Solution for a Library without computer on

[patricksan]

Dear All,

I'm planning to create a environment in my house where I don't need to let my computer turned on to listen some music.

I'm using iTunes and I have a lot of music with DRM. The Apple TV came to me with the best approach for it (in my opinion).

Is it possible to make Apple TV looks in a specific folder in my NAS?

If I want to use airport express: is there a way to connect to Apple TV? Should I always play with the computer (or my remote app in ipod touch) to listen music in a bedroom?

Does anybody have another suggestion?


Thank you,
Patrick

 

[26139]

Huh?

No way to connect the Apple TV directly to the Express, unfortunately.

Why is it that you don't want your computer on? Seems like a simple answer.

 

[gcmexico]

I'm assuming he means having the computer in sleep mode but still be able to listen to music...u can set that stuff up in system preferences I think...in the save energy options...click never let the hard drive sleep

 

[tom1971]

Dear All,

I'm planning to create a environment in my house where I don't need to let my computer turned on to listen some music.

I'm using iTunes and I have a lot of music with DRM. The Apple TV came to me with the best approach for it (in my opinion).

Is it possible to make Apple TV looks in a specific folder in my NAS?

You could move your Itunes library to your NAS or sync everything directly to aTV

If I want to use airport express: is there a way to connect to Apple TV? Should I always play with the computer (or my remote app in ipod touch) to listen music in a bedroom?

Does anybody have another suggestion?


Thank you,
Patrick

 

[kolax]

You can store all your music on a NAS device (eg. Airport Extreme + Hard Drive) and set iTunes to use that as the default location. I personally store all my music on my Mac, and store all my movies and TV shows on my external hard drive connected to my Airport Extreme. You can't, without hacking, point the Apple TV to your NAS device directly - iTunes has to be on to act as a bridge. Essentially, Apple TV is just an extension for iTunes giving you the ability to browse and view your library on your TV.

Assuming you mean will the Apple TV connect to a Airport Express network? Yes. If you mean plug an external hard drive into the Airport Express, that isn't possible. It is only the Airport Extreme that offers this ability.

I don't understand your final question - what do you mean use the computer to play music in your bedroom? You can plug speakers into it, or buy an Airport Express (which will act as a range booster too) to stream music to it, and plug your speakers into the Airport Express.

This is my setup, to give you some ideas:

Airport Extreme (with Hard Drive attached) is the wireless router. I have an Airport Express in my bedroom which I have speakers hooked up to. I have my Apple TV in the living room hooked up to my TV and speakers. If I want to play music in my bedroom, I just stream it from iTunes directly to the Airport Express. Or if I want music in the living room, I just stream it to the Apple TV.

I do however, have a few playlists (eg. Chillout, Pumping Tunes) synced (stored) to my Apple TV so my Mac doesn't have to be turned on. But I have to turn my Mac on to gain full access to my music library. Same applies to my videos - I have nearly all my TV Shows stored on the Apple TV and about 20 movies. The rest, are stored on my external hard drive plugged into my Airport Extreme. So, if I want to watch a movie that isn't stored on the Apple TV, I just open iTunes (connect to the hard drive wirelessly on the Airport Extreme) and then I have full access to everything in my iTunes library.

 

[patricksan]

Why is it that you don't want your computer on? Seems like a simple answer.

I just don't want to waste resources that I'm not using. So why would I leave my mac turned 24h, if I will listen 3 hour of music?

You can say: "ok, turn on before use".

Maybe it is that what I will do.

 

[patricksan]

You could move your Itunes library to your NAS or sync everything directly to aTV

I will sync everything directly to apple tv. Thank you for the tip.

 

[patricksan]

I do however, have a few playlists (eg. Chillout, Pumping Tunes) synced (stored) to my Apple TV so my Mac doesn't have to be turned on. But I have to turn my Mac on to gain full access to my music library. Same applies to my videos - I have nearly all my TV Shows stored on the Apple TV and about 20 movies. The rest, are stored on my external hard drive plugged into my Airport Extreme. So, if I want to watch a movie that isn't stored on the Apple TV, I just open iTunes (connect to the hard drive wirelessly on the Airport Extreme) and then I have full access to everything in my iTunes library.

It is exactly what I will do in my case. I will sync some musics to Apple TV.


Thank you