AFP, AAC, Apple Lossless and NEF

[AJH4]

I would like some advice on a NAS for SOHO use in a Mac and PS3 household. I have been trying to find a NAS (2 to 4 drive RAID) that supports AFP and has UPnP/DNLA. There are plenty of these, I know. Here is the catch, can I do without the iTunes server function by just pointing iTunes at the NAS and share the folder (same with iPhoto)? I would still like to have the NAS serve AAC and Apple lossless music files and RAW (NEF) images to media devices like the PS3. I have seen AAC supported for most, but not for streaming as iTunes server. Am I correct to assume that I can live without the iTunes server function and just use the UPnP capabilities to stream AAC, MP4 video, RAW images (if ever supported) to the PS3 and just use the NAS as a main or shared library for devices that actually use iTunes (iMac, Macbook, touch, iPad)? Any recommendations?

 

[thiggins]

Yes, you can do this. My QNAP TS109 serves music to my Squeezeboxes via Squeezecenter server (add on) and various media players I test via UPNP /DLNA. I use iTunes to rip and store content, mainly because I need it for my iTouch and iPad.

Just set iTunes to use a folder on your NAS. Force it to create a new library. Then import the folder containing your music. MAKE SURE that "copy files when adding to iTunes" option is NOT checked when you do this, or you'll get dupes of all your files.