Droid X as Outdoor Party Control Center

[DroidNewb]

Okay so I have been wanting and waiting to do this with my phone and now that I have an Android phone I am hoping this can be accomplished.

I have a pretty decent setup in my back yard for parties and have people over all the time. I don't have an outdoor stereo nor do I have a huge home theater (yet finishing basement soon). All I have is my PC and like 50 Gigs of music on the portable hard drive.

This is what I was thinking........

Installing some outdoor speakers and trying to rig them to my PC somehow maybe wirelessly and then control the playlists or songs thru Itunes or whatever program that wil let me do so on my phone while I am outside and not having to come in the house to change a song or pick something new when the mood changes.

SO my question:
A. is this at all possible( praying)?
B. What would I need for decent speakers?
C. What apps/programs will allow me to control my PC/Music from my hand.....


Anyone that can help? Or have additional suggestions on getting this up and going? Thanks!

 

[Tacom]

There are VLC remote apps that let you control VLC player through your phone
VLC

There are also apps like Gmote
Gmote 2.0 - Android app on AppBrain

I haven't tried any of these yet so I don't know how well they work on the X.

 

[Itlan#AC]

SO my question:
A. is this at all possible( praying)?
Yes

B. What would I need for decent speakers?
Thats relative....do you want wired, or wireless. Do you want cheapos or something to rock your block. Take a peek here and you can get an idea or call the guys at Onecall, they can help ya:
Outdoor Speakers at Crutchfield.com

C. What apps/programs will allow me to control my PC/Music from my hand.....
You need some sort of server software. I'd recommend a a Logitech Duet as this is the budget commercial solution and works really good with digital and RCA out to your stereo system or you can find used ones on eBay for cheap:
Wi-Fi Music Players

Or get a squeezebox bomb and get everything all in one, speakers, controller and all but if you want more juice then the boombox will provide your left to upgarde to the Duet and Speakers routing through your AV.

Then search the Android market and there are several apps that can control the server from your phone so you can dump their remote. If I recall squeezecommander seemed to be the current king.

 

[anon(40252)]

I have a very similar setup. I have a PC that controls speakers and then I control the playlist, volume, etc... all from my Dx.

I use XBMC on my PC (XBMC). The PC is hooked up to my TV which is why I us XBMC since it is designed to work on a TV. However, the TV can be on or off to control the music app from my phone. A lot of time I will let the milkdrop visualization app run on the tv and it looks cool plus it shows songs as they change etc...

XBMC makes a remote control app (available in market) that works over wi-fi. This app allows you to create playlists and play music directly from your phone.

Since, It is hooked to the tv then I could also set the same things up from my tv and then control from phone.

Lastly, I have WHS that stores all my music, videos etc.... The PC plays all music from the server. It is a pretty sweet setup.

Let me know if you have questions about it.

note: The only thing you really have to figure out with this setup is how to connect your speakers to the PC. You don't need it on a TV as you could just use a monitor or remote desktop. There are lots of sources out there for selecting and setting up speakers. You could do wireless speakers, wired etc... The key is that the PC plays music through the speakers and then XBMC works like any other music player app ... except that it has slick remote app for the Dx.

note 2: There are other ways to set all this up. This is just one way.

 

[ootuoyetahi]

I use Subsonic.

 

[DroidNewb]

Tried Subsonic.....couldn't log in using admin as password and user name....unistalled tried again....nothing....so I deleted the app....whole reason why i posted this thread

 

[ootuoyetahi]

Tried Subsonic.....couldn't log in using admin as password and user name....unistalled tried again....nothing....so I deleted the app....whole reason why i posted this thread

subsonic is more than just an app though, you need to set up the back end on a server or something. I use vmware and ubuntu (there is a windows version available i think) to host the subsonic server and then the android app to connect to it. Its great, best app ive used to play music off my home servers.

 

[DroidNewb]

subsonic is more than just an app though, you need to set up the back end on a server or something. I use vmware and ubuntu (there is a windows version available i think) to host the subsonic server and then the android app to connect to it. Its great, best app ive used to play music off my home servers.

so PM and tell me how to get it working....tried for like 2 hours to get it setup...couldn't get past the login screen on my PC to set up anything....

 

[dookie.]

some outdoor advice from an audio dweeb...

wireless speakers suck. even the expensive ones. don't bother. and if you get seduced by the convenience and cleanliness, well...i told you so.

not knowing what exactly it is you're looking to do (acoustic music by candlelight? house music w/disco ball?) or what your budget is, let me give you these general guidelines:

there is a *lot* of space to fill outdoors. if you want any semblance of quality at volume, you want to drive efficient speakers with a dedicated amp, as opposed to internally powered speakers. and if you want any semblance of bass, you want a sub.

i'm not exactly a house kinda guy, but i know quality sound and i do like to listen loud. i have been through no less than 5 sets of speakers on my (rather large, private) deck, and i think i'm finally settled. bass output was key...it just vanishes without walls to contain it.

the (hopefully) final iteration is a set of definitive technology aw6500 speakers, powered by a 2x150w power amp. if i were looking to dance it up, i would certainly add a sub (if a decent outdoor grade one exists). my speakers are mounted under the eaves and stay outdoors april to october. the low end is as good as i've heard from a set of outdoor/marine speakers (yet somehow not quite the same as the 1200w dual 15" sealed sub i use in the theatre).

not that any of that helps you with running it all from the x, but that sounds cool and i'll be watching the thread.

 

[anon(40252)]

@Dookie

Sounds like a nice setup. Are you driving any of the sound from a computer?

 

[DroidNewb]

I am basically just wanting to run a general speaker system without dropping a ton of cash....I don't want to piss off the neighbors but just have enough sound to over match the little ipod dock player we use instead....we listen to all kinds of music....I've always wanted to have speakers outside and now the idea of running it from my X makes me want it now even more! ( once was at a party and a dude was controlling his itunes from his itouch)

 

[dookie.]

@Dookie

Sounds like a nice setup. Are you driving any of the sound from a computer?

yes. using dlna enabled pre/pro to access music library on a windows 7 machine via ethernet. also have the machine connected to the pre/pro via digital coax for higher quality audio and gaming. output from pre/pro can go to to any/all of 3 zones...theater (basement), deck, or garage/workshop.

haven't tried dlna from the X yet, but in theory that should be adequate remote control right there...

 

[DroidNewb]

Can you post links on a cost efficient setup to get me going? I am totally lost on this side of technology. I don't need a DJ booth in the backyard just something to stream my Music on my PC to some decent wired speakers on my deck. What do I need?

 

[anon(40252)]

What hardware are you running in your computer to output sound via the coax? This is an area I really need to update on my setup and I have looked at some options ... but always like to hear what actual people are using.

 

[dmanindfw]

Check Parts-Express.com - Speakers, Speaker Building, Home Audio and Video, Pro Audio, Electronic Parts & Accessories PARTS EXPRESS, Speakers, Speaker Parts, Guitar speakers, Bass speakers, Woofers, Drivers, speaker upgrades and replacement speakers. Emine (PE) for outdoor speakers. Likely will offer good ambiance-level of audio but won't be great if you like your music to be loud or with any decent level of bass - you will need a good sub to provide bass in an open-air setting.

I would pair your speakers up with a decent amp. FYI, they sell outdoor speakers, 1) wireless - probably won't get loud and will be relatively low quality; 2) 70V - requires a 70v (specialty) amp - also sold at partsexpress; 3) standard wired speakers...likely your best bet as any number of home stereo amps will work just fine.

You will have to use your computer's sound card to connect to your power amplifier...likely just a stereo mini jack cable that splits to RCA connectors - again PE will have this.

As far as remote control s/w for android - others are better equipped to handle that part of your question.

 

[dookie.]

What hardware are you running in your computer to output sound via the coax? This is an area I really need to update on my setup and I have looked at some options ... but always like to hear what actual people are using.

it's an older creative x-fi music with digital out. works well. outputs bitstream dolby/dts (assuming the file/game being played contains it), so the pre/pro can do the decoding. can also encode 2-channel to (fake) dolby/dts if you like.

 

[dookie.]

...cost efficient setup...

what does this mean to you? feel free to pm...

 

[droidsquire]

it's an older creative x-fi music with digital out. works well. outputs bitstream dolby/dts (assuming the file/game being played contains it), so the pre/pro can do the decoding. can also encode 2-channel to (fake) dolby/dts if you like.

the X-fi is awesome - have it here and it did provide a solution to have my ipod docked with a digital audio connection..it's like going from SD to HDTV....truly amazing sound difference

 

[detzbuddy]

If you use iTunes on your comp., Remote for iTunes app will work to control itunes from your cell