“Previously, it was only possible to either listen to music on your computer or to stream it to speakers connected to your AirPort Express. Now, with iTunes 6.0.2 you can listen to music on your computer at the same time that it streams to your AirPort Express. While I only have one AirPort Express, I would imagine it would be possible to stream music to multiple speakers around the house with multiple AirPort Express [units],” kfloydh blogs.
“Here’s how it works. At the bottom of your iTunes window, if you have AirTunes you have the option of selecting through which speakers you want to play your music. When you select this now in iTunes 6.0.2 you get a new option [Multiple Speakers…], When you select “Multiple Speakers…” a pop-up window appears where you can select all the speakers through which you want to listen to the music. And that’s it! You can now listen to music on your computer at the same time as it streams to your stereo speakers,” ,” kfloydh blogs.
Full article here.
MDN/iPodDN Note: Apple’s web pages for iTunes and AirTunes states, “Now simultaneously stream music wirelessly to up to three home stereos or powered speakers with AirTunes. More info about AirTunes here.
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Yes. This is good.
I wondered why they didn’t include this with the original.
I can’t beleave I’m still up checking MDN. Anyway my non Mac friends think that I’m a genius because when they come over, I entertain with music streamed from my iBook to my stereo wirelessly thanks to Airport Express.
Can’t wait till Airport Express Video comes out. Oh, Dont forget about Airfoil. With Airfoil you can stream any audio from any App to the Airport Express….
Just make sure you are using the latest AE firmware (v6.3) … otherwise this will not work.
Hmmph. Not working for me. I have iTunes 6.0.2 and airtunes enabled, but no option for multiple speakers.
My daughter’s pregnant, my boy is a tranny, but what really bothers me is that I can’t share my airtunes with multiple speakers. For the love of God, why me?
Sorry, couldn’t resist a little takeoff on that cell phone commercial….
Would the AirPort receiver stereo have a delay after the notes play on the Mac itself?
Maybe they add a delay in iTunes to compensate or something. I thought AirTunes had a very small lag when you start a song or something. Is that the case?
Yea, it’s about time. I’ve been sitting upstairs at my Mac while my music is being heard downstairs in the living room – and everybody yells up to me to turn the music down because I can’t hear it…
Now, I no longer have to worry about such things.
BTW, Jack Bauer rules…
Latest AE firmware can be downloaded from here:
http://www.apple.com/support/airport/
I have an Airport Express, and I was able to stream to the AX and my local speakers at the same time, synchronized! I don’t know how they did it, but everything plays at the same time.
Hey Derrick,
Thanks for the firmware advice, it worked!
just tried this out, and it worked beautifully. can’t wait till there’s a firmware/aex update that allows for streaming the audio of some of the video and vid-podcasts that are on my drive.
Screw the house, I want to stream my tunes to the whole neighborhood.
I tried a pair of B&O 5000 watt speakers at full volume but just wound up shattering their windows instead.
Oh woe is me.
Heck I wonder if this Timex will fit around a Ethiopians neck.
We are spoiled, very very spoiled.
I bet this is part of the “other stuff” that was dropped from the Keynote. Probably had to do with a digital hub thingy (to use a technical term).
MDN MW: Thingy (Really!!!)
I wrote macdailynews about this last week. I discovered it on my own and sent them an email right away.
I guess a macdailynews reader is NOT a valid source for information. They have to wait before an article is made about it before it becomes official news.
It didnt show 4 me. My express connectes wirelessly to a basestation connected to the network wired. The computer (a 40″ plasma display iMac;) has the airport essentially turned off because it is connected to network wired as well. I have always been afraid that to turn on wifi on the iMac as well connected with an RJ45 may send internet traffic wirelessly. A soution for me would allow me to configure all network traffic to use the wired interface and all iTunes traffic go airport. My point is this, it is being reported that this works with iTunes602, and it just may with an all airport solution. I know AirportAdmin Utility works great when the AirPort is on.
I hope it does – that is great!
… im going to turn airport on now, should i ? dare me too? try it for myself…..
Turned airport on, wifi network name is checked.
Still no ‘multiple speakers…’ restart itunes – Nope.
AdminUtility finds everything snappy… Oh look at that an Airport Update 620 not 602 hmmmm
So far all expresses needed an Update… I wonder if the BaseStation gets an Update…. Yes! it does 5.6 (snow) … Now they are all updated …. As I was saying I do not want Airport Traffic going through base station I want Admini utility to talk directly through airport to Express and other wifi as well as iTunes should talk directly via airpot if it is available.
Anyway – still nothing. I am not going to disconnect my wired for this test, and I cannot exactly say whether this Myth got Busted, but I am leaning that way.
Nice link Derrick! and for Windows too! At the same level!! I will update to 63 and see what happens. Nice the updater even polls for the stations & updates it – Wow! All I needed was to update one Express and a restart of itunes – BINGO!
No Myth – This is 4 real!
Lets not forget about Apple’s coolest digital lifestyle product yet…the AirPod!!!
http://www.joyoftech.com/joyoftech/index.html
Help
I upgraded my firmware but when I try to connect to multiple speakers I get
a error code -3256 ? why
Derrick – thanks for the firmware heads-up…I had tried to enable this before after reading the notes on iTunes 6.0.2 and been unsuccessful because Apple didn’t mention the firmware update requirement.
Some people might not find great value in this, but I have 3 AE Express units in my house, each on a different level. This finally allows me to have ONE source of music at parties, while housecleaning on weekends, and just to have as I move from room to room. This is one thing that’s always been on my “digital lifestyle” wishlist, and I no longer have great envy of people with those fancy and expensive Sonos music systems. This is TREMENDOUS!
😀
That’s what I was missing at MacWorld, the 802.11n Airport Express. Grrrrr…
Rogue Amoeba recently introduced a new version of their Airfoil software that does the same thing (and will also stream audio from any other application).
As a user, I’m glad Apple is providing this for free. But geez, I’m glad I’m not a developer of third-party utilities for Mac! It would suck to put all that hard work into creating needed utilities, and then have Apple steal your thunder (not to mention erase your opportunity for revenues). Ouch.
For anyone with the multiple speakers error (-3256)
Unblock the UDP port 6001 or 6002 in your firewall settings…..worked for me!
PEACE
Is there a way to adjust the volume on the remote speakers while connected to “Multiple Speakers” in iTunes?
Volume control works when connected to only the remote speakers, but unfortunately not while connected to both the computer’s speakers and the remote speakers. That’s a show stopper for me.
Is there a way around this?
w00t! d/l the firmware update and works beautifully! ty ty apple. another dream come true!