Streaming music from a NAS using iPad and AirPlay using playlists

Question

Level 1

64 points

Streaming music from a NAS using iPad and AirPlay using playlists

Hi all

Are there any solutions to this problem

I have 100GB of music, so too much for my iPad or Mac. I hold it all on a NAS, which I then use to act as my iTunes folder on my mac.

I have an iPad, and a Logitech Bluetooth AirPlay device attached to my amp. Using file explorer free, I can play any individual track, direct from my NAS, or a complete album, in fact, and have it play direct to the airplay device.

My problem is I want the be able to do this, but using my iTunes playlists. Does anyone know of an app for the ipad, that can do this.

Of course, I could sync my entire playlist to the iPad, but from a NAS, this takes ages, and I don't have the space on my 32GB iPad, with the other things I need on it.

I'm sure I cannot be the only one wanting to do this.

iPad 2, iOS 6, 32GB WiFi

Posted on Oct 20, 2012 7:57 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 20, 2012 9:44 AM in response to justinallsop

There is Apple's Remote app which will allow you to control iTunes on the computer. Remote will let you browse your iTunes Library and it's playlists as well as controlling the AirPlay speakers connected to it. This option would require you to pair up your Bluetooth speaker to your Mac.

Another option is using Home Sharing. Once turned on and set up your iTunes Library on the Mac should be selectable in Music's Shared section on the iPad found by tapping the More button. Once loaded your iTunes Library is displayed on the iPad including the playlists. This method will play through the iPad to a Bluetooth speaker paired to it.

Home Sharing works well although it can take some time to load up on the iPad depending on how big you library is. I prefer using Remote although I have Apple TVs and WiFi AirPlay speakers through out the house to stream content to.

http://www.apple.com/apps/remote/

Reply

Answer 2

justinallsop Author

Level 1

64 points

Oct 23, 2012 8:29 AM in response to Stephen Spark

Thanks for the idea, Stephen.

I had considered this may be my only option, but I didn't really want to leave my MacBook running. At the moment, the file explorer app doesn't need it, as it reads directly from the NAS. I was hoping someone may have discovered an app, paid or free, that could pull playlists from playlist file.

I'll keep searching.

Tanks again.

Reply

Answer 3

HDFatboy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 1, 2013 8:31 PM in response to justinallsop

your NAS vendor will have the software....mine is synology, and they offer a free app called DS Audio for iPad, iPod, etc.

Likely all NAS makers have solved this problem, or there are other third party apps.

for synology, you have to install DS Audio on the iPad, and Audio station on the NAS....both are from synology.

works great -- 2 iPads, 4 PC's, 1 Mac, 1 Kindle, all can stream audio from the NAS, including playlists.

Reply

Answer 4

justinallsop Author

Level 1

64 points

Jan 2, 2013 12:30 AM in response to HDFatboy

Sadly, buffalo don't have an app that does this over a local network that I can find. It's apps all use the Internet based access, which then cannot be streamed via airplay.

I've all but given up on this to be honest, as it doesn't seem possible.

Thanks for all your ideas. I'll keep looking but hold out little help.

Reply

Answer 5

Itsrnike

Level 1

9 points

Jan 3, 2013 8:38 PM in response to justinallsop

Buffalo has a great app called web access I. It's really useful and has a great UI

Reply

Answer 6

justinallsop Author

Level 1

64 points

Jan 4, 2013 9:06 AM in response to Itsrnike

Yeah, that app is fine, but it relies on an Internet connection to make it work. I didn't want to rely on this, just my local wifi network. As far as I can tell, the web access app is designed for remote access mainly, unless I'm mistaken. I did use this app a lot when I wanted to listen to my music at work, and for that, it was great.

Reply

Answer 7

HDFatboy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2013 10:00 AM in response to justinallsop

DS Audio reuires no internet connection. We run in on our home network, and frequently have our internet connection turned off....DS runs just fine with the internet off...doesn't need to use the internet for any reason (other than to download DS in the first place). You log into your local NAS server via your local network (home router).

So far, have it working on iMac, Kindle, 2 iPads and 4 PC's.

we run iTunes server on the Synology drive, and create smart playlists.....it's a different interface than iTunes, so a bit of work initially to set up playlists. If you just want to play music by artist, album, genre, etc., you don't need to do any set up (other than load the songs onto the Synology NAS).

Reply