My XBMC Multi Room audio challenge.
Recently I have successfully migrated away from SKY HD and from Freeview+ to an entirely XBMC based solution. Most importantly this solution currently has a very high WAF . My setup is built using XBMC live in an overly powerful PC in a rather nice silverstone media center case.My current problem is now I have relegated all of my media to the lounge, using the ipod dock in the kitchen with a meagre 16GB Ipod seems positively lacking when, your media centre is connected directly to a 5Tb NAS. What happens now is you play music in the lounge and turn it way up to a probably neighbour unsuitable level to be able to properly enjoy it in the kitchen. This is why I crave multi room audio, I wrote a while back why I think XBMC is a far better and cheaper solution than the Sonos solution, though Sonos still do have the killer feature present and correct.
So I'm am challenged with building my own solution some how. My requirement is fairly straight forward:
- The ability to have the audio playing from the media centre play to another source at the same time.
I have no need for visuals or UI to be present in the other rooms as I can control the xbmc source with the XBMC iphone remote app, and possibly that Archos 7 tablet when its released :).
Typically it appears the requirement is a very easy thing to say out loud, and yet another thing entirely to actually achieve. The challenge, as I currently understand it is keeping the music streams to each room in sync.
My current stab in the dark is use a motorola DC800 bluetooth stereo adaptor, and use A2DP to stream the music to the second amp. This when the adaptor arrives, I can see is going to present a couple of challenges.
- Is it even possible to send audio out via the Line / SPdif out at the same time as A2DP ?
- if it is, will the audio be in sync?
Answers on a post card, if I get it to work i'll post the solution (assuming it doesn't involve purchase of a sonos solution :) )
Have you tried longer cables?
ReplyDeleteHave you tried longer cables?
ReplyDeleteLonger cables, I have tried. but to get to the kitchen would require and epically long one, require a shed load of wall chipping, which is borderline DIY, whilst my solution requires much technology and actually learning something.
ReplyDeleteLonger cables, I have tried. but to get to the kitchen would require and epically long one, require a shed load of wall chipping, which is borderline DIY, whilst my solution requires much technology and actually learning something.
ReplyDeletecheck out http://streamer.collect3.com.au/
ReplyDeletecheck out http://streamer.collect3.com.au/
ReplyDeleteI don't know what hardware you're wanting to use for this, but if you can make your xbmc send it's output to pulsaudio (a linux audio server) the pulsaudio client can stream it over your (wireless) home network and simultaneously play the output on any device on your network.
ReplyDeleteBTW: You can have more than one sender machine set up like this. The audio data will be mixed on the client side.
http://www.pulseaudio.org/
I don't know what hardware you're wanting to use for this, but if you can make your xbmc send it's output to pulsaudio (a linux audio server) the pulsaudio client can stream it over your (wireless) home network and simultaneously play the output on any device on your network.
ReplyDeleteBTW: You can have more than one sender machine set up like this. The audio data will be mixed on the client side.
http://www.pulseaudio.org/
Thanks will give it a go, and report back on any success, fyi im documenting the whole rotten saga, at http://james-lloyd.com/wiki/XBMC-Live
ReplyDeleteThanks will give it a go, and report back on any success, fyi im documenting the whole rotten saga, at http://james-lloyd.com/wiki/XBMC-Live
ReplyDeleteHi James,
ReplyDeleteWhat is the progress on your project? I'm looking forward to setup equivalent multiroom using XBMC.
Thanks
So far I have managed to stream to a load of garbage. Which I'm taking as progress.
ReplyDeleteHi James,
ReplyDeleteWhat is the progress on your project? I'm looking forward to setup equivalent multiroom using XBMC.
Thanks
So far I have managed to stream to a load of garbage. Which I'm taking as progress.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the integration of FreeSat and other TV Standards into XBMC on a Linux Box what do people think of the following DVB-S2 card: (I know it supposedly hasn't yet been released for sale yet but what does everyone feel about this device?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tbsdtv.com/english/product/6990.html
Have you tried another xbmc box and the Multiroom plugin available from the addins download section? Not tried it out myself but the documentation would lead you to believe it will do exactly what you're after...
ReplyDeleteYes tried that plugin and it works. The trouble I only have one Linux xbmc htpc, the rest are mac mini and apple tv. Where the plugin isn't yet available. I have had success out side of xbmc using AirPlay which now xbmc (latest svn) can be an AirPlay target is a really good option.
ReplyDeleteHello James, I am trying to achieve the exact same results as you, and as you say, it appears to sound a lot easier than it actually is, the setup I have is a 8TB media server in my spare room, there are CAT5e LAN cables going from the server to each of the TV's where I will use acer revo machines running XBMC live, I also have 5 audio zones that I want to treat as seperate audio zones and have wired speaker wire from the audio zones also back to the media server room, now I am wondering what sort of equipment I need to put it all together and make it work, I imagined using a multi channel amplifier of some type and assigning different channels on the soundcard to different zones, but i would be interested to hear how you have your setup to see if I am going in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance.
My System is now entirely Appley and based on Airplay. XBMC can now be an Airplay target (SVN). I can with my Ipad play and sync music to all my XBMC media centers. FYI reccomend getting a 2010 Mac Mini as a media center
ReplyDelete