Manual

SONORE by Simple Design

the sound has to be in concert with the music.......

Sonore System Music Server Manual for PC:

INTRODUCTION:
Your Sonore Music Server has been designed to automatically rip cds with tags and cover art, store the music on it's internal drive system, share the music on the home network and playback the music with minimal fuss and configuration on your part. Most of the configuration has been done by us so that you can get to the main point of the system....listening to music!

Your Sonore Music Server operates without the need of a mouse or keyboard or monitor to minimize the negative impact of those devices on the quality of it's audio playback. The result is a device with your entire music library at your fingertips that works and feels like a traditional audio component. The benefit is a device that out performs traditional audio components.

INSTALLATION/START UP STEPS:
1. Remove the unit from the box and place it into it's final location. Since the unit is fanless and requires ventilation avoid placing the unit in a location without adequate ventilation. I have my Sonore Music Server in a cabinet, but I leave the door of the cabinet open so that is can operate properly. Although the unit "should" shutdown on internal protection permanent damage "may" result from the unit overheating. If the unit shuts down on internal protection do not restart the unit until you can provide adequate ventilation.

2. Connect the power cord from the power brick unit to an electrical outlet with clean power. For best audio playback results and for the protection of the unit's sensitive circuits it is recommended that you connect the power brick unit to a power line conditioner with surge protection. Connect the 4 pin din connector to the back of the unit.

3. Connect an ethernet cable from your router to the ethernet port on the back of the unit. The router should be connected to the internet in order for the unit to properly tag and obtain cover art. Do not connect the unit directly to a computer as it is not intended to operate in this configuration.

4. Connect the output cable: (please select the appropriate configuration below)

4a. If you purchased a unit with a Lynx Studio Technology AES16 audio card connect the Cardas or Straightwire upgrade cable to a component with digital AES/EBU balanced XLR input. Use the Port A d-sub connector on the card for channel 1 output.

4b. If you purchased a unit with a Lynx Studio Technology L22 audio card connect the Cardas or Straightwire upgrade cable in one of the following configurations: To a component with analog balanced XLR stereo pair or unbalanced RCA stereo pair input. To a component with digital AES/EBU balanced XLR or SPDIF unbalanced RCA input.

4c. If you purchased a unit for USB playback connect your USB device to the back of the unit to one of the two SOtM audio card's USB ports. The Switch on the SOtM audio card kills the USB power on port #1.

5. With steps 1 through 4 above completed press and release the power button located on the left side of the case. Allow the unit 45 to 60 seconds to finalize and start up. To turn the unit off press and release the power button, but avoid holding the power button down as this will force the unit to shut down improperly.

OPERATION
1. Ripping: Ripping a cd is very easy. Open the cd tray and drop in your cd and close the cd tray. The unit will do all the work automatically and open the cd tray when it's done and ready for another rip. The default file format of each rip is “FLAC” in one directory and “WAV” in a mirror directory.

2. Accessing your files in Windows: After a cd has been ripped you can access the music directory from any computer on the home network from within Windows Explorer. In Windows Explorer expand My Network Places, expand Entire Network, expand Microsoft Network Places, expand Workgroup and expand Vortexbox. You should know see several folders named Files, Music, Movies and Pictures. Note that the folder named Files is the physical location of your data and the folders named Music, Movies and Pictures are virtual read only copies of what is contained on the Files folder. The intent is to allow you to share the virtual copy with any application on the home network and assure that the application or user does not change, damage or delete your data during usage. Now expand the folder named Files and you will see the physical directories with your data. The files\music\flac directory will contain the cds you ripped above.

3. File management: You can manage your rips and edit tags and change ablum/titles from the files\music\flac directory discussed above. You can also add your own content (wav, alac, aff, mp3...) to the files\music\flac directory for playback. The other folders are present for units that mirror the files\music\flac directory to mp3 and alac and thus prevent your music from coming up twice in the playback software. Do not delete or rename the folders in the directory structure as they are requires by the unit to perform tasks.

4. You can access the web GUI from Windows on the home network from within your web browser. From your web browser enter the word vortexbox (just the word vortexbox and no www or http) and press enter. The Vortexbox web GUI should open and the tabs to the left of the web GUI allow you to navigate the GUI.

WEB GUI
The following is a description of each tab (from top to bottom) in the web GUI:

1. Home Icon - Takes you to your unit's home page and displays basic system information like drive space and unit's IP address. Note the unit's IP address as it might come in handy from time to time. There is also a link to the Vortexbox.org homepage where you will find a community of Vortexbox users.

2. Speaker Icon - Takes you to an application called Squeezebox Server (SBS). SBS is your unit's web enabled controller for playback through the unit. Refer below for detailed playback instructions. SBS also controls the family of Logitech (AKA Slim Devices) networked players.

3. CD/Optical Drive Icon: Takes you to your unit's CD Ripping Status page and displays the ripping status in real time. The Get Cover Art button updates any missing cover art in the FLAC folder and copies the cover art to the mirrored WAV folder.

4. Gear Icon: Takes you to your unit's System Status page and displays detailed information about your unit.

5. Network Card Icon: Takes you to your unit's Network Configuration page and displays network information. From this page you can also enable the Sonos Share feature to control the Sonos family of networked player.

6. Tools Icon: Takes you to your unit's System Configuration page and displays the date and time. From this page you can also Reboot the unit, Power Down the unit and Restart SBS.

7. USB Icon: Takes you to your unit's Backup page and displays backup information. Notes: You should back up your data often even if you have a raid type unit! The backup makes a mirror of the data stored on your unit and data deleted from the unit will cause data deleted on the USB backup during backup. The first time you insert your USB backup drive the unit will format the drive so make it's empty. The format is to insure compatibility with the unit.

8. Speaker with Vortexbox Icon: Takes you to your unit's Configure Vortexbox Player page. Notes: This page should only be used by customers that do not have a Lynx card and are using a USB DAC. Changes made in this page will disable your Lynx card configuration and you will not be able to listen to music!

9. Box Icon: Takes you to your unit's Upgrade page. From this page you can update the unit and install applications that are available to your system.

PLAYBACK
You can initiate playback of your unit from the web GUI application SBS, from an iPhone/iTouch/iPad application and from other third party Music Player Daemon (MPD) clients.

1. Web GUI application SBS is the out of the box controller for playback through the unit. It's intended to give you control of playback from any computer on the home network from within your web browser. It does require that you complete all of the Installation/Start Up above first:) From your web browser enter the word Vortexbox (just the word vortexbox and no www or http) and press enter. When the web GUI opens select the Speaker Icon by clicking on it to open SBS. SBS is set by default to look at the flac folder (this is "one" reason why you should not change the name of the folders). You can change the location that SBS looks at by selecting the Settings button located at the bottom right hand of GUI. You can also update the Music Database that SBS uses after you rip or drop new content into your unit.

2. The iPhone/iTouch/iPad application MPoD is an advanced controller for playback through the unit. It's intended to give control of playback of the unit in the palm of your hand and requires that you complete the Installation/Start Up above first. In addition it requires the following set up:
2.1 Enter Settings on your mobile device and make sure you are logged into your home network and provide your network password as required.
2.2 Install the free application MPoD.
2.3 Start MPoD and select the Sprocket icon (top left corner), then select MPD Server from the Preferences screen, then select Vortexbox Player from the Connection screen. This will automatically configure your connection. Scroll to the buttom of this screen and make the following changes:
change URL to http://ip-address/music
*the ip-address is above already entered above for you so just copy it
change Filename to cover.jpg
This will allow MPod to see and display your coverart properly. Now select Save. In the Connection screen make sure the name Vortexbox Player is a light blue color (if not select it to make it blue). Select Preferences and verify that the Status displays Connected. If connected select Refresh Local Cache and Update Database and press Done. *If you are not connected....the unit may not be ON and connected to the home network.

3. Third party MPD clients are available for various operating systems and hand held devices, but we do not provide support for them. This website has more information: http://mpd.wikia.com/wiki/Clients. The setup and results may vary, but revolve around entering the units IP Address, Connecting to the unit, and Updating the Local Cache and Database. The port is always 6600 and you just need to check that it matches or change it. Gnome is great on Windows and MpcOSX is great on a Mac.

Thank you for your purchase and enjoy!

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY

Simple Design LLC computer based audio players (i.e. SONORE MUSIC SERVERS) are warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials or workmanship, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, for one (1) year from the date of purchase.

This warranty does not cover the loss of data, music and cover art stored on its hard drive in the event of hard drive failure. For that reason Simple Design, LLC stresses to the customer to backup the computer based audio player’s hard drive on a daily basis.

THIS WARRANTY IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS:

This warranty is void and inapplicable if the computer audio player and/or its operating system and/or any driver software have:

A. Not been used in accordance with the instructions contained in the operation manual.

B. Been subject to misuse or abuse.

C. Been modified, repaired, or tampered with by anyone not specifically authorized to do so by Simple Design LLC.

D. Been subject to inputs/outputs in excess of the maximum rating.

E. Suffered physical damage to the structure or components due to accident, neglect, or transportation.

If a Simple Design, LLC computer based audio player fails to meet the above warranty and the above conditions have been met, then the customer’s sole remedy shall be to return the product to Simple Design, LLC where the defect will be repaired without charge for parts or labor.

This warranty applies only to products returned to Simple Design, LLC in Miami Lakes, FL USA.

(Returning the product to Simple Design, LLC from some countries other than the United States may involve considerable time and expense. The customer is responsible for all fees and duties and for providing instructions and all the paperwork required to return the product after it is serviced.)\

The computer based audio player must be packed in the original packing and returned to Simple Design, LLC via insured freight by the customer at his or her own expense. A returned product must be accompanied by a Return Authorization Form, (available from Simple Design, LLC upon request) which includes a written description of the defect and return shipping information.

ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE ABOVE PRODUCT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THE ABOVE WARRANTY. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL COSTS OR DAMAGES TO PURCHASER.

Simple Design LLC reserves the right to modify the design of any product without any obligation to previous purchasers and/or to change the prices or specifications without notice or obligation to anyone.

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