Add-In: AVA Media

By on January 14, 2009 in Add-ins & Apps, Hardware, Windows Home Server

Tranquil PC have launched their first add-in/hardware combo for Windows Home Server, which comes in the form of a CD & DVD Ripping application for the platform.

AVA Media is available as an audio-only application or with full CD & DVD ripping depending on your needs and is available to buy with a bundled external CD/DVD drive.

Once the software is installed to your Home Server, and registered, you simply plug in your external drive and slide in a CD (audio version) or a DVD (full version) and the AVA Media system does the rest.

  • Collects and compares the meta data (track titles etc) from multiple data providers, including GD3 a premium data provider
  • Rips your CDs to high quality (lossless) formats or MP3 – then stores the files for sharing to your media players
  • Can be set to convert to a second format for mobile use (MP3 players)
  • Then simply ejects the disk when done (normally 4-5 minutes, depending on the number of tracks and disk surface condition)
  • The music files are then available to all your network and portable music players (subject to the server type), i.e. SONOS etc
  • Your music library is also available for viewing on your Home Server console


At this point, I’m not sure whether this is a re-branded version of an existing add-in (i.e. My Movies for WHS) or a new application – either way, it looks like a neat package for those looking to rip large media collections to their home servers.

The AVA Media software is available from £39 (ex VAT) for the audio version, £49 for the DVD version, with hardware/software bundles slated at £79 (CD) and £89 respectively.

More Info: Tranquil PC


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • Alan Roberts

    According to Brian at My Movies it is a re-branding of the My Movies add-in with that additional feature of access to commercial lifetime audio meta-data from GD3. Nice to see Tranquil entering the game to enhance their WHS offerings by connecting with partners. It’s a pity that they don’t subsidize the cost somewhat for owners of their own WHS systems in order to provide additional incentives to buy from them (as HP do with their own great bundles).

  • Alan Roberts

    Brilliant news. I will wait for the invite before making a purchase then :-)

  • Squash-1

    All Tranquil PC Home Server owners past /present and future, will be able to order the software / hardware bundles at an advantageous cost. The invitation for this offer will be broadcast over the next few days.

    We would like to thank Brian for his excellent support in engineering this custom Add In for AVA Media, it is so simple and effective.

    Of course a nice benefit is that the CD /DVD drive can just be ‘plugged in’ as required (or left in 24/7).

    Auto software download orders are being fulfilled now, and the hardware orders will ship later this week.

    If you have any questions – just let us know

  • jamie loft

    What format does the software rip DVD’s into?

  • Squash-1

    Audio Option 1 -

    .FLAC – MPEG1 (.MP3) – Wave (.WAV) – Windows Audio Lossless (.WMA)

    Audio Option 2 (optional mobile format)

    .MP3 – .WMA

  • Bastiaan

    Why would we pay for this version instead of taking my Movies with a (donation)?
    Please explain the difference.

  • http://www.mymovies.dk Brian Binnerup

    Bastiaan: I can comment on the differences that the Tranquil version has compared to the download-able version of My Movies:

    - It includes lifetime high-quality GD3 meta-data for audio.
    - It does not require a My Movies account.
    - It is shipped with a specific license key file, and the license can be unloaded from one machine and loaded on another, meaning that you can transfer a key to friends or family, or you can purchase a license for others as a gift or similar. These options are not in the My Movies version, where the account is personal.
    - The appearance is difference.
    - The default settings are different. The most important part here is that the mobile format is run as “Post processing” rather than “Direct processing, meaning that it spits out the disc after having copied the main format, allowing you to insert a new disc while it post processes the prior one in background.

    Besides these things, the price on the Software+Drive bundle that Tranquil has is of a great value for such a high-quality Teac drive, that is very good for specifically audio ripping.

    Neither Tranquil or My Movies will at any time try to put a lit on Tranquil’s software is a custom version of My Movies for WHS.

    Regards,

    Brian Binnerup
    My Movies

  • Timf0416

    @Brian Binnerup – How they both can not run on WHS!

    It is one or the other.

  • jamie loft

    I still don’t know from the answers what format the DVD are ripped into?

  • http://www.mymovies.dk Brian Binnerup

    Tim: Do you mean AVA Media and My Movies? They can not, it’s essentially the same package with different features based on license model. You can only have one or the other.

    Jamie: DVD’s copy to VIDEO_TS folders, ISO files or MPEG-2 files (main movie), and Blu-ray and HD DVD’s to ISO files. Notice that only unprotected discs are copied, you need AnyDVD or AnyDVD HD if you want to copy protected discs, and installing these, notice the law in your country regarding it.

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  • Billthebodger

    @Squash-1 -
    Has the offer gone out yet please? I have a T7 but have heard nothing.
    Needless to say I do want this add in.

  • Chevy Chase

    My Ava media does nit find my included DVD/CD palyer.. why?

  • http://www.mymovies.dk Brian Binnerup

    Chevy: Do you mean your drive? Can you see the drive in “My Computer”?

  • Chevy Chase

    No, the home server cannot see it in “my computer” in advanced admin panel

  • http://www.mymovies.dk Brian Binnerup

    Then you have a problem with your drive generally.

  • Chevy Chase

    So you mean it something physically wrong or a software error in the drive itself.
    Well, I got it from Tranquil PC so I guess I have to get a new one from them.