What is a NAS?
A NAS, for Network Attached Storage, is a remote server for storing computer data. In other words, it is a hard drive connected to your Wi-Fi and accessible on a personal network , allowing you to centralize all the data of a home or business. Unlike tools like Google Drive, where you have your data hosted "externally", a NAS gives you the possibility of building your own private Cloud.
The advantages of a NAS
- First step into the world of dematerialized music
The first big advantage of using a NAS is the ability to listen to the music you physically own in a dematerialized way. All you have to do is rip your CDs, that is to say, digitize them and store them on your hard drive. Today, there are many software programs that allow you to encode your CDs in different digital formats . Obviously, favor formats without compression or loss such as WAVE or FLAC . You will be able to save space and take advantage of the possibilities offered by NAS in terms of sorting and playlists. With a little patience, you will be able to dematerialize your CD collection without any loss and free yourself from subscriptions to streaming platforms.
- Ability to store and stream large files
The dematerialization of CDs is an important step, but it is just as essential to ensure that your files are stored securely and accessible. Today, it is possible to find NAS with a large storage capacity (2 TB and more) on the market for a cost varying between 200 and 300 euros. For example, a 3 TB NAS can store around 4,000 CDs , which is more than enough for most people.
- Ability to stream locally, without internet access
Like any hard drive, and this is the whole point of a NAS, you have access to your files even without internet access . Distributing your files then becomes much easier, unlike streaming platforms for which a connection and good speed are mandatory. It also becomes possible to move your entire CD collection to places without any internet access, which can be the case in a second home for example. Likewise, if, as sometimes happens, you experience an internet outage, you will still be able to listen to music.
- Multiple use
NAS are not only for music content. They are generally an excellent source of multimedia storage for the whole family or your business. You can play and store video content but also photo content.
Useful information
Sometimes a NAS breaks down or a computer bug occurs. To avoid losing all of your content, it is in your best interest to set up a backup procedure . This will save you from having to re-encode hundreds or even thousands of CDs.
You have two methods for this:
The first is to equip yourself with a NAS that integrates an automatic backup feature. This type of NAS has the particularity of having not one, but two or even three sub-disks and distributing your data there. In the event of failure of one of them, the operational disks will be able to reconstruct your data.
The second is to buy two NAS of the same capacity and regularly make backups on each of the disks.
Is it possible to stream content from your NAS to Octavio products?
In conclusion
Thanks to our Octavio Virtuose control and piloting application, it is possible to broadcast the content of your NAS via Octavio products , such as our network player, our amplifier or even our connected speakers.
