Jer's new digital rig

[jbeckva]

Howdy all,

So at "work", they were going to actually toss this Dell server. Although I needed it like I needed a hole in the head, I figured I couldn't let it go to the landfill so it came home with me.



Put the old M-Audio in it...(that's what the 4 RCA's are hooked to)



Then with a lil bit of software I can now control it using my web browser on the main computer...



And (what the heck).. the iPad ...



Pretty neat setup. Sounds great too with the M-Audio (lil card can push some good sounding output... ). Anyway, something to mess around with. It's not too loud as far as the cooling fans, but it can eat up some power from the wall. I might think about using the same concept, but with a smaller server footprint (yeah, I still dunno really why I brought this beast home heheh).

 

[laatsch55]

That'slike ubercoolness!!!!!!!!

 

[orange]

I've been wanting to have a master A/V server across three rooms...

I've got an old AOpen server tower frame I plan to build a wooden cover for, as it has no metal panels anymore.

 

[dingus]

looks like a fun project. bonus that its doing a good job of it.

 

[rtp_burnsville]

Yes, it's amazing what companies toss in the trash..... I really limit what comes home otherwise one would not be able to fit in the door! The place I work at has a policy called 5S. Basically if it's not being used at the moment its trash even if you need it next week, so frustrating.... Between labeling things and haul stuff to the trash it's amazing anything gets done.

What M-Audio card are you using?

Robert

 

[laatsch55]

The 2496 I think Robert. The same one I put in after talking to him one night about it. Haven't done anything with it yet.

 

[rtp_burnsville]

Thanks Lee..... I need something for my desktop PC.

Robert

 

[jbeckva]

Thanks Lee..... I need something for my desktop PC.

Robert

Hi Robert,

Well I wouldn't exactly call this an endorsement for the M-Audio 24/96, but for the going price of 60.00* it would be a low-risk possibility. If you have XP and not Win 7 or a Mac with a PCI slot free, then I think it would work pretty good for you - the sound is really REALLY good. On Win 7 their drivers have some issues with some motherboards - some can be tweaked to get around them, but some can't. So if running Win 7 (or 2008 server R2 for that matter), just a little concern there.

It's pretty surprising how well it can do. Just for example, I can (and have) hook the outputs directly to an outboard amp and still have the amp dead quiet with no output - Of course you'd want to turn the master volume all the way down before trying that. Recording with it is outstanding too - NO audible difference I can hear between original and recording through the analog inputs.

Head over to M-Audio's site for details and system requirements.. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496.html

* - http://www.fullcompass.com/product/267454.html

 

[fitz43]

What would the "lil bit of software" be called?

 

[jbeckva]

What would the "lil bit of software" be called?

To start with, winamp.. free version will do.

Then add the "AjaxAMP" plugin to it. Configure the AjaxAMP to index your music library, then with Winamp running on the server just point your web browser to it's IP address on port 5151 (default.. that's also configurable).

Works pretty good. But winamp has to be running on the server, obviously (no "service" mode). You can always set the server up to auto-login and put winamp in it's startup menu.

 

[fitz43]

Thanks. How much hardware horsepower do you require for the server?

 

[jbeckva]

Not much at all. The server I'm using looks big and scary, but really it's 10 year old tech (considering downsizing it to something more recent but more powerful). 2 cores with 4G of RAM, DDR2 at that. Anything dual core and higher with 2G's ought to do it, depending on the choice of OS as Win7 would need a little bit more. HD space - as much as you think you'll need, but 1TB drives are going for less than 100 nowadays.

 

[rtp_burnsville]

Looks like everyone is out of boards for 2-3 weeks....... I have a Lynx board in my other PC, while very nice so was the price. Thanks!

 

[orange]

Not much at all. The server I'm using looks big and scary, but really it's 10 year old tech (considering downsizing it to something more recent but more powerful). 2 cores with 4G of RAM, DDR2 at that. Anything dual core and higher with 2G's ought to do it, depending on the choice of OS as Win7 would need a little bit more. HD space - as much as you think you'll need, but 1TB drives are going for less than 100 nowadays.

That makes more sense that what I can do.

 

[jbeckva]

That makes more sense that what I can do.

Don't be surprised if you get a "PC" on your doorstep weighing 70 lbs and the size of a small table... heheh

 

[jbeckva]

Yeah.. hmmmm...

I have to say, the M-Audio is beginning to grow on me again. Lee - you just don't know what you have sitting there in yer PC, all lonely... waiting for you to hook it up and experience "magic"...

Depending on how well it goes (going to run Win 7 on the "beast", I MAY want to offer the Xonar here up for a listen if anyone would be interested. Just make sure you actually hook it up to a real rig and not a pair of plastic 'puter speakers... It would come with a few choice "samples" of good digital audio to really try it out for ya.

Lemme know...

 

[orange]

My other livingroom speakers are KLH Sixes.

 

[jbeckva]

My other livingroom speakers are KLH Sixes.

Trying to install Windows 7 on a 10 year old server... I will be away for a few.. heheh

 

[laatsch55]

Come back Jer!!!!

 

[jbeckva]

Come back Jer!!!!

Ey.. that was last night, lol!!

But seriously Lee.. if you ever get about 30 mins tomorrow sometime, let's plan on something if you're up to it. I know a way (I think) where we both can be working on your PC, and I'll show you a few things about digital in the process. I'll "learn ya"... heheh