Using PC as a music server, played by Android, Apple phone/tablet.

[Milkteamooni]

My idea is about to connect my smartphone ( iphone 5c and Galaxy S4 ) with my computer. I want to ask if there is some ways to make communication between them ? Everything I need is a non-graphical interface on the smartphones, just scroll and click then the computer and DAC will handle the rest. Please bring here some ways , i mean ... what OS ? What apps ? And how to make your system sounds without cables ?

 

 

English is not my mother-language so pls spare me if i say something wrong. Thanks for reading.

[Lowlands]

My idea is about to connect my smartphone ( iphone 5c and Galaxy S4 ) with my computer. I want to ask if there is some ways to make communication between them ? Everything I need is a non-graphical interface on the smartphones, just scroll and click then the computer and DAC will handle the rest. Please bring here some ways , i mean ... what OS ? What apps ? And how to make your system sounds without cables ?

 

English is not my mother-language so pls spare me if i say something wrong. Thanks for reading.

 

There is potentially a lot of answers to your question. You're asking a summary of a lot of info on this board. Good startingpoint is likely what you have.... What computer will you be using (Windows, Mac/OSX, Linux)? I assume you both have the iPhone AND the Samsung S4?

 

SOME mainstraim options (there are more...) to get you started...

 

Option 1 (cheap / free), based on iTunes:

• Computer: iTunes (runs on both Windows and Mac/OSX); Last time I checked, iTunes does not handle auto sample-rate switching. On OS/X you can add Bitperfect. On Windows I am unaware of such plug-in to fix that problem.
  
• Mobile device: Remote (from Apple, runs on IOS only ; there are alternative iTunes remotes in Google play store, might cost a few $, but not much).
  

 

Option 2 ($50+ $10), based on JRiver:

• Computer: JRiver MC ($50) (runs on Window and on OS/X; OS/X is audio only, but that seems to meet your requirement)
  
• Mobile device: JRemote ($10) (runs only on IOS at this time) or Gizmo (runs on Android)
  

 

Good luck!

[Cebolla]

My idea is about to connect my smartphone ( iphone 5c and Galaxy S4 ) with my computer. I want to ask if there is some ways to make communication between them ? Everything I need is a non-graphical interface on the smartphones, just scroll and click then the computer and DAC will handle the rest. Please bring here some ways , i mean ... what OS ? What apps ? And how to make your system sounds without cables ?

 

 

English is not my mother-language so pls spare me if i say something wrong. Thanks for reading.

In addition to Lowlands's questions, you haven't mentioned where your music source actually is. I believe Lowlands's options assumes your source of music is music files stored on the computer.

 

For example, do you want to play music (stored music files and/or sound from apps) from the smartphones themselves to the computer? Or, is it just playing of music stored on the computer and the smartphones are used just for playback control? Or, is it both?

[Pepsican]

There is potentially a lot of answers to your question. You're asking a summary of a lot of info on this board. Good startingpoint is likely what you have.... What computer will you be using (Windows, Mac/OSX, Linux)? I assume you both have the iPhone AND the Samsung S4?

 

SOME mainstraim options (there are more...) to get you started...

 

Option 1 (cheap / free), based on iTunes:

• Computer: iTunes (runs on both Windows and Mac/OSX); Last time I checked, iTunes does not handle auto sample-rate switching. On OS/X you can add Bitperfect. On Windows I am unaware of such plug-in to fix that problem.
  
• Mobile device: Remote (from Apple, runs on IOS only ; there are alternative iTunes remotes in Google play store, might cost a few $, but not much).
  

 

Option 2 ($50+ $10), based on JRiver:

• Computer: JRiver MC ($50) (runs on Window and on OS/X; OS/X is audio only, but that seems to meet your requirement)
  
• Mobile device: JRemote ($10) (runs only on IOS at this time) or Gizmo (runs on Android)
  

 

Good luck!

 

As you correctly state, there are a lot of potential answers. Here is a second free option.

 

Run the Music Player Daemon (MPD) on a commandline-only instance of Debian Linux. Then use an MPD app on either Android or iOS as a remote control. You'd manage the PC (installations, other maintenance) through some form of terminal (Telnet, Bash, SSH). It is a very light package and it really is easy to install.

 

The major advantage is that this system will run on almost any hardware, be it from Apple, a custom build PC, an old left-over PC, Raspberry Pi, etc.

 

If you really want to go with JRiver, it is available on Linux as well. Also, there is Kobi (aka XBMC).

[CatManDo]

I use foobar2000 and the foobar2000 controller Android app

 

foobar2000

 

Foobar2000 is a great player for audiophiles, because it has a lot of advanced features, like SACD ISO playback

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cav.foobar2000controller&hl=en

 

The foobar2000 interface on the computer that plays the files can also be accessed by any computer in the network, by typing an address inro a browser. I do a lot of listening on a sofa with a notebook on my lap, and then it's more convenient to use the notebook for remote controlling the playback.

[jriver]

• Computer: JRiver MC ($50) (runs on Window and on OS/X; OS/X is audio only, but that seems to meet your requirement)
  
• Mobile device: JRemote ($10) (runs only on IOS at this time) or Gizmo (runs on Android)
  

Thanks for the mention. MC on Mac also does video now.

[Lowlands]

Ah. Sorry for that. Good to know JRiver MC on Mac now also does video..

 

On the Linux side of things (depending on you computer literacy.. the majority here thinks they are close to, if not main stream)... As stated by Pepsican JRiver MC also has a Linux version. There are various Linux distro's around with followers here & on their own boards... Examples (again, just a random start, there are more):

- Daphile

- Vortexbox

- ap-Linux

 

Most / all have remote capability, if not by a related app then likely by one of the many MPD remote apps in the various appstores.. (see post Pepsican). There are also more generic media player solutions (less audio centric) such as Kobi (XBMC), Myth etc..

[Milkteamooni]

There is potentially a lot of answers to your question. You're asking a summary of a lot of info on this board. Good startingpoint is likely what you have.... What computer will you be using (Windows, Mac/OSX, Linux)? I assume you both have the iPhone AND the Samsung S4?

 

SOME mainstraim options (there are more...) to get you started...

 

Option 1 (cheap / free), based on iTunes:

• Computer: iTunes (runs on both Windows and Mac/OSX); Last time I checked, iTunes does not handle auto sample-rate switching. On OS/X you can add Bitperfect. On Windows I am unaware of such plug-in to fix that problem.
  
• Mobile device: Remote (from Apple, runs on IOS only ; there are alternative iTunes remotes in Google play store, might cost a few $, but not much).
  

 

Option 2 ($50+ $10), based on JRiver:

• Computer: JRiver MC ($50) (runs on Window and on OS/X; OS/X is audio only, but that seems to meet your requirement)
  
• Mobile device: JRemote ($10) (runs only on IOS at this time) or Gizmo (runs on Android)
  

 

Good luck!

 

In addition to Lowlands's questions, you haven't mentioned where your music source actually is. I believe Lowlands's options assumes your source of music is music files stored on the computer.

 

For example, do you want to play music (stored music files and/or sound from apps) from the smartphones themselves to the computer? Or, is it just playing of music stored on the computer and the smartphones are used just for playback control? Or, is it both?

 

Thousand thanks.

 

I'm using both iphone 5c and Samsung S4. Music files are stored in the HDD. My PC OS is Windows 7, I also have a MacBook. So now I want to make my rigs ( Windows or Mac , whatever ) become a music server that controlled by smartphone through LAN set-up. I think spending money to get a network player isn't that worth, since we already have PC, DAC, Wifi set-up... I mean Everything.

 

I don't think itunes is good, my files are almost 24bit or DSD and itunes can't handle them.

 

By the way, can this be called " Local Music Streaming " ?

 

Tks for sharing Jriver and Foobar apps , i'm gonna try it and post reviews soon

[CatManDo]

The foobar2000 interface on the computer that plays the files can also be accessed by any computer in the network, by typing an address inro a browser. I do a lot of listening on a sofa with a notebook on my lap, and then it's more convenient to use the notebook for remote controlling the playback.

 

Just some additional info, as the foobar controller page doesn't elaborate on this. On the setup page of the server configuation, accessing the foobar interface in a browser is only presented as a way of checking the installation, but it can actually be used as a full remote interface with all the necessary controls. It doesn't require an app installation and will work on any device in the network with an internet browser (i.e. a tablet with any OS). It's only inconvenient if the IP address of the server changes regularly, which should not be the case in a small home network.

 

foobar2000 controller: How to start

 

This is the address to type in to access the foobar interface. Just bookmark it on your "remote control" device and you're set.

 

http://server_ip:8888/foobar2000controller (server_ip = IP address of the PC where foobar2000 is installed and running)

[Pepsican]

Just some additional info, as the foobar controller page doesn't elaborate on this. On the setup page of the server configuation, accessing the foobar interface in a browser is only presented as a way of checking the installation, but it can actually be used as a full remote interface with all the necessary controls. It doesn't require an app installation and will work on any device in the network with an internet browser (i.e. a tablet with any OS). It's only inconvenient if the IP address of the server changes regularly, which should not be the case in a small home network.

 

foobar2000 controller: How to start

 

This is the address to type in to access the foobar interface. Just bookmark it on your "remote control" device and you're set.

 

http://server_ip:8888/foobar2000controller (server_ip = IP address of the PC where foobar2000 is installed and running)

 

Any Internet modem or router will allow for the use of DHCP. This will force the network to always assign the same IP address to certain hardware.

[Nikhil]

I would add using a dedicated gigabit router will make a difference for streaming high res audio.

 

I use a Win7 PC as a media server with a separate HDD for all my music which is managed by JRiver. Media software like JRiver or Foobar helps tremendously with audio quality and rendering different formats - highly recommended. As your collection grows - having something like JRiver to manage your library becomes very useful.