Hang on everyone, your all running in different directions with different issues.
Firstly, let's just get back to what Sooloos claims to be.
It is a complete 'managed' solution for archiving and replaying one's music collection at very high quality in multiple zones, all controlled by what is widely acknowledged as the best and fastest user interface.
It is NOT a 'one size fits all' media player that offers seamless integration with every third party piece of media software and hardware.
We all know the dangers of trying to design product to work with 'everything', it usually ends up not working well at all. There are too many variables.
Sonos, excellent though it is, does not offer a ripping solution therefore users must find there own solutions such as Media monkey, itunes, windows media etc etc. Whilst this is fine for many users, there are, not surprisingly, a significant number of 'high end' users who will not wish to fiddle about with various bits of software, then set up a NAS, let alone decide which codecs to use. They just want to buy something that works, sounds great, looks good and is EASY. That, I believe is what Sooloos & Meridian are trying to achieve and so far have done a pretty good job.
If you're going to have a managed system, you have to use a database and they've chosen to use AMG.
which like most databases is not perfect and does have omissions now and again. I believe that Sooloos actually monitor this and as i'm sure any of you who've looked at AMG would know, it can be modified online to correct mistakes. The way that AMG manages 'various artist' albums is different from some other software. It DOES recognise album artist but what Duncan is pointing out is that it does NOT create a separate field for the track artist within a 'various artist' album. It simply amends the track title and 'adds' the artist to that. This is not a Sooloos thing, it's an AMG thing. However it doesn't create a problem within Sooloos because the system would still be able to find those track artists in a search.
It ONLY becomes an issue if you use Sooloos (and therefore AMG) to rip your music and then export it to your NAS so that Sonos or some other system can see it.
If you do it the other way round .... rip to your NAS using whatever software you're used to then import TO the Sooloos, it 'shouldn't' be a problem.
Regarding cover art, again it's a difficult one for any manufacturer. If the database you are using only offers 200x200 art , that's what you'll get. However it really is very easy to add a higher resolution file. One of my clients has re scanned everything he's got! Rather time consuming but it looks fabulous and you only do it once!
The point i'm making here is that we shouldn't be too hard on Sooloos for trying to do it the right way and possibly compromising 'some' integration on the way.
What it does ..it does VERY well... and is great to use. It imports/exports well with itunes and let's face it, that's more than Sonos did for a long time ....when that first came out, it wouldn't go anywhere near itunes or AAC.
That said, Sooloos is still evolving and i'm sure that integration will improve.
Gerry
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