Music on Mac mini with centralised iTunes Library

[derekchia]

Hi all,

I've a mac mini with os x server on it managing my iTunes Library via Dlink NAS *DNS 343[raid 1]* and I want this mac mini connected to my sound system through any means [either airport express or just the audio jack on mini].

But the problem is I want to choose between playing the library on my sound system or my macbook, is there something in iTunes that allows me to choose where the music will be played on?

*All these control will be made on my macbook.
*I have not bought the mini but only the osx server

Thanks in advace.

Regards,
Derek

 

[deanfinder]

I think so. I have my mac mini with itunes stream to my stereo with an airport express. When you have the airport express, itunes will have a drop down box in the lower right hand corner where you choose your speakers. I think you can play to one or both at the same time. If you have the remote app for an iphone or ipod touch, you can also choose speakers and control itunes from that.

 

[daferrisda]

Ever thought about the Logitech Squeezebox system. I've got a Mac Mini running iTunes, just install the Logitech software on the Mac, it monitors your iTunes library and keeps it in sync, you artwork etc is displayed on the remote, and the sound quality it out of this world.

 

[waw74]

if you want to play music on the laptop and hear it from the mini (or any other computer, iphone, ipod touch, or airport express on the network), look into airfoil (click here). Just be aware there is a delay of a few seconds, so if you change the song, the old one will continue to play for a couple, then the new one will start, This has to do with the streaming buffer that is built up. Airfoil will also work if you want to distribute the sound from pandora or last.fm.

or you could get an airport express, and plug that into the stereo. you would have a drop down menu at the bottom of the iTunes window to select which speakers you wanted. You can even play from your laptop and the express at the same time, but not your laptop and the mini.

When using airtunes, there is still a delay, but iTunes is designed to handle it, so you don't really notice.
Also I've noticed the sync between multiple speakers on airfoil isn't as tight as with airtunes, so you get a bit of an echo effect.


Not sure why you need OS X server, you should just be able to run everything from regular OS X on the mini.

and if you've got the NAS, you could just get an express, and play the music on your laptop, and have the sound come out of the express.

 

[designgeek]

If you have the iTunes set to share it's library over the network you could have the mini hooked up to your sound system via airport express or hard wired and then you could access the music on the mini over your network.