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| Please note: Do It Yourself articles and guides are intended for technically advanced users. Please review important cautionary information at the end of this page. Republished articles presented in the Do It Yourself section do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of AMD.
Stream Your Own Music at Home
"Greyhound"
Did you ever wonder if there is an easy way to share music from your PC with other computers on your home network, or even your home entertainment system? Well there is, and it is called streaming audio.
Streaming Audio Basics
Streaming Your Music with SHOUTcast
Streaming Your Music with iTunes and AirPort Express
Streaming Audio Basics
Streaming audio starts with digital audio data encoded into a recognized format. Then, a streaming audio server transmits a continuous stream of small packets of digital audio data to connected clients via the Internet network protocol (TCP/IP).
There are various streaming audio data formats:
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MP3 (for example, SHOUTcast)
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AAC (iTunes Advanced Audio Coding)
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WMA (Windows® Media Audio)
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Others (for example, Real Media Audio)
Each stream has a certain bitrate, which determines how many packets of data per second the server sends to the client. Higher bitrates typically offer better quality, but also require a faster connection.
Streaming Your Music with SHOUTcast
Nullsoft's SHOUTcast offers a particularly easy, flexible, and cost-effective way to enable all computers on your home network to listen to music broadcast by one machine.
Start by downloading two items from SHOUTcast’s website:
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The latest version of SHOUTcast’s Win32 Server
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The SHOUTcast DSP plug-in for Winamp
The SHOUTcast installer creates and opens the “SHOUTcast DNAS.” From there, select “Edit SHOUTcast DNAS configuration,” and then replace the default password with your own. (Ignore the other options under “Required stuff” if you have fewer than 32 machines on your home network.)
“Logging configuration” is the first sub-window under “Optional Parameters.” You need make no changes here.
But the items under “Network Configuration” are important:
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“SrcIP” determines where the server will source the audio it broadcasts; type in SrcIP=127.0.0.1 so the server will accept audio only from its host machine
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“DestIP” determines who can hear the music you broadcast; enter the fixed IP address of the client device(s) you wish to connect with your home network, which should read something like “DestIP=192.168.0.2.”
Finally, scroll down the “Server Configuration” page until you reach “Public Server”:
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Set “PublicServer” to “PublicServer=never”
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Set “AllowRelay” to “AllowRelay=No”
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Set “AllowPublicRelay” to “AllowPublicRelay=No”
Run the DSP plug-in installer, which will automatically locate your Winamp folder. Launch Winamp, select “Preferences” from the “Options” menu, go to “Plug ins” -> “DSP/Effect,” and select “Nullsoft SHOUTcast DSP.”
When a new window pops up, select the “Output” tab and click the “Connection” button:
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Enter “localhost” in the “Address” box, making sure you use the same password you entered in the server’s configuration file
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Click the “Yellowpages” button
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Uncheck the “Make this server public” box
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Enter into the “Description” box the server name of your choice
At the “Encoder” tab, select “Encoder 1,” and then select “MP3 Encoder” in the “Encoder Type” drop-down box. A second drop-down box, “Encoder Settings,” allows you to select the bitrate and sampling frequency of your audio stream, and to choose between mono or stereo. (It is best to match these values to the quality of the music you stream, or plan to stream, over your home network.)
Launch the server application “SHOUTcast DNAS GUI,” which opens a console window relaying status information. You can minimize this console while the server runs, but make sure you do not close it.
Select a song or playlist in Winamp and play it, then go to the “Output” tab in the DSP plug-in’s window and click the “Connect” button. Your server is now set up and ready to accept connections from your home network client(s).
As long as your clients have media player software capable of playing streaming audio, they can run any type of operating system – Windows®, Linux, Mac, and so on. Just select “Open URL,” “Play URL,” or “Open Stream” from your player's menu, and enter the IP address of your home network server, followed by a colon and the number 8000.
Streaming Your Music with iTunes and AirPort Express
If you own an iPod music player it is probably best to stream digital audio using Apple's iTunes software and AirPort Express, which features a 3.5mm audio jack and optical connections to connect directly with your home entertainment system or a pair of powered speakers.* You also need wireless LAN functionality (802.11b or 802.11g) on at least the computer that will stream music to the AirPort Express.
Once you configure your AirPort Express, iTunes will automatically find it and offer a “Remote speakers” option at the bottom of the window. Select the desired speakers or home entertainment system and listen away.
*You do not need to purchase other Apple equipment to use iTunes, AirPort Express, or an iPod.
Cautionary Statement
Activities and projects described herein may involve the use of tools and materials that may present health and safety hazards. These must be handled carefully and all tools and products should be used strictly according to manufacturers' precautions and instructions for the safe use of the respective tool or product. The techniques described herein may result in the voiding of manufacturers' warranties. The user assumes all risks associated with the techniques described in this article/guide. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. AMD ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ERRORS CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE/GUIDE AND HAS NO LIABILITY OR OBLIGATION FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THIS ARTICLE/GUIDE.
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