USER MANUAL
NAIM DESKTOP CLIENT INTERFACE
E N G L I S H
Note
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Naim
Audio Ltd. disclaims all liability for any loss or damages
whether real, incidental or consequential that arise from
using this product. Naim Audio Limited, its agents and
representatives, cannot be held responsible for the loss of
any data or content from a Naim/NaimNet server, however
caused.
Contents
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Section Page
Contents
Introduction 1
1 The Desktop Client Interface 1
1.1 Connecting to The HDX 1
1.2 The Interface Screen 2
1.3 Interface Windows and Elements 2
1.4 Transport Controls 2
1.5 Application Menus 2
1.6 Now Playing 2
1.7 Interface Tabs 3
1.8 Interface Tabs - Tools 3
1.9 Interface Tabs - Now Playing 3
1.10 Simple and Advanced Search 4
1.11 Simple Search 4
1.12 Advanced Search 4
1.13 Playlists 5
1.14 Save Playlist 5
1.15 Album Properties 6
1.16 Selecting Album Properties 6
1.17 Displaying Album Properties 6
1.18 Tools and Utilities 7
Note: This manual is issue No. 1 and describes the
operation of Desktop Client software release version
2.0.7.1136 and above. Earlier software will not operate fully
in the manner described in this manual.
1
The Desktop Client Interface
Introduction
Unlike a conventional item of hi-fi equipment, the HDX can be operated in a number
of different ways using a variety of user interfaces. The user interface you use to
control your HDX will depend on the type of system in which it is installed and the
ancillary equipment available.
If the HDX is installed in a home network that includes a personal computer running
Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, it can be operated via the Desktop
Client Interface. The Desktop Client application provides the most comprehensive
operational and search functionality. The Desktop Client is covered in the following
pages.
1 The Desktop Client Interface
The HDX Desktop Client is an application that can be
installed on a PC running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows
Vista or Windows 7. The PC must be connected to the
network that incorporates the HDX. The application and its
installer can be found on the CD packed with the HDX.
In addition to enabling control of HDX music playback,
the Desktop Client interface also provides a variety of HDX
setup and maintenance functions that are not available
from any other interface.
To install the Desktop Client application insert the CD into
the PC’s CD drive, double click on the Desktop Client icon
and follow the on-screen prompts. Ensure that the HDX
is switched on and connected to the network when the
Desktop Client application is run.
The format of the Desktop Client interface and its operation
will be familiar to those with experience of the Windows
Explorer file browser application.
1.1 Connecting to The HDX
When first run, the Desktop Client application will scan the
network to identify any connected Naim hard disk players.
A window will open, illustrated below, listing the player or
servers found and their IP addresses. Each player “name”
listed is a shortened form of the MAC address printed on its
rear panel.
If the Desktop Client has been previously connected to
other network items (or to items with variable IP addresses)
these may also be listed. Use the shortened MAC address
shown in the name column to identify the HDX.
If the HDX is not immediately listed, check that it is
connected to the network and switched on, and click on
Scan for hard disk players.
Note: It can take as long as a minute for the HDX to “boot-
up” and become visible to the Desktop Client.
Select the Name that refers to the appropriate hard disk
player by clicking on it, and click OK. The selected hard
disk player will now be connected to the Desktop Client.
2
The Desktop Client Interface
1.2 The Interface Screen
All Desktop Client functions are controlled via one main
window. The window comprises a number of separate
areas and tools distinguished by their application and
context. The windows and tools are identified in Diagram
1.3 and described in the following paragraphs.
1.3 Interface Windows and Elements
Transport controls (Section 1.4)
Application menus (Section 1.5)
Now playing (Section 1.6)
Interface tabs (Section 1.7)
Simple Search (Section 1.10)
Music library
Music library le detail
1.4 Transport Controls
As well as providing stop, play/pause, fast forward, fast
reverse, step forward and step reverse, the transport
controls also include shuffle, repeat and rip mode buttons.
The rip mode button switches the HDX between Rip and
Playback modes. In Rip mode the HDX will automatically
rip a CD inserted in its drawer. In Playback mode the HDX
will automatically play a CD inserted in its drawer through
its local audio outputs.
The shuffle function is applied to the current playlist while
the repeat function can be applied to either single tracks
or the current playlist. For more on creating and managing
playlists see Section 1.13.
1.5 Application Menus
The application menus comprising File, Edit, Action, View
and Help provide a variety of tools and functions. They are
described in the following paragraphs.
1.5.1 The File Menu
The File Menu provides network Connect and Disconnect
commands, and application Exit command.
1.5.2 The Edit Menu
The Edit Menu provides file utilities (rename, etc.), copy
and paste functions, select functions and access to file
properties.
1.5.3 The Actions Menu
The Actions Menu provides alternative access to play,
queue and random play functions.
1.5.4 The View Menu
The View Menu enables selection of alternative interface
views:
Player Mode view in which only the Transport Controls,
Currently Playing Data and Application Menus are
displayed.
Maintenance Mode view in which only the Music Library
data and Music Library detail windows are displayed.
Interrogation of the maintenance screens does not affect
the track or playlist currently playing.
Player and Maintenance view in which both modes are
displayed. Diagram 1.3 shows the Player and Maintenance
view.
1.5.5 The Help Menu
The Help Menu provides Desktop Client Application
installation and version information.
1.6 Now Playing
The Now Playing field displays the artist, album, title and
genre of the track currently playing.
Advanced Search (Section 1.10)
3
The Desktop Client Interface
1.7 Interface Tabs
The Interface Tabs serve to select one of three interface
maintenance pages: Music Library, Tools and Now Playing.
1.7.1 The Music Library Tab
The Music Library tab selects the page illustrated in
Diagram 1.3. The external storage hardware items to which
the interface is connected (if any, beyond the HDX’s
internal storage) are listed in the left hand window. They
can be selected and their contents expanded by clicking
on their associated + graphics. The display in the right
hand window will then show the detail of music files stored
on each hardware item. Clicking on the column headings
will re-order the list of items sorted by the heading criteria.
1.7.2 The Tools Tab
The Tools tab selects the interface page illustrated
in Diagram 1.8. It provides a set of hard disk player
maintenance and setup utilities, listed in the left hand
window, that can be selected and their contents
expanded by clicking on their associated + graphics.
Selecting a utility will open a dialogue box in the right
hand window that either provides information, or can be
used to specify a variety of hard disk player and network
setup parameters.
Diagram 1.8 illustrates the Tools tab with the utilities in the
left hand window and displays the Ripping Monitor utility
in the right hand window. The full list of tools and utilities is
described in Section 1.18.
1.8 Interface Tabs - Tools
1.7.3 The Now Playing Tab
The Now Playing tab
selects the interface page
illustrated in Diagram 1.9.
The page displays the
track currently playing, its
associated information
and the playlist in which it
is included.
The page also includes
a text entry field for
naming playlists and
buttons for saving,
shuffling (randomising)
and clearing playlists. For
more about creating and
managing playlists see
Section 1.13.
1.9 Interface Tabs - Now Playing
4
The Desktop Client Interface
1.10 Simple and Advanced Search
The search tools of the Music Library page enable music
files to be located for immediate playback or for addition
to a playlist.
The Search tools illustrated in Diagram 1.11 enables
searches to be carried out of either albums and artists or
individual tracks. It is not necessary to type a full name or
title in the search entry field although the more detail that
is entered, the more fruitful a search is likely to be.
After entering the search text in the entry field and
selecting either Albums/Artists or Tracks Only click on the
Go button to initiate the search. The search results will
be listed in the right hand Music Library page
window. Double click on an item to play it
immediately.
The Advanced Search tool enables a finely
targeted search of music files to be performed.
To begin an advanced search click on the
Advanced Search button. A text entry window
will open as illustrated in Diagram 1.12.
The advanced search text entry window
enables two sets of search rules that can be
configured to search for an album, artist, track,
genre, composer, performer or conductor.
Each rule can also be constrained to contain,
begin with, match exactly, not contain or not
match exactly the search text.
A search can also be constrained to match
all or any of the search rules and carefully configuring the
search rules should enable any specific music file to be
found quickly.
For example, if a music library contained numerous
Beethoven symphonies, but only versions conducted by
Leonard Bernstein were required for playback, a search
set up as illustrated in Diagram 1.12 would quickly find the
appropriate music.
1.11 Simple Search
1.12 Advanced Search
5
The Desktop Client Interface
1.13 Playlists
A playlist is a list of tracks arranged in a queue for
playback. A playlist may be defined by the running order
of an album, by selecting specific tracks or albums or be
created by selecting tracks with the same, artist, genre,
composer, conductor or per former. Playlists can be named
and saved for later use.
To create, name and save a track playlist proceed as
follows:
• Click on the Music Library Interface Tab and then on
the + graphic adjacent to the Albums thumbnail to
expand the list of albums available to the server.
• Select the album on which the first track required in
the playlist resides and then select that track in the
right hand window. Go to the application Actions
menu and select Queue. Alternatively “right click” on
the album and select Queue in the pop-up list.
• Repeat the selection and queuing of tracks until the
desired playlist is complete.
• Click on the Now Playing Interface Tab. The queue
of selected tracks will be displayed in the main
window. To save the playlist, name it in the text entry
field and click on
Save. The playlist
can be shuffled
(randomised) or
cleared by clicking
on the appropriate
buttons. Diagram
1.14 illustrates
saving a playlist.
Note: Clearing the current
playlist does not delete
tracks from the music
library, it just removes
them from the queue.
• Once saved, the playlist can be recalled from the
Music Library Interface Tab. Click on the + graphic
adjacent to the Playlists thumbnail to expand the list
of saved playlists then select the desired one. To play
the playlist go to the application Actions menu and
select Play.
1.14 Save Playlist
6
The Desktop Client Interface
1.15 Album Properties
The Desktop Client Application holds more information
about specific albums than is displayed in the Player Mode
or Maintenance Mode views. The information can be
displayed by selecting the album’s properties. To access
an album’s properties first right-click on the album name.
A pop-up window will display as illustrated in Diagram 1.16.
Note: As well as providing
access to properties the
right-click pop-up menu
also provides access to a
variety of other functions.
Clicking on properties
displays the additional
information for the album
concerned as illustrated
in Diagram 1.17.
1.16 Selecting Album Properties
1.17 Displaying Album Properties
7
The Desktop Client Interface
1.18 Tools and Utilities
The Tools tab provides a set of hard disk player
maintenance and setup utilities that can be selected and
their contents expanded by clicking on their associated
+ graphics. Selecting a utility will open a dialogue box in
the right hand window that either provides information, or
can be used to specify a variety of hard disk player and
network setup parameters. The purpose and use of each
tool and utility is described in the following paragraphs.
Diagram 1.19 illustrates the full list of tools and utilities.
1.18.1 Ripping Monitor
Display real-time progress of CD ripping.
1.18.2 Ripping Alerts
Displays the server’s ripping log including any alerts.
1.18.3 Zone Maintenance
Enables network zone definition and maintenance.
1.18.4 Move Album Monitor
Displays real-time progress of album move operations
between storage locations.
1.18.5 Backup Monitor
Displays backup statistics and enables backup settings to
be defined.
1.18.6 Backup Scheduler
Enables manual backups to be initiated and automatic
backups to be programmed.
1.18.7 System Status
Displays various system status reports.
1.18.8 System Messages
Displays any system messages.
1.18.9 Lookup Messages
Displays any CD data lookup messages.
1.18.10 System Settings
Displays and enables editing of various system settings.
Note: The HDX internal clock and calender can be
adjusted here.
1.18.11 System Functions
Provides image purge, database rebuild functions and
version info. Only use if instructed to do so by Naim
Technical Support.
1.18.12 Recycle Bin
Enables items within the recycle bin to be either purged or
restored to the library.
1.19 Tools and Utilities
1.18.13 USB Devices
Displays a list of current or previously connected USB
devices.
1.18.14 Scanable Network Shares
Displays a list of current or previously connected network
devices.
1.18.15 Stores For Ripped Music
Displays a list of currently enabled Music Stores and their
order of priority.
Naim Audio Limited, Southampton Road, Salisbury, England SP1 2LN
Tel: +44 (0)1722 426600 Fax: + 44 (0)871 2301012 W: www.naimaudio.com
Part No. 12-001-0096 Iss. 1
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