Hi
For now I’m focussing most on the software and interface, then will work “back” to the hardware to run it.
Recently moved house, and for the first time in several years have the opportunity to set up a great system in several rooms. The lounge, study-bedroom, kitchen, patio and garage/ workshop. Music into all of the above, and video into most of them.
I have some good individual gear, but need a system to stream it and control it well, with flexibility. I’ve been looking around at what currently seems best, and would like feedback on the plan
I know quite a bit about good audio, some about basic AV, not much about streaming . .
I recently got an iPad 3, and for me a 10 inch tablet that I carry around is THE nicest way to control media. The size I find right, the high resolution images are a treat for the eyes, and if the software does everything you want . .
I’ve just learnt of two great options. JRMC - JRemote and XBMC – Yatse.
Currently JRemote being only for iPad, and Yatse only for Android. While I have an iPad, in the scheme of things I’d get an Android if XBMC – Yatse is overall better for me.
JRemote was Computer Audiophile’s 2012 Software Product of the Year http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/478-jremote-ios-remote-jriver-media-center-review/ . They mentioned that JRMC has multi zone playback, that every server running JRMC can be controlled as a different Zone.
* Does that mean (subject to hardware) JRMC can play *different media on each PC in a network?
The lounge has a 1080p TV, and a good projector – and the pj magnifies the video signal’s good and bad.
* sure display devices and media vary in quality, but do software media players??
The other rooms all need 720p, stereo audio (maybe online radio). Two can be Ethernet, but getting cable to the others would be messy – so wireless.
I’ll do decoding-encoding etc just in the lounge, so I’d think for other rooms:
- XBMC can run on the Raspberry pi http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry-pi-xbmc-with-raspbmc/ , which is cheap and nicely compact.
- if I choose JRMC and need Windows, modest cost, mini-ITX quiet PCs should be fine.
I’ll probably run a ‘server’ most of the time, so likely get a NAS. Maybe HP’s MicroServer G7 N40L http://apcmag.com/hp-proliant-microserver-g7-n40l-review.htm available for about $240. The CPU is only a modest dual-core 1.5 GHz, but while the media streams mighty be simultaneous, they will nearly always be just one video, the rest 2 channel audio.
Can XBMC somehow get around not having simultaneous different media streams??
For this situation, what do you think - JRMC or XBMC?
Thanks in advance!
Rick
For now I’m focussing most on the software and interface, then will work “back” to the hardware to run it.
Recently moved house, and for the first time in several years have the opportunity to set up a great system in several rooms. The lounge, study-bedroom, kitchen, patio and garage/ workshop. Music into all of the above, and video into most of them.
I have some good individual gear, but need a system to stream it and control it well, with flexibility. I’ve been looking around at what currently seems best, and would like feedback on the plan
I know quite a bit about good audio, some about basic AV, not much about streaming . .
I recently got an iPad 3, and for me a 10 inch tablet that I carry around is THE nicest way to control media. The size I find right, the high resolution images are a treat for the eyes, and if the software does everything you want . .
I’ve just learnt of two great options. JRMC - JRemote and XBMC – Yatse.
Currently JRemote being only for iPad, and Yatse only for Android. While I have an iPad, in the scheme of things I’d get an Android if XBMC – Yatse is overall better for me.
JRemote was Computer Audiophile’s 2012 Software Product of the Year http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/478-jremote-ios-remote-jriver-media-center-review/ . They mentioned that JRMC has multi zone playback, that every server running JRMC can be controlled as a different Zone.
* Does that mean (subject to hardware) JRMC can play *different media on each PC in a network?
The lounge has a 1080p TV, and a good projector – and the pj magnifies the video signal’s good and bad.
* sure display devices and media vary in quality, but do software media players??
The other rooms all need 720p, stereo audio (maybe online radio). Two can be Ethernet, but getting cable to the others would be messy – so wireless.
I’ll do decoding-encoding etc just in the lounge, so I’d think for other rooms:
- XBMC can run on the Raspberry pi http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry-pi-xbmc-with-raspbmc/ , which is cheap and nicely compact.
- if I choose JRMC and need Windows, modest cost, mini-ITX quiet PCs should be fine.
I’ll probably run a ‘server’ most of the time, so likely get a NAS. Maybe HP’s MicroServer G7 N40L http://apcmag.com/hp-proliant-microserver-g7-n40l-review.htm available for about $240. The CPU is only a modest dual-core 1.5 GHz, but while the media streams mighty be simultaneous, they will nearly always be just one video, the rest 2 channel audio.
Can XBMC somehow get around not having simultaneous different media streams??
For this situation, what do you think - JRMC or XBMC?
Thanks in advance!
Rick
