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AirPlay-device in Audio-Midi App

Is it possible sending several different stereo-files at the same time in to more than one WLAN networks?

Within the Audio-Midi App I can choose Apple-TV or Airport Express as an output and combine it to one aggregate device. In fact there is a latency of about 2 seconds but anyway it works, which is good.

Is it also possible, to connect to more than only one AirPlay-device at the same time and combine them to one aggregate device?

Any ideas?

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Jul 18, 2021 6:22 AM

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Posted on Jul 18, 2021 12:53 PM

Ok, just to be clear. One of the networking protocols Apple uses for AirPlay to work is Bonjour. In turn, Bonjour is based on mDNS. Regardless, mDNS is not normally routable to cross network subnets/VLANs. To be able to get mDNS to travel from one segment to another, it would require a mDNS reflector. Most consumer-grade networking hardware do not offer this feature.


If you are using 4 audio sources, each on their own WLAN segment, then any AirPlay devices on those respective WLANs should be able to get those AirPlay streams. They just can't get them across WLANs (again. only if each of these WLANs are on their own separate subnet.)

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 18, 2021 12:53 PM in response to jotfisch

Ok, just to be clear. One of the networking protocols Apple uses for AirPlay to work is Bonjour. In turn, Bonjour is based on mDNS. Regardless, mDNS is not normally routable to cross network subnets/VLANs. To be able to get mDNS to travel from one segment to another, it would require a mDNS reflector. Most consumer-grade networking hardware do not offer this feature.


If you are using 4 audio sources, each on their own WLAN segment, then any AirPlay devices on those respective WLANs should be able to get those AirPlay streams. They just can't get them across WLANs (again. only if each of these WLANs are on their own separate subnet.)

Jul 18, 2021 10:09 AM in response to jotfisch

jotfisch wrote:

Is it possible sending several different stereo-files at the same time in to more than one WLAN networks?

Streaming relies on AirPlay, which is not routable without a network that can support a mDNS "reflector." So attempting to use AirPlay over two separate WLANs (I'm assuming that is what you mean) on different subnets will not work. In addition, AirPlay can only stream one source at a time, but can do so to multiple destination AirPlay-enabled devices. Streaming multiple stereo-files can only be done in series.


Is it also possible, to connect to more than only one AirPlay-device at the same time and combine them to one aggregate device?

With AirPlay 2 you can stream the same audio source to multiple devices ... which is not the same as them being an "aggregate" device, but should work in a similar fashion.

AirPlay-device in Audio-Midi App

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