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Another NAS Question

I've posted a couple of other times on SONOS vs. Apple issues, and am finally close to deciding which route to take, but I have some very basic questions about setting up a NAS device and getting my music stored.

I want to use a commercial service to rip my disks in a lossless codec. Should I buy a NAS device, get it up and running, and then send it in along with my CD's to get them ripped, or can I send it to the ripping service first and then set it up in my system? How much tech savvy do you need to set one up (I'm pretty much a novice on this)? Do I have to leave my computer on to run iTunes, or will a copy reside on the NAS so that I can leave my computer off?

Any thoughts on particular NAS devices that are better with Apple vs. SONOS?

Many thanks to all and particularly those who took the time to reply to my earlier posts.
bbopman
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
I am a little confused by your question. Are you trying to have all your music stored on a NAS device and have those music played by iTunes running on a Mac? If so, your Mac must be power on in order to run iTunes.

If you are going to use SONOS connected to a NAS directly or through wireless then you don't need to turn on your computer and you will not be running iTunes.

Setting up a NAS for SONOS should be simpler than setting up NAS for iTunes on a Mac.

I haven't read your earlier posts, what is the main reason you want to use a NAS device instead of USB external drives?
bbopman OP
53 posts
 
Thanks Sidssp. I want to use a NAS (I think) because I have about 2000 CD's that will cost significant $$$ to get ripped and I want to make sure I don't lose them due to to a hard drive failure.

I have also thought about maybe using an Apple TV rather than a SONOS (which would require that the Mac be on). The "Coverflow" feature on the new Macs is pretty cool and looks like it would do everything I need to manage my music.

As you can see by my question, as a tech type I made a pretty good history major.

Thanks again.
mlsstl
1,409 posts
 
(use NAS)...to make sure I don't lose them due to to a hard drive failure.

Even a RAID format won't give you the level of protection you probably want. Equipment can be stolen, kicked over by accident, damaged in a fire or windstorm, wiped out by an electrical surge, and so on.

A RAID only helps with one particular type of loss (single drive failure in a correctly configured multiple drive setup.) It doesn't do squat for the other perils.

I recommend a second, backup drive that spends most of its time unplugged and put in a safe spot. (The safest is off-premises storage when a fire, etc. won't get it.)

I just bought another 750 GB USB drive for backup purposes. $170 was a pretty small investment for the time I have invested in assembling a collection similar in size to yours (excess of 2000 albums.)
jamesw20
270 posts
 
I use a NAS with itunes and Sonos. I don't have to have my laptop functioning for the sonos to operate, just to correct above statements.
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