Quick primer on using a NAS as a media server? (mostly audio)

Hi all,

I'm currently looking into getting my first NAS.

In my research, I've seen that some have features as a media server, and some include transcoding (in-advance and/or dynamic on-demand).

I wasn't originally thinking about this when I started to look into getting a NAS, but I do have a bunch of MP3 and FLAC files, in a folder hierarchy like: /artist/album/mp3-or-flac-files

My clients are mostly Apple, Mac and iOS -- and I really mostly use the Mac, which has been kind of annoying...

Quick primer on using a NAS as a media server? (mostly audio)