There's nothing special about it, but it's a very simple and cheap system that actually works really well, allowing multiple sources and speakers (with simultaneous playback), across a range of hardware and operating systems. I'm not going to link to every app and provide installation guides, that's what Google's for :)
The components
PC 1
- Role(s): Source + destination + media share
- OS: Windows 7
- Software: iTunes (source), Shairport4w (destination), Air Playit HD (media share)
- Role(s): Source + destination + media share
- OS: Windows 7
- Software: Airfoil (source), Shairport4w (destination), Air Playit HD (media share)
- Role(s): Destination
- OS: Rasbian "wheezy"
- Software: shairport
- Role(s): Media share -> destination bridge
- OS: iOS 6
- Software: Air Playit HD
Ignoring the iPad and the Air Playit HD software for a moment, the rest of the system involves Apple AirPlay sources and destinations. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of some of Apple's work, but in this case AirPlay was simply the "right tool for the job".
Looking at the PCs, iTunes on the first one "just works", sending audio to one or more (simultaneously) destinations without a problem. Airfoil on the second PC allows audio capture from running programs (eg VLC) and sends that out in the same manner as iTunes to one or more destinations. Both PCs then perform double-duty as destinations thanks to the excellent Shairport4w.
The Raspberry Pi acts purely as a lightweight destination, thanks to the installation of shairport. I've attached an external USB sound card which helps with the sound quality.
Separately to this, Air Playit HD allows the iPad to play music/video off either of the PCs - the software on the PCs shares chosen folders and there's a client on the iPad of course. Any played music can then by pushed (via the iPad's built-in AirPlay tool) to a single destination.
These components work really well together, and allow me to scale the system really easily in the future. I hope they give you a good idea or two - let me know your versions in the comments!
Hat tip
Lifehacker's articles on setting up a Raspberry Pi and AirPlay streaming from/to all sorts of devices.
