Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Control:Mac not working preventing me using my Mac instead of Windows

I have a problem that I can't find a solution to, not from Meridian or on this forum but still I'm hoping that maybe someone has a solution.

I've had Windows and Mac computers alongside for a long time, and I like both for different reasons. The PC was always the main computer. Ever since I started using Sooloos, I tested it with both computers but haven't been able to use Control:Mac. That was fine because I could load CD's from the PC using Control:PC. However, now that the ageing PC finally died I want to switch to Mac altogether, but still no matter what I do, Control:Mac won't work. After install, it tries to launch, quits and OSX displays an error message: "Control:Mac quit unexpectedly".

I use OSX 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) on a 3 year old MacBook Pro that functions 100% otherwise.

Seeing as I will also be missing dBpoweramp and JRiver Media Jukebox I am now having doubts whether or not to switch over.

Incidentally, I have tried using dBpa and Media Jukebox via Fusion (emulation) in an XP environment under OSX but although all functionality is there, ripping results in clipped, jittery music. But there's light at the end of the tunnel: I hear that dBpa are working on a Mac version.

I have had the odd problem in the past.

I generally use an app like AppCleaner to remove the app properly. Dont just drag it to the trashcan.

Then reboot,

Then reinstall by pointing to the IP address of your Sooloos and downloading the latest version.

I tend to use XLD for ripping CD's, though, rather than Control:Mac, which has always been very slooow on my machine. Then import the flacs using Control:Mac.

xld seems to be very good, but it doesnt do the magic of downloading hires album covers like dBpa does. You have to do that manually which of course is a pain in the uk since albumartexchange has "stopped working".

Cheers
Greg

Since when have you had problems with Control:Mac?

I and a few others have seen some mild instability (and problems importing from files) with it since the previous software update.

As Greg said, clean install of ControlMac. There are quite a few preferences in the plist which would need to be deleted (find them, trash them).

(Aren't they doing a Mac version of JRiver?)

Thanks for the tips!

The problem has been there from the very first moment that I had Sooloos equipment, which was the MC200 in april 2012. After that I bought the MD600 and the problem persisted. The Mac has been the same and has had OSX 10.6.6 Mountain Lion on it without changes. [CORRECTION: I HAVE 10.6.6 SNOW LEOPARD] During this time, I went through 2 Sooloos software updates: every time I tried again but the Mac version would never work.

Following Greg's tip I now used AppCleaner (nice app btw) to completely remove Sooloos, including all the plist files. Then went to Control:Web to download a fresh copy. Alas, the install has the same routine as before. The PGM tries to launch while it shows two Sooloos icons in the dock (one for the installer and a jumping one for the app opening), then quits with the message "Control Mac quit unexpectedly). Clicking retry results in the same thing.

As far as I know, jriver doesn't do a Mac version just jet, but they might do some day. DB Poweramp however are working a Mac version. Good for me:-)

As for ripping: indeed there are many options and although I just like the completeness of functionality in jriver Media Center, I'm not too worried about that aspect. In fact I think that the tagging will work just fine in emulation under Fusion. The real problem is that I cannot currently import any music to Sooloos because the PC died and Control Mac won't work.

The problem report states:

Exception Type: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGABRT)
Exception Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE at 0x0000000000000000

Upon googling this I get results that are very generic and point to the code itself, and which are beyond my control. That the code might be a little buggy seems plausible, but because it does work on most other people's Macs, it has to be something specific to my system. But what?

Well, Mountain Lion wasn't released until 25 July 2012, so you can't have had it in April 2012.

And 10.6.6 is Snow Leopard, a version which was current from January-March 2011.

I must correct myself: I think the instability I saw occurred when I installed Mountain Lion, not from the previous Sooloos update itself.

Ooops, you're very right Ludwig, indeed I have 10.6.6 which is snow leopard, not mountain lion. I've now edited the post. Those silly animal names have confused me... I've had Leopard, then Snow Leopard, nothing else during the Sooloos period.

Completely Turn off the Firewall in v10.6

Then install Control Mac

You will be asked to give "Allow Incoming Connections" Permission to the following "SooloosHelper", "SyncCompanion" and maybe 1 other Process; grant them all access.

Allow Control:Mac to install and then Load it and see it working for a while.

Then turn your firewall back on again and your Control:Mac should continue to function without issue.

Seems like they are quite close.

Hi Ronnie, immediately I tried your suggestion but it doesn't seem to work. Upon stopping the firewall and me witnessing it being off, I get no queeries for allowing network connections and the process is again the same with the expected unexpected quit at the end...

Hi Tintin, that's good news indeed!