4 ms·

I really wish there was a standard way of streaming audio over LANs that worked between devices (like phones, computers, and smart speakers). Bluetooth is such

I really wish there was a standard way of streaming audio over LANs that worked between devices (like phones, computers, and smart speakers). Bluetooth is such a pain, IMHO.

Spivak 6y ago
If you are willing to accept something obscure PulseAudio actually has the best thing. Look into the PulseAudio native module which just let’s you put a speaker on the network as a normal boring sound output that works as if it was connected to your computer. - Install the zeroconf module on both server and clients. - Enable the native module on the server and open the port and tell PA to publish an mDNS record. - See the speaker just appear in your sound options. Play! Actual instructions if you want to set it up https://blogs.gnome.org/ignatenko/2015/07/31/how-to-set-up-network-audio-server-based-on-pulseaudio-and-auto-discovered-via-avahi/ https://blogs.gnome.org/ignatenko/2015/07/31/how-to-set-up-n...
- microcolonel 6y ago
  I've done this for years. It works especially well when you have more than one computer, mutually considering eachother their default output. Playing something in your tmux session on the workstation, but want to go use the laptop in the kitchen? Just move the headphones. I also use it since I brought the office workstation home, along with barrier (synergy fork), to use one set of peripherals for both of my workstations.
- armagon 6y ago
  That's pretty cool! I'd actually like to stream from my Mac or a phone to an Alexa Echo Dot. Bluetooth usually works, but not always, and not needing the devices to be in close proximity would be a bonus.
- kylegordon 6y ago
  I tried that and whilst it works for individual outputs, having it playing synchronised with other speakers was not ideal given the timing discrepancies that appeared.
  - Spivak 6y ago
    That should be fixable in the same way speaker groups in Google Home work. Try using module-loopback to add some latency to the sinks and get them in sync.
kylegordon 6y ago
If it's of any assistance, our (my employer, Linn) Songcast protocol is BSD licensed, and available for high precision uni/multicast networked audio. We use it in the core of our products for multi-room audio. It is much more network focused than bluetooth though * https://github.com/openhome https://github.com/openhome * http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/Av:Developer:Songcast:Ohm http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/Av:Developer:Songcast:Ohm * http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/OhMediaDevelopers http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/OhMediaDevelopers

I really wish there was a standard way of streaming audio over LANs that worked between devices (like phones, computers, and smart speakers). Bluetooth is such a pain, IMHO.

Spivak 6y ago

If you are willing to accept something obscure PulseAudio actually has the best thing. Look into the PulseAudio native module which just let’s you put a speaker on the network as a normal boring sound output that works as if it was connected to your computer. - Install the zeroconf module on both server and clients. - Enable the native module on the server and open the port and tell PA to publish an mDNS record. - See the speaker just appear in your sound options. Play! Actual instructions if you want to set it up https://blogs.gnome.org/ignatenko/2015/07/31/how-to-set-up-network-audio-server-based-on-pulseaudio-and-auto-discovered-via-avahi/ https://blogs.gnome.org/ignatenko/2015/07/31/how-to-set-up-n...

microcolonel 6y ago
I've done this for years. It works especially well when you have more than one computer, mutually considering eachother their default output. Playing something in your tmux session on the workstation, but want to go use the laptop in the kitchen? Just move the headphones. I also use it since I brought the office workstation home, along with barrier (synergy fork), to use one set of peripherals for both of my workstations.
armagon 6y ago
That's pretty cool! I'd actually like to stream from my Mac or a phone to an Alexa Echo Dot. Bluetooth usually works, but not always, and not needing the devices to be in close proximity would be a bonus.
kylegordon 6y ago
I tried that and whilst it works for individual outputs, having it playing synchronised with other speakers was not ideal given the timing discrepancies that appeared.
- Spivak 6y ago
  That should be fixable in the same way speaker groups in Google Home work. Try using module-loopback to add some latency to the sinks and get them in sync.

kylegordon 6y ago

If it's of any assistance, our (my employer, Linn) Songcast protocol is BSD licensed, and available for high precision uni/multicast networked audio. We use it in the core of our products for multi-room audio. It is much more network focused than bluetooth though * https://github.com/openhome https://github.com/openhome * http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/Av:Developer:Songcast:Ohm http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/Av:Developer:Songcast:Ohm * http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/OhMediaDevelopers http://wiki.openhome.org/wiki/OhMediaDevelopers