[IDEA] Moode UI input & output selectors + others

[chano22000]

Hello,

Since Moode has evolved, numerous inputs are yet available :
- Library = stored music files : locally (SD, USB, NVMe...), NAS, cloud...
- Radio
- Playlists
- Bluetooth
- SPDIF
- HDMI (ARC)
 ...

as well as multiple outputs :
- DACs : I2S, USB, HDMI (AV receivers) ...
- Players
- http streaming
- Bluetooth
- Airplay
- Squeezelite
- Spotify, Qobuz
- other renderers
...

The selection of inputs and outputs is currently disseminated througout the UI and handled in differents menus (library menu, M menu, system config menu ...) with different kind of selection (menu item clicking, scrolling list ...)

In order to cope with so many possibilities, would it have sense to centralize input and output selection in one home screen for selection + menu for each selection to directly access its current setting page.

Two other selectors might complete the previous ones to easily access further major Moode features :
- Equalizers (none, parametric, graphic, Camilla)
- Local music sharing (DLNA, Samba, NFS ...)

FWIW ...!

Philippe

[Tim Curtis]

Usually its best to look at the usage scenario(s) first and then let these guide a potential feature.

Another strong influence on features is how often they are used. Generally the features that are used most often should be the ones that are the most easily accessible. Less frequently used features should be tucked away.

IME selecting and playing music is the most frequently used feature while configuration and preferences are least frequently used.

Another consideration is how features are organized. Currently moode settings are split between Configuration and Preferences where Configuration involves devices and services and Preferences involves how things appear in the WebUI.

[chano22000]

I understand and agree with your approach.

I currently use as inputs Albums (filtered by tags), Radio and sometimes Bluetooth, SPDIF very soon (as provided by the Audiophonics Hat DAC which is better than the embbeded one of my older Denon CD player) and maybe Qobuz in the future.

Albums and Radio are items of the Library menu, Bluetooth of the Moode menu and SPDIF two levels under Configuration.

As other users will have other scenarios, I simply thought to a usage independant way of selecting inputs (and outputs) in a similar way HiFi (pre)amps of Home Cinema AV receiver do with physical knobs (or just one to select configurable input/output paths such as implemented in my Marantz SR7002).

This is of course just an idea that may not be useful once you get used to Moode.

Thank you again for this wondeful piece of software !