Stories with Tag audio streaming

• Audiobookshelf: Self-hosted audiobook and podcast server

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  Posted: 2025-05-09 02:17:55

  Verbose tl;dr

  Audiobookshelf is a free and open-source, self-hosted web-based application for organizing and streaming your personal collection of audiobooks and podcasts. It offers features like automatic metadata fetching, chapter navigation, variable playback speed, offline playback, OPML import for podcasts, and multi-user support with individual libraries and listening progress tracking. Designed for easy setup and use, it's compatible with various platforms and can be installed using Docker or directly on a server. Audiobookshelf aims to provide a comprehensive and private platform for managing and enjoying your audio content without relying on third-party streaming services.

  Audiobookshelf presents itself as a comprehensive, self-hosted solution for managing and enjoying your personal collection of audiobooks and podcasts. It's designed with an emphasis on privacy and control, allowing users to maintain complete ownership and accessibility of their audio content without relying on third-party streaming services. The platform offers a robust feature set that goes beyond simple playback.

  The application facilitates the organization of audiobooks and podcasts into a structured library, complete with metadata management. Users can import their existing audio files and Audiobookshelf will attempt to automatically populate relevant information such as title, author, narrator, series information, and cover art, leveraging various online sources. Manual editing of these details is also possible for maximum accuracy and customization.

  Beyond library management, Audiobookshelf provides a seamless listening experience through its integrated web player, accessible from any modern web browser. This eliminates the need for dedicated applications and ensures compatibility across a wide range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Playback features include variable playback speed, chapter navigation, bookmarking, and persistent playback position syncing across devices.

  For users who prefer offline listening, Audiobookshelf offers the capability to download audiobooks and podcasts directly to their devices. This is particularly useful for commutes, travel, or situations where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable.

  The server component of Audiobookshelf is designed for ease of deployment and can be installed on various platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows, using Docker or through direct installation methods. This flexibility caters to users with different technical proficiencies and allows them to choose the setup that best suits their existing infrastructure. The software is open-source, meaning the code is freely available for inspection, modification, and contribution, fostering a community-driven approach to development and ensuring transparency.

  Furthermore, Audiobookshelf supports integration with other services and tools. OPDS (Open Publication Distribution System) feed generation allows users to connect their library to compatible e-reader devices and applications. This enables browsing and downloading audiobooks directly from the e-reader, further enhancing accessibility and convenience.

  In essence, Audiobookshelf provides a powerful and versatile self-hosted platform for individuals seeking a private, customizable, and feature-rich solution for managing and enjoying their personal audiobook and podcast libraries. It empowers users to take control of their audio content, free from the constraints and potential privacy concerns associated with commercial streaming services.

  • audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • self-hosted
  • Server
  • media server
  • audio streaming
  • library management
  • web application
  • Open Source
  • docker
  • Python
  • MP3
  • ogg
  • m4b
  • FLAC

  Summary of Comments ( 59 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43933248

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised Audiobookshelf for its clean interface and self-hosted nature, viewing it as a valuable alternative to proprietary audiobook platforms like Audible. Several commenters appreciated the focus on privacy and control over one's own data. Some expressed interest in features like multi-user support, offline playback improvements, and better mobile web client functionality. A few users discussed potential integrations with other self-hosted services like Jellyfin and existing podcast players. While positive overall, some acknowledged limitations with metadata handling and the project's relatively early stage of development.

  The Hacker News post for Audiobookshelf, a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server, has generated several comments discussing its features, potential use cases, and comparisons to other similar software.

  Several users express enthusiasm for the project, praising its clean interface and self-hosted nature. One commenter appreciates the straightforward setup process, particularly highlighting the ease of adding audiobooks via the web interface. They also note the convenience of having a dedicated server for audiobooks, separate from their existing music setup.

  Another commenter discusses using existing audiobook players, mentioning Prologue and Booksonic as alternatives, but expresses interest in Audiobookshelf due to its support for podcasts. They further inquire about the possibility of importing OPML files for podcasts, indicating a desire for a seamless transition from existing podcast setups.

  The developer of Audiobookshelf actively participates in the discussion, responding to queries and providing clarifications. They address the OPML import question, confirming it's not currently supported but suggest it's a potential future feature. They also elaborate on the project's technical aspects, mentioning the use of Go and React for the backend and frontend respectively, and detail the database choices. They emphasize that the project is still under development and welcome contributions and feedback.

  A discussion emerges regarding metadata handling, with users expressing different preferences for embedded versus external metadata. One user suggests the potential benefits of using existing metadata sources like MusicBrainz, while another advocates for the flexibility of custom metadata editing. The developer clarifies the current approach of Audiobookshelf, which prioritizes embedded metadata but acknowledges the potential for future enhancements in metadata management.

  Some comments focus on specific features and functionalities. One user requests the ability to adjust playback speed, a common feature in many audiobook players. Another asks about chapter navigation, highlighting the importance of granular control within audiobooks. The developer responds to these suggestions positively, indicating they are on the roadmap for future development.

  In summary, the comments on Hacker News reflect a positive reception to Audiobookshelf. Users appreciate its self-hosted nature, clean design, and existing functionality, while also providing valuable feedback and suggestions for future development. The active engagement of the developer further adds to the positive sentiment, fostering a collaborative environment for the project's growth.

• Show HN: Beatsync – perfect audio sync across multiple devices

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  Posted: 2025-04-29 17:32:25

  Verbose tl;dr

  Beatsync is an open-source tool that synchronizes audio playback across multiple devices on a local network. It achieves "perfect" sync by using a shared clock and buffering audio on each client device to eliminate latency variations. This allows users to play music, podcasts, or other audio content perfectly in time across phones, tablets, and computers, creating a distributed audio system ideal for parties or synchronized listening experiences. Beatsync is written in Go and offers a simple command-line interface for starting a server and connecting clients.

  A new open-source project called Beatsync has been introduced, aiming to address the persistent challenge of perfectly synchronizing audio playback across multiple devices. This tool, hosted on GitHub and developed by user "freeman-jiang," promises a solution for scenarios where synchronized audio is crucial, such as listening to music with friends in different locations, creating immersive audio experiences across multiple speakers, or enjoying synchronized movie audio while watching remotely with others. Beatsync tackles this problem by employing a precise clock synchronization mechanism, effectively eliminating the subtle delays and discrepancies that often plague attempts at multi-device audio synchronization. The project leverages the widely-supported Web Audio API, suggesting compatibility across a range of modern web browsers and potentially enabling cross-platform functionality. The stated goal is to achieve “perfect” audio synchronization, implying a level of precision that surpasses existing solutions. While the specifics of the synchronization method aren't fully detailed in the announcement, the implication is that Beatsync carefully manages the timing of audio playback across connected devices, potentially compensating for network latency and variations in device processing speed. This capability could significantly enhance collaborative listening experiences, distributed audio applications, and synchronized multimedia consumption across dispersed participants. The GitHub repository provides the source code for Beatsync, allowing developers to examine its implementation, contribute improvements, and potentially integrate it into their own projects. The initial announcement serves as an introduction to the project, inviting further exploration and experimentation by the wider community.

  • audio synchronization
  • multi-device sync
  • beatsync
  • audio streaming
  • real-time sync
  • music synchronization
  • GitHub project
  • Open Source
  • Show HN
  • cross-device audio
  • network audio
  • synchronized playback

  Summary of Comments ( 102 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43835584

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN users generally praised Beatsync for its clever approach to syncing audio across multiple devices using a beat-matching algorithm. Some expressed interest in using it for applications like synchronized music playback for workouts, multi-room audio, and even live musical performances. Several commenters questioned the robustness of the algorithm in noisy environments or with complex music, and wondered about the potential for drift over long periods. One commenter pointed out a similar project called Syncplay, which syncs video playback. Others discussed the limitations of relying solely on audio for synchronization and suggested incorporating visual cues for improved accuracy. The overall sentiment was positive, with many seeing potential for various use cases and further development.

  The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: Beatsync – perfect audio sync across multiple devices" generated several comments discussing the project and its potential applications.

  Several users expressed interest in the potential uses of the technology. One commenter suggested using it for synchronized music playback during road trips, eliminating the slight delays that can occur with traditional Bluetooth solutions. Another user envisioned applications in live music performances, allowing musicians to share a perfectly synced click track or backing track.

  The discussion also delved into the technical aspects of Beatsync. One user inquired about the project's latency, a critical factor for real-time applications like music performance. The creator of Beatsync responded, explaining the methods used to minimize latency and achieve tight synchronization. This exchange highlighted the importance of low latency for achieving a seamless user experience.

  Some commenters discussed alternative synchronization methods and existing solutions. One user mentioned using a shared audio interface with multiple outputs for synchronized audio in live performances. Another pointed to existing software solutions like Ableton Link, raising questions about how Beatsync differentiated itself. These comments provided valuable context and sparked a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches.

  The feasibility of using Beatsync for video synchronization was also explored. One user raised concerns about the challenges of maintaining audio-video synchronization over a network, considering the potential for varying network conditions. This comment highlighted the complexity of achieving perfect synchronization across multiple devices in real-world scenarios.

  Finally, some comments touched upon the potential for expanding Beatsync's functionality. One user suggested adding support for different audio formats, while another proposed integrating video synchronization capabilities. These suggestions offered potential directions for future development and showcased the community's engagement with the project.

  In summary, the comments on the Hacker News post demonstrate significant interest in Beatsync and its potential applications. The discussion covers a range of topics, including technical implementation, latency, existing solutions, and potential future developments. The comments offer valuable insights into the challenges and possibilities of achieving perfect audio synchronization across multiple devices.