GearBits

MP3 Server on the Cheap

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I maintain a dedicated MP3/music server at home. Here are the details in case you're considering setting something similar up or you want to let me know a better way to do it (I'm sure there are lots). Keep in mind that I wanted to do this for the absolute lowest cost reasonably possible.

First, I started off with a desire to be able to convert our complete CD collection into some easy-to-access, streamable format. Due to the ubiquity of MP3, and the limited options when I started this project, I picked that format and began ripping CDs using CDex. CDex is a great freeware utility that is constantly being updated and supports a variety of formats, including both MP3 and Ogg Vorbis, a wonderful open-source digital music format.

After generating about 15 GB worth of MP3 files (about 40% of our CD collection), I began to seriously look at exactly what hardware and software I was going to need to achieve my desired end state. I determined that I could set up a PC in the basement and feed an audio cable from it up to the family room on the first floor (where our main stereo system is). As I said, there are many ways to get your MP3 to feed into your stereo, but this was the easiest and most cost-effective option for me.

I determined I would need an 80 GB hard drive to provide enough room for our existing collection (about 50 GB) and allow for growth. For backup, I merely copy changes to the contents of one hard drive to a second hard drive in the same machine on a nightly basis using Second Copy 2000, a schedulable back-up application (well worth the measly registration fee). Better backup setups certainly exist, but mine is zero effort, automatic, and relatively safe (unless the entire PC is devastated, at which point I have bigger problems). The PC I use for the server is a rather meager 750MHz AMD Duron machine running Windows XP. While I could have stuck a nice sound card in it, the on-board sound seems adequate for my needs (at this point, at least). For $220, I got the base machine, and the two hard drives added another $200. Now, I needed to connect it to the rest of my LAN, so I dropped $60 for a Wi-Fi adapter card (running CAT5 from the 2nd floor of our 101-year-old house clear to the basement was not an option). So, total cost for the actual server was $480. A spare 17" monitor, keyboard, and mouse completed the basement installation (or so I thought).

So, with the server physically set up, storing the MP3s is no problem. However, now I need a management system -- some way to organize and play the MP3 files. After much searching, I settled on Real One Player, which is free and provides a really nice interface for cataloguing your tracks by artist, genre, etc. While it doesn't do everything I like, and it's a bit clunky in some areas, it's the best no-cost solution.

Now, when I ripped all my CDs, I didn't take the time to employ a rigorous genre categorization scheme. After all, my wife would have to OK all those decisions anyway. ;-) Plus, CDex at the time couldn't write both ID3v1 and ID3v2.3 (or v2.4). Given that I'm pretty anal about how my stuff is catalogued, this would never do (plus, it rendered the genre sorting function in Real One Player totally useless). So, I looked around for a good mass ID3 tag editor that would work across a network. ID3-TagIt fit the bill wonderfully -- I highly recommend this freeware app if you do much ID3 tag editing.

With the MP3s all ripped, categorized, and playable, I was ready to enjoy my MP3 server. Then I realized one glitch -- I either had to operate the server remotely, such as by using VNC, or I had to run down to the basement and operate the server directly. Neither of these options was acceptable, as they both required running stairs to start, stop, or change the music (the nearest VNC-equipped PC was on the 2nd floor).

The best solution turned out to be pretty interesting. I ended up running the video feed (TV out) from the server to the television that was next to our stereo system by fiching a second wire up the same route that the audio cable followed (thank goodness for 20' S-VGA cables). Now I could see the server from the same place I could control the volume, but that was only half the solution -- I still needed to be able to control the server. For doing that, I found a wonderful piece of tech: the Gyration Wireless Mouse and Keyboard ($99). The base receiver plugs into the MP3 server in the basement via USB. I mounted the receiver on the basement ceiling to get it as close to the family room as possible. The keyboard and mouse now live in the entertainment system armoir, taken out whenever I need to surf the web, control Real One Player, or do other music- or net-centric stuff in the family room.

For streaming, I use ShoutCast being fed by WinAmp. This works really well, especially now that I added the plug-in that lets me send WinAmp HTTP instructions to start playing, stop playing, etc. If you want, check out my setup (yes, you can actually hear what's on my MP3 server...just don't tell RIAA). All the streaming software is free for personal use.

So, what's the total cost for this project? Let's add it up: $480 for the server, $99 for the wireless keyboard/mouse kit, and about $30 in miscellaneous cables, adapters, etc. So, the grand total comes out to be $629. Not too bad, IMO, given that I can now use my family entertainment system as a true multi-media PC setup with really good audio (compared to most PC speakers, that is).

How would I change things if I was doing this today? Good question. As good and open as Ogg is, I would probably still stay with MP3, mostly because I have an MP3-friendly CD receiver in my car. I don't seem to need any faster PC for the server, so that's fine. Probably the only thing I'd do differently is get a better TV. Granted, this doesn't fall into the "lowest possible cost" category, but a nice LCD HD television would make for a rockin' monitor for this setup. Instead of running at 640x480 and having to guess at certain small fonts, I could run at 1280 x 768 (40" Samsung LCD) or 1366 x 768 (37" Sharp Aquos) or a mind-boggling 1920 x 1080 (the forthcoming 54" LCD from Samsung). I'm saving my pennies, for sure.

Anyway, let me know if you have questions or suggestions -- both are welcome.