Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

icecold0913

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 8, 2008
84
0
NOLA
Is it possible to stream music through AppleTV and Airport Express at the same time?
Like, play the same song in the living room (AppleTV) and the bedroom (Airport)?
If so, would it be controlled via iTunes or AppleTV?

Thanks.
 
Yes, it is possible to do this. It is controlled via iTunes. In the lower right corner of iTunes you would select "all speakers" and click Play.

Regards,
Michael
 
You can stream music to two different Airtunes speakers, let's say an Airport Express and AppleTV. The stream would be controlled by iTunes, so you need your computer to stay on.

If AppleTV is the only Airtunes speaker you can use your AppleTV remote to skip or fast forward through songs even if your computer is in another room. I don't know if this still works if your streaming to two different Airtunes speakers.
 
Is there a limit? Like if I had two AE and an AppleTV could I stream to all 3?


I stream to three with no problem - but I dont know what the limit is...

Edit: one of the speakers is a local set hooked up to the computer though so technically it may be two that Im streaming to.

Edit two: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108038

"Question: Can iTunes send a single AirTunes stream to multiple AirPort Express stations?
Answer: Yes. With iTunes 6.0.2 or later, you can send an AirTunes stream to multiple remote AirPort Express units, provided that each AirPort Express has the latest AirPort firmware (available here). The maximum number of remote AirPort Express units is three to six in typical conditions. The number that works for you will depend on your environmental conditions (such as building composition and local radio interference), distance to the remote AirPort Express units, and available network capacity relative to your other usage."
 
Is there a limit? Like if I had two AE and an AppleTV could I stream to all 3?
I don't see a limit. I can pick "All" as an option to stream to two remote speakers in addition to the computer speakers. In the end, the limit is probably going to be tied to the capacity of your wireless network. I don't think there is a broadcast option in 802.11, so each remote speaker would have to receive the identical stream separately, probably going through the main base station, so the system may not scale indefinitely.
 
Is there a limit? Like if I had two AE and an AppleTV could I stream to all 3?

I can verify that two AEs and and Apple TV work, along with the local computer speaker for a total of four devices. After that I run out of toys. :)

A.
 
2 Airport express + local speakers..

If I stream to two airport express and local speakers, is the music all in sync or is there a delay (I read 8 seconds somewhere) on the music coming out of the airport expresses??

Thanks
 
If I stream to two airport express and local speakers, is the music all in sync or is there a delay (I read 8 seconds somewhere) on the music coming out of the airport expresses??

Thanks

The sound is in sync. There is a transmission delay sending to the Airport Express, but iTunes automatically compensates for that when it sends the output to the local speakers.

A.
 
The sound is in sync. There is a transmission delay sending to the Airport Express, but iTunes automatically compensates for that when it sends the output to the local speakers.

A.

I think it may be more than compensating, and that there may be some handshaking going on to make sure everything's in sync. Like others, I stream through an :apple:TV and an Airport Express, and play through the computer's speakers, and they're all completely in sync (undoubtedly there's some small error but it's undetectable to my ear).
 
I have an :apple:TV in the living room connected to my big sound system, the MacPro in my home office, an Express in the bedroom, and an Express in the utility room, which is connected to a reciever that pushes sound to ceiling speakers in the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. So you can hear the music anywhere in the house.

I love that I don't have to go into the living room to turn the :apple:TV on for it to stream music.

It's a very cool system, but having the iPhone as a remote pushes it over the top. Being able to turn each unit on and off from the remote app is beautiful. Even non-tech people and my staunch PC friends are extremely impressed with the grace and beauty of Apple's system.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.