Multi-zone audio w/ revolution?

I've successfully used MC9 and a Delta 410 card to run multiple zones, but mostly as a proof-of-concept. I suspect it would be the same with the Revo as it shares a similar driver. Each stereo pair is seen by MC9 as a separate audio device, so each pair can be assigned as a zone. Playback to multiple zones, even with digital effects applied, was flawless on a PIII 1 GHz machine.


Aside from volume control (which wasn't a problem in my setup, b/c I'm using local amplification and volume control in each zone), the biggest problem is the inability to synchronize playback between the zones. Until this is possible in J River's software, you're still stuck with using conventional methods of audio distribution. IMO, synchronized zones is important for creating a "party" mode throughout the house.


Rumor has it that J. River is working on this feature, but we'll let Jim comment on that.


It may also be possible to "stream" audio over the LAN in the same way that web radio does, so that each local zone could tune into the same channel and get synchronized playback. I have only a conceptual understanding of this, so perhaps someone can comment on the specifics.


- Ken

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...oh yes, I forgot about THAT problem. This is a real limitation! I also hope M-Audio will address this need for "matrix switching" of SW inputs in future drivers. In the mean time, J River is likely our best hope


--Caleb

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Caleb raises another good point. The M-Audio cards work well for routing sound from a software player (e.g., MC9) to different outputs, but they don't work as well with an INPUT from another source outside of the HTPC (e.g., a CD player in another zone). True multizone pre-amps act like matrix switches, in that they can route any any input to any output, or any input to multiple outputs. AFAIK, the Delta cards and MC9 cannot handle inputs from external sources as separate zones. (If I'm wrong on this point, let me know!)


One possible way of thinking about MC9 and the Revo, based on their current capabilities, is as a multi-channel source. For example, it can be used to stream multiple playlists simultaneously to different outputs, allowing a user to select an output to hear a particular playlist. You can set up one stereo pair to play classical music and another to play acid jazz. Selecting an output gets you a genre. Sort of DIY musak.

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...yes, BUT...as you said earlier, only to one output per sortware source, i.e music from any zone of any SW jukebox player can only be played out from the card to a single "mixer" pair (for this discussion that means to a single stereo zone).


Infact, I believe the M-A cards 410, 1010 can do some matrix switching of Hardware Sources (Non-HTPC), but cannot with SW (HTPC) sources. I may be wrong about the HW, but am correct about the SW.


It would/should be so easy for them to add this matrix functionality


--Caleb