DIY Media Streamer (non pc)

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harrymart

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Joined 2014
#1
I know most of you guys are now using dedicated media pc's but i'm wondering how is it possible to DIY one without the need of traditional pc.

I began thinking about this after I purchased a little Roku TV for under $50 which essentially is a media player streamer for AV use but it can't be a traditional pc given it's price. So I then started looking at "audiophile" streamers which quickly made me realise "hey, all the GUI's look the same"(Musical fidelity clic, Project and many more), so how do they do it, is there some sort of generic software these brands are using or maybe some sort of Digital Media Player chipset which is like a tiny PC?

I'm quite interest in the idea of building my own now, if Roku can sell one for $50, surely I can make one a few hundred right?

Apologies if this has been discussed before, I did search but I was in that "What the hell do I search" dilemma.
 
#4
ARM/Linux based alternatives

you can also consider (arm based , linux runs on top):

wandboard Wandboard - Freescale i.MX6 ARM Cortex-A9 Opensource Community Development Board - BLOG - I'm currently using it with mpd but you can install
Community Squeeze - Community Squeeze and here is a link to a nice HW carrier board project in progress Community Funded Squeezebox Replacement - Would you be interested?


beaglebone black currently out of stock but here is a nice how to and presentation

Computer Audiophile - Geek Speak: How To Build A BeagleBone Black MPD Music Server

both devices are powerfull, dead silent and work excellent with music stored on a NAS and a USB DAC
 
#6
your topic title is a little bit missleading-
if you are searching for an all in one media software you could try out good old xbmc. im running the git version on archarm via raspi and comfortable with it. dont know if it can do terrestrial or satelite tv though.
apart from that it runs HD with >30fps if you configure it right.
you gotta invest some time either way if you make it diy.
 
#7
flexus said:
your topic title is a little bit missleading-
if you are searching for an all in one media software you could try out good old xbmc. im running the git version on archarm via raspi and comfortable with it. dont know if it can do terrestrial or satelite tv though.
apart from that it runs HD with >30fps if you configure it right.
you gotta invest some time either way if you make it diy.
Click to expand...

It's not really software I'm after. I'm trying to figure out how Apple TV, Roku etc operate without using a pc. If you look at the "audiophile" streamers they are not pc based system, I am just trying to figure out what they use.

I want to know is there some sort of DMP (digtal media player) chip out there that with pre made software so I can build my own with a small display exactly like MF Clic, Project Stream Box, Cambridge Stream Magic etc without having to spend £1000+ (plus having the fun of making it myself)
 
#10
cmiu007 said:
you can also consider (arm based , linux runs on top):

wandboard Wandboard - Freescale i.MX6 ARM Cortex-A9 Opensource Community Development Board - BLOG - I'm currently using it with mpd but you can install
Community Squeeze - Community Squeeze and here is a link to a nice HW carrier board project in progress Community Funded Squeezebox Replacement - Would you be interested?


beaglebone black currently out of stock but here is a nice how to and presentation

Computer Audiophile - Geek Speak: How To Build A BeagleBone Black MPD Music Server

both devices are powerfull, dead silent and work excellent with music stored on a NAS and a USB DAC
Click to expand...

seems to be available in UK - both wandboard and beaglebone. How do u compare the 2?
 
#11
vinodt1347 said:
seems to be available in UK - both wandboard and beaglebone. How do u compare the 2?
Click to expand...

The difference between them is:

1. HW specs. WB quad is slightly better
2. Community support towards your goal. I'm running for myself WB quad with a minimal mpd debian image created by myself but I had made one for a friend of mine based on Community Squeeze. Another plus for WB quad is that maybe in the future you can buy a audiophile grade add on board from John Swenson and you will not need an external USB DAC.(see my link above). For BB you have a great howto (see my link above) and some ppls that can help out on that forum.

With a proper image (XBMC based) you can transform WB quad in a media center.

But both are more minicomputers and not really an embedded solution.

Or you can take the rasberry route.
 
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