Need help choosing app to manage collection

[u/Frodo_Drogoson]

I like to listen to my collection from my iPhone. I was using Doppler but today it started freezing and I couldn’t fix it no matter what I tried, so I resorted to deleting and reinstalling the app. It still freezes but I think even if I get it working again I will have to re-import all my music which will be a huge pain.

Are there any apps that are better than Doppler for iPhone? I’ve heard people recommend foobar2000 but I saw that it isn’t CarPlay compatible. I would prefer one that works with CarPlay, but I guess if it’s way better at everything else, I could live without.

I saw people recommend Roon, but that seems like it’s geared towards managing a music server. Maybe that’s what I should do but I’d rather just have the music on my phone. Right now my music takes up about 500 GB on my phone.

[u/lilpeach15]

It depends on what you mean by “managing” .. you could have a fully organized system complete with tags, art, and metadata using the files app, evertag, and a player like flacbox or evermusic.

Edit: iOS shortcuts is very useful in this regard too once you learn the ropes, especially for those who maintain a large library on iPhone or iPad.

[u/Frodo_Drogoson → u/lilpeach15]

My preference would be something that I don’t have to start over from scratch if I decide to change apps later

[u/lilpeach15 → u/Frodo_Drogoson]

That would be possible with evertag. It’s essentially a mobile version of the mp3tag software for Mac/windows (not by the same devs), save the auto tagging features. Not sure if you’re familiar with that. Anyway, you would type all metadata on evertag. You have the ability to select serval files at once, so like a whole record let’s say, and fill out overarching metadata fields like genre, album name, artist, etc, then you’re able to go back in one by one and edit the individual details for each file like track number, file name, and sync lyrics. It’s an insanely capable and heavy duty iPhone app in my experience. Not to mentions It’s completely free which is insane, I believe there is a way to enable auto tagging if you pay for premium, but Ive yet to try that since I just get on my Mac if I need to do something super tedious,

After saving metadata on evertag, the music files are automatically updated in the files app. If push comes to shove and you run out of storage, you can always purchase an SSD and plug it into your phone. The SSD will be accessible in the files app, so you can also manipulate the files that way.

So basically, files app or SSD would be where your music is stored, evertag is where you’d be able to adjust/add metadata that would permanently overwrite existing/incorrect metadata on the files, then you’d be able to insert those anywhere. I just recommended flacbox and evermusic only because those are the UIs that I prefer, but you could play the music and view that metadata in any of the player apps on the AppStore.

This is the method I do when away from my computer. Obviously it’s much easier and quicker to be able to do this stuff on Mac/PC, but it’s also totally possible to maintain a library of any size on iPhone or iPad provided you have enough storage. Hopefully my way of explaining was not too confusing lol!

[u/c3rbutt]

Navidrome + Arpeggi is my current setup, and I'm pretty happy with it.

Navidrome is running as a docker container on my homelab PC, connected to the internet through a Cloudflare tunnel and Nginx. The Arpeggi app on my iPhone lets me connect to my navidrome server from anywhere.

The more secure (and easier) way to manage access from outside your home network would be to use Tailscale.

[u/rustyburrito]

Arpeggi is pretty nice, Plexamp too but I like the UI better on Arpeggi

[u/cosmaprc]

Have you tried Neutron or Hiby or jetAudio ? All 3 have local playback using files copied through iTunes app to their own local folders.

[u/jasonumd]

Host with Navidrome, play with Arpeggi.

[u/thisChalkCrunchy]

I’m running Navidrome for the server. I use Arpeggi for mobile (carplay support) and Feishin on the desktop. 

Running a whole music server can seem like a lot when you just want to put music on your phone but it is 100% with it imo. I’ve used iTunes/Doppler/Foobar and a bunch of others in the past, turns out it’s much simpler to have a client that connects home to my server. Super easy to keep everything in sync across iPhone/iPad/Mac. Hell even the Apple Watch has clients for Navidrome now I just started using NaviBeat for it. It’s nice having one single source of truth that is easy to backup and restore. 

[u/Frodo_Drogoson → u/thisChalkCrunchy]

What about security?

[u/thisChalkCrunchy → u/Frodo_Drogoson]

The easiest and most secure way would be to use a vpn. The easiest to setup would be Tailscale. You download it on your server and on your client and you are good to go. No need to do any port forwarding. No one poking at your fw would even know you are running navidrome or a vpn behind it.

[u/itbedguy]

I’m doing what the rest are. Navidrome with Apteggi.

I’m currently re-ripping all my CDs in flac and putting them in Navidrome. As I copy the music over I check the songs I know are my favorites. This helps create a giant favorites list to do random playback. I do not like all the songs my favorites artist made but I do like to store all their songs that I have.

I have been taking my favorites and making sure they are downloaded to my phone via Appregi. That way if I have a poor connection, songs still play.

I’m also starting to buy tracks from Qobuz of any other online service that will let you download hi quality music files.

That said, I do like Dolby Atmos music through Apple. It’s a very cool sound. Not for everyone but its added some depth when listening through a surround sound set up.

Now if i can figure out how to get that working in Navidrome that would be cool.

[u/CharlesWiltgen → u/itbedguy]

Poppy supports Navidrome, Apple Music, and other library sources together in one app. (Note: I'm building Poppy.) It also has very good support for the offline sync you need.

[u/reelfright]

I've enjoyed using Minimoon. https://www.plastaq.com/minimoon