TL;DR: Can I create saved, focus-based playlists in Roon that will update dynamically based on when a track was last played? If not, is that a feature request that anyone else would be interested in? If not, does anyone know of any library and playback system that will do that reliably across multiple PCs and mobile phones?
Long Version
I have invested many hours, days and years constructing an iTunes library made up of purchased 256 kbps AAC files, CDs ripped to lossless FLAC and ALAC (so 2 copies of each album), and new Apple Music DRM tracks. I have created about 20 smart playlists in iTunes that I listen to on a regular, rotating, mood-centered basis. They refresh dynamically based on when a track was last played (more on that below). I also have hi-rez 24/96 FLAC and single-rate DSD .dsf files (both stereo and multi-channel) that are separate from my iTunes library. I recently subscribed to Tidal and even more recently to the trial version of Roon.
Why the new subscriptions? Well, I travel a lot for my job. I care about sound quality, even for casual listening, and after years and years of trying, I can’t get iTunes and Apple Music to update my smart playlists reliably across all my devices: Home PC, notebook PC, iPhone. The last-played date does not get updated consistently or sometimes at all. The frustration has reached the point where I’m ready to try something different – either the way I listen to music or the library and playback system I use. Or maybe both. I am not pleased at the time and money investment that may be required to change, but I’m already not pleased with the current situation, so there you go.
I listen to the hi-rez multi-channel stuff in my home theater through the Asset UPnP DLNA server software, but not very often. I use Korg’s iAudioGate to listen to some of my favorite hi-rez stereo stuff that I’ve stored on my 128 GB iPhone 6S. I play the tracks on my iPhone connected to an Oppo HA-2 DAC/Amp and listen through Oppo PM-3 headphones. It is album-based playback only – no playlists. That makes up about 10% of my listening time. I use iTunes and Apple Music to play my iTunes library using my smart playlists for the other 90%, listening at home on my Airplay- capable whole-house audio system or mobile on Sennheiser IE80s and Sony XBA-H1s.
I am trying to get Roon + Tidal into a usable state for my listening habits, and I created a convoluted, manually-updated playlist system that uses iTunes, Soundiiz, Tidal, STAMP and Roon to get information to and from my devices. It’s a kludge and it’s complicated, and I am the weak link. I added a new, cheap Android tablet that runs Roon Remote perfectly and works with my Oppo DAC. If I can get TunnelBear to work as a VPN, I can take Roon on the road with me and access all of my music on my Home PC (which acts as a server and an endpoint). That opens up more possibilities – I just wish I knew what they were!
I figure I can work everything except the Apple DRM stuff into Roon and eventually get a good, usable experience out of it. I’m just not sure how yet, nor do I think I can get it figured out in just the 14 days of the trial. The thought of having to duplicate every single Apple DRM track into Tidal’s My Music to make them available in Roon is not a happy one. And that’s just the start.
If anyone has any ideas or can offer any help, I’d really appreciate it. And if you’ve got a system in place that does what I want my system to do and are willing to share, I’ll fly to where you are and buy you dinner.
Thanks for reading this far,
Jeff