Hi David and Scott,
The multiple speakers setting in iTunes lets you stream music to more
than one AirPort Express at once. The streaming selections you have in
iTunes once you VO-down and VO-right from the songs table should list
Computer, then individual AirPort Express devices with names assigned
in the AirPort Utility, and then Multiple Speakers. You can only
select one of the options -- either one of the specific locations or
multiple speakers. When you set up music features in AirPort Utility,
the Music pane let you configure your AirPort Express to use
AirTunes. There was a checkbox for "Enable AirTunes" that was
probably automatically checked. Then there was a text field that
allowed you to specify an iTunes speaker name to be associated with
that AirPort Express (and optionally, fields for setting a speaker
password -- in case, for example, you live in a dorm and don't want to
allow anybody to stream their music to these speakers). This is the
name that shows up in iTunes in the list of selectable streaming
destinations.
AirTunes is not designed to stream to USB speakers. This is why David
can't select USB speakers (attached to another computer) as a
streaming destination from his MacBook and MacBook Pro. From Apple's
AirPort Express Setup Manual:
Note:
You cannot use USB speakers with AirPort Express. Use powered speakers
with a
stereo mini-jack connector.
Scott, you can disable/enable iTunes volume control for your remote
speakers under iTunes preferences (Command-comma) under the Devices
pane. Under the checkbox for "Look for remote speakers connected with
iTunes" there are checkboxes to either "Disable iTunes volume control
for remote speakers" or to Allow iTunes volume control for remote
speakers".
If you want to listen to music both through your AirPort Express and
on your MacBook, you may either have to use something like the LineIn
passthrough trick (remember when you wanted to separately record
output from your iPod nano 4G) or a program with generalized sound re-
routing capability like Soundflower (also available, like LineIn, from
the Rogue Amoeba freebies section). Most people probably wouldn't want
to have their MacBook speakers playing if they have access to a better
sound system, unless they were monitoring line-in, etc.
HTH
Cheers,
Esther
On Dec 25, 2008, at 4:28 PM, David Poehlman wrote:
Scott,
On my Imac, I can choose either my computer, my ae or both which is
called multiple speakers I think. on my macbook and my macbook pro,
I cannot. It may be that the only reason I can do it on my IMac is
because I have a usb sound system connected.
There are settings in ITunes prefs for determining how your volume
is changed on your speakers and in ITunes when you are using your
stereo. You can also play with your eq and that will effect how
your ITunes sounds on your stereo. You can also check the sound
check and the other payback setting I can't remember what it is that
will help with distortion. I turn my ITunes all thw ay up and it
does not distort unless I turn the stereo up which would distort
anyway.
On Dec 25, 2008, at 9:20 PM, Scott Rutkowski wrote:
Hi all.
Ok I have my airport express up and running and music is playing.
Two questions.
Firstly does the iTunes volume need to be fairly low otherwise the
music will distort? When I first connected it to my stereo and turn
on the music it was distorting so I did a command down arrow in
iTunes and now it sounds fine.
Also When I choose multiple speakers in the pop up menu at the
bottom of the screen, after selecting multiple speakers there's
nothing to choose from.
I want to hear the music via my mac and airport express.
can this be done?
Can the volume for airport express be set separately so I don't have
to keep readjusting the iTunes volume all the time?
Man this is so cool crisp clear music never had music sound this
good before.
Maybe i'll try airfoyle next so I can stream vlc content.
Thanks to anyone who can assist on the above.
