My Results with Clix 2, Linux, MTP, OGG and MP3

[JuddRogers]

Following the directions given by _gmureddu_, I am able to put tracks on my new Clix 2nd gen in MTP mode using both amarok and gnomad2. Things mostly work. It looks like libmtp gets confused by the Clix. Still a work in progress.

Here is what I have:
Gentoo Linux
libmtp 0.2.4
amarok 1.47

I've settled on Amarok over gnomad2 as gnomad2 seems tailored to the Creative Nomad's layout on the device. Amarok requied more configuration but I was able to store the music tracks in a more natural (to me) layout.

Using Amarok, I can transfer OGG and MP3 tracks to the device and have the on-device database know all the metadata about the tracks. I have yet to try building playlists.

When transfering tracks, libmtp occassionally gets confused and the transfer fails. If I, disconnect, connect, and transfer again, the transfer often works. Transfers don't work at all if the files (not the metadata) contain commas, question marks, extra dots, and colons. Transfers also don't work if the metadata (ID3 tags or OGG tags) contain slashes.

It is a good idea to run amarok from the command line as libmtp writes progress and errors to stdout. This lets you see when libmtp is confused. Disconnect and reconnect seems to fix the confusion.

There are still some tracks that won't transfer at all. I'll investigate and update if I learn anything useful.

One warning: If you have the device rebuild its database, you will end up with a bunch of files which, Amarok at least, thinks belong to no folder.

If you see messages like

PTP: Sequence number mismatch 2978 vs expected 2979

it seems to help to unplug the Clix.

LIBMTP PANIC

You may find that Amarok/libmtp won't scan the MTP file system any more. Amarok will connect, whine, and not list any of the contents. libMTP example programs will complain about LIBMTP PANICs.

At least once, rebuilding the internal database on the device fixed the problem. The device database no longer has the last set of tracks. You can still find them by Extras/Browse Device and can still play them.

I've gone through this twice and now can't get either Amarok or libMTP to walk the devices' MTP file system. Can't even connect. Very bad. Device is still happy though.