u/sixtysixtysix

Am hoping this is a fairly n00b-type question that I've somehow missed in the manual...

I recently grabbed the Carve Audio "Mixing Cheat Sheet" - a handy visual guide that runs as a .vst inside Bitwig.

My first instinct was to add it on the master track, but what I need is to have its device panel window for it visible whichever track I actually have selected - otherwise it's somewhat restrictive to use.

I have 2 monitors, and have Bitwig settings as "Master/Detail". Maybe I need to change this? Or do I need to do something else i.e. use a device layer or something??

I hope this is a simple thing to achieve. Any suggestions or advice most welcome

I hope this is the correct sub? Sorry for a long post - it's important to explain the exact nature of my setup.

I recently created a very basic home network to stream music over WLAN from storage on "Computer 1" running Linux, accessible to both "Computer 2" running Windows 11 Pro, and a dedicated DAC streamer connected to WiFi, controlled by a phone app. Server is AssetUPnP by Db Poweramp. Works superbly well for my needs (I don't stream movies or radio etc. this is purely about replaying local lossless audio). It's sold as a UPnP/DLNA server and is designed with a focus on audio only.

The core part of this setup works extremely well i.e. the streaming DAC into the Hi-Fi. The control point app itself is great - picks up the served library, and correctly displays content.

However since I spend a lot of time on Computer 2 (Windows) I find myself reaching for the served music library pinned as a shortcut. This has proven to be far from straightforward under the existing setup, as there seem to be lots of "restrictions" on accessing these files that are imposed either by Microsoft's ever-changing security policies, or perhaps my network configuration (to follow) or perhaps because I've fundamentally misunderstood something about how to set this entire system up (also to follow)? As such there's no functioning search, and track information is missing display options such as "artist" name when playing a compilation.

For my LAN: I have no direct access to the internet, so I have my (new) home router eth into the fibre box next door, and said home router runs in access-point mode. It therefore has limited configuration options. I have access to the main fibre box, so have set things like static leases for all my equipment, as well as turning on UPnP on that router - although I've no idea at all if that makes the slightest difference. Computer 1, being a decade old, had no onboard WiFi so is eth to my home router, while Computer 2 connects over WiFi6. The DAC/streamer is connected to WiFi.

At this point there's basic connectivity everywhere. But I am determind to find out why my music library does not 'integrate' into Windows correctly. Getting to questions then:

Network configuration. I finally turned off UFW on Computer 1 as it's behind the firewall on the fibre box. I don't think my home router (in access-point mode) applies any filtering. But, after spending a long time experimenting with UFW rules - each of which would change how the served library appears (or doesn't) in Windows - I turned it off. For Computer 2, I've done all the expected switches for network/sharing as per endless tutorials everywhere. I've also dug into the firewall rules and allowed anything extra that seemed pertinent. I can ping Computer 1 from Computer 2, both by IP and name. I also started testing my ports and network using NMAP on Computer 2. Basic testing showed all ports ignored. I suspect (from reading around) that this is Computer 2 not accepting the return, rather than Computer 1 not responding, but I've no idea if this is something I need to worry about.

As for possible misunderstanding on my part: when I set this up (to both learn and test), I took the fact that Asset server (run at logon via .xinitrc) just scanned the library I pointed it at, and created a database, which it serves. The music library on Computer 1 is an internal SSD mounted via fstab as a 'normal' disc. But the past few days of further troubleshooting on my part, I've been seeing a lot of posts about mounting said disc specifically as a CIFS mount, using creds to log on, and then serving this, as this could allow Computer 2 to use SMB and other protocols?

So, am I simply confused? Should I look into mounting my music library within Computer 1 as a specific "network share" disc? Or do I need to keep digging into the vagaries of Windows 11... or start to troubleshoot port responses? I know which ports Asset is using. I have no way of knowing whether UPnP is supported on Computer 2, or whether any of this matters.

Anyone have any comments or suggestions? The reason I would like to understand better/more is because this is a first step. If/when I choose to either build a dedicated NAS, or move everything into a cloud host, I don't want to start troubleshooting all over again - I'd like to build on a better understanding.