislabeled spot with no way to back out. Or figure out where you are because you know how the app is mislabeled here, and go back in from the start and click This Device instead and it shows you what the Music Library shows you normally, all the views.

But the biggest problem is that while stuck here, going to the main menu and Music Library does nothing! You're stuck with this view that came from a different section! How weird. You have to go back, thread the needle and know how to get out.

So, holy baby Jesus, the past hour was like an app induced K-hole. An app-hole. I need a nap :)

--->>> Can I strongly suggest you title these selection with the actual name of the section on the menu ONLY. Then you know where you are. And you should be able to back out - all the way back. Also, if for file browsing to get to a local file or spot, make this area clearly browsing and not at all related to the Music Library as it is now. And most clearly using this local folder browsing function should NEVER affect the opening view when entering the Music Library. Has to function normally and show all views.

Whew! I hope that helps. It really should be changed because it is badly violating assumed grammar of how menus work. Sure, once you know this doesn't work the normal expected way but rather... you're ok. But, still, obviously it's better to have menus follow basic implicit rules.

A couple quick observations:

Very helpful to be able to skip easily between artist, album, songs so would be great to have buttons that allow you to do that rather than only see songs on one album if not going back to the main view to change views.

I keep music in one folder. Instead of showing the main folder when viewing by Local Folders you could code in something so if only one base folder you open it rather than view it closed. Otherwise every time going there you have to manually open it, so why not automatically? If you had people select a default folder, it could always open that and then people can go up a level if wanting another folder.

How do you delete a song from the queue that is playing (I'm casting it)? What am I missing? Only thing I can do is drag anything not wanted to the top, but I should be able to delete items. How?

I found that some songs, perhaps any that are a video (?) Would not have the hamburger in the right side to easily select options like adding to queue as I was doing. And every time I tried to highlight it, it would stop the music and go to this item. Why would many be treated differently and have no menu? How to select without making it play immediately?

Is there info on how to get the best sound when casting? I was expecting there to be given the app's name. Is there a particular thread perhaps you could point to or create and add to the help section?

Thank you for your app. I'm sure I'll end up getting the premium version after using it for a little and working fine So far, so good, apart from the app-hole above, and casting well :)

[ShellstaX]

I'll have a go at responding to some of your queries.

- Deleting queued tracks can be done with a right swipe..

- I think most of your issues will be addressed by using "This Device" rather than "Local Folders"

(Disregarding streaming Radio, as additional but not related to this this thread ...) 

HiFi Cast uses the in-built Android Media Server, presented as "This Device", which finds/serves music on you device automatically.

or UPnP/DLNA Servers on your network, which serve music from locations as configured on the server.

Servers present several ways to view your music e.g, Album, Artist, Song view in a scrollable horizontal menu at the top.

Servers, according to compatibility, present the cover art and search capabilities too.

Local Folders requires you to do the legwork of locating your music folders, on either e,g, internal storage/ SD Card, and doesn't give the above Server features.

Once you've hit the top level of your Internal Storage or SD Card (as presented with non-root access) the only place to go is the Burger (to choose a new source).

It is nice that Local Folders is provided as an option though.

- You can remove your "Local Folders", to avoid confusion from the "Recent" list of Media Servers with a right swipe. (if it's not currently being used).

- HiFi Cast is an Audio player, not a Video player (you probably know that).

- There is Help - from the Burger pop-up menu - scrollable, second to bottom item ... and or have a look at the pinned item in the Forum. Further questions to the Forum is OK too.

- I suggest HiFi Cast is one of the best/few Android Apps that caters well for Local / UPnP Servers and gapless playback to Local / Chromecast Devices and UPnP Renderers. It now also incorporates transcoding.

[Igor Nikolic]

Hi ShellstaX, I posted this question elsewhere but seems inline with your answer... 

"Servers present several ways to view your music e.g, Album, Artist, Song view in a scrollable horizontal menu at the top.

Servers, according to compatibility, present the cover art and search capabilities too."

In Configure Media Server Settings there is Albums Folder choice. Are you saying this Album view will only exist depending on the Media Server type used? I am using TVersity. 

Similarly for the cover art, my mp3 collection has embeded album art in each file that I am not seeing in the app or chromecast on tv. Song info is showing the art in url poiting to TVerstiy DLNA server. Do media servers send mp3 metadata with embeded art that this app could show?

Thanks

[ShellstaX]

Igor ...

Yes - HiFi Cast will present the Menu/Tree as presented by the Server. Most (if not all all(?)) Servers present an Album view ... But different Servers present this differently, for example, Asset Server appears to present it's Album Container as a Folder Container. 

You do have some control of how things are presented e.g, Grid/List via:

Settings > Music Library

HiFi Cast will try to get the cover art but compatibility issues between HiFi Cast and the Server may result in cover art not appearing. It'd forward the media link to the Renderer (TV/Chromecast) - I'd assume, but don't know, that the presentation on the Renderer would be determined by the Renderer(?)

I've found the best compatibility to be with Minim Server.

See the associated pinned thread DLNA/UPnP Server Capabilities

[ShellstaX]

MLB ...

Clarification/Correction:

Servers present several ways to view your music e.g, Album, Artist, Song view in a scrollable horizontal menu at the top.

As set by Settings > Music Library > Tabs > Show Tabs

 

Else (Hide Tabs) it'll be presented vertically in Folder form.

I prefer to Show Tabs - it then presents cover art at the top level (as compatibility with the Server allows).

[ShellstaX]

Here's an example of what my Album View from Minim Server looks like:

[Hi-Fi Cast Developer]

Hi,

Thanks for that taking the time to compose such a detailed post. My comments below.

 

I obviously just began using the app and am an idiot. I was looking at the album view with art and it is on in the settings but I have no idea how to get to it. All I can see are Local Folders in the area Music Library. Baffling.

[UPDATED IDIOCY] Well, as always, just as you post your problem, and are checking to describe it properly, you figure out the solution. I'm going to post anyway because the solution seems very counter intuitive and I couldn't figure it out for literally 30 minutes so I think knowing the problems of new users would be very helpful. Did I mention I'm an idiot? Well, not always :)

Oops. One of my main design criteria is to make the UI of the app simple and intuitive - even at the expense of extra functionality. I see I've failed miserably on that score :)

So, it says I'm in the Music Library section, subtitled Local Folders. But I'm not. Clearly I should be able to back up and choose a different view if in the library, right? But it's impossible. And you can't even get where I am from the Music Library despite telling me I'm there by the title at the top.

Yeah. The app's use of the term 'Music Library' is misleading in places - and the app also uses 'Media Server' on some screens to mean the same thing (double oops). I'm looking at fixing that.

Selecting 'Local Folders' as your MediaServer/MusicLibrary is just an alternative way of Browsing your music. It only exists because the 'This Device' MediaServer/MusicLibrary doesn't display all file types (ie those not supported by the Android Media Database on which it's based eg. WMA, DSD, APE).

So, holy baby Jesus, the past hour was like an app induced K-hole. An app-hole. I need a nap :)

I have no idea what a K-hole is but it doesn't sound pleasant  :)

I think ShellstaX has covered most of your other queries.

Regarding audio quality when casting. There's nothing you really need to do as playback should always be bit-perfect except for the following:

• Casting FLAC files when volume normalisation (replaygain) is in effect
• If you have set up a custom transcode rule that outputs MP3. The automatic transcode rules always output in lossless formats (WAV or FLAC).

In addition to audio quality, the Hi-Fi in the name of the app refers to the fact that I wanted an app that would be good for using with a home 'Hi-Fi' system.

Cheers,

Brett

 

[Igor Nikolic]

ShellstaX,

Thanks your Album View looks nice. 

No luck with my album art - the HiFi cast player is also showing the same default speaker icon as the CC. It could be the server. I will play with Minim per your other thread

[MLB]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll read through all of them. Much appreciated.

Hmm. So this won't play music videos? I see it doesn't pick up any of my mp4 files and, I haven't checked but I guess also webm? I assumed it would given the emphasis on casting which, I understand but associated with videos.

Now I have a lot of music in various formats many if which include video, mp4, webm, m4a... That might be it. Are none of those supported? Is there a list of supported file types. I, if course, saw the help pages but don't see anything there about it and scanned some entries here.

Thanks again.

[MLB]

Hmm. I don't see how to edit my last comment. I was going to add that maybe some of my confusion is from the fact that I don't have any media server. I am just using the app with music on my phone.

[ShellstaX]

Firstly - many of us still use Chromecast Audio (and rue it's discontinuation). I also have a Chromecast 2 too - but don't do much on the Music Video side (I have some)

I stand to be corrected but ... I don't think HiFi Cast plays video natively ...

It's purpose is perhaps more about high bitrate / gapless music from Local/UPnP sources to Local/UPnP/Chromecast destinations.

HiFi Cast plays FLAC, WAV, MP3  ... and MP4/AAC.

However ... for MP4:

- Audio will play natively if the filename has a .m4a suffix (you can simply rename the video file - but you'll get no video).

- Video, that has a .mp4 suffix, when launched from HiFi Cast invokes Android prompt to open an External/default App. If you wanted to (Chrome)cast it then that App handles the task. Suggesting that you might as well just launch it from that App to begin with.

[ShellstaX]

PS - You can use Local Folders - you don't need Servers.