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Topic: Rockbox Questions (Read 5557 times) previous topic - next topic
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Rockbox Questions

I just found out about Rockbox. I may be interested in trying this on my iPod, as it will allow me to play many different file types than is currently allowed with Apple software. I can then archive my music collection on my desktop as FLAC or WavPack files which will allow me much more flexibility in what I can do with them than does Apple Lossless, which I have been recording with, primarily so I could play the music on the iPod in a lossless format which I can do as I have a huge drive for an iPod. First is Rockbox going to work properly on my iPod, which is a 160GB Classic? If it does and I install this software, how much trouble am I going to have returning to the original firmware if I decide this is not for me? I read about some battery usage issues with this software. Is it going to cut down on my battery time? And if all this other stuff works out, I guess from what I've read that this software will not interface with iTunes, which I rather like. What other options are there out there comparable to iTunes that will work with this?

Rockbox Questions

Reply #1 –
Quote
Supported hardware versions.
    The Video is the 5th/5.5th generation Ipod only. Rockbox does not run on the newer, 6th/Classic generation Ipod. For information on identifying which Ipod you own, see this page on Apple’s website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61688.

Source.

It doesn't look like it will work for your iPod.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #2 –
Looking at Rockbox website there is no mention of the iPod Classic on the front page. This unfortunately means that that the iPod Classic is not supported.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #3 –
I used Rockbox on my 5G for a while. I wasn't a big fan of the interface and it was a huge battery sucker. It was neat to play around with though. I also played around with IpodLinux which could run game emulators, so I played Doom and Mega Man on my Ipod. Frankly, if you're dead set on having lossless on your player you're better off converting everything to Apple Lossless. Sure, it would be cool, but I fail to see the benefits of storing/playing lossless on a player; it takes up tons more space and severely reduces battery life.

Iirc no custom firmware can run on the 6th generation (Classic) anyway because it has a secure/encrypted execution path: http://ipodlinux.org/wiki/Nano2G

Rockbox only lists support up to 5th/5.5 Generation Ipods.

There are players with built in Ipod support but I'm not sure if they work with the 6th generation: Winamp, YamiPod, Songbird, Media Monkey.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Helgi on
Quote
Supported hardware versions.
    The Video is the 5th/5.5th generation Ipod only. Rockbox does not run on the newer, 6th/Classic generation Ipod. For information on identifying which Ipod you own, see this page on Apple’s website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61688.

Source.

It doesn't look like it will work for your iPod.

I already looked at that page, and though I found my iPod listed there, it does not say what generation it is. It is kind of confusing. It says fifth generation plays videos and shows photos, which mine does. How do you know mine is a 6th generation? I don't see that info anywhere.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #5 –
Quote from: tonynace on
I already looked at that page, and though I found my iPod listed there, it does not say what generation it is. It is kind of confusing. It says fifth generation plays videos and shows photos, which mine does. How do you know mine is a 6th generation? I don't see that info anywhere.


The 5th and 6th Generation both have the same functionality.

5th gen had a plastic face while the "Classic" 6th gen is all aluminum, more thin, and comes in larger capacities. The largest 5th gen was an 80GB iirc. Yours is 120GB so it has to be 6th gen.

Apple changed the way the firmware is loaded such that it is impossible to run custom firmware on the 6th generation.

You can't run custom firmware on your device.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Major Tom on
Quote from: tonynace on
I already looked at that page, and though I found my iPod listed there, it does not say what generation it is. It is kind of confusing. It says fifth generation plays videos and shows photos, which mine does. How do you know mine is a 6th generation? I don't see that info anywhere.


The 5th and 6th Generation both have the same functionality.

5th gen had a plastic face while the "Classic" 6th gen is all aluminum, more thin, and comes in larger capacities. The largest 5th gen was an 80GB iirc. Yours is 120GB so it has to be 6th gen.

Apple changed the way the firmware is loaded such that it is impossible to run custom firmware on the 6th generation.

You can't run custom firmware on your device.

So much for that idea!

Rockbox Questions

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Major Tom on
I used Rockbox on my 5G for a while. I wasn't a big fan of the interface and it was a huge battery sucker.

Rockbox now meets or beats the OF battery runtime on the iPod Video, and has for a while.
Creature of habit.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Major Tom on
I used Rockbox on my 5G for a while. I wasn't a big fan of the interface and it was a huge battery sucker. It was neat to play around with though.

Same experience here.

If you use the Apple firmware, you are not stuck with iTunes. Other media players (I use MediaMonkey) can sync to iPod.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #10 –
A bit O/T, but one thing that I haven't yet managed to solve with Rockbox is handling of FLAC files with embedded cue sheets. One of the files, when it is the next track, scrolls some of the cue sheet across the screen. All FLAC files are single file albums with embedded cue sheets and were created with Foobar2000.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Nick.C on
A bit O/T, but one thing that I haven't yet managed to solve with Rockbox is handling of FLAC files with embedded cue sheets. One of the files, when it is the next track, scrolls some of the cue sheet across the screen. All FLAC files are single file albums with embedded cue sheets and were created with Foobar2000.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

You didn't say which version of Rockbox, which WPS, which scrolling field of said WPS is showing cue sheet text, nor which tag the cue sheet is embedded in (I assume the comment field?  Or in a cue-specific tag?).

It sounds like a metadata parsing issue, but...
Creature of habit.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #12 –
Rockbox version: r24770-100219;
WPS: (don't know) default;
Field: Next Track;
Tag: foobar2000 default for "Generate Multi-Track Files".

Rockbox Questions

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Nick.C on
Rockbox version: r24770-100219;
WPS: (don't know) default;
Field: Next Track;
Tag: foobar2000 default for "Generate Multi-Track Files".

So part of the cue sheet is showing up as the title for the next track?

Hmm, when I get home I'll make a cue-embedded flac in foobar and see what fields it is putting what in.
Creature of habit.

Rockbox Questions

Reply #14 –
What I forgot to mention the first time is that Rockbox does not recognise the individual tracks within a FLAC single file album with embedded cue sheet. It plays the FLAC file fine but no "chapter" skipping.