Something like multi-library support for self-hosted music? Trying to recreate iPod feel

I've been self-hosting my music in Navidrome for the last 3 or 4 years and in general I've been very satisfied. Before that I was using an old iPod. The key difference I haven't been able to recreate in Navidrome is a feeling of my own curated library where I scroll through and recognize all the artists.
When I set up navidrome I ended up integrating a bunch of mp3 libraries (my father's, my own, and a few of my friends). Because many people share the Navidrome server with me, I let them add stuff that they listen to. When I browse the artist in the iOS client play:Sub I end up not recognizing about half the artists. I've found that I forget about a bunch of music because I rely so heavily on the 'search' function and don't scroll through my artist library like I did on the iPod back in the day.

I'm not sure how to address this, and I think it pretty significantly affects my relationship to my music library. I'm not sure if the solution is server-side or client-side, but essentially I want to be able to have all the music accessible in some way, and most the time I want to just browse a selection of artists that I choose. I feel like creating a playlist is not sufficient because I don't know how I would browse by artist within a playlist (at least within the clients I'm familiar with).
Has anyone felt this way? Any recs?

Thank you!

Voroxpete ,

Airsonic does this. You can divide your library up into folders, and then choose which specific folder to browse, while still retaining the artist -> album -> songs structure.

HotChickenFeet ,

I realize it's not a satisfactory solution, since you won't be able to use facilities like artist/album/etc to explore.

But in navidrome I think you can make a smart playlist based on file path, which you could use to include all of YOUR songs in the playlist if it is in a different root path.

Gutless2615 ,

Jellyfin + Finamp or just multiple navidrome instances would be my go to.

uzay ,

In Jellyfin you can create as many distinct music libraries as you want. The normal client isn't amazing for listening to music, but on android there is finamp

HotChickenFeet ,

Also symfonium

8565 ,

I love Symfonium

Mazoku ,

Finamp is also on iOS

abies_exarchia OP ,

Thank you! If I can't find a way to figure it out in navidrome I'll consider giving jellyfin a try, since I already use it for my visual media

linearchaos ,
@linearchaos@lemmy.world avatar

I maintain giant playlists for each user. Generally just shuffle whoever's listening.

StrawberryPigtails ,

I run Jellyfin, but I’ve got a similar situation with our music library. Mine, my mom’s, my sister’s, my wife’s and her mother’s music has (mostly) all been uploaded to our Jellyfin.
Before I got married I used to say my music library had everything from A to Z. With as diverse as our tastes are that may now be close to being true in fact.

Jellyfin has the ability to favorite artists, albums and individual tracks, as well as the usual playlist functionality and that has helped a lot. My wife makes big use of the collections function as well.

SteveDinn ,
@SteveDinn@lemmy.ca avatar

I currently use Jellyfin and Navidrome. JF just seems really awkward for music. It's like it tries to treat music and video like the same kind of entities, and they just aren't.

I really really want a better FOSS -compatible music app.

StrawberryPigtails ,

Never felt that way to me, but each cat their own rat.

As frequently as I hear about Navidrome though, I may have to check it out.

SteveDinn ,
@SteveDinn@lemmy.ca avatar

I maintain a Jellyfin instance for audio that points at the same music library as my Navidrome instance does just so I can use the Jellyfin client for Android TV. I would absolutely LOVE to have a subsonic-compatible Android-TV-focused app, so I could finally single-source my music. It's just not friendly to guests to have them have to log in somewhere using their own device to my music server and then have to cast to my main entertainment system at home, when Android TV is just sitting there, acting as nothing more than an old-school Chromecast.

So, don't get me wrong, Jellyfin is THE BEST video server software FOSS or not, IMO :)

uzay ,

For android there is Finamp, a music-focused jellyfin client app

SteveDinn ,
@SteveDinn@lemmy.ca avatar

I use it! It is miles better than other Jellyfin apps for music, but there are still things I wish it still had.

Freeman ,

Symphonium: The best money I ever spent on an app.

GravitySpoiled ,

I favorite artists that I want to have a special place. Moreover, I've got a playlist on (unfortunately the best) symfonium that includes only songs from thosr artists.

sabreW4K3 ,
@sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al avatar

unfortunately the best

👀

GravitySpoiled ,

I'd prefer something foss

sabreW4K3 ,
@sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al avatar

Don't think I was questioning you, I was, if anything agreeing with you. I feel like Symfonium is the most feature complete and yet there's a very things about it that I really dislike.

That said, check out Tempo, it looks like it has the most potential.

SteveDinn ,
@SteveDinn@lemmy.ca avatar

I feel this comment so much. Like you, I'm a Symfonium user, after reluctantly admitting that DSub has stagnated. I really wish someone would just assume that mantle.

Tempo is probably the best of the current FOSS subsonic-compatible apps, and it ticks most of the boxes, but it still has a way to go to become my daily music app. I posted a review/wishlist in its GitHub discussions for what it could implement to be great in my view, but development seems really slow for it. It might be just one guy, I'm not sure.

Here's hoping things get better!

AbidanYre ,

I've been pretty happy with Tempo

sabreW4K3 ,
@sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al avatar

Hey!

So I've just got my Navidrome up and running and I have a family library too. That said, I'm in the middle of organising things on the backend, because previously I was constrained by size and tried to avoid duplicates with a flat directory structure, but I digress...

In Navidrome, you're able to favourite artists and most clients then allow you to browse through that favourite list. Also if you're anal like me, you use ratings and stars and you can set up smart playlists to play you songs you like a lot that you haven't played for a long time.

abies_exarchia OP ,

At your recommendation, this is what I've been trying for the last week. I favorited all my artists, and I have to say that it's working pretty well! I feel that my music library is much more intimate now. I'll keep 'testing' it for a while longer but this might be my solution. Thanks!

sabreW4K3 ,
@sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al avatar

This genuinely makes me happy. I'm glad it's working well for you.

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