Best Music Frontend?

**jellymonster** · 06-11-2009, 05:41 AM

Hi,
I'm looking for the best, user friendly music interface out atm. Basically, I'm using StreetDeck, but the music interface, let's face it, isn't amazing.

I tend to use playists alot, so I want an easy way to edit playlists. On my main PC, my music is organised using iTunes, so preferably one that can take playlists etc from there, but after some searching, it seems it doesn't exist.

Features that I need are:
- Playlists (easily editable)
- Search (for songs, albums and artists)
- Browse (songs, albums artists, genre)
- Queue (would be handy, but not necessary)
- Most important, easy to use on the go. I like the streetdecks gestures thing, that seems to work well. Nice big buttons and easy to see colours. However, when browsing using SD, it takes ages to get to the bottom, something like the adobe reader click and drag thing would be ideal, maybe even like the iPhone click and drag thing. If not, a scroll bar down the side.

Does such thing excist?

What do you guys feel the best frontend for music (other features don't matter) is?

Thanks for reading
JM

**DarquePervert** · 06-11-2009, 05:57 AM

Why don't you download the trials of each frontend and try them out for yourself to see if they meet your needs.

**jellymonster** · 06-11-2009, 06:06 AM

I'm doing that. I've gone through a far few. StreetDeck has been my fave atm. I'm trying RoadRunner out, as it's supposedly the most popular.
It just takes along time to configure each frontend properly to get the most out of them.

**SjLucky** · 06-12-2009, 08:21 AM

For Music... FRODO!!!!! I've used almost every frontend that has came down the pipe and as far as music Frodo had me from the Shire. I didn't like the database at first then it grew on me. It just seemed like the whole thing ran smoother. At the time I had only 80G of music and it was rather nimble. I have thought about trying it again since I have increased my music to 180G. RR does ok. I give nothing but Props to Guino Mitch and John (Did I forget someone?) on what they have done with RR, its a great front end, I just had issues with the music end of the business.

See everyone I can post and not be an ***!

**Pathos** · 06-12-2009, 08:34 AM

I loved the features that RR has (temp probe, weather, etc) but the configuration just about killed me although others here have it up and running without any problems.....I use a couple others but oddly enough Frodo is my favorite too (maybe I'm just not smart enough)

**trader007** · 07-14-2009, 01:12 AM

ah i just started another thread about this too... jrmediacenter.com no question. use regular mode on your desktop to manage mp3 tags, playlists and libraries with top of the game control... then turn on theater mode in your car to turn your touchscreen into basically an iphone for your media....

**Flaring_Afro** · 08-01-2009, 05:43 PM

i like rr. there are plenty of skins to choose from for an interface. but i havent tested out too many others either.

**ThunderStick** · 08-01-2009, 10:53 PM

RR is jammed packed with features. Some you'll never use, Some your using and dont know it and Other's you wish you knew how to use. Once you find a well configured skin with a user freindly setup process you will find that RR is definitely what your looking for.
I have tried quite a few front ends in the 9 years I have been working with CARPC's. Centrafuse is pretty nice as well. Frodo is great but unfortunately seems to have lost any new developement. Street Deck (BAAHH).. Hate it. If you interest solely lies with playing music... Try Media Engine out. It's old, one of the first but it is pretty solid and easy to set up. Not feature rich, but does what it should.

**trader007** · 08-15-2009, 01:17 PM

well after playing with RR and giving it a real chance... i love it.

jrmedia still does my music tagging, there really isnt a better mp3 tagger out there.

but RideRunner with DigitalFX4.0 is just amazing as far as free software goes. this skin is very, very well done- and nearly all the buttons work right out of the box. after trying 6 different skins, this one is locked in and staying there.

what initially got my attention for using a real frontend was the automatic volume based off the gps signal. it doesnt seem like a big deal, but it makes a world of difference in my loud road noisy truck.

overall i found riderunner to be much more simple then i anticipated. i just dove in without reading any documentation, but everything is self explanatory for the most part. and its only two downloads- get riderunner and digiFX and thats all you need, it is very simple. the guages screen is AWESOME- i finally have a reliable compass in my truck- one that i can read easily