Android app sees but won't play music

[bawnzai]

I've got the same problem. Nothing at all will play on my G1, and I'm on WiFi. Everything loads fine and I can download songs with no problem.

Any ideas?

Yeah, I also have this problem. I created a new thread about this a couple of weeks ago and got no response. I was testing with the windows server and linux server. For some reason the windows server was streaming fine over 3g, but it might have just been the songs I selected. Now neither the windows or linux server are working consistently.

I can't imagine this is a bandwidth issue. On my g1 and I get up to 2MB/s downstream. Wifi works fine.

Again, I can connect, list the directories/songs, album art -- but streaming fails 99% of the time.

[bawnzai]

Yeah, I also have this problem. I created a new thread about this a couple of weeks ago and got no response. I was testing with the windows server and linux server. For some reason the windows server was streaming fine over 3g, but it might have just been the songs I selected. Now neither the windows or linux server are working consistently.

I can't imagine this is a bandwidth issue. On my g1 and I get up to 2MB/s downstream. Wifi works fine.

Again, I can connect, list the directories/songs, album art -- but streaming fails 99% of the time.

I tried with the latest 3.8 today server and latest client in the market.

I can do download and play over 3G, but no streaming. This is the killer app for my phone that I desperately want to work, but it's not quite there yet

[axelh92]

I also have the problem that the song stops halfway through, and the playing time changes depending on what maximum bitrate I have. This App would be really good if this problem was fixed.

[sindre_mehus]

Hi,

Just wanna let you know that I'm aware of the problems with streaming to the Android app (thanks for reporting), and that I'm working on a new version that hopefully will solve most of the problems. (And surely add some new ones...)

Sindre

[moonraker76]

Much appreciated Sindre! We will look forward to stress testing it for you

[silvermage]

I've been loyally using subsonic for quite some time now, but decided to put it on hold in favor of another app which streams to my android.

I can't wait to get back to subsonic! Keep us posted, and if you need testers, let me know!!

[sindre_mehus]

Just a brief update: Streaming with the upcoming version of the Android app works a lot better than the old. I had to work around some problems with the streaming features in Android.

Completing the Android app is my top priority for the moment (well, except from work, wife and kids), and I hope to have a beta version ready in a couple on weeks (don't quote me on that...)

Sindre

[breakerfall]

longtime subsonic user here-
just wanted to throw in an annoying "me too" for the songs cutting off before the end.

downloaded the android app today onto my Droid.

it looks very promising, and I'm looking forward to the fix.

Thanks!

[dan1son]

Just a brief update: Streaming with the upcoming version of the Android app works a lot better than the old. I had to work around some problems with the streaming features in Android.

Look forward to checking it out. Just donated to the cause. Wonderful solid app, the proper Android support will be the icing on the cake.

For the record... I found out about this app via the android market, so it's surely helping to get the word out as well.

[Arrogance]

I'm having similar issues during my morning and afternoon commutes. If I had to guess, I'd say that switching between cell towers while streaming over Verizon's 3G is the primary reason for otherwise perfectly streaming songs to cut out on me while I'm on the move (they don't cut out on me as much when I'm at long lights, which supports this theory). As Sindre says though, he's already working on an updated version of the app to fix this.

Another issue though, is when I'm at work. Whether I'm streaming over wireless or using 3G, it's nearly impossible to get any of my podcasts to play at all. I created a playlist with all of my shows and the app just flips right through all of them. Every now and then it'll play a bit of one, but not long after it cuts to the next, and the next, until the playlist is over. The podcasts I listen to tend to be long (anywhere from sixty minutes to three hours and beyond) and generally of a low bitrate, which may have something to do with it. I have no trouble playing any of my audio files from the web app. I realize streaming of normal songs is everyone's priority. Once that's stable, please have a look at this as well.

Here are some links to the the shows in question:
60 Minutes: The Full Broadcast
The /Filmcast
Film Junk
IGN Digigods
IGN Channel Surfing
HT Guys HDTV Podcast
IGN Keepin' it Reel
Filmspotting

If any of you can get even one of those files to play reliably in the Android app, let me know what settings you used for the account. I have two profiles I use on the go, one at 64kbps and another at 320kbps. Neither worked with the files linked on 3G or wireless.

[Arrogance]

Looks like I got ahead of myself! Number one, I didn't have any songs break during my trip home today (I was slowed by inclement weather, perhaps that had something to do with it?), so the whole cell tower idea goes out of the window.

More interestingly, I started trying to stream more of my actual mp3's to my phone instead of the FLAC files I had been. What I discovered was that I had no trobule using my 64kbps account to play mp3 songs, but when I used the 320kbps account, nothing below 320kbps (in other words, most of my mp3's) didn't even start...just like nearly all of my podcasts. New theory is, the app is pleased as pie to downgrade quality while transcoding, but chokes when faced with a high ceiling on bitrate to code to, but a low quality bitrate to code from. I'm going to create a new, superlow bitrate account and see how my podcasts fare then.

[Arrogance]

Okay, that clinches it. The transcoding (or the app, or something) does fine with same-quality or higher-bitrate files, but it chokes when tasked with sending a lower-bitrate file on an account set for a higher bitrate. I went back with the "No Limit" bitrate selected and it again would skip past the files. Hope this helps!

[SabreCEO]

I'm pretty sure I figured this out. When I try to play mp3s which are variable bit rates most don't play. However, if the average of the variable bitrate is higher than what the maximum is specified they are re-encoded on the fly automatically and then they work. That's why it looks like when you set it to max 128kbps most seem to work, because then most of your mp3s are over 128Kbps on average and subsonic is re-encoding them - but you're losing quality. So it seems that the problem is Subsonic can not play variable bit rate mp3s on the android unless they are first re-encoded.

Obviously what should be fixed is why it can't play variable bit rate songs... That would solve this problem. However, there is an easy work around.

Go to Settings Transcoding and add a new one:

Name: mp3 > mp3
Convert From: mp3
Convert To: mp3
Step 1: lame --cbr -b %b -S %s -

This will re-encode it at a fixed bit rate for all mp3s. Then go to Settings: Players and for the android player/user check of the new "mp3 > mp3" transcoder.

You're done! all your mp3s will play now. However, obviously now mp3s which don't need to be encoded are - which takes longer...

If any of that is unclear please let me know.

-Mark

[gbr357]

SabreCEO's sugestion helped by allowing me to get my bitrate over 128k reliably but the songs still don't play all the way through. On wifi I get about 90% of the song before the next starts...on 3G, about 50-60%.

[breakerfall]

unfortunately, I don't think re-encoding is an option for me since my subsonic server is running on an anemic old laptop...

oh well, still looking for a workable solution...