Topic: New webapp to stream music from Media Server to a web browser (Read 12113 times)

dkan24 · « **on:** January 16, 2006, 11:01:45 pm »

Hi all,

It's been a long time since I last posted to this forum, but it's been for a good reason. I have been using Media Center for about 5 years and have always wanted to stream music to a web browser using the Media Server. I love the Media Server, but have always felt it was limited because you had to have Media Center running on the client side. So I did what most normal people do when they have an itch to scratch. I went out and learned PHP, MySQL, Javascript, Flash, etc. and built it myself!

If you would like to access your music from any browser ~~named Internet Explorer or Firefox (Safari and Opera can't play)~~ please have a look at my new web app Streampad (http://www.streampad.com)

Right now, it is pretty basic in how it interacts with Media Server, but if you would like to give it a shot, go to http://www.streampad.com/jriver/up.php and follow the instructions there to upload your library. I am planning on writing a plugin that can do this automatically, but this is version -5, so please be patient.

If you would like to try this out, send me a private message or reply in this thread and I will send you a beta code.

Please note - there is a special upload and login page just for JRiver, as the site was built to work with a different Home Server. Just follow the instructions at http://www.streampad.com/jriver/up.php and then login at http://www.streampad.com/jriver/login.php

Anyway, please let me know if it works, doesn't work, sucks, is great, etc.

Best,
Dan

UPDATED 11/17/06

gk666999 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:05:40 am »

I was looking for a way to stream from MC, will check your info later. Thanks for sharing.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:38:43 am »

Shiny!

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2006, 04:43:18 am »

This is actually so cool!
One tiny bug, sometimes cover art obscures track info when playing.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:13:12 am »

Actually
I'm having problems uploading my library, I get the following messages
_____________________________________________________________________
Warning: library/800f8cbb9e5936aacb7e0487c6cdecb9.xml:4231: parser error : internal error in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: Madeby Harpaul A Kohli W Real in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: ^ in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: library/800f8cbb9e5936aacb7e0487c6cdecb9.xml:4231: parser error : Extra content at the end of the document in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: Madeby Harpaul A Kohli W Real in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: ^ in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: transformToUri() expects parameter 1 to be object, boolean given in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 65
__________________________________________________________________
?

When I log in I then get a message box that says Component returned Failure Code 0x80070057 NS_Illegal_Error Value

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:53:31 am »

Is this designed for Media Center 11.0 rather than 11.1?

dkan24 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:34:20 am »

I have tested it with Media Server in 10.x and Library Server in 11.0. Has the Library server or the XML output been changed in 11.1? I'll download it and see...

The parse error looks to be from some character that is giving it trouble. Do you have some songs with asian or other characters? I will make sure this is all set to UTF-8.

dkan24 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2006, 05:53:59 pm »

Mr ChriZ - can you paste some of your XML here. It is set to UTF-8, so shouldn't have this problem.

thanks

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:13:04 pm »

I've uploaded the entire XML file in a RAR file to the following link
http://www.savefile.com/files/9044279
Hope that helps

dkan24 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:28:33 pm »

Thanks, that will certainly help.

I am also looking through your VB.NET and C# posts about creating plugins. Do you know where there is documentation on what is available through the API?

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:34:26 pm »

I think you'll find it all here :-)
http://www.jrmediacenter.com/DevZone/MJAutomation.html

dkan24 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:07:01 pm »

Thanks! Kind of bummed that all the examples are in C++ or VB. I don't know C++ and only have Visual Studio .NET.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2006, 07:13:30 pm »

The interface will be exactly the same no matter which language your in.
One of the main examples is the VB6 BusyBox,
which just does some simple stuff using the interface.
The instructions I wrote here
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=31072.0
allow you to convert that to a VB.NET soloution,
and then
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=31109.0
points to using a converter program to get from VB.NET to C#

If you would like to jump straight to the source I can fish it out,
but it's worth reading what I wrote because theres some important installation
steps in there. It really isn't too complicated.

Once I get the C# Scripting plugin to a stable point with some tidy code,
I'm going to open it up as an example, with an example of how
I create the installation program also...
Sadly someones put a degree in the way of my work, can't get nothing done!

dkan24 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2006, 07:48:29 pm »

Mr ChriZ - still working on the upload problem. Not sure how to deal with that strange character.

If you'd like, just delete the weird character after Real

<Field Name="Comment">Madeby Harpaul A Kohli W Real</Fiel

and after Smile

I Won't Forget Your Smilebr>or How You Taken Me

and you will be good to go. I tested that it works.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2006, 07:14:10 am »

OK I'm Uploaded :-)
What format should the port number take? I can't get it to play yet.
Is the IP address suposed to be in there also?
Cheers
Chris

dkan24 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2006, 08:45:24 am »

The IP address is taken from the PC you are on, so make sure you do it from the one running the Server. The port should be whatever port you chose for the Server (default is 80)

dkan24 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2006, 09:35:42 am »

Hi LisaRCT,

You are probably experiencing the same problem Mr. Chriz had which is your XML has a weird character or two that is causing it to error.

If you can, after it seems to be at 100%, click stop on your browser (are you using IE or FF?). You should be taken to the next page where you will see the error.

Also, if you can send me your xml file (dan at streampad.com) I can have a better idea of whats going on.

thanks

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2006, 12:35:59 pm »

Quote from: dkan24 on January 19, 2006, 08:45:24 am

The IP address is taken from the PC you are on, so make sure you do it from the one running the Server. The port should be whatever port you chose for the Server (default is 80)

Don't appear to be getting anywhere at the moment.
I've set Media Servers port to 5301.
I've port forwarded my port 5301 on my router.
And then set the port on the set page to 5301
and then logged in, and when I try to play it just sits
there saying loading....
Am I doing something stupid?

Will it take into account NAT?
Ie will it use my routers IP, or will it grab my IP addy at 192.168.0.3?
Cheers
Chris

dkan24 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2006, 05:25:58 pm »

LisaRCT - got it. I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out.

Mr ChriZ - It will grab your external IP address, so make sure you do it on the PC that your server is on (or at least on the same network).

You can try opening up a web browser and try:

http://[external ip]:5301/full path to an mp3 file

then try:

http://localhost:5301/full path to an mp3 file

If local host works, then your router is not set up to forward the correct port.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:50:48 pm »

After playing around with things for about an hour
all of a sudden it started working, yet I have no idea why

It's not doing so well when MC converts from APE->Mp3 at the moment
however, is file extension likely to cause it issues?
It just sits there saying loading well after MC has converted it...

Looks great anyway

dkan24 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2006, 09:10:03 pm »

Glad to hear it started working! As far as transcoding, flash needs to send ?codec=mp3%20Encoder&settings=Mode=0|Bitrate=128%20kbps|ForceCBR=1|VBRQualityMode=1|VBRFastMode=1|CommandLine=--preset%20cbr%20128
that string after the file request. Unfortunatelly, I tried this and it didn't seem to work. But I'll keep at it...

Jaqqe · « **Reply #21 on:** January 22, 2006, 07:10:13 am »

Upload goes on for several minutes and after that message says "Please check username/password" even if I use the exactly same username/pw which I can use to login to http://www.streampad.com

XML file is around 35mb.

fruggeri · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2006, 11:06:42 am »

I get the same thing - my file is about 35MB also.

dkan24 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 22, 2006, 11:09:49 am »

I just increased the php timeout limit. Please try again. I have not tested with a library that big.

dkan24 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 22, 2006, 11:44:35 am »

whoa! Uploading 92MB will take a very long time. I am transforming the XML on the server to make it a lot smaller, but this doesn't help us now.

When I get the plugin working, it will do the transformation on your PC before uploading it. That will help some. That is still a huge file. Is that just your music or do you have other media as well?

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #25 on:** January 22, 2006, 12:14:48 pm »

Could you possibly allow unrarring/zipping/Something similar at your end?
That would decrease the size considerably I'd imagine...

Jaqqe · « **Reply #26 on:** January 22, 2006, 05:54:49 pm »

Quote from: dkan24 on January 22, 2006, 11:09:49 am

I just increased the php timeout limit. Please try again.

Will do tomorrow, thanks.

Jaqqe · « **Reply #27 on:** January 23, 2006, 06:26:48 am »

Still the same message "Please check username/password"...

Is there some way to get the XML file smaller? There doesn't seem to be any options in exporting XML.

hit_ny · « **Reply #28 on:** January 24, 2006, 01:09:37 am »

Quote from: dkan24 on January 16, 2006, 11:01:45 pm

Hi all,

It's been a long time since I last posted to this forum, but it's been for a good reason. I have been using Media Center for about 5 years and have always wanted to stream music to a web browser using the Media Server. I love the Media Server, but have always felt it was limited because you had to have Media Center running on the client side. So I did what most normal people do when they have an itch to scratch. I went out and learned PHP, MySQL, Javascript, Flash, etc. and built it myself!

If you would like to access your music from any browser named Internet Explorer or Firefox (Safari and Opera can't play) please have a look at my new web app Streampad (http://www.streampad.com)

Just saw http://www.openlaszlo.org/

..it looks interesting for a web client.

..open & free too

snax01 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 25, 2006, 09:59:44 am »

Thanks dkan! That is great! I love it! I don't have media center, I use Media Jukebox 8.0...I wrote a stylesheet to convert the .jmd file to the xml format you were looking for and it works great! Now if I could just get the site to run on my pocket pc! IE Mobile doesn't seem to like it. Hopefully when netfront 3.3 get's released outside of the tech preview that will load it up for me. THanks again...

dkan24 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 25, 2006, 10:27:12 am »

snax01 - glad to hear that it worked! Anthrax rocks! You should add yoursef to the map...
Can you send me the stylesheet you used?

An update for everyone else:

Instead of trying to fix small things here and there, I am working on a better solution. I am working on a client that will allow you to choose Media Center (or Jukebox) and then will find the XML file and upload it. It will handle updating your IP address as well. It will not use Media Server, but will use its own lightweight webserver.

I wanted to make a plugin, but it seems like trying to do a .NET solution in J River is not the way to go.

RiderFan · « **Reply #31 on:** February 01, 2006, 10:35:44 pm »

I too am having trouble uploading my xml file. This is my error:

Warning: library/2793f2f49d7ae261873b59015c19f5bf.xml:51256: parser error : internal error in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: Fraunhofer Pro Codec! Woohoo!ê in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: ^ in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: library/2793f2f49d7ae261873b59015c19f5bf.xml:51256: parser error : Extra content at the end of the document in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: Fraunhofer Pro Codec! Woohoo!ê in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: ^ in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 56

Warning: transformToUri() expects parameter 1 to be object, boolean given in /home/.ambassador/dkantor/streampad.com/jriver/addLibrary.php on line 65

Library successfully added!

Any help to get this working would be appreciated.

dkan24 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 01, 2006, 10:43:47 pm »

RiderFan - Many people have been having trouble uploading their xml file. I realize that it does not make sense to try and solve this when I just put the service up there quickly without really thinking it through. I am going to be releasing an updated version of the Home Server very soon that will make this all moot. Please hang in there until then.

thanks - Dan

RiderFan · « **Reply #33 on:** February 02, 2006, 01:02:11 am »

Ok, will do.

I also posted on streampad's site as well with the same issue.

JONCAT · « **Reply #34 on:** February 27, 2006, 05:50:13 pm »

Hey stream heads - I have been to the site but haven't tested it out yet.

I am thinking of trying out a Cingular 8125 pocket pc w/ unlimited MediaNet service for 20 a month. Anyone have any experience with the bandwith......?

Can we set transcoding to normal ogg voris to reduce kbps transfer using this app?

thanks
Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #35 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:11:39 pm »

Hey all,

I am actively working on a new version of the Streampad home server. I chose to not go the media center plugin route since it would be just as much work as doing a stand alone app. I may look to revisit the plugin later however.

You can use Streampad today with the home server on the site. There is very little documentation on how to set it up but it does work today. This also relies on your library being all mp3.

JONCAT · « **Reply #36 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:18:08 pm »

Interesting, is future developement going to support other file types. Honestly, this would be no use to me because I don't use mp3.

thanks
Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #37 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:24:31 pm »

Absolutely. My entire library is APE and only mp3 (as well) b/c I have an iPod. Transcoding is a top priority for me. I am also going to have a webservice API so that will allow other applications and devices to have access to this library. I realize that some apps may want lossless or other formats besides mp3.

JONCAT · « **Reply #38 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:32:24 pm »

Awesome, any way I can help. I can't code anything at all but I should ask.

And I do have some Mp3's...mostly oral stuff, but mostly all Ape (High).

cheers,
Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 27, 2006, 09:12:01 pm »

Thanks for offering. The best way to help is to use Streampad and give me feedback so I can improve it! It's no secret aorund here that Media Center is so great because of this amazing forum.

JONCAT · « **Reply #40 on:** March 01, 2006, 07:57:03 pm »

Okay I will check it out as soon as I can. What size stream does it send to the client? What about AAC and OGG support. I know you mentioned OGG I believe.

I am also looking into Pocket Player2 and NetRemote (if it allows streaming?).

I am going to be shooting for 150-200kbps as that's all I think my connection will handle.

Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #41 on:** March 01, 2006, 09:05:55 pm »

Right now, it only supports mp3 b/c it uses Flash. All transcoding will have to happen on the home server to mp3.

I don't know about Pocket Player, but Netremote doesn't support streaming, its just a remote. Of course I haven't upgraded it in 2 years so who knows!

JONCAT · « **Reply #42 on:** March 01, 2006, 10:16:53 pm »

You can try opening up a web browser and try:

http://[external ip]:5301/full path to an mp3 file

then try:

http://localhost:5301/full path to an mp3 file

If local host works, then your router is not set up to forward the correct port.

This isn't working for me; I can access the Media Server externally but all browser can't understand the command of full path to an mp3, and Streampad isn't streaming my files.

I have 50 mp3's in this xml and they are tagged but not showing up in the Streampad as labled; dont' know if that's a problem

I am running 11.1.135.....logging into the right JRiver access page. Has this been tested with MC11? I guess I'll try that tomorrow.

JC

JONCAT · « **Reply #43 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:45:54 am »

I have tried IE & Opera with Flash 6 installed on a Mobile 5 Axim.

The furthest I get is with IE but the Streampad never fully loads and the screen hangs with "Loading...." at the top.

I can play this site's Flash content okay on the Axim:

www.2advanced.com

I thought I read about some kind of .htm workaround for pda's; I'm looking in to it.

Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #44 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:58:29 am »

There is no chance it will play on a PDA. The site is very heavy javascript/AJAX/Flash. The Flash is set to version 7. Even if the Flash loads, I doubt the mobile browser can handle all the js.

JONCAT · « **Reply #45 on:** March 23, 2006, 07:28:58 pm »

Too bad. I tried some Netremote plugin that for the life of me I couldn't figure out and going to try shoutcast server. Maybe when Mobile Flash Version 7 comes out I'll try again.

Dr. C

dkan24 · « **Reply #46 on:** November 17, 2006, 11:58:58 am »

Hey everyone,

It's been a while. I wanted to tell you guys that I just released a new version of the desktop app into beta testing. The last version had a lot of errors when scanning mp3 files, but this one should be good.

If you would like a beta code to try this out, send me a private message or just respond in this thread and I will send you one.

Just a reminder - Streampad only supports mp3 and aac. You can only scan aac if you scan your itunes library (as opposed to scanning folders for mp3s)

Dan

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: New webapp to stream music from Media Server to a web browser (Read 12113 times)

RiderFan

RiderFan

JONCAT

JONCAT

JONCAT

JONCAT

JONCAT

JONCAT

JONCAT