Network Audio: Any ideas?

BlueRaven · 08-12-2005, 01:33 PM

I know im being hopeful with this question, but I thought i'd ask here anyway.

I run Windows XP and Windows 2000 machines at home at the moment.

What I want to do is find a program that will play a sound file from computer (A) and travel across the network to use the soundcard/speakers on computer (B), not the speakers on computer (A).

Reason being is computer (A) is a laptop and computer (B) is a PC.

Before anyone asks, no I don't want to just plug the speakers into computer (A). I also think that streaming a 'radio' from computer (A) to computer (B) is missing the point a bit.

I figure there must be some network sound device out there? I've already found a program on linux that does it, and while computer (B) also has linux, its a linux to linux solution...not a windows to linux solution.

Has anyone found anything that would do this?

08-12-2005, 01:40 PM

This was exactly the same problem I came online to post! I heard something about Windows Media Encoder 9, you may want to check out.

honer · 08-12-2005, 01:50 PM

I'm not aware of any programs that will just 'send' sound to a remote machine and will just play (That said, the last thing I do with Linux is anything to do with media!)

However, we used to stream music mp3's interally, using Peercast and just using Freeamp to connect to the Peercast server and play it

Probably your only hope especially if its cross platform ??

BlueRaven · 08-12-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honer

I'm not aware of any programs that will just 'send' sound to a remote machine and will just play (That said, the last thing I do with Linux is anything to do with media!)

However, we used to stream music mp3's interally, using Peercast and just using Freeamp to connect to the Peercast server and play it

Probably your only hope especially if its cross platform ??

Well no, it isn't cross platform. The problem was that I couldn't find anything for windows that would do it.

While steaming music isn't too bad, i'd prefer to be able to have some kind of network sound resource... so you could, for instance, watch a movie and heard the sound through the other computer.

clontarf_x · 08-12-2005, 04:11 PM

Blue Raven it may be worthwhile having a look at Nullsoft (http://www.nullsoft.com)

They have a program called ShoutCast (another clone is Icecast). What it is is you have the streaming computer running Winamp (http://www.winamp.com) playing whatever tunes you chuck in the playlist. You then install ShoutCast onto the streaming computer (a plugin is required for Winamp, also found on the Nullsoft webpage).

All you do then is set up the server, then listen to the music across the network!

I.E If your streaming computer was named BeatBox then in Winamp/WMP you open location http://BeatBox:8000/listen.pls and your off and racing!

If you need any help setting it up/getting your head around it dont be afraid to throw me a PM

- Shane

08-12-2005, 04:30 PM

Ok I have constant audio going into the Line-In, and want to stream it live. Any ideas anyone?

Martyvan · 08-12-2005, 11:05 PM

This may not be the Answer you were completely looking for, but you could try a hardware set up. I have this media player Dlink DSM-320, and it works a treat, for Photos / Videos and Music. Was around ~$300 or so. But and you only need the Pc with the files on, to play, Also, it has a remote control, so you dont even need to get up to change the music around....... Can be controlled from your loungeroom or wherever you run it.
For videos though, i would recommend running an ethernet cable. Wireless the steaming is a little slow...

Top Gear and Fifth Gear never looked soo good...........

M14A-Mclaren · 09-12-2005, 12:23 AM

Can't you just create the network places on either machine, browser the other computer with the music on it with the one with the speakers and find the file(s) then play it?

BlueRaven · 09-12-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Can't you just create the network places on either machine, browser the other computer with the music on it with the one with the speakers and find the file(s) then play it?

No, because it will play the sound on the computer you are using, not the computer that the file is stored on.

BlueRaven · 09-12-2005, 09:33 AM

Incidently, the link to nullsoft may have helped me. There is an (old) program called WWWinamp that allows you to 'remote control' winamp from a web browser.

http://www.nullsoft.com/free/wwwinamp/

I havent given it a go yet, but I intend to when I get home.

*Update: If anyone is interested, as Nullsoft stopped developing wwwinamp years and years ago, someone else has started working on there own version.

You will find it here..

http://www.enusbaum.com/

Quasi · 09-12-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clontarf_x

Blue Raven it may be worthwhile having a look at Nullsoft (http://www.nullsoft.com)

They have a program called ShoutCast (another clone is Icecast). What it is is you have the streaming computer running Winamp (http://www.winamp.com) playing whatever tunes you chuck in the playlist. You then install ShoutCast onto the streaming computer (a plugin is required for Winamp, also found on the Nullsoft webpage).

All you do then is set up the server, then listen to the music across the network!

I.E If your streaming computer was named BeatBox then in Winamp/WMP you open location http://BeatBox:8000/listen.pls and your off and racing!

If you need any help setting it up/getting your head around it dont be afraid to throw me a PM

- Shane

This is precisely how you stream internet radio, which he has already stated is "Missing the point".

Perhaps I am missing something here, but why do you need to play it on (A) and not just on (B), from a network share on (A)?

Are the files not stored on (A)?

Is (B) not powerful enough?

It seems the simple solution is to store the media files on (A) and share the directory, but there must be a reason why you can't do this.

BlueRaven · 09-12-2005, 02:44 PM

haha, okay... to clarify.

There is a laptop and a desktop. The desktop has media files and some good speakers. The laptop has dodgy internal speakers and a buggy sound driver (that produces white noise on a sound event every now and then).

What I wish to do is (using the laptop) play a song stored on the desktop through the desktop's speakers. Ordinarily, if you open a file on another computer, it will run on the computer you are using, not the computer the file is stored on. This means that if I play a file stored on the desktop, using the laptop, it will play through the laptop speakers....not the desktop.

09-12-2005, 02:54 PM

Remote desktop Connection to the desktop machine

max^power · 09-12-2005, 04:08 PM

Black LS, i'd agree with you, Remote control, but i'd use VNC as remote desktop will return the desktop back to the welcome screen.

EDIT: although that web control to winamp sounds neat. it may be an easier option

BlueRaven · 09-12-2005, 05:14 PM

I'd considered pointing out earlier that remote control isn't an option either :P

The problem is that I might be using the computer (and kye doesnt want to bug me with questions) or she doesn't want to have to have to find the music on my computer and play around with it. We are looking for a nice clean solution.

So certainly, VNC would not work as it would be more painful (and slower :P).

BlueRaven · 10-12-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

*Update: If anyone is interested, as Nullsoft stopped developing wwwinamp years and years ago, someone else has started working on there own version.

You will find it here..

http://www.enusbaum.com/

SUCCESS!!

It worked. By running the WWWinamp version above as a server on the desktop, I am able to play files from anywhere on the network using a web browser. You can skip songs, stop, play, search through the mp3s or show all of them.

Its fantastic. It has the option of password security too.

I don't think im ever going to use winamp itself anymore.. i'll just open up firefox to change the song

clontarf_x · 10-12-2005, 01:26 PM

Glad to be of service