The following is a description of the whole home audio configuration that are now set up in our home.

Home Audio

Current home audio components:

• iMac Computer w/ iTunes (the family’s single music library)
• Airport Express
• Apple “Remote” App for iPhone, iPod and iPad
• Stereo Receiver
• Russound A-bus keypads(to control on/off and volume level on individual speakers throughout the house)
  

  Russound Wall Controller

Currently, our entire music collection is stored on one iMac computer in our family office with a single iTunes App. This music library currently contains just under 6,800 songs. The music library then becomes the single source that is used by the home audio system, controlled by the iDevices (e.g., iPods, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, etc.)

Some of the advantages of having a single iTunes music library include:

• All Apple iDevices use this library to synch and can make their individual selections (e.g., play lists, movies, apps, etc.), based on their own preference.
• Using Apple’s Home Sharing features, this music library can be accessed from other devices that have iTunes installed (both Mac & Windows) while using the same household WiFi.
• Songs purchased from Apple iTunes Store then become part of the common library that are shared by all devices that synch with it.

A critical component of “streaming” music wirelessly throughout the house is the Apple Airport Express device.

Aiport Express

This device allows us to “stream” music to a receiver located in another part of our house that is, in turn, hooked into the speaker system that is designed to play music throughout the living areas and back porch of our home. Additional Airport Express devices can be added to allow for separate speaker systems you might have.

Airport Express

The Apple “Remote” App is the key iDevice application that allows you to control music remotely from anywhere in your home where your WiFi is active. This remote app allows you to select playlists, set speakers volumes levels for each device controlled by an Airport Express, see Album Art, etc.

What I’m able to do with this today:

• Start & stop music playing in our home or on the back porch remotely using any of our iDevices (e.g., iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc.)
• Change music playlists depending on the type of music desired.
• Review album art remotely on any iDevice
• Control the sound level remotely
• You can allow friends to also control your music remotely using their own personal iDevice, if desired.