Description
Comes with:(1) MX-531 Media Server(1) AC Power Cord(1) Escient Remote ControlNo manuals, they can be found onlineNote: Escient is out of business so no online lookups using GraceNote work. Not clear if Internet radio works. Did not test importing movies or photos. Did not test with a CD Changer, not sure if that works but no reason to believe it wont. Does include music already on the unit when I bought it and was able to successfully import music off a couple of CDs but the music album/artist/song titles, etc. are NOT automatically created as this metadata originally came from GraceNote and the Escient account is no longer active. There is a menu for Remote Servers but not sure if that would allow a different GraceNote account to be used. You should assume that the metadata will need to be manually entered using the virtual keyboard. Did not test the CD burning function. Description: Escients sophisticated FireBall MX-531 makes it a snap to organize and access your music and movie collection. It lets you enjoy your entire library of CDs and DVDs as well as digital music files and Internet radio stations. The 531 controls up to three 400-disc Sony ES DVP-CX777ES DVD/CD changers, so you can keep all your discs at the ready. A clear, organized on-screen menu lets you find the disc youre looking for without having to rummage through piles of jewel cases and DVD cases. Store more than 1,000 hours of CD-quality music The MX-531s spacious 500-gigabyte hard drive stores thousands of discs worth of music for convenient access. Loading your CDs onto the hard drive is simple, too. Drop in a disc and the fast CD ripper transfers it in less than five minutes. You can store over 1,000 hours of CD-quality music using a lossless audio format called FLAC, or far more music using MP3. You can also quickly transfer music stored on your computer to the Escients hard drive. Create custom playlists using any number of criteria: genre, artist, year of release and more. And use the FireBalls built-in CD burner to make mix discs you can enjoy on the go. Easily view and select your favorite DVDs and CDs Escients intuitive menu lets you browse your entertainment library on your TV screen. You can search by title, actor, or genre, and even browse DVD or CD cover art. Home theater compatibility The MX-531 hooks up to your home theater system for surround sound with your DVD movies and high-quality stereo for your CDs and digital music files. With its extensive array of audio and video connections, the FireBall lets you play discs from any of your connected changers without having to continually switch inputs on your TV or receiver. Network options — Internet radio and easy system expansion Make selections and control playback using the included remote, or use the FireBalls built-in web interface to control your system from a laptop computer. To play your music collection in other rooms, you can connect an optional FireBall ZP-1, or use another Escient FireBall server with a hard drive and increase your storage capacity in the process. Product highlights:500GB hard drive stores:8,432 hours of music at 128 Kbps5,622 hours at 192 Kbps (default setting)1,416 hours of CD-quality FLACother bitrates supportedbrowse and play up to 1,200 DVDs or CDscontrols up to three compatible Sony ES DVP-CX777ES 400-disc changersplays CD-Audio, MP3, WMA, and FLAC formats (protected files not supported)built-in CD-RW driveautomatic DVD and CD identification (Gracenote CDDB™ for CD text, AMG for CD cover art, EscientDB for DVD text and cover art) - (THIS DOES NOT WORK, See my comments in the note above) plays WMA and Shoutcast Internet Radio stations (NOT SURE IF THIS STILL WORKS)analog audio inputs for recording directly to hard drive from external sources3 optical digital inputsoptical and coaxial digital audio outputsanalog stereo RCA output3 video inputs and 1 video output (composite, S-video, and component video)customizable playlists and menu skinsselectable 16:9 or 4:3 on-screen interfacecompatible with PC and Mac® - (NOT SURE IF THIS STILL WORKS - this media server is now 20 years old and would have worked with much earlier versions of Windows and Mac OSX. Current OS versions may not support this any longer) FireBall-PC support for browsing and playing music stored on a PC or Mac (SEE ABOVE) web interface for remote control and music streamingEthernet port for connection to home computer networkcompatible with Roku and Sonos® digital music systems - (NOT SURE IF THIS STILL WORKS) front-panel displayremote control17-3/8W x 4-5/8H x 11-7/8DFeatures Overview: Escients FireBall MX-531 Digital Media Manager allows you to not only enjoy your home theater but it also has the ability to graphically organize and display your entire DVD, CD and digital music collection right on your TV. With its 500GB hard drive and the ability to manage up to 1200 DVDs and CDs in external changers, the MX-531 provides instant access to your the large music and movie collection through an easy to use and intuitive on-screen interface. 500GB Internal Hard Drive: The 500GB internal hard drive built into the MX-531 can store up to 8,432 hours of music. CD-RW Drive: The FireBall MX-531 features a built-in CD-RW drive for playing, burning and ripping CDs. DVD/CD Management: The Escients MX-531 allows you to store, secure, browse, and play up to 1200 DVDs or CDs stored in Sony CD/DVD changers. The unit can manage up to 3 DVD/CD Sony changers. Supported External Changers: The FireBall Media Manager only supports the Sony DVD-777ES DVD/CD changer for DVD and CD storage and Sony CD mega Changers (200, 300 400 discs) with S-Link for CD only storage. You cannot use Sony DVD/CD and CD only changers at the same time. All changers connected must be either DVD/CD or CD only. SACD: The FireBall can also manage SACD audio discs loaded into a Sony DVP-777ES DVD/CD changer. Because the FireBall does not have 5.1 audio switching, you should load all of your SACDs into the same changer and connect its 5.1 analog audio outputs directly to your A/V receiver, using the same input source as the MX-752. On-Screen Menu: The Escients FireBall MX-531 features a simple and intuitive on-screen user interface for browsing, selecting and playing movies, music, Internet radio stations and for all system configuration and setup functions.PC/MAC Compatible: The Digital Media Manager allows PC file sharing for transferring music files to and from a PC or Mac (includes support for iPod and other portable players). The unit also supports browsing and playing of music stored on your PC or Mac. Audio Encoder Type: You can specify which audio encoder (MP3 or FLAC) you want to use for recording audio into the machine. The MP3 format allows for the most flexibility and compatibility for efficiently storing many audio files while the FLAC format uses considerably more space than MP3 files, but preserves an exact bit-for-bit recording of the original, using half the space of the original CD. Web Interface: The FireBall MX-531 features a Web interface that allows for remote control and music steaming via a standard web browser. External Recording: The unit allows you to record audio to the hard drive from an external changer or from any legacy analog or digital audio device (LPs, Cassettes, DAT, MD, etc). Media Manager Link: You can connect the unit to other FireBall Music Servers to share music libraries. Selectable Aspect Ratios: The MX-531 features user selectable 16x9 or 4:3 on screen TV user interface. Gapless Playback: The unit features gapless playback for classical and live recordings. Photo Screen Saver Mode: The MX-531 has a Photo Screen Save Mode for displaying your own photos whenever the unit is idle for a specified period of time. You can import your own photos into the Photos shared directory using the Windows Networking. Photos should be 720x480 for 4:3 NTSC TVs and 640x360 for 16x9 widescreen TVs. Picture Controls: You can adjust the brightness, contrast, sharpness, color and tint for the video output of the MX-531 Surround Mode Settings: The Digital Media Manager can connect to a supported Denon or Marantz receiver and automatically select different surround mode settings depending on what type of media is playing. Wireless Remote Control: The MX-531 comes supplied with a universal remote control. It is a full-feature remote control for the MX-531 and can control main functions of other manufactures TVs, Cable boxes, Receivers, and/or DVD players. Registration: Registration includes properly configuring your FireBall for Internet access and then connecting to the Escient servers to register your serial number and download the latest Internet Radio stations. Registration of your MX-531 is accomplished automatically when you go through the Quick Start process. Optional Touch Panel: The optional Escient Touch Panel (sold separately) is an external 15 flat LCD color display that offers full control of the MX-531 via its integrated touch sensitive surface. External Control: The MX-531 provides the user and custom A/V installer with many options for control and integration into any home theater or home automation system using direct IR codes, two-way RS-232 serial control, two-way Ethernet control and wireless web pad control. The unit has built-in support for the following companies control products - AMX, Crestron, Elan Via, Home Theater Master, Lexicon, Marantz, Nets Streams, Opus, Phillips Pronto, RTI, Sonance, and Xantech. Music Backup: It is possible to backup and restore the music contents of a FireBall using the CIFS or Windows Networking feature. Backup is accomplished by connecting the MX-531 to your PC or Mac desktop and using the computers backup software. DVD Control Instant Movie Access: This feature allows you to instantly access any DVD in your collection using the intuitive on-screen guide. Multiple Movie Views: The MX-531 on screen display allows you to view your movie collection by genre, title or cover art. Parental Controls: This feature limits which DVDs can be browsed and played by your children. Customizable Settings: You can create and edit your own movie groups and add your own movie descriptions and notes for your DVDs. Movies Guide: The Movies Guide displays a scrolling list of all your Movies. As each title is highlighted you will notice that the Information Area and Cover Art changes to reflect the currently highlighted movie title. The Movie Guide can be viewed in two different ways. View By Title: View By Title will order the list of DVD titles alphabetically from A to Z, according to the Movie title.View By Cover: View By Cover displays a graphical grid of DVD cover art, sorted alphabetically from A to Z according the Movie title. Built-In Video Switcher: The built-in switcher allows for automatic changer selection and A/V routing to your receiver or TV using only on input. Music Server Instant Music Access: You can instantly find and play any genre, artist, title or song in your music collection. Multi-Zone Support: You can connect one FireBall Digital Media Manager to another to share the music, access all of your digital music, and create a second music zone or add optional FireBall ZP-1 Digital Media Players for music in every room. 500GB Hard Drive: The unit contains a built-in 500GB hard drive capable of storing up to 8,432 hours of your music. CD Changer Management: The MX-531 allows you to manage up to 1,200 CDs store in external disc changers. It can manage up to 3 CD changers. Built-In CD Player: The built-in CD player allows you o play any Audio or MP3 CD and get the cover art, artist, title and song list on-screen. CD Burner: The built-in CD player can also be used as a burner to create your own CD to play in your car, office or portable CD player. Fast CD Ripper: You can copy a CD from the built-in CD player to the internal hard drive in MP3 or CD quality (FLAC) format in less than 5 minutes. Recording for External Changers: In addition to manually loading and recording CDs one by one using the front panel CD drive, you can record as many CDs as you want directly from your Sony external mega changers. This type of recording is done at real time speed (1x). Analog Recording: In addition to recording from external changers, the MX-531 allows you to record directly from its analog inputs to the internal hard drive. Quick Record: You can easily record changer based CDs to your FireBalls internal hard drive using the Quick Record feature. Quick Record will record all tracks from your newly added CDs which are not already recorded to your MX-531s hard-drive. Recording a Range of CDs: You can record a specific range of slots in a changer by select the Record Range feature. Record All: You can record all the discs in all your CD-changers by select the Record All feature. Importing Music Files: The MX-531 allows you to import digital audio files already recorded on your PC or Mac directly to the unit using an Ethernet network (Ethernet cable supplied). The MX-531 will import each audio file, extract the song information and add it to your Music Library. This is a fast and convenient way to load up your FireBall with your favorite music without having to re-record everything. Music Guide: The Music Guide provides you with several ways to view the contents of your Music Library. View By Artist: View By Artist is the default View and displays your Music Library alphabetically from A to Z according to the Artist Name.View By Artist-Title: View By Artist-Title displays your Music Library alphabetically from A to Z according to the Artist Name then the Album Name.View By Title-Artist: View By Title-Artist will order the list of Titles alphabetically from A to Z according to the Album Name then the Artist Name.View By Song-Artist: View By Sony Artist will order the list of Titles alphabetically from A to Z according to the Sony Name.View By List: View By List displays a nine line hierarchical view of your Music Library starting by Genre, then by Artist, Album and finally by songs.View By Cover: View By Cover displays a graphical grid of album cover art, sorted alphabetically from A to Z according to the Artist Name then Album Name. Play Modes: The default Play mode will play the current Title from Track one to the last track in order, then stop. If you want to change the order of how tracks are play, there are six different Play Modes to choose from. Normal: plays each track in order in the current Title, then stops (default)Repeat Track: repeats the same track over and over until your press stopRepeat Title: plays each track in the current Title in order then repeats the entire disc until you press stopRepeat Group: replays each track in each title in the current group and the repeats them until your pres stopRandom Title: randomly selects and plays a track from within the current title and continues until you pres stop or every track in the current title is playedRandom Group: randomly selects and plays a track from any title in the current group and continues to play until your press stop or every track in the current group is played Jukebox Play Modes: The Jukebox Mode allows you to create a list of songs (or a song queue) to play while you are listening to something else. The Jukebox Queue has a limit of 1,000 songs. The Jukebox Play Modes are as follows. Normal: plays the jukebox queue in order, then stopRepeat: plays the jukebox queue in order over and over without stoppingRandom: randomly selects and plays a track from the jukebox queue until you press stop or every track in the queue has been played WMA and Shoutcast Internet Radio: You get free WMA and Shoutcast Internet Radio access with high quality Internet Radio station updated automatically using the Escient RadioDB Tuning Service. Radio Guide: The Radio Guide displays a scrolling list of Internet Radio Stations. Using the remote control, you can navigate up and down the list. As each Station is highlighted, you will notice that the information Area and Cover Art changes to reflect the currently highlighted station. Media Management Creating Playlists: The MX-531 allows you to organize your favorite songs into custom Playlists. A Playlist is simply a group of songs that you choose from your Music Library. Creating Groups: In addition to Playlists, the MX-531 allows you to create custom Groups of Movies, Music Titles or Radio Stations. Adding Internet Radio Stations: The FireBall comes preloaded with several high quality streaming Internet Radio Station from around the world, but it also lets you add your own Internet Radio Stations. Tune Stations: The Tune Stations feature allows you to download a list of the most recent Internet Radio stations from Escient. Editing Movie Information: This feature allows you to edit the disc information for any DVD movie title using the Edit Disc screen. Lookup Disc: The Lookup This Disc button will initiate a disc lookup for only that disc. FireBall will connect to the Escient MovieDB Service to locate and download the disc information. Search Movie: You can manually search for the disc information by using the Search for Movie feature. This is a powerful tool that allows you to search the Escient MovieDB servers for an exact or partial match using the movie title. Existing Cover: If for some reason you cannot download the original cover, you can choose one of the existing covers for the current title. Edit Description: If for some reason you cannot download the original description, you can edit it. Edit Music Info: You can edit the disc information for any Music Title using the Edit Disc and Edit Tracks screen. Edit Track Names: You can also manually edit the Track/Song names of the currently highlighted Title in the Music Guide. Editing Playlists: You can reorder tracks, change the name and or remove tracks from any Playlist you created. Editing Groups: You can edit the name of a Group or add or remove Music Titles, Movie Titles or Radio Stations to and from the group. Deleting Music: You can remove any music you have recorded to the MX-531 by using the Delete Music feature. Deleting Playlists and Groups: You can delete any created Playlist or Group from the MX-531. Inputs and Outputs Rear Panel: Changer Communication Port: three RS-232 ports for controlling a compatible Sony DVD/CD changerAuxiliary Communication Port: one RS-232 port for future useS-Link: these three jacks allow you to control up to three Sony mega CD changersDigital Audio Output: one optical and one coaxial digital jacks for connecting the MX-531 to a receiver Digital Audio Input: three optical digital jacks for connecting compatible Sony DVD/CD changersAnalog Audio Outputs: one set of left and right RCA audio jacks for connecting the MX-531 to a receiver Analog Audio Inputs: three set of left and right RCA audio jacks for connecting compatible Sony DVD/CD changersEthernet: RJ45 port that connects the MX-531 to your broadband Ethernet network Video Outputs: one RCA composite video, one S-video, and one component video outputVideo Inputs: three RCA composite video, three S-video, and three component video inputs Specifications Video Specs: Video System: NTSC Video DACs: 10-bit Video S/N: 50dB Audio Specs: Frequency Response: 2-20,000 Hz THD+N (playback): 80dB Dynamic Range: 96dB Channel Separation: 95dB Line Output Voltage: 2 Vrms, 50 kOhms 500 GB Hard Drive Capacity: Hours in FLAC (CD Quality) Hours In MP3 (320) Hours in MP3 (192) Hours In MP3 (160) Hours in MP3 (128) 1,416 3,373 5,622 6.746 8,432 System Requirements Requirements For Importing Music Files: System Requirements: 10/100 Ethernet networkPC or Mac connected to the same local ethernet network as the FireBallWindows XP or Mac OS X Audio File Requirements:MP3 audio files recorded at 96k, 120k, 160k, 192k, 320k, or VBR encodingFLAC audio filesAAC audio files (non-DRM) up to 320kWMA files (48-192k CBR and up to 215k VBR)WAV files (automatically converted to FLAC or MP3 based on the Recording Preferences)ID3 tags are supported for AAC, MP3 and FLAC audio files Cover Art Image Requirements:JPEG image formatNo larger than 200 pixels wide by 200 pixels highNo larger than 30K in sizeThe cover art file must be embedded in the AAC, MP3, or FLAC file using ID3v2 tags Adding Internet Radio Station Requirements:Windows Media WMA or MPEG II layer 3 streamsWindows Media 9 or earlier
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