Thanks Roon, but I am passing for the following reasons

Roon Software Discussion
1

I wanted to thank everyone here who helped me and all. I am at my end of the trial and it is with a heavy heart that I am not going to sign up for Roon, I really really wanted Roon to work out and was willing to pay a lot of money to have that happen. Because you guys have been so wonderful and passionate, I thought I would take the time to explain my reasoning’s in efforts hopefully to make Roon better tomorrow than it is today.

  • Roon right now is only seeing about 90% of my music. I need to do some more troubleshooting to figure out why this is and will do so with Roon support.

  • I figure the above will get fixed so my main reasons are although Roon does the best job I have seen visually displaying the MetaData in efforts to get info for what you want to play or learn about music pre playing, it’s not displaying anything different than what I can get today via my current end user application. However, from every other area of functionality, Roon is greatly lagging verses what I am currently using. To this point, I thus would have to manage and daily three different end user interfaces versus two that I manage today (one on my ipad and one that I only use for what is currently playing on my TV via my PC). I am a current Logitech Media Server user so let me go into some detail:

  1. Support. Just a quick observation on support. LMS is currently not supported by Logitech anymore but since it is an open system, the community does a great job continuing to update, fix problems and add functionality. Surprisingly, there is only a slight advantage to Roon in support responsiveness (a $400 application) versus LMS which is completely user supported and free. For a $400 application, I feel I should be able to pick up the phone and talk to a support specialist. The Roon support I am getting via this Roon Community Support is fine, but it’s not really much different in responsiveness i get from Squeezebox Forums.

  2. The algorithms used to automatically pick the next song to play are weak. I find that many repeats occur in a short time and there are no options to fine tune how this work. This really get’s to how do you use Roon. I don’t have the time to set up detailed playlists so the way I use is I start off with an album I like, play that album and let the system decide on what to play next. Currently, if running long enough, LMS (via MusicIP and SpiceFly plugins) will eventually get through my entire collection of music (takes about 3 weeks if running constantly). Furthermore, I can fine greatly tune how it picks the next song which after spending some time with, it does it near perfectly while getting very wide and deep into my collection.

  3. Roon only supports digital music collection, tidal and internet music. Thus I will I will need to use 2 end user systems and two cores to play what i want (I also use Deezer, Pandora, Shoutcast and Podcasts). Yea this is a really big thing for me.

  4. Meta data functionality only supported in digital music and tidal, thus i will loose functionality as currently i get great meta data info on everything in my end user application (SqueezePlay for ipad) regardless of source and for all sources (not to mention having to use three end user applications versus the two that i use today). I also use a program called Klirta Muso which is a fantastic Metadata display tool for the PC. It’s awesome and it’s now playing screen is quite incredible.

  5. The now playing interface is extremely basic and has no options. So you have to hunt around and peck to find information about who is playing now versus having a dashboard of information. I can see how some like the simplicity, so it should be an option to have or not to have. The purpose of Roon is to “look at your music and finds photos, bios, reviews, lyrics, and concert dates, and makes connections between artists, composers, performers, conductors, and producers” but zero of this information is displayed from the now playing screen.

  6. the end user application I use for LMS is an application called SqueezePlay on ipad. From that application with some additional informational plugins for LMS, I can get all the meta info roon does for me (although it’s not as visually pleasing) but for all sources of music.

  7. general settings on how the music is played and displayed are almost non existent. LMS took me some time to set up and get right, but it’s way more robust and customizable versus roon.

So in going to Roon, although it displays info nicer, I am going to be loosing functionality and the ability to customize to the way I like. I feel Roon is an excellent system for the majority out there. Trust me when I say that I have been on the look out and have tried many systems to replace LMS. I feel Roon has the potential to do this and I will be more than happy to revisit Roon is a couple of years.

Again, I wanted to thank everyone in the community. Ultimately, it’s because of passionate end users like yourself that will make Roon a success.

darien

8 Likes
2

Thoughtful feedback, thanks Darian.

I certainly echo your pain with no. 2 and no. 5 is a fair point.

I’d be surprised if Roon doesn’t become more what you desire and it’s good you’re
open to revisiting.

.sjb

3

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

The lacking Radio is the biggest pain point for me. The combination of strong Radio functionality and linked metadata would (will?) be a match made in heaven. I am hopeful that this is a priority for the developers and we’ll get there.

As for the now playing screen, I love it. I use multiple screens with Roon and the “simple” now playing screen serves as art in my room, along with providing the minimal information I want it to. I don’t see why some folks (and you are not alone in this) dislike it when there are other views available that have all of the information Roon offers and still show what’s playing now.

Anyway, your input in the community was welcome. I hope you keen an eye on Roon as it progresses.

5 Likes
4

I completely agree that 2. and 5. are the weakest parts of Roon for the time being. As a lifetime member I hope this will be improved as soon as possible.

Upon improving I think providing options for the different users’ expectations and preferences is the way to go with these two topics.

Cheers
NOA

5

I agree with a lot of what you say coming from LMS myself. Radio and internet radio are a real weak point for software that costs this much and is done better in free apps. Roon will always be limited in its streaming partners to as being moniterised product you can’t use all the open source stuff like LMS can. One plus for Roon though is that its streaming services fully integrate into your library nobody else I know have has achieved this. But this itself limits the amount of services due to licensing and APIs that allow this. If they can get more onboard the better the product will be. I only signed for a year to see how things go. I’m not committing fully until the radio and more streaming solutions become available.

6

I whole-heartedly agree that #2 is very much the weakest link currently in Roon. I’ve been chiming in everywhere on that point. Roon really won’t be sticky until folks that like a radio/shuffle can have a non-frustrating experience. This has been admitted by the Roon team for quite a long time and until it’s fixed, it will simply be behind a lot of apps that are less pretty and have less overall functionality.

#5 I also agree with. The now playing screen should have the capability of a user-defined layout, displaying album cover, artist, metadata, playing next, all in user configured selections and proportions. I’d also love a built-in VU meter or some nice hypnotic visuals.

Roon is young, and the team seems dedicated. I’d love to see them turn to these things soon. It’s hard to invest the time to get Roon to recognize albums, etc., until the team demonstrates that these deep issues will be addressed soon.

1 Like
7

That’s a gross generalisation. Open source does not by definition imply cannot be used in commercial application. It’s likely more a question of the integrations you speak of falling short of how Roonlabs would like to see Roon evolve.

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I think all these points are under development.
I know more or less all other products on the markets, and if you have a decent large librarie you probably want find happiness anywhere.
I know from experience.
You should bring in your input. Developers listen to you.
The product is already great and will grow with your experience.

1 Like