This is a web-based UPnP control point focused on audio playback. Most control point applications run on a single device. This control point allows besides a local installation, simultaneous access from any device with a current Chrome based web-browser if installed on a server device like NAS, file-server, Raspberry PI.

The responsive user interface will adapt to most mobile devices. Tablets should be used in landscape mode for best experience. Phones should be used in portrait mode. Browser can be used in any width but look best not larger than 1600px.

Download current release into a folder of your choice. Make sure to use Java JDK 15. Start the application by calling java -jar nextcp2-release.jar. For Windows user an exe file is provided for download (experimental). For Linux/Unix systems with systemd service manager installed a service template can be downloaded here for starting nextcp/2 as a service.

After launching the application navigate with your browser to http://server-ip-address:8085. If the application is started on the local machine browse to http://127.0.0.1:8085. If port 8085 is already in use, edit the file nextcp2config.json located next to your jar file and change property embeddedServerPort to an available port. Further configuration can be done within the application itself. Please refer to GitHub for detailed configuration documentation.

After first startup it is recommended to configure a default client configuration which means choosing a default media server and a default media renderer by navigating to App Settings. Create NEW PROFILE and rename it to a meaningful name, select server and renderer, then press the save button.

In case of using the recommended Universal Media Server (UMS) as media server, unlock API features by editing UMS configuration file UMS.conf and add

• api_key = 123456789012 // Key must have at least 12 chars and is mandatory
• audio_update_rating_tag = true // If rating should be saved within the audio file (metadata section). Default is false.
• audio_likes_visible_root = true // If "My Albums" should be located in the root folder next to the library folder. Default is false
• managed_playlist_folder = /volumes/music/playlists // change folder path to your music library's playlists folder. This folder should be reachable and scanned by UMS. All playlists found in this folder (no subfolder) will then be displayed in the sidebar. New playlists will also be created in this folder.

Restart UMS. Locate UMS server in the Media Server section and enter the configured API key. Press save. Reload the page for changes to be visible.

This control point put's it focus on providing the best user experience for audio enthusiasts. Controlling other content is also supported but with less UI awareness.

Since most audio UI friendly features use functionality beyond the UPnP specification, special media server API support is required to unlock all features. Currently only Universal Media Server (UMS) supports all features and is therefore the recommended media server.

• Like / Dislike music albums. Liked music albums can be directly accessed by "My Albums" sidebar link.
• star rating support for audio files
  • export star rating to musicBrainz.org (account required)
  • save star rating into song files metadata section
• Extended server side playlist support with editing support.
  • create playlist in managed playlist folder
  • direct access to playlist from sidebar
  • adding songs to playlist
  • removing songs from playlist
• UPnP search: Searching media library for artists, song title, creator and playlists

While navigating through the media server folders, the displayed layout will change in regard to the content. Folders are subtitled by their name, playlists, images and radio stations are additionally highlighted.

Enter text in search content box to filter displayed items and containers.

While browsing into an container that consists only of tracks of the same album the view switches to a track based display. Controls functions:

• Press switch view switches to a tiles based view. Pressing this button again will cycle back to a track based view.
• Press play will clear the current renderer playlist, add all tracks and start playback.
• Press shuffle will clear the current renderer playlist, add all tracks and start shuffle playback.
• Press add tracks will add all tracks to the current renderer playlist.

Clicking on a title will play the selected track, not adding this item to the current playlist.

In case an album is identified by MusicBrainz-ReleaseId, liking this album is activated by displaying a heart symbol next to the album title. Liked albums have a filled heart symbol otherwise the symbol is outlined. Liked album can then be quick accessed by clicking on My Albums in the side bar.

Songs can be rated 1 to 5 by clicking on the desired star symbol. The rating can be send to musicBrainz.org if the account is configured in app settings. For UMS server: the rating information will be stored in the file itself if the audio file format is supported and audio_update_rating_tag = true property is set in UMS.conf.

Clicking on the three dots will open song options dialog. For UMS server: the song can be added to a server based playlist, if managed_playlist_folder = PATH_TO_FOLDER property is set in UMS.conf and the PATH_TO_FOLDER folder has playlists. If the song is already in this playlist, an error message will appear.

Copy all audio files of your multi disc release in one folder. Songs will be sorted by disk and then by track ID, if songs are tagged with correct numberOfThisDisc ID3 comments.

Browsing into server based playlists switches the display to a track view with small album covers. Clicking on switch view will change the display to an full sized album view.

Entering text into the global search box initiates a search done by the media server. Known media server with compatible UPnP search capabilities are Minimserver and Universal Media Server (since 10.6.0). Text will be matched against tracks, albums, playlists and artists. Artist covers are looked up from Spotify, if account is connected.