Topic: music "servers"?

[BobW]

Get a fanless, wireless cube computer and an M902.
Use remote desktop to control it from your wireless PDA/ Laptop/ PC.
You can even map a laptop's hardrive or DVD to it.

There are many possibilities.

[Daryan]

How much does such a thing cost?  Very cool!

[macdaddy]

that is cool...

i have been reading about settng up a box that runs on flash memory, which would get rid of alot of the internal noise. just an idea...

right now i have a small box running foobar, controlled by an airboard (which i have then used to "teach" my remote - mx700). output is the spdif coax out of the dongle on the ap2496. this goes into the monarchy DIP, which goes to the mensa, which goes to the amp...

i get my best results when the flacs are on another computer on our home network. streaming across the network is fine, the only hiccups come when playing from a fragged drive that is uploading and downloading torrents all at the same time, and the network latency has nothing to do with the hiccup...

been doing it for years.

[MattD]

Can you go into more detail about your remote control/airboard setup? One hitch I have in my system is that I have to queue up a big list, otherwise I'm getting up every five minutes. Eventually, I also want to have a server/client setup with the music all in one central location.

[macdaddy]

Can you go into more detail about your remote control/airboard setup? One hitch I have in my system is that I have to queue up a big list, otherwise I'm getting up every five minutes. Eventually, I also want to have a server/client setup with the music all in one central location.

sure.

basically i just train the remote tho certain keystrokes, or build macros on the remote to do combined keystrokes...

if you can do what you need using a keyboard only, then you can program it to a remote via airboard...

[1st set only]

I want someone to design an amp that can control a hardrive directly via firewire. wouldnt that be a better solution than bringing a computer into your living room if all you want is music? just dreaming here, but i think it could be done.

[pfife]

Well, my buddy that works at a cable company is going to make me a 40' cable w/ stereo miniplug on one end, and RCA's on the other, with neutrik connectors ($17!  ), so I am going to give it a shot running from my computer to the amp on the other side of the basement.  We'll see how that works... I'm not too happy about a 40' run, but it my satisfy...

FWIW- my friend has me set up as a reseller w/ an account at his company, and I can basically get almost any kind of cable for really cheap.  LMK if anyone is interested.

[MattD]

That would essentially put the computer inside the amp. You need some kind of interface to browse the files on the drive and select them.

[Daryan]

OK, this is driving me nuts.  Can someone who has used their xbox for streaming 24/48 or 24/96 files to their amp/dac etc help me find a site that explains this in english.  All I want to know is what I need besides the xbox, which I already have.  Everything I keep finding is so geeky technical that I am having a hard time making heads and tails of all of this.

Thanks!

[Ed.]

OK, this is driving me nuts. Can someone who has used their xbox for streaming 24/48 or 24/96 files to their amp/dac etc help me find a site that explains this in english. All I want to know is what I need besides the xbox, which I already have. Everything I keep finding is so geeky technical that I am having a hard time making heads and tails of all of this.

Thanks!

you need a modchip and an updated version of xbox media center and you're set to rock and roll.

basically once you mod your xbox and flash a new bios onto it (easy as pie) you'll have a cheap multimedia machine.

you can find updated versions of xbox media center here: http://bt.xbox-sky.com:8080/ <-- if you don't feel like doing bt, you can get it from #xbins on efnet on irc.

Once xbmc is on your xbox, all you have to do is stream the audio/video/picture files from you puter to your xbox (or it can play flac files from a data dvd-r too) and you're golden.  I'll download a 24/96 flac today and see what happens when i try to play it.  but i'm positive it can do it, i don't know if downsamples tho.

i can go into more detail about modding your xbox if you'd like.

[ducati]

I ran a 30' RCA cable from my PC to hifi back when I was in an apt...  It worked OK for the tunes I was listening to (compressed Sugarmegs back in the day!)

For awhile I had a lappy w/802.11B and an EMI 2|6 running digital out through a DAC.  I put the laptop under my rack and set it to stay on when the lid was closed...  I used Remote Desktop to control it.  This was a nice setup, it sounded GREAT!

I had some network latency at times, but improved that by moving my WAP around.

[Daryan]

I am going to do this mod xbox thing.  However, I would really like to stream over wireless also.  Is this feasible...


wireless hub connected to usb adapter wireless going into a usb->coax 24 bit convertor, I was thinking m audio transit, running coax into the dac/amp/insert your gear here?

Daryan

[Nick in Edinboro]

I am going to do this mod xbox thing. However, I would really like to stream over wireless also. Is this feasible...

Seems as if streaming shouldn't be an issue.  Your xbox can go wireless:

[Ed.]

I am going to do this mod xbox thing. However, I would really like to stream over wireless also. Is this feasible...

my buddy keeps his router by the xbox and runs cat5 to the router, then streams audio/video from his computer over the wireless network.  If you don't want to put the router by the xbox, that wireless adapter for the xbox is available, however, i've never used it, so i don't know for a fact pm the adapter.

if you haven't been to www.xbox-scene.com yet, that site has pretty much everything you need to know about modding your xbox.  also if you're familiar with irc, you might want to get on efnet and look up the #xbox chat room...lots of help in there too.

I'd suggest getting a solderless mod-chip, they're worth the extra money and only take 5 minutes to put on.  I'd also suggest using a blow dryer to heat up the stickers on the back...they pull off easier and can be put back on covering up your work, just incase you have mess up the xbox and try the old switcheroo trick at wal-mart.

Also, when you go to buy the chip, i highly recommend www.modchipman.com - they also have a chat room on efnet, #modchipman, where you can talk one on one with the people who run the site and they'll help you with any problems.  The chips might cost a little bit more, but the customer service is worth it.  Not to mention, I had my chip within two days of ordering it.

feel free to ask me anymore questions.

[Daryan]

Wow, thanks for the help guys, this should be fun...no more obtrusive 30 foot canare coax cable.  If this works out, anyone need about 30 feet of 77 style canare cable for nothing?