ATV and streaming libraries?

I have a fairly complex setup and I'm wondering how the ATV would fit in.
I have a MacPro in my studio with all my music on it.
This is connected to an Airport Extreme upstairs. I also have an Airport Express connected to it via ethernet which handles WIFI for my old Powerbook which doesn't have the new WIFI spec. The express is also hooked up to my stereo upstairs and I use the Powerbook's iTunes to connect to the MacBook's library and stream to the Airport Express. It works but I get audio dropouts once in a while.
If I hooked an ATV up to the stereo to replace the Airport Extreme, can iTunes stream shared libraries to it? I don't want to sync data between the MacPro's library and the ATV disc, the library is too big. Would this work better and stop dropouts? Are there any settings do to with buffering, etc on an ATV?

The interface is pretty fast but you currently can't search for a song using the remote.
You can either browse by Song, Album or Artist (playlists too).
These browse lists list either songs, albums or artists alphabetically.
It's very iPod like in the sense you scroll through the list alphabetically and scrolling speeds up as you hold the button down.
Personally I browse by Artist which then gives an Album list for that artist, then I play the album or song. The Artist top-level list is the shortest, then the Album list which and Songs is the longest.
Say you had 12 tracks per album, finding a song would mean scrolling through potentially a list 12x or more longer than the Artist list which itself would be shorter the more Albums you had by the same artist.
Some people find it slow, but it doesn't bother me much in practice - far quicker than finding a Cd case, potentially without the CD inside!
AC

Similar Messages

How to setup Sync and Stream for Different Photo Libraries?

I've read through most posts, but still can't get ATV to both sync and stream photos.
On my MBP I have my iTune library with music, movies, etc. I also have several iPhoto libraries for each year ('05, '06 '07, etc). I initially set up ATV to sync to my MBP iTune Library and my iPhoto '07 iPhoto library and everything went fine. Even if ATV->source->my music->photos, I get the photos streamed fine.
The question is how do I stream the other iPhoto libraries? If I go into MBP-> iTunes->Devices->ATV->Photos and deselect sync, I can't select any other Photo Albums and lose the ones I just sync'ed. If I try ATV->source->my itune lib->connect to new iTunes->sync #, but then when I go to MBP-> iTunes->devices->ATV there is no window to insert the # to stream.
What am I missing? Usually Apple is very logical, but this has me stumped. Basically I would like to sync and store my music on ATV, but be able to stream different photo libraries, the photos don't have to be stored on ATV. If I could sync some and stream others that would be better.
Can anyone give me a step-by-step on how to do this? I must be missing a step somewhere. Thx

Welcome to the  Discussion Forums.
It's debatable whether you could ever sync and stream photos from the same library. tv v 1.1 gave that impression because it showed photos in a synced source and a streamed source when the source was the same library. However as they were effectively the same photos it was never really clear what was happening.
Now that synced and streamed content is in the same menu under v 2.0 it really doesn't matter. If your itunes library is synced to your tv then you must sync your photos, if your itunes library is stream only then you must stream your photos.
Moving on, because this doesn't actually address your problem, which is that you want to sync or stream multiple iphoto libraries from the same itunes library. Well you can't, although you have a couple of workarounds.
If you must have multiple libraries, then you could open additional user accounts, stream the itunes libraries in those user accounts and allocate a single library to iphoto under each user account. This is quite messy if you have more than a couple of libraries and will not work with more than 5 libraries, which you may well have if you are working by years.
Your second option and I don't think you'll like it too much is to put all your photos in one library. To be honest I'm not really sure why you split your photos up as you do, I would have thought that iphoto was more than capable of coping with photos from all years.

Is it possible to have 2 iTunes Libraries, one for ATV and one for Ipod?

Now realizing that I need two different fomats for my movies in ATV vs. the Ipod, and not liking the fact that now when I stream I have two of every movie showing, I am wondering if there is a way around this.
Is there a way to set up two separate iTunes libraries on the same computer so that you have one for ATV and one for the Ipod. Then you could goto the movies file in the first iTunes library (as well as whatever music) and pull all of the Ipod formatted movies out and put them in the second library for syncing with the Ipod. Is this doable or do you need separate computers? What about having the libraries on separate drives and then picking which library you wanted to use when you opened iTunes?

Yes, you can have two libraries, and there's a shareware program called Libra for easy switching between them. You should keep the Library file(s) local on your computer, but you can have the actual media files anywhere.
The only downside to having several libraries is if you have stuff that you want in both of them (like your music for example) you have to manually add it to both of them.
The Alternative would be to sync only playlists of movies - if iTunes would allow movie playlists. A workaround is to label the movies as two tv series (like "iPod" and "ATV") and have each synced to the respective device.

Syncing and streaming from different itunes libraries on same computer

First, I came across a thread saying that it is possible to sync and stream from the same itunes library, but Apple technical support says this is not possible and the thread didn't explain how this is done. I know you can still stream music from a library that is synced with the ATV by using Airtunes, but you can't stream movies through Airtunes. If there's a way to sync and stream movies through the ATV from the same itunes library, can someone please let me know how to do it?
If this is not possible, does anyone know if it's possible to sync to one library and stream from another on the same computer? I tried this last night and for a second I thought it worked because my itunes was listed on the ATV twice (once as syncing and the other as streaming) but then when I switched back to the library that the ATV was supposed to be synced with, that library disappeared from the ATV and I lost all of the media on the ATV. (As a side note, when I started syncing again, the ATV showed that it still had all of the media on there, but itunes showed that there was nothing and started copying everything again - very annoying).
This is an issue for me because I only have one computer and all of my media on an external harddrive. I like having my music synced with the ATV but my movies will not fit on the ATV so I would prefer to just stream those rather than have to delete and add movies everytime I want to watch something different. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

missed a very important step necessary to achieve this, in the summary tab in iTunes there is a check box... "show only synced items".. if you uncheck that box then unsynced items will will appear on the appleTV menus and when you click on them they will be streamed... this gives you the sync and stream from the same library part of what the OP wants.
the other part of the puzzle is to let items inside and outside of the iTunes Folder exist in the iTunes library... the library is file that contains all the files that you see in itunes... files don't need to be in the iTunes folder to be in the itunes library though..
the trick here is that when you drag the files from your external (the ones you don't want on your computer) and into iTunes... press option as you drag and the files will be added to the iTunes library (a reference/path to them really) but the files will not be copied to the iTunes folder... when iTunes looks for that file (to play it directly or to stream or sync to appleTV) it looks at the reference and says.. hey i can get this file here (on your external) and goes and fetches it.
on a PC you press SHIFT as you drag into iTunes so the item(s) don't get copied to the iTunes folder.. no OPTION key on PCs.
Message was edited by: tmartine

Storing and streaming movie content from desktop to ATV

Newb questions: 1) If I purchase and store a bunch of movies in iTunes on my desktop computer, I can set these movies not to sync to my ATV or my iPod, right? [I don't particularly want to fill up the hard drive on my 40GB ATV with movies, but I really do not want to fill my 16GB Touch so full of movies that I have no room for adding songs.] 2) What if I run out of hard drive space on the desktop system? Can I add an external USB hard drive to the desktop system just for storage of movies and still stream movies from iTunes to my ATV? [And if so, how?]
Thanks. -- JC

You don't have to sync anything to the ATV if you don't want to. However, you must leave iTunes open on that machine if you want the ATV to see it to be able to stream.
You may find that setting it to sync only like 5 most recent unwatched movies, etc. The Unwatched option is nice as it limits what gets put on the ATV and once you watch it, it gets removed (though you can still play via streaming).
Thus if the computer is off or iTunes closed, your ATV will have the most recent stuff on it (which most likely is what you want to watch).
As for external drive, easy to do. I have a 1TB external USB drive on my computer. I have iTunes pointing to it as to where the library is stored (you can set that in iTunes preferences). Thus all my media is on my external drive.
Don't think of the ATV seeing your hard drives. The ATV ONLY sees your iTunes app. What your iTunes can see on your computer is what the ATV can see. So where ever you put the files, as long as iTunes can see it and play it, then the ATV can.

So how can I use my iPhone or stream music on the ATV without having use of the computer?. I am limited I have wifi iPhone ATV and hd TV. My ATV has a setting for AirPlay as well. Please help :)

So how can I use my iPhone or stream music on the ATV without having use of the computer?. I am limited I have wifi iPhone ATV and hd TV. My ATV has a setting for AirPlay as well. Please help :)

Use AirPlay.

File .dv and aTV in streaming

Hi everybody.
I edit my domestic films with FCExpress HD, and make a .dv file, I have QT 7.2, and try see the films in aTV by streaming. This I do open dv file in QT and export to appleTV it's create a m4v file, I put it on iTunes, see it LCD Sony TV, but..... hang the video each 10 seconds the streaming don't work. It is impossible se mine family records.
I have a MBP 17", 2.33 Mhz, 2 Gb RAM, and Airport Extreme
What are doing wrong ??
Original file is .dv (FCE) and end file is .m4v (QT). I try too with VisualHub and same results, bad. Size 4:3 PAL
THX in advance

Does the file play back fine in iTunes?
Sync the problem file to test if it plays ok from the hard drive.
AppleTV is fussy about the movie format, and you ideally need either h.264 or mpeg-4 file as follows:
=========================================================
Video formats supported
* H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
* iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels or 640 by 480 pixels
* MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
Audio formats supported
* AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV
==========================================================
It might be that your converted file is close to these specs but just a bit too high a bitrate for streaming to work ok - what are the encoded m4v file bitrates and other parameters?
Ac

OTA HDTV Recorded, Converted, and Streamed to ATV ... Results!!!

Well, I just tried HD streaming and it worked flawlessly ... although it takes a bit of effort. Here is how I did it ...
1. I recorded an OTA 720p HDTV broadcast using my El Gato Hybrid;
2. I exported the program from EyeTV 2 as a Quicktime 1280x720 HD file;
3. I then opened the exported QT file in Quicktime Pro and exported again again using "Movie to ATV" (I had to do this because the original QT file would not stream);
4. I dropped the converted file in to iTunes, and streamed it to the Apple TV playing on my 44" 720P HDTV.
Final Streamable File Specs: 960 x 540 ... I am not sure why QT Pro converted the original 1280x720 file to the lower res, but it did and the file streamed and looked GREAT.
Results: I must say ... IT LOOKED SPECTACULAR. I am a bit surprised given the low-end specs of the ATV. No dropped frames, no glitches, no hiccups. If they offer HD movies on iTunes, they are going to look GREAT!
The Downside: It took FOREVER to convert the 4 minute HD QT file using QTPro.

Just an FYI ... the quality fell somewhere between OTA HDTV quality and DVD quality. I would say just about the same as cable or sat HDTV quality.

Can't Get ATV to Stream from iTunes

OK, I can't get my ATV to stream from my iTunes. when I initially set up the ATV, it synced to my iTunes. I actually don't recall any option to sync or stream, but makbe I missed it.
Anyway, the help says the following:
"Playing your iTunes library on your TV using Apple TV
If you have an Apple TV, you can stream items from your iTunes library to your TV. You can also sync your Apple TV with your iTunes library so that content is automatically loaded onto your Apple TV.
Syncing your Apple TV with iTunes
If your Apple TV is synced with an iTunes library, it is already set up for streaming. You can also stream items from an iTunes library that isn't synced with your Apple TV. You can stream from up to five iTunes libraries, plus the library the Apple TV is synced with.
To set up your Apple TV for streaming:
Make sure the computer you want to stream from is on, and iTunes is open.
On your Apple TV, choose Sources, choose "Connect to New iTunes," and make a note of the passcode displayed.
In iTunes, select the Apple TV with "Click to set up" next to it, and enter the passcode.
While content is being streamed, the computer must remain on and iTunes must remain open. If you stream content while Apple TV is syncing, the sync pauses until streaming stops.
You can stream from only one iTunes library at a time. To stream from a different library, choose Sources on your Apple TV and then choose another source."
Now, here is the problem:
1. It says "If your Apple TV is synced with an iTunes library, it is already set up for streaming." NOT. No where do I see any stream or share selection. Only sync.
2. It says "You can stream from up to five iTunes libraries, plus the library the Apple TV is synced with." Again, not that I can see.
3. It says "On your Apple TV, choose Sources, choose "Connect to New iTunes," and make a note of the passcode displayed." I don't have a "Sources" option anywhere in ATV. How am I supposed to select it?? All I have is a "Computers" selection, which shows me my current selected computer for synching, and another option to share a library, with a new passcode. But, only to a second computer, not my main one (where all the files are!).
I don't understand. It's like it's referring to some other device, with different menus. Now, I have ver 2.0 of ATV, and 7.6 of iTunes. WHAT IS GOING ON?
I purchased this thing to take advantage of streaming, for photos and video. I only bought the 32 GB unit, but even the 160 would not be bug enough to have all my photos and HD video. So, streaming is a must. But, it would be nice to also sync the music files so I can listen to them without having the computer on. If the thing functed like the manual says, I would be happy. But, it doesn't.
HELP!!

Good news- this is all so much simpler that you think. (I know because I too struggled with it for days.) It turns ou that you have to do NOTHING to set up streaming with 2.0. Once you have synced your computer, just leave your computer running and on your TV using ATV you will see whatever movies you have imported into iTunes in the movie menu even if you have not synced them. The only way that you can tell that they are not synced is that when you select them to play the streaming bar will appear briefly at the bottom of your TV screen to indicate that it is being synced. If you turn your computer off the movie that you have chosen would not even appear in the menu.
Hope this helps- it is too bad apple doesn't give more info about using ATV!

Sync and stream from the same library?

Hello,
Prior to upgrading to ATV2, I was able to access 'unchecked' items in my iTunes library from my ATV. This is the iTunes library that I am also syncing from.
This allowed me to stream items that I didn't want to sync.
I would do this by going to the 'sources' option and directly selecting my Mac Based iTunes library, rather than the ATV library.
With the new update, can you still stream unchecked items from the same iTunes library that you are syncing too?
If so how?
If not, I think this is a major let down???
Any help much appreciated.
FH

Depends on what you mean by unchecked.
If you don't check items in the sync options window (from device list) they won't get synced, but they will get streamed provided the item is checked alongside it's title in the main library window. If an item isn't checked alongside it's title in the main library window then it won't sync or stream.
All synced and streamed content from the same library now appears in a single list on the tv, namely 'my movies, my tv shows etc'. Only content from a secondary (streaming only) library will appear in a separate list on the tv, namely 'shared libraries'.

Sync AND stream from the same computer/itunes?

Is it possible to sync only my movies from my powerbook to my apple TV (to store them on the ATV) and then stream any additional media (music, podcasts, etc.) from the same computer that is sync'd? Everytime I try to it seems to only let me do one or the other.
How do I set it up???
Thanks

Yes - the sync library automatically streams any content in the library not synced to AppleTV due to space issues or due to custom sync configuration.
You need to set up custom syncing of just you movies using the Dveice tabs for tha AppleTV in iTunes - when itunes is running anything else is available to stream.
AC

Moving purchases done on an ATV in streaming mode to my PC

I have chosen to use my ATV in streaming mode as I had many issues in Sync mode. Would appreciate some hints on the following challenge:
I have purchased movies using my ATV. These purchased movies are not showing up in iTunes on my PC. How do I move these across to my PC in order to ensure I have a backup and be able to transfer them to my iPod Touch?

you need to have sync mode turned on for items to auto-sync back to itunes from appletv.
turn it on, but then choose "custom sync". this will allow items to sync back to itunes, but will keep the 100% stream that you require.
this is how mine is set up.

Entire music and photo libraries not showing up

I can't access my entire iPhoto and iTunes libraries on my Apple TV. I have both programs open, ATV sees the libraries, but picks a small, seemingly random, sample from each instead of allowing me to access all my photos and music. The separate "Screensaver" photo album I set up works fine.

Actually, it's just my photo library. My music seems to be there now.

Storing video on Time capsule and ATV and not on computer

I would like to build my video library and not store it on my IMAC 24 When I back it up and delete it I also loose it from ATV Then I have to restore to watch it Is there any way around this So much storage on the ATV and Time Capsule Why use the computer memory

I previously had my iTunes library on a network drive but moved to it an external drive connected directly to my iMac because streaming and file downloads were slower on the network drive due to the iTune's content management scheme. The short answer is, it will work regardless of whether or not you keep your library on your Time Capsule, your iMac or an external drive.

ATV and TC part 2

Ok, here is my hopeful setup. I am really looking for someone who has attempted this setup and can confirm or deny that this works. I currently have a TC 1TB and an Apple TV. I would like to store all of my movies on the TC and stream directly from there. From what I've read, you must have the computer that your ATV is synced to on in order to stream any media to the ATV. Is it not possible to remove the computer link with another Apple product? Obviously everything would be wireless and I do not wish to store anything on the ATV itself, just everything on the TC. All movie's are encoded via Handbrake and are on the ATV preset they have. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

you cannot stream (or sync) direct from the TC. an itunes library is still required which is on your PC/laptop.
the TC is just an external HDD in terms of the itunes library. the itunes link is still required.

ATV and streaming libraries?

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