Usb disappears after playing one song

[TcMatic]

Hi,

Playing from an usb-stick (SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive, FAT32 formatted) works fine, initially. The library is built and streaming is ok. But when the first track ends or I skip to the next track, the next track info does appear on the display but nothing else happens.

In the app, the USB output disappears until I reboot.

Someone with the same issues or an idea to troubleshoot, other than providing feedback to Wiim?

 

[KNVPStudios]

Make sure to report via the “Feedback” option inside the WiiM Home App, and be sure to submit your log files when prompted

 

[TcMatic]

Make sure to report via the “Feedback” option inside the WiiM Home App, and be sure to submit your log files when prompted

Thanks for the suggestion, already did that.

 

[harkpabst]

Hi,

Playing from an usb-stick (SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive, FAT32 formatted) works fine, initially. The library is built and streaming is ok. But when the first track ends or I skip to the next track, the next track info does appear on the display but nothing else happens.

In the app, the USB output disappears until I reboot.

Someone with the same issues or an idea to troubleshoot, other than providing feedback to Wiim?

You are using USB input and USB output at the same time? In that case you must have connected some USB hub. Can you check this against a different hub?

 

[TcMatic]

You are using USB input and USB output at the same time? In that case you must have connected some USB hub. Can you check this against a different hub?

Oh sorry, I formulated that wrong. Just the USB input. I'll change it in my opening post.

UPDATE: seems I can't edit my opening post. Thus, USB input disappears.

 

[TcMatic]

Ok so, got this reply from Support desk:

Our engineers reviewed the logs and found that the issue was caused by the USB drive either not being properly connected or being removed, which prevented the song data from being accessed for playback.

Bought a new (other) usb key but has the same problems. I cannot understand what I am doing wrong except for it to be an Ultra issue.

What type/brand/size and format do you guys use?

Thanks!!!

 

[harkpabst]

Bought a new (other) usb key but has the same problems.

You mean literally the same behaviour as described in your original post?

That's highly unusual and I would probably follow upmon that ticket with WiiM. I can share the three USB keys I have been using successfully with my Ultra, Amp and Amp Pro tomorrow. Not entirely sure if the USB key is the root problem.

 

[TcMatic]

@harkpabst,
I just went through a thread on yours and ordered the suggested usb key . But I do not expect real difference

So,

I have 2 Ultra's. The same issues on both of them with 2 new bought USB keys. I have a collection of +- 1500 FLAC files.

tried a couple of things:
- noticed some folder cover art were relatively big (150kb to 2MB). Compressed them/ searched smaller ones below 100kb => made no difference
- 'standardised' file names to 'track number' 'track title'. => no difference (did not expect any)
- noticed some some FLAC files had cover art in their data. Removed all individual cover art. => small difference

That last difference is reasonable: I see 1 cover per album now in the art_cache folder wheres with file cover art it is one per track.
But on the other hand: it took 3 to 4 hours to perform the indexation with 15-20 disconnections and reboots. Am I expecting to much if I want the indexation without disconnections in a reasonable window of time (let's say 30 minutes)?

 

[harkpabst]

@harkpabst,
I just went through a thread on yours and ordered the suggested usb key . But I do not expect real difference

So,

I have 2 Ultra's. The same issues on both of them with 2 new bought USB keys. I have a collection of +- 1500 FLAC files.

tried a couple of things:
- noticed some folder cover art were relatively big (150kb to 2MB). Compressed them/ searched smaller ones below 100kb => made no difference
- 'standardised' file names to 'track number' 'track title'. => no difference (did not expect any)
- noticed some some FLAC files had cover art in their data. Removed all individual cover art. => small difference

That last difference is reasonable: I see 1 cover per album now in the art_cache folder wheres with file cover art it is one per track.
But on the other hand: it took 3 to 4 hours to perform the indexation with 15-20 disconnections and reboots. Am I expecting to much if I want the indexation without disconnections in a reasonable window of time (let's say 30 minutes)?

Those new USB keys are exactly the same as I had recommended otherwise?

You're surely not asking to much. I now have ~13000 FLAC files on three different USB keys on my WiiM Amp .WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro. Cover art storwd in every single file and it works.

The last indexing was done on the Amp Pro and it went painfully slow with countless interruptions, but one it was done it worked.

My suggestions:

• Make sure to update to the latest WiiM Home app and firmware version. Double check with the release version numbers posted by WiiM to this forum.
• Reformat the USB key you intend to use first. Use a third party tool like Rufus. Make sure the partition scheme is MBR. Choose the FAT32 filesystem with 64 kB cluster size.
• Create a top level folder called "music" or something like that and copy your music files there. I have subfolders for artist and album. This is mainly so the wiim_cache folder is easy to find.
• Delete all stored data of the WiiM Home app (if you can live with losing some preferences). I am sure that the current WHA heavily caches the contents of the sqlite database on the USB key.
• Power cycle your Ultra. Not just a restart, remove it from the power and reconnect.
• After the Ultra has booted again, insert the key and start the (re-)indexing process if WHA doesn't ask you to do so, anyway.
• The app explicitly states now that there's no need to keep it active and in the foreground. Yet, WiiM support instructed me to do just that when I reported my latest trouble with the WiiM Amp Pro

Indexing 1500 files should not take more than 2 hours max.

Good luck.

 

[harkpabst]

Some additional notes: Most of this should not be necessary or make any difference. However, that's how I did it and - as I said - it's working on three different WiiM devices.

 

[TcMatic]

So, I did a couple of things and it solved my troubles.

Recap: I got three different usb keys
a) SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C Flashdrive 128 GB 400 MB/s
b) SanDisk SDDDC4-512G-G46, ultra luxe 512 gb USB type-C dual port flashdrive
c) Sandisk SDCZ48-512G-U46 Ultra , Usb 3.0 Flash Drive, 512Gb, 130Mb/S as suggested by @harkpabst

I format them using formatusb. It is based on Rufus but focuses pure on formatting, not on boot and imaging. I selected the Large File FAT32 option.

I noticed the A and B keys fluctuating in speed when WRITE, sometimes to 0. That was also the case with earlier formatting. This could be an answer to the WiiM log observation that the keys get disconnected.

Now they all work. Indexing works without error, in one sitting. However, there are 2 major differences that makes C the winner:
- indexing is done in 15min, processing 4000 files.
- it plays songs instantly when selecting, whereas A and B needs loading time on occasion.

I guess the main difference in the keys is that A and B are dual in that they have an USB-A and USB-C connection. Maybe the inner works differ significantly.

Again a great shoutout and thank you to @harkpabst for his info and threads!