Best way to tag compilations (play:sub)

[recom273]

I just started using subsonic on my unraid server, I just bought a new truck and was looking for a way to stream music to the Apple CarPlay.

I tried play:sub looks perfect - a good proportion of the compilations on the server aren't grouped together together in albums. These are in a folder called "compilations" - the grouped compilations are in a folder "various artists" even tho' they aren't tagged, the album artist is left blank.

I use Swinsian on a Mac to play Flac files locally, which handles the tagging - It usually does a decent job, moving files to the "various artists" file, but often needs a nudge.

I checked the files in mp3tag and the compilation box is tagged, but the compilations aren't grouped together in album.

What is the best way to tag these, so I can play the compilations continuously.

[J_T_W]

AFAIK, Subsonic doesn't use the compilation metadata. You would need to fill in the artist, album artist, and album data for correct sorting if not sorted by folder.

If you're looking services that make more use of metadata for grouping and delivery, you may want to look to other services. Subsonic is basically abandonware; it isn't open-source and there is no development or active support by the owner. Both below suggestions run on multiple platforms, I'm a Windows guy so some of my supplemental info isn't as useful to non-Windows users.

If you're looking for a very lateral move, consider Airsonic Advanced https://github.com/airsonic-advanced/airsonic-advanced - It is in active development with frequent snapshot updates https://github.com/airsonic-advanced/airsonic-advanced/releases . Same feature set as Subsonic (API, Sonos, etc.) with updated code. As it is open source, you also get all the features Subsonic Premium gives you, but for free. Minimal effort for installation (latest Java installed, then a command line shortcut to the war file - upgrades even easier with just a fast war file change).

If you're really more API focused, and looking just for a music streaming service, you might consider moving off the Subsonic family of servers altogether. Check out Navidrome https://www.navidrome.org/ . That product is primarily to supply the API with a completely new back-end, and refocuses to just support audio (no video, podcast, internet radio, etc.). There is not yet built in support for Sonos, but you can find easy linking with something like Bonob https://github.com/simojenki/bonob. As with Airsonic Advanced, no subscription or fee to access the API. Navidrome does have a simplified web UI if desired.

Both products will need you to come up with your own DDNS solution for external access. Both support running as a service with something like NSSM https://nssm.cc/, and IIS works great as a reverse proxy if you wish to run them as SSL.

[timlance]

I have my Various Artists albums individual folders named Various Artists <album name>. In play:Sub you can choose Music>Folders. No need to muck with tags. Open a bottle of wine and rename some folders.

[recom273]

AFAIK, Subsonic doesn't use the compilation metadata. You would need to fill in the artist, album artist, and album data for correct sorting if not sorted by folder.

If you're looking services that make more use of metadata for grouping and delivery, you may want to look to other services. Subsonic is basically abandonware; it isn't open-source and there is no development or active support by the owner. Both below suggestions run on multiple platforms, I'm a Windows guy so some of my supplemental info isn't as useful to non-Windows users.

If you're looking for a very lateral move, consider Airsonic Advanced https://github.com/airsonic-advanced/airsonic-advanced - It is in active development with frequent snapshot updates https://github.com/airsonic-advanced/airsonic-advanced/releases . Same feature set as Subsonic (API, Sonos, etc.) with updated code. As it is open source, you also get all the features Subsonic Premium gives you, but for free. Minimal effort for installation (latest Java installed, then a command line shortcut to the war file - upgrades even easier with just a fast war file change).

If you're really more API focused, and looking just for a music streaming service, you might consider moving off the Subsonic family of servers altogether. Check out Navidrome https://www.navidrome.org/ . That product is primarily to supply the API with a completely new back-end, and refocuses to just support audio (no video, podcast, internet radio, etc.). There is not yet built in support for Sonos, but you can find easy linking with something like Bonob https://github.com/simojenki/bonob. As with Airsonic Advanced, no subscription or fee to access the API. Navidrome does have a simplified web UI if desired.

Both products will need you to come up with your own DDNS solution for external access. Both support running as a service with something like NSSM https://nssm.cc/, and IIS works great as a reverse proxy if you wish to run them as SSL.

Sorry, I am using airsonic advance docker container on unraid.

Thanks for the interesting post, very informative.

So, airsonic uses compilation meta, because some albums that are ticked as compilations and are in a various artist folder (not tagged various artists) appear as compilations in play:sub

Other albums that are directed to the compilations folder by swinsian don’t appear as compilations in play:sub

I understand what the other poster says, and I have thought of this, just moving the files into the various artists folder, but then I won’t be able to play them locally in swinsian, they will come up as dead links.

I was just wondering what the protocol for play:sub was.

Apart from this, everything is great! Apart from, I haven’t the truck yet .. grrr