The drawback is that in order for this workaround to function, you need to either select the desired audio application in Airfoil
Some people refuse to use software that requires Application Enhancer, citing stability issues, so Rogue Amoeba has wisely devised a way for Airfoil to work without it. However, Instant Hijack usesĪpplication Enhancer technology.
(I reluctantly call it a “quirk,” as it’s really a conscious decision by the developers, intended to address the concerns of users.) If you elect to install Airfoil’s “Instant Hijack” component-you’re given the option the first time you launch the application, or you can install it at any time by choosing Airfoil -> Install Extras-then clicking the Transmit button commences the transmission immediately. One quirk with Airfoil has to do with how it interacts with running applications. You simply need to set iTunes to play locally on your computer-not via AirTunes to your AirPort Express-and let Airfoil send the audio. ) don’t work with AirTunes, they do work via Airfoil. (Note that because of the way AirPort Express audio transmission works, local and remote audio may be slightly out of sync.) And whereas audio effect plugins (such as the popular
For example, whereas AirTunes mutes local audio when broadcasting, you can set Airfoil’s preferences to play audio on the local computer while it’s being played via your AirPort Express. Have audio offset/de-sync features that let you manually sync the audio and video of a DVD the Airfoil Help system provides details on setting this up.)Īirfoil even offers advantages for those who are simply broadcasting iTunes audio.
(Actually, this is possible, though not without glitches: The free However, keep in mind that just like iTunes, there’s a slight delay between when a sound is produced by an application and when it’s played back by your AirPort Express, so don’t expect to watch a DVD on your computer while playing the audio back through your stereo. The latter makes Airfoil a great way to listen to Web broadcasts of sporting events on your home stereo.
Using Airfoil, you can easily broadcast audio from Windows Media Player, Real Player, MPlayer, QuickTime Player, or any other application that produces audio, including games and Web browsers. You can control the volume level of the signal via Airfoil or, if you prefer, you can set Airfoil’s preferences so that it links its own volume level to your Mac’s volume control. (If you’ve got only one, it will be selected by default.) Finally, you click the Transmit button-the application’s audio will begin playing through your AirPort Express (or should I say, through any speakers connected to that AirPort Express). If you option+click the menu, hidden applications are also shown.) You then select the AirPort Express unit to which you wish to transmit. (The menu also lists recent applications used in Airfoil, as well as a Select Application item that lets you choose an application that isn’t currently running. In Airfoil’s main window, you first choose the running application-from the Select pop-up menu-that’s providing the audio you wish to transmit. (Our sister publication,įor this capability.) But this is really just a clever kludge, and it’s a bit of a hassle to get working: First you have to set up the audio stream, then you have to configure iTunes to “receive” it, then you have to broadcast to your AirPort Express. ITunes, which can then send that audio to an AirPort Express. As it turns out, since iTunes can listen to streaming audio, you can use Nicecast to stream audio from other applications
(for Mac OS X) is a cool little utility that provides the ability to stream audio from an application over the Internet. If you want to listen to audio that isn’t supported by iTunes-for example, Real Audio, Windows Media files, or audio being played in a Web browser-you’re out of luck. Unfortunately, AirTunes has several drawbacks, the most significant of which is that it can broadcastĪudio playing in iTunes. If you’ve got an Apple AirPort Express, you can use iTunes to “broadcast” your music, wirelessly, to speakers connected to the Express Apple calls this technology