Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Streaming music from a server (Read 8542 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Streaming music from a server

My music files are stored in my desktop computer which has a Plex server installed. In another room, I have a laptop and I would like to use it to stream my music from my desktop. Should I set up my laptop as a Plex client to do that? Once I have that set up, how would I set up Foobar2000 to access the Plex server? Is that what you recommend as the best option for streaming music?



Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #1 –
I just use the Plex clients. Both Android, Windows and ChromeCast supports lossless with FLAC, aka Plex Directstream.

I have multiple Chromecast Audios, with Plex I can do lossless multiroom streaming. Pretty neat.
You want to use your own DAC? Thats no problem, CCa got optical out.

Web client is also good, newest browsers got built in FLAC support. With some xml modding you could get FLAC in browser support.

For foobar2000 to play from Plex you'd need a "UpNp plugin for Foobar2000 to connect to the DLNA server" - src

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #2 –
If they're just two normal PCs you could just share your music drive and use any player you want on the laptop.

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #3 –
Thanks.

Re: o-l-a-v. What is a web client and how is it different from Plex client?

Re: Prodebd. What do you mean by sharing my music drive? Sorry about what is probably a basic question. I have always work with one PC and don't know the specifics of sharing. I am using Windows 10. I have 136 GB of music, mostly M4As, and each file is around 36 mb

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #5 –
Thanks, O-l-v-a. Would I be setting it up with Foobar's "add folder" or "add location" I plan on having Foobar2000 installed on my laptop as a portable installation and then using it to play as well as tag my files.

Best,

Dik

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #6 –
Quote from: DLiu on
Re: Prodebd. What do you mean by sharing my music drive? Sorry about what is probably a basic question. I have always work with one PC and don't know the specifics of sharing.

It's just Windows folder sharing. You share the music folder on the PC with the music. Then on your laptop you can connect to it as a network drive so it's just like a folder on your laptop :) Then any program can use that music and those files :)

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #7 –
Quote from: DLiu on
Thanks.

Re: o-l-a-v. What is a web client and how is it different from Plex client?

Re: Prodebd. What do you mean by sharing my music drive? Sorry about what is probably a basic question. I have always work with one PC and don't know the specifics of sharing. I am using Windows 10. I have 136 GB of music, mostly M4As, and each file is around 36 mb

IIn windows 10 there is a option in the networking screen that allows a computer to declare itself a Media Server. This nets out to creating a public read-only presence for all of the files in the designated media folders such as the Music and Video folders.  A wide variety of Windows and non-Windows client computers can then browse and play those files, even SmartPhones on WiFi. It also includes some set-top boxes, whether Android or Proprietary such as my cable company's Arris Media Player/DVR interface.

Given the size of your music library, you could just clone it to a USB flash drive or laptop sized USB hard drive and attach it to whatever music player you have before you as long as it has a USB port. In my case this includes my Chrysler 200 and my cell phone.

The caveats are that the portable storage device should be formatted FAT32, and most Android cell phones require a $3 adapter called an OTG adapter. There are also flash drives that have this built in - they usually also have a micro-USB plug on them so they can "Switch hit" between desktop, laptop and ultra-portable devices.

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #8 –
Geez, Windows has media streaming built in. I had no idea! Thanks, I went to Windows' control panel and see that media streaming is already built in. This makes everything so much easier. The only problem - and that that is a minor one - is that to use that, it seems that all of my music and videos need to be in Windows default media folders ("This PC/ Music" "This PC/videos", etc").

I am curious. If Windows 10 has built in media streaming, why do people use third-party apps like Plex?

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #9 –
Quote from: DLiu on
Geez, Windows has media streaming built in. I had no idea! Thanks, I went to Windows' control panel and see that media streaming is already built in. This makes everything so much easier. The only problem - and that that is a minor one - is that to use that, it seems that all of my music and videos need to be in Windows default media folders ("This PC/ Music" "This PC/videos", etc").

I am curious. If Windows 10 has built in media streaming, why do people use third-party apps like Plex?

(1) Windows didn't always make it this easy.

(2) People were attracted to or first introduced to the alternatives.

For example, Foobar2000, VLC  and Kodi are alternative media players that many seem to prefer.

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #10 –
Quote from: DLiu on
The only problem - and that that is a minor one - is that to use that, it seems that all of my music and videos need to be in Windows default media folders ("This PC/ Music" "This PC/videos", etc").

Windows Media Streaming is UPnP/DLNA
That is an open standard used by many devices.

If you want a different forlder for your audio, open WMP (Media player)
Create a library pointing to the folder of your choice.
The streamer will use this library

TheWellTemperedComputer.com

Re: Streaming music from a server

Reply #11 –
So it's Windows Media Player, rather than Network and Sharing Center, that manages what is the media folder. That's good to know. I would have never guessed.  I kept looking in the Network and Sharing Center to change the folder, to no avail. It looks like I have to have my media players - WMP, Groove, Foobar, MusicBee - to find the right folder. Thanks for your help.