Local files artwork query

[Erebus]

I have recently been able to transfer around 50 albums, ripped to MP3 format mostly, using very early versions of Nero I think, onto one of my devices and they are now listed in Browse>My Music>Local. The rips were done many years ago hence the MP3 files, but they play perfectly and sound amazing. Initially there was no artwork for any of the albums at all, which I assumed was due to the years old ripping process. But to my surprise, artwork started showing up as I was navigating through the albums. Eventually, after closing the WiiM app and reopening it again, all but 3 of the albums had their correct artwork.

I was amazed! Does the WiiM or its app download the artwork from somewhere? Anyway, the anomaly I have discovered is that after the WiiM Pro Plus reboots, which seems to happen regularly, a lot of the artwork randomly disappears. Eventually it all comes back after I close and then reopen the WiiM app, all except for the same 3 which have no artwork, most likely due to how the CDs were ripped 20 years ago, but they play fine. But every time the WiiM reboots, random artwork is missing when I open the app and go to My Music. It's never the same albums it seems, and eventually it all comes back. I find that very curious.

I did send a feedback from the app on the device, to be told that engineering would look into it. Unfortunately they didn't answer my query as to how the artwork is accessed or processed. If it is downloaded from somewhere that could explain the delay in loading.

Has anyone else experienced this or know how the artwork for local files makes its way onto the WiiM app?

 

[Erebus]

Update: I've heard nothing more from WiiM Support as yet, so I am still no wiser as to how the WiiM Home App accesses, processes, stores or if it downloads album artwork. Has no one else seen their artwork randomly disappearing and returning? My only guess is that the WiiM or its app must download the artwork from somewhere, which would go a long way to explaining the very curious issue I'm seeing.

 

[simbun]

iOS or Android?

I believe the Android WHA uses metadata provided by the Android Media Library, so it's unlikely the WHA is downloading any artwork itself.

 

[Erebus]

iOS or Android?

Sorry, I should have said. It's Android.

So, if the artwork isn't downloaded, where does it come from? I am astounded that initially there was no artwork at all, and then it gradually all came in, only to randomly disappear and then reappear after the WiiM has rebooted. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't really know where these album artworks are coming from.

 

[slartibartfast]

Sorry, I should have said. It's Android.

So, if the artwork isn't downloaded, where does it come from? I am astounded that initially there was no artwork at all, and then it gradually all came in, only to randomly disappear and then reappear after the WiiM has rebooted. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't really know where these album artworks are coming from.

Aren't they embedded in your music files?

 

[Erebus]

Aren't they embedded in your music files?

To be honest I have no idea where the artwork is or how it's accessed, hence this query. The CDs were ripped about 20 years ago. I was surprised how good they sound to be honest, but unfortunately I have no understanding of the artwork process. I perhaps foolishly assumed that it came from an online database that the various apps, including the WiiM app, accessed somehow. But as I said, I really have no idea about these things. There are no image files that I can see in the album file folders.

I also don't understand if the artwork is stored with the MP3 files, why it took so long to show up, or why it disappears after a reboot of the WiiM and then returns. I'm not very well versed on this sort of tech, so it remains a mystery to me.

 

[hgo58]

To be honest I have no idea where the artwork is or how it's accessed, hence this query. The CDs were ripped about 20 years ago. I was surprised how good they sound to be honest, but unfortunately I have no understanding of the artwork process. I perhaps foolishly assumed that it came from an online database that the various apps, including the WiiM app, accessed somehow. But as I said, I really have no idea about these things. There are no image files that I can see in the album file folders.

I also don't understand if the artwork is stored with the MP3 files, why it took so long to show up, or why it disappears after a reboot of the WiiM and then returns. I'm not very well versed on this sort of tech, so it remains a mystery to me.

The WiiM is scanning the files and building an index that includes the album art from jpg files or imbedded in the tracks. This takes some time and is running in the background. The index is loaded when the WiiM boot.

 

[Erebus]

The WiiM is scanning the files and building an index that includes the album art

Thank you so much for this information!

I wonder why support could not tell me this? Okay, so the WiiM Pro Plus builds the index, not the WiiM Home App? That makes a lot more sense and explains the rebuilding after reboots, which I assume is normal behaviour? If not, then maybe it's a bug, but I'm not too concerned about it other than for seeking an answer to the mystery of the randomly disappearing and reappearing artwork, which you so very helpfully have solved it seems. I cannot thank you enough.

 

[hgo58]

Thank you so much for this information!

I wonder why support could not tell me this? Okay, so the WiiM Pro Plus builds the index, not the WiiM Home App? That makes a lot more sense and explains the rebuilding after reboots, which I assume is normal behaviour? If not, then maybe it's a bug, but I'm not too concerned about it other than for seeking an answer to the mystery of the randomly disappearing and reappearing artwork, which you so very helpfully have solved it seems. I cannot thank you enough.

Yes. It's the WiiM device that creates the index but it's not rebuild after a reboot. The index is store as a file on your local file system where your mp3 files are. So the missing pictures seems to be an issue with loading from the index.

The WiiM device runs a mini DLNA media server that takes care of all this, so the WiiM App just see the tracks in the same way as if it was an external media server.

 

[Erebus]

missing pictures seems to be an issue with loading from the index

Well they do come back, so maybe it's to do with the age of the device I'm using for the files. I have an old Samsung Galaxy (2018) that I use solely as a display/control screen for the WiiM next to my equipment, and to store the music files. It has only the essential apps on it with everything else removed or disabled. But perhaps because it's Android 10 maybe it's a little slow to retrieve the index. Anyway at least I finally have an answer thanks to your assistance.

 

[hgo58]

Well they do come back, so maybe it's to do with the age of the device I'm using for the files. I have an old Samsung Galaxy (2018) that I use solely as a display/control screen for the WiiM next to my equipment, and to store the music files. It has only the essential apps on it with everything else removed or disabled. But perhaps because it's Android 10 maybe it's a little slow to retrieve the index. Anyway at least I finally have an answer thanks to your assistance.

I think I then misunderstood your setup. If the files are on the same device as running the WiiM Home App it's working differently. My description was for a filesystem attached to the WiiM device.

 

[Erebus]

If the files are on the same device as running the WiiM Home App it's working differently

Oh, so the WiiM is not creating the index in this instance? I was so hoping the mystery had been solved.

 

[simbun]

Oh, so the WiiM is not creating the index in this instance? I was so hoping the mystery had been solved.

If you're on a Pixel you should see the same albums/artwork through the Files app (Categories > Audio). It sounds like the artwork is embedded in the MP3 tags, but I don't know why they'd be disappearing.

Symfonium performs its own indexing (makes use of more tags than the Android media library) and offers a lot more functionality than the WiiM Home app, so I'd give that a try.

 

[Erebus]

If you're on a Pixel

Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro from 2018, as mentioned. Don't really want to install yet another app, was just curious about the issue I have described above. But thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.

 

[simbun]

Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro from 2018

I think Samsung's equivalent is My Files > Audio files (at least it is on an old Samsung tablet I have).

 

[Erebus]

I think Samsung's equivalent is My Files > Audio files (at least it is on an old Samsung tablet I have).

Correct, but that is not relevant to my issue unfortunately.

 

[harkpabst]

Correct, but that is not relevant to my issue unfortunately.

It is. If you see the same artwork there as you see in the WiiM Home app, then it's definitely not the WHA pulling it from some online DB.

Even if cover art is embedded into the MP3 files (which is not too uncommon and hasn't been 20 years ago) it still could take the app some time to display them, e.g. because it relies on its own cached version .

Pure speculation on my part, admittedly. I don't have any music stored on my phone and I don't use a tablet.

 

[simbun]

Correct, but that is not relevant to my issue unfortunately.

Well, it shows you that the WHA app isn't indexing your files, that the WiiM Pro Plus isn't involved (you should be able to view My Music when the Pro Plus is disconnected), and if artwork exists in 'My Files' but not in the WHA then it's likely a WHA loading/caching issue.

 

[Erebus]

It is. If you see the same artwork there as you see in the WiiM Home app

No, there is a heap of missing artwork in the My Files/Audio, but only a few in the WiiM Home App list. So are you saying that the WiiM app DOES download the artwork from somewhere? Sorry for my confusion but I really don't understand any of this and I don't wish to waste anyone's time. Everyone is being so helpful but I'm afraid I'm not grasping the process at all and it all seems to be going around in circles.

I think I just have to accept the fact that I have this strange issue, which doesn't really bother me. I was simply seeking a definitive answer as to where the WiiM or its app pulls the artwork from, whether it be from the phone the MP3s are on, the WiiM Pro Plus, or some database in the Cloud. That was really my only query so that I might get a better understanding of why the artwork disappears after a WiiM reboot, but then eventually returns.

I sincerely apologise to all of you for my senior age and my lack of technical know how regarding this.

 

[Erebus]

if artwork exists in 'My Files' but not in the WHA

It's the other way around as mentioned above. There is only a handful of artwork showing in My Files, but the WiiM Home App shows nearly all of them once the list has repopulated after a reboot.