MultiZone with just ONE PC

by **Necro** on Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:58 am

Is there a way to setup multizone audio with one PC?

So far I have my Winamps in diff folders (C:\program files\basement\winamp.exe and c:\program files\upstairs\winamp.exe lets say), and they are added to Xlobby, but I can't seem to get them to display.

I'm testing in the default skin, and will skin this into XlobbyMC, but I have no idea how to even get it working now and searching the forums has only turned up using the server functionality with clients and multizone.

Thanks in advance.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:54 am

Yes it is possible, but ofcourse u need soundcard which can handle multiple stereopairs or multiple soundcards. Thats how i run my 3 zones anyway.

U cant really control several zones simultaneously, that is built-in limitation in xl, but ull need to select zone to be controlled first. (allthough u can build selection into skin so it looks like u r controlling zones simultaneously)

But unless u r more specific, i atleast cant provide any real help with your problem...

by **Marbles_00** on Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:22 am

It doesn't matter if you use clients or not, you need to set the computer with the multiple instances of winamp as a server, and start XNET. Once XNET is running, then the multiple zones will been seen and you can set control to each zone using the set zone command.

Remember:
XNET=ZONING

If you want a good example of multizoning, check out my ZoneSkin2 skin. That skin was totally geared for zoning music and not too much more.

Also as P3rv states, you have to have the equipment to run zoning. That's either multiple soundcards, one soundcard outputting to multiple outputs, or using a bunch of fat clients, OR a mix of all three could be done.

Hope this was helpful.

by **scottw** on Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:30 pm

I could be wrong here but I thought all winamps had to be in there own folders inside a multizone folder in the xlobby folder. Mine are for example:
c:\xlobby\multizone\livingroom\winamp.exe
c:\xlobby\multizone\bedroom\winamp.exe
c:\xlobby\multizone\AllRooms\winamp.exe

or I guess you could have:
c:\program files\xlobby\multizone\livingroom\winamp.exe
c:\program files\xlobby\multizone\bedroom\winamp.exe
c:\program files\xlobby\multizone\AllRooms\winamp.exe

Hope that helps.

by **Necro** on Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:58 pm

Ok, let me just reclarify this:
- I have winamp setup as you all discuss, with two (a usb and onboard) soundcards
- I turned on Xnet
- I'm testing with the default skin.

The only thing thats coming up for the zones is 'Winamp 1.1', and clicking on zone changes does nothing. Both winamps do start however.

by **Marbles_00** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:08 am

c:\xlobby\multizone\livingroom\winamp.exe
c:\xlobby\multizone\bedroom\winamp.exe
c:\xlobby\multizone\AllRooms\winamp.exe

Xlobby will name the zones to whatever the upper directory structure is. In the case above, one zone would be called bedroom, and another zone would be called AllRooms. You could name the zones directories as people if you wanted, or name them whatever you wanted. It doesn't have to reside in a "Multizone" directory...it just makes things easier if all the zones are together and nicely named. At one point I had all my zones reside within the Winamp directory and everything work good.

Necro,

I take it you've done this, but make sure that after everything is set up, you restart Xlobby. The other thing you may have to do is in the Setup/Xnet window, make sure there are no errors in the status window. Then click on the Synch button at the bottom of the setup window. Under "Who's on the network" you should see all your zones named there. After clicking on the Synch button and highlighting the zones, click on the "Add zone" button.

Let us know what happens.

*EDIT*
To elaborate on what I said earlier, you don't even require to have the winamps in the same directory, let alone the same drive. I experimented by placing a zone directly on my C: drive, one on my D: drive and two within Program File\Winamp\ directory, and they were all recongnized fine and ran no problems.

by **P3rv3rt B3ar** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:33 pm

Unfortunately there is one name related requirement thoutgh

Winamp.exe has to be winamp.exe

Im hoping steven would someday fix this... if winamp would allowed to be called for example winamp2.exe it would allow me to use extra zones onboard on mobo

by **bmblank** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:48 pm

Is it possible to run music to a winamp on a networked computer?

by **Marbles_00** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:04 pm

Yes, if you set up a fat client, and connect to the server, the server will consider the fat client as a zone. I think you also have to play with the Sync/add zone/control zone buttons in the setup. Nothing much changes except for when you use Steven's sync command. Then if I recall, the fat client will sync with the rest of the zones. The last time I tried, it didn't stay in sync very well, so I ended up just forgetting about it.

The other thing I was hoping for was to be able to dedicate fat clients to zones. So let's say I have a computer in the masterbedroom, then the zone Masterbedroom would always be for that computer. Currently it is a first come, first served idealogy, where if I connect a computer from let's say one of my kid's room's before the masterbedroom computer, then the kid's computer will take over the masterbedroom zone.

by **bmblank** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:08 pm

Isn't there a command in the servers.txt that tells it which zone to select by default? Something like "zone:1" or "zone:masterbedroom".

Also, when I meant a winamp on a separate computer, I meant is it possible to direct the server to //king-roland/c/program files/winamp/winamp.exe whether or not king-roland is a client of xlobby?

by **Marbles_00** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:34 pm

Isn't there a command in the servers.txt that tells it which zone to select by default? Something like "zone:1" or "zone:masterbedroom"

That is to select which zone a thin client should default to when first starting up.

I've never tried to set a zone from a networked computer...hmm, curious...you've given me something to experiment on tonight. Hypothetically it should be possible...but... :idea:

by **bmblank** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:32 pm

I think xlobby may not have the capabilities to view "network neighborhood" per se, but if you were to map the drive containing winamp it seems like it should be possible. Then of course if your music wasn't on your server, you'd be streaming music from one computer to another and then from that computer to *another*. With music though I wouldn't think that would matter. With dvds it may cause a little latency problem maybe...

by **Necro** on Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:08 pm

Apologies for the delay, I will retest this tonight with the above and see. Do I need to have Xnet connect to itself, as it were, or is just turning on the server enough? Because when I tried this originally nothing came up in the zones listing. There is definitely two winamp instances/installs listed in the General Setup area however - in correct directories as listed above with both exe's called winamp.exe.

I'll test when I get home later tonight and post about it.

by **Marbles_00** on Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:17 am

Yes, make sure that the start server on xlobby is checked, and in order for xnet to take effect, you have to restart xlobby.

During startup, on the splash screen, you should then see:
Start Server: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

where the x's are your IP address.

Hope this helps.

by **Necro** on Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:39 am

AH HA!

ok, for some reason I had to manually click 'start server'. once I did that, I can see the zones.

It seems to now be working on restart, etc. Seems clicking 'start server' the first time is required - just clicking 'always start as server' and restarting doesn't do it.

Thank you everyone for the help. Now to add zones to XlobbyMC.