Stream 1 iTunes library to multiple Apple TVs?

[netdog]

We have two ATV1's, one in the kitchen and one in the living room.

All of our media is on an iMac behind the kitchen and everything is connected via ethernet.

Is is possible to set things up so that both TVs can access the iMac's media library without running to the iMac every time we switch TVs to set things up again?

 

[GeekGuys]

Yes, this is basic functionality. When you register your ATV with iTunes on your Mac, that is it.... then you register another one and ..... you have 2 connected. And so on... I'm not sure but I think the limit is 16 (not quite sure where that number came from though).

Each ATV will see the iTunes library and can play independent of each other. Obviously, the more you play concurrently, the more bandwidth you'll require for streaming. I have 3 in my house and can play all 3 wirelessly without too much issue. The ATV1 needs to buffer slightly longer than the 2 ATV2's but that is still OK.

 

[Omne666]

We have two ATV1's, one in the kitchen and one in the living room.

All of our media is on an iMac behind the kitchen and everything is connected via ethernet.

Is is possible to set things up so that both TVs can access the iMac's media library without running to the iMac every time we switch TVs to set things up again?

You shouldn't be running to the iMac at all. I have 4 ATvs streaming from the one iMac library, no issues.
If you want both TVs playing the same movie simultaneously, thats a different thing, though with the free Remote app on an iphone,iTouch, you can then send the same movie to multiple ATVs from your library.

 

[davehutch]

Synchronisation

As a multi-room audio system, does anybody know if the music is in sync?
I.e moving from one room to another, do you hear any overlap of music?
I'm thinking about using several ATVs as an all-house music system for parties etc
This is assuming that iTunes is sending to all devices simultaneously and is in control, rather than ATVs fetching music so to speak

 

[Omne666]

As a multi-room audio system, does anybody know if the music is in sync?
I.e moving from one room to another, do you hear any overlap of music?
I'm thinking about using several ATVs as an all-house music system for parties etc
This is assuming that iTunes is sending to all devices simultaneously and is in control, rather than ATVs fetching music so to speak

Done exactly this across several ATVs across several rooms and I've experienced absolutely no lag.

 

[davehutch]

Done exactly this across several ATVs across several rooms and I've experienced absolutely no lag.

Great news. Thanks for the reply

 

[tinytech]

2 atv's

If you need a second perspective i just ran a second atv for a customer of mine in their cabana house via wireless. I may not be 100 per cent correct, but the homesharing option works best wireless and means sharing the library between multiple teathered devices with each one seeing the current playlist and now playing....wired means the library would have to be loaded on both and played independently.

There was zero lag from the top floor front door 150+ feet away to the cabana house that was 25' lower through their distributed audio system.

You do have to increase the buffer to the highest settings under the advanced tab in itunes or you may experience digital drops and clips.


I hope this helps anyone trying to set this up

 

[CylonGlitch]

If you need a second perspective i just ran a second atv for a customer of mine in their cabana house via wireless. I may not be 100 per cent correct, but the homesharing option works best wireless and means sharing the library between multiple teathered devices with each one seeing the current playlist and now playing....wired means the library would have to be loaded on both and played independently.

Wireless means going across the WiFi connection. Wired means going across a wired ethernet connection. In both cases there is one library that is shared by one computer. All devices can access that library at the same time.