Doofensmirtz Evil Incorporated Game Software Reviewal Services
"thats some sick beat"
i'm not a critic or professional i just like to have fun :D
Music Assistant
Music assistant is a small, lightweight, and configurable music server and library manager that "just works"
it's pretty much "what if streaming services and plex had a baby?". It lets you aggregate and manage music between as many different music sources as you'd like INCLUDING streaming and any music servers you might already have. not to mention sonic analysis that rivals spotify
playback
music assistant does all the processing on the server side like a traditional music server.. that means the players are dirt cheap, you get crazy good sonic analysis and automatic DJ style cross fade and even some AI and LLM powered features if your box has the juice for it.
On the downside... Mobile players can't download songs from Music Assistant. Even if they're from your own library. Which means you're using public music assitant relays, a Nabu Casa subscription, or setting up tailscale just for music, and you're burning mobile data while doing it.
But it honestly doesn't take very much. Music Assistant uses the Opus codec on mobile networks by default so it's quite data efficent, just keep in mind that long listening sessions can still chew up some data.
compatibility
It works with nearly everything ever. DLANA, HEOS speakers, AirPlay, SqueezeLite/Squeezebox, Snapcast, Alexa, and Music Assistant's own protocal, Sendspin. plus, if you also have Home Assistant, you can connect Music Assistant to Home Assistant (or install Music Assitant inside Home Assistant) and then Music Assistant can play music to anything Home Assistant supports
Not all providers can play together/in a group, but Music Assitant tries its best to make it work.