looking at setting up a HTPC to use as a touchscreen jukebox

[steevs]

Im looking at buying a touchscreen monitor, wall mounting it and connecting to a small pc to use as a jukebox.

Thw main problem I can see is I would need to connect it to 3 seperate AV recievers for use in different rooms and as I understand it most computers only have one output, can anybody reccomend a way I can get around this problem?

Also if anybody has done something similar any tips would be much appreciated like a nice touchscreen or software I need to buy

 

[next010]

Well there are video distribution systems that work over ethernet which would send the video/output to other TV's provided you have a Cat5/Cat6 network cables run through the house.

Also if it's only one PC running as a HTPC it would be a lot easier to use XBMC as the front end with XBMC Commander on an iPad or XBMC remote on Android tablet as the controller. This gives you full control over media browsing, selection and playing through touch interface.

If still going with touch interface on wall (how will people control playback ?) you may still want to use XBMC with the touch skin for it as most media centre software is not designed touch interfaces.

 

[steevs]

some interesting ideas their, many thanks

At this point thouigh I should point out really that I would be using it simply for music and would like to output to 3 seperate av receivers, as my computer only has 1 optical output thats going to be a problem for me.

Im wondering if using 2 of these together would work?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maxview-2...uting_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item35b3975052

 

[next010]

If it's just for music use Airplay and dont bother with anything else, buy an Apple Airport Express for each room and have it connect to your wireless network, it has a mini toslink/optical output so all you need to get is a mini to regular optical cable to connect to the sound system (just google Airport express optical cable).

Then purchase Airfoil which allows you to use Airplay with any software application so your not stuck with iTunes, XBMC is actually getting native Airplay support as well so you wont even have to use Airfoil.

 

[steevs]

Many thanks, that looks perfect for my needs

I will just need to buy 2 of these though as the pc I will be using is located very close to one of the av receivers I'm using.

Do you not recommend using iTunes then, I have not really had any experience of xbmc but if it's worth it I'll certainly take a look

 

[next010]

iTunes is not touch friendly at all, it is meant for mouse input only but you can use it if you want to. If not using iTunes then you will need to use Airfoil in conjunction with any other software, the version of XBMC with airplay support is still in development although it is possible to use those development builds.