AirPlay to multiple AppleTVs - will sound be in sync?

I am currently researching options on how to get music to multiple rooms synchronously. I don't need any fancy multiroom "play different music in every room" options, I just want the same music to play in every room, and I don't want to lay cables.
The new AppleTV with AirPlay from an old MacBook running iTunes seems like a cheap-ish solution, but I haven't found the answer to a very important question:
If I stream music from iTunes to multiple (up to five) AppleTVs, will they be absolutely in sync? I don't want to walk from one room into another only to have the rhythm disrupted.

As has been said, yes, it just works.
What happens is that, when multiple speakers (this is the term used in iTunes for multiple outputs) are selected, the music is delayed for a second or two, after selecting play, before it starts playing. This is so that all the speakers can respond to iTunes saying they are ready for the request to play.
It can be a little disconcerting at first when manually controlling the playback to have no sound for a second while waiting for the system to catch up with what you have requested.

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Why can't I airplay to multiple appletv

I run a church and want to be able to send my ipad keynote presentation to multiple appletvs in different parts of the building. There does not appear to be any way to send the signal to more than one appletv at a time. Is this correct, and if so will the new appletv add this feature so that it becomes a more usable experience, I love the fact that I can transmit my itunes around the building to multiple airport express and play them through different audio units, but the video thing is frustrating!

That is correct, AirPlay is a one-to-one device pairing. You cannot send it to multiple AppleTVs. There has been no announcement of a new AppleTV model at this time.

Is it possible to AirPlay an ipad screen(keynote) to multiple appletvs on the same wifi?

Is it possible to AirPlay an ipad screen(keynote) to multiple appletvs on the same wifi?

Thanks - back to the drawing board!

Enabling AirPlay to multiple speakers causes audio channels on local computer to playback incorrectly

iTunes has an audio bug that has been a problem for the last couple releases and it's been driving me crazy lately. The problem is streaming audio to any AirPlay devices from iTunes causes iTunes to for lack of a technical term "munge" the audio placing back out of the local audio output. It seems like stereo audio stops playing out of the local audio output and instead either the left or right audio channel plays back out of both speakers. The stereo channel audio playing out of the AirPlay device appears to be unaffected.
This can be reproduced by:
1. launch iTunes when AirPlay output device is available (AirPort Express, AppleTV)
2. open the Multiple Speakers panel
3. make sure both "Computer" and one other AirPlay output device are checked
4. playback an audio track you are familiar with that has clear stereo separated audio (something with a vocal track with one singer mostly on the left channel and another mostly on the right channel is a good option)
5. the playback will sound odd, like parts of the recording aren't present - vocals quiet or missing; guitar riff quiet or missing
6. uncheck all AirPlay output devices so that only "Computer" is selected
7. listen to the audio track again, it will sound normal
-- if you identify where the audio has missing elements you can click the AirPlay output device on and off in the Multiple Speakers panel and hear the elements magically appear / disappear
A great track to test with the The Beatles / Revolver / Taxman. From 1:12 - 1:25 there is a guitar solo. With the AirPlay device on this solo is completely missing and the track just has bass, drums, and rhythm guitar.
I'm not certain this has to do with stereo audio channel issues on the local playback, but obviously as soon as the AirPlay streaming code kicks it, something with the audio channels on iTunes is getting hosed. It's only been an issue for the last 6-9 months for me and audio streaming worked great for years before that.
Can others reproduce this problem? If so, Apple really needs to escalate this for a fix because using AirPlay pretty much ruins the quality of audio output currently which makes me never want to use it.

don't know if you are still looking at this thread, i hope so.
I have a similar problem, and I wondered if you might help. I have a macbook (2008) running the latest version of itunes (just updated) and Airplay tho with a pretty old router. (I got a relatively new one for the network just a few months ago but the one hooked up to my amplifier is an old airport-- the square ones-- I have had for years -- it's linked to the amp via the 3.5mm output jack)
I seem to run into this on the "Rubber Soul" album, and I checked it agsint the copies from iTunes and even ripping another edition of the CD. The vocal tracks seem to disappear, like the guys are singing at the bottom of a well. "Run For Your Life" for example, the verses Lennon sings are almost inaudible. On Norwegian Wood it sounds like they are in an echo chamber a mile away.
So, on all my other music it seems fine, but I wasn't sure if Steve Jobs hated "Rubber Soul" or what.
I haven't duplicated this on other music -- tho just now I noticed some weird effects on the opening track of Sgt. Pepper. Only half the vocals are on, the lyrics by Lennon are again near-absent) I might try to see what happens when I play the mono version of my Jefferson Airplane CD.
Is there a software fix? Should I be linking my airport in some other fashion to the amp? (The amp is pretty old, I got it in what, 1998?) Should I be using the USB link somehow to the audio out? Is thi an effect of weird stereo mixes of the 1960s?
BTW I am not trying to tream to multiple devices or anythign, just to the one.

Unable to use AirPlay from multiple iOS and MacBook pro

HI, I seem to be having issues using AirPlay From multiple iOS devices.
I have the following devices, iphone 6 plus, iPad air (both Gen 1 and 2) an iPad 2 and a MacBook Pro running Yosemit. I also have 2 Apple TVs (both gen 1 and 2).
Recently I have found that I am unable to use AirPlay on any of the iOS devices to either Apple TVs, the MacBook Pro will Airplay mirror ok, I am however able to use iTunes shairing from a Windows 8PC. I have restarted and also reset both Apple TVs and my router, I have also reset the connection settings on all the iOS devices but still can't resolve the issue.
The Apple TVs have Internet connection so I can't see any issues network connections.
ANyone else got got any Ideas?
Thanks

Try the following steps, check whether things are working after each step where appropriate, before trying the next.
Check AirPlay is turned on on the Apple TV (turn it off and on if it already is)
Check that both devices are on the same network (Settings > Wifi, on the mobile device and Settings > General > Network, on the Apple TV).
Restart the Apple TV (Settings > General > Restart).
Restart the Apple TV by removing ALL the cables for 30 seconds.
Restart your router. (Also try removing it’s power cord for at least 30 seconds)
Restart your mobile device.
If you are still having problems, the following article(s) may help you.
Troubleshooting AirPlay
Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections
Recommended Wi-Fi settings
Wifi Diagnostic Software (for Mac users)
You may also find some help on this page, where I’ve collected some of the more unusual solutions to network issues.
When making adjustments to your network for better optimisation, you may find some of the points mentioned on this page helpful.
This is answer is provided from my own database of boilerplate responses and the content was last reviewed and/or tested on: 2014/12/16

My AppleTV will not play anything over Air Play. Every other function works perfectly, and my Internet/router are working at top speed. I can watch HD Netflix and YouTube but nothing via my iTunes library on my MacBook or iPad. All software is updated.

Every other function works perfectly, and my Internet/router are working at top speed. I can watch HD Netflix and YouTube but nothing via my iTunes library on my MacBook or iPad. All software is updated. The AppleTV will recognize that Air Play is trying to do it's thing, but with music files it sounds like they're skipping and video files just load endlessly.

I'm searching for an answer to almost the same exact problem, using almost the same exact hardware and software. Has an answer been found?
The files that I'm trying to burn come from eMusic, and they are formatted mp3. Recently, (after the iTunes update to 9.2.3?,) they would not drag and drop from iTunes into Toast. From several different discussions I've tried working around this by dragging to the desktop first then dragging and dropping to Toast, going to Toast from a programmer's homemade help window, " iToons," and today, after talking with Apple support, going directly to Toast from my eMusic folder. Alas, all recordings do not perform like they use to. Sometimes they play and sometimes not. There is one I managed, that is listenable, but sometimes I have to put it in my car stereo over and over again as it gets ejected with an error code, sometimes, finally it takes it... Some of the recordings on other disks I've burned are not clean - they have white-noise sounds creeping in... I use to have none of these problems. One time as I was listening to a CD that managed to play, and it just stopped playing... Is there an answer out there to get back to how it use to be? Thanks for you help.

Am I missing something? No airplay to multiple speakers?

I was really hoping that I would be able to airplay to multiple speakers from my Apple TV with the update released today, September 24. Is this not possible?
Rhetorical question for Apple: If this was not implemented in this update, why is this functionality limited to Airplay in iTunes on the desktop?

The limitation appears in both iOS and AppleTV. I am playing music from my Homeshared iTunes library to my HiFi through AppleTV. When trying to play it through Airplay it stops every other song ... but I can stream through AirPlay to as many speakers I want from the MacBook Air. If I want to play a whole playlist uninterupted to my HiFi I need to stream from my iOS devices or from the AppleTV, but then I'm stuck with only one set of speakers.
Is there a channel where this kind of issues can be flagged / suggested to Apple for next improvements ? I have the impression that these user forums are not really interesting enough for Apple to actually check what users are saying ...

AppleTV will only play audio, not video

My AppleTV will only play audio, not video via Airplay. I've verified correct settings, reset iPad, AppleTV and router with no success. Please help!

Welcome to the Apple Community.
What is it that you were playing, some providers block their content from AirPlay.

Network management of multiple AppleTVs

Hi!
I'm an IT-tech at a high school. Over the last months we have installed over 40 AppleTVs across the schools.
Everything is working as it should, but I am not satisfied with the way updates are pushed.
I'm aware that the AppleTV isn't really meant for big deployments like we have, more of a 1 per living room setup.
But would it be possible for Apple to integrate Network Management in a later firmware update?
Or at least for now make it possible to turn off the update nag-screen.
I have configured them to not go to sleep and always be on, and none of the teachers have controllers (So they dont mess anything up)
The only option for me right now is to run around the campus and turn off the nag-screen whenever a new update is out, and then update the AppleTVs later when there is no one using the classrooms. Just a simple "Don't show new updates on screen" setting would make my life so much easier :}
Anyone else that has multiple AppleTVs and are having the same trouble as I am?

Unfortunately I don't think Apple will allow an option to prevent the update screen - I wish there was one too as I don't want the family inadvertently updating the units when they are stable, and the thing pops up so often it's inevitable it will happen.
As for your large scale issues, as you say it's probably never been designed for such usage but with iOS devices in many schools/colleges it is increasingly something they should perhaps look at - even as far as having an educational version with some specific features.
Send some feedback:
Apple - Apple TV - Feedback

Simultaneous Airplay on multiple ATV's?

If I have multiple ATVs on my home network, can I play my iTunes playlists and have the output on all ATV connected systems simultaneously? Right now, I've got one ATV - but would like to add more so I can stream music throughout the house. Is this doable?

The Source is iTunes (the mini player because it made for a small screen grab).
Apple's free Remote app lets you control an AppleTV or what is playing in an iTunes library.
http://www.apple.com/apps/remote/
iTunes has the ability to send audio via Airplay to multiple Airplay speakers simultaneously including AppleTVs, Airport Express and 3rd party audio units with Airplay speaker functionality (eg B&W Zeppelin Air).
So if you are near the Computer you just select what is playing, click Airplay icon and multiple audio destinations (+/- computer audio out) and there you go.
With the Remote app you select an iTunes library to control not an AppleTV, select the iTunes audio and then make the speaker choices.
The Music app on an iPhone only allows a single output (Phone or a single Airplay speaker on teh network), unless it's changed in iOS 6 that is.
AC

Airplay-connected Macbook Pro Will Not Play Audio On Apple TV

After upgrading to a Retina Macbook Pro running Mavericks (10.9.3), I can no longer play audio using AirPlay through my AppleTV 2. The video connection is flawless, yet when going into Sound > Output through System Preferences, I can not select AppleTV | AirPlay as an output device. Is this a hardware issue? Is there another fix available?

That actually did the trick. Well played. It would be nice if that were in *any* of the support documentation for AirPlay.
Many thanks.

HT4799 Why I cannot watch movies from Love film on my apple tv? The app is on my iPad and when I switch the movie from iPad to AppleTv only sound is on my TV screen.

Why I cannot watch movies from Love film on my apple tv? The app is on my iPad and when I switch the movie from iPad to AppleTv only sound is on my TV screen and no picture.

Many online media providers block this - Sky and Amazon Prime do too I believe.
I would have to assume that the app providers cannot offer video Airplay for contractual reasons with the movie studios though it may just be they don;t want to enable their apps to do so.
It's not Apple preventing this, while you could see it would be in Apple's interest to push people to the iTunes store for media it could also drive people away.
AC

I have multiple AppleTV's at different locations. Is it possible to determine which specific AppleTV purchased a movie, by tracking some type of physical device ID (similar to a hard coded MAC address or serial number)?

I have multiple AppleTV's at different locations. Is it possible to determine which specific AppleTV purchased a movie, by tracking some type of physical device ID (similar to a hard coded MAC address or serial number)?

Mullaly75 wrote:
I assume u guys don't understand what open source software is
Yes, I think most of us do understand what open source software is. It sounds as if you don't. Here's some information:
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved forcopyright holders are provided under an open-source license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.
Open source software is very often developed in a public, collaborative manner. Open-source software is the most prominent example of open-sourcedevelopment and often compared to (technically defined) user-generated content or (legally defined) open content movements.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software
Yes, Tom Wu of Stanford wrote a paper on something called Secure Remote Access Protocol. It's a form of Asymetric Key Exchange and has nothing to do with hacking anything. It's actually intended to protect data.

HT1198 If I share an iPhoto library between multiple users, will the Faces, Events, and Places be automatically usable by all users, or will each user have to tag all the photos (e.g. if a user tags a face, will a different user have to do it in their own

If I share an iPhoto library between multiple users, will the Faces, Events, and Places be automatically usable by all users, or will each user have to tag all the photos (e.g. if a user tags a face, will a different user have to do it in their own iPhoto application??

Have you read this Apple document regarding sharing a library with multiple users: iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users?
OT

I have an iPod Classic 160GB and now it will not sync. I have restored to factory settings multiple times. It freezes during sync, gives -50 error code and says video is not supported on iPod. Please help.

I have an iPod Classic 160GB and now it will not sync. I have restored to factory settings multiple times. It freezes during sync, gives -50 error code and says video is not supported on iPod. Please help.

This is the iPod touch forum. I requested the moderators to move your post to the iPod classic forum.

AirPlay to multiple AppleTVs - will sound be in sync?

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