Ipad as music transport anyone done it...

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this_is_vv

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Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« on: 9 Apr 2014, 05:06 pm »
Hi all,

I have been trying to figure out the way but it seems i am not so much expert yet on this...following is my system...


NAS -> Router wifi ->IPad (have a Dock) ->Sdpif out ->DAC

what i want to accomplish is following

    Ipad should be able to access all the Files from NAS including 24/192 flac files as well
    ANother ipad or ios device like iphone can act as a client and can pick any file from NAS and it will be plyed on the ipad



basically making to act ipad as music transport....and can pick the files

any help

V

jarcher

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Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #1 on: 9 Apr 2014, 05:31 pm »
Well, if your "NAS" is a computer running iTunes, connected to your network, I know the Music app on an i-device can access / play "shared" iTunes libraries. So if you do that and control the i-device directly, it could serve as a music transport.  My personal experience is that the Music app does take a long time to make the initial access to the shared music library if that library is large (as in my case). 

The problem becomes if you want to then use a third device as a remote control. I-devices have the free "Remote" app to control iTunes running on a computer.  But this will control iTunes on the computer only - it won't make the iPad / iPod as music transport receive the signal.  And Airplay in iTunes doesn't include i-devices (iPad / iPod), just apply tv's, airports, and things such as receivers that have airplay built in.

That's the limit of my experience. The only other thing that occurs to me is that there may be other software out there for i-devices that allow them to access / play tracks on a NAS.  I still think you'd run into the same problem as above though even if you had two i-devices with the same software. I.e. that using one device to select / play the track doesn't mean it will be output to the second i-device.

In the end I think it will be easier & probably cheaper to use existing solutions, i.e a computer running iTunes and an apple airport express or apple tv along with an i-device as remote control.  An AES or ATV costs a lot less than an iPad + dock, and the former (computer running iTunes) maybe something you already have (or can be bought for less than an iPad). 

If you don't want to use Apple hardware, a used squeezebox should work well with an NAS.  I know some NAS's even used to support squeezeboxes directly.  Can't remember the specific models though.

Hope that helps.

this_is_vv

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Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #2 on: 9 Apr 2014, 05:35 pm »
NAS is just freenas....no Itunes on it yet.....

i think non _apple solution are decent...easiest is Windows 8.1 tablet and use Jriver and remote app that everything can work....but for that i need to buy these things....i am trying to not to buy new things right now...

V

jarcher

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Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #3 on: 9 Apr 2014, 06:12 pm »
Sort of straying from your original questions, but for cost effectiveness it's hard to beat a Squeezebox Duet, obtainable from Ebay etc for $250 or under.  A good streamer that will work with your NAS AND has a physical remote control w/ LCD that has BUTTONS for play / pause, skip, and volume!  AND you can control it with the free squeezebox app for smartphones & tablets, which works well if your adverse to using the supplied remote.  It's even an ok DAC on it's own.  Interestingly for some reason I've also found that Pandora serves up a 10th of the ads that come up on my iPhone. 

So I guess a pitch for the Squeezbox Duet.  I obviously like it & have two of them for secondary systems.

this_is_vv

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Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #4 on: 9 Apr 2014, 06:23 pm »
Sort of straying from your original questions, but for cost effectiveness it's hard to beat a Squeezebox Duet, obtainable from Ebay etc for $250 or under.  A good streamer that will work with your NAS AND has a physical remote control w/ LCD that has BUTTONS for play / pause, skip, and volume!  AND you can control it with the free squeezebox app for smartphones & tablets, which works well if your adverse to using the supplied remote.  It's even an ok DAC on it's own.  Interestingly for some reason I've also found that Pandora serves up a 10th of the ads that come up on my iPhone. 

So I guess a pitch for the Squeezbox Duet.  I obviously like it & have two of them for secondary systems.

Noted, and thanks for the suggestion...it seems like i have to get out of ipad mentality to get some solutions....

saeyedoc

Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #5 on: 9 Apr 2014, 07:23 pm »
Your ipad can be a Squeezebox device. Run LMS on another computer with the music on it or on a hard drive. Run ipeng on the ipad, enable the play app and connect it to your system. Control it with another idevice running ipad. Total software cost <$20.

keenween

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Re: Ipad as music transport anyone done it...
« Reply #6 on: 9 Apr 2014, 10:04 pm »
Your ipad can be a Squeezebox device. Run LMS on another computer with the music on it or on a hard drive. Run ipeng on the ipad, enable the play app and connect it to your system. Control it with another idevice running ipad. Total software cost <$20.

Yes, Squeezeplay is like $6 from app store plus $5 in app purchase to make it a transport, works great if you have a machine to run logitech media server!