Stream Audio from Android to Windows

[el-Capitan]

Hi folks,

I wish to capure the audio from apps such as Pandora, Spotify, Youtube, Plex, etc and play it on the Windows (8.1) computer. I do not need video.

This works with an iPhone via Airplay and a small programm on the Windows machine called Shairport4w. How can I do this with Android?

Phone is a Nexus 4 with Lollipop.

The solutions I have found require the media file to be run WITHIN that app. But that means I cannot use Pandora, for example.

Cheers.

 

[cronos]

Do you have to stream from phone *and* capture on Windows?

These apps all have Windows client and it's probably ten times easier to just play them on the computer and capture them right there.

 

[el-Capitan]

Do you have to stream from phone *and* capture on Windows?

These apps all have Windows client and it's probably ten times easier to just play them on the computer and capture them right there.

No capture on windows.

I want to play music via my HTPC. Running the Pandora website on the HTPC is possible, but far from practical.

I'm really looking for Google's Airplay equivalent here.

 

[Kaido]

No capture on windows.

I want to play music via my HTPC. Running the Pandora website on the HTPC is possible, but far from practical.

I'm really looking for Google's Airplay equivalent here.

You can actually use Airplay if you want. You need an Airplay receiver program for Windows ($) and then an Airplay transmitter app for Android. Here's a couple of Windows options:

Airfoil Speakers for Windows (requires $29 Airfoil for Windows license)

AirServer ($15)

X-Migrate ($16, has recording feature)

Here's a list of Airplay apps for Android:

http://www.knowyourmobile.com/android-apps/18049/best-airplay-apps-android

Now, if you'd like to stick with an Android-based technology, Reflector 2 ($15) supports Google Cast (similar idea to Airplay, but from Google) as well as Airplay:

http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/win/

More info on Google Cast:

http://www.google.com/cast/

Lots of good options out there :thumbsup:

 

[Kaido]

This works with an iPhone via Airplay and a small programm on the Windows machine called Shairport4w. How can I do this with Android?

Probably the easiest solution is to use Reflector 2. It's fifteen bucks. It not only supports Airplay, but also Google Cast, which again, is Google's answer to AirPlay, and you'd probably have better luck using Google Cast since you want native app support within Android for Pandora, Spotify, Youtube, Plex, and so on.

http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/win/

Here's a list of apps with baked-in Cast support:

https://www.google.com/chrome/devices/chromecast/apps.html

I think the only thing not supported currently is Spotify (they're still trying to push their Spotify Connect solution afaik), although it looks like there's a third-party app that has a workaround:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nop.spoticast&hl=en

 

[cronos]

No capture on windows.

I want to play music via my HTPC. Running the Pandora website on the HTPC is possible, but far from practical.

I'm really looking for Google's Airplay equivalent here.

You kept saying 'capture', and I understood it as 'save/download', is that not what you want and you just wanted to stream from the apps that you mentioned and play it on the screen?

If you did mean capture, there are tons of software you can find to capture stuff on Windows.

Edit: I'm not familiar with Airplay so saying that you want its equivalent means little to me. I really thought Airplay needs another device (like an Apple TV) to stream something from your mobile device to a display.

Edit: Looks like Kaido was able to give you some solid answer, while I still don't understand what you wanted. I'm so hung up on the word 'capture'

 

[cronos]

Anyway, now that I've read some of the solutions Kaido posted, I think this means you simply just wanted to stream from your phone to a Windows-based HTPC.

Now, I don't know your specific setup but I seriously could not think of a more practical solution than actually playing this stuff right on the HTPC like I mentioned before. I mean, it's a full blown Windows computer, it has access to everything on your list, directly! Why not just play it right there on the computer instead of having to use another device to stream to it (and apparently yet another device, or software, to 'capture' the stream)? Chromecast works great for Android-based stuff, but it is needed to stream to a dumb display. If you already have a full blown Windows, you already got all you need.

Having said that, clearly I don't understand your specific needs, so I'm not going to say anything else Hopefully you'll find your solution.

Edit: Ok I lied, I'll say one more thing. Here's a valid suggestion: Buy a Chromecast, plug it into your HTPC's display's HDMI port and treat the display as a dumb display (i.e. just forget that it's a HTPC, you only need the display). That's it. Simply just cast everything from your phone to the Chromecast, and have it play on the display.

 

[el-Capitan]

Google Cast + Reflector2 sound exactly like what I need. Thanks everyone for the suggestion. I'll try it out tonight.

@Kaido. I have a free airport receiver. Shairport4w. Audio only, but works flawless for many years now.

@cronos. Thank you, but running the app on the HTPC means :

1. turn on TV (HTPC is on, but TV off unless needed)
2. find clumsy keyboard remote
3. stand infront of tv with remote to run app, navigate to website
4. press play
5. switch off tv
If i want to change track/app/volume repeat steps 1-5.

On my iphone the process currently is :
1. reach in pocket
2. start app
3. press play
If i want to change track/app/volume all i have to do is reach in pocket and tap a few times.

 

[poofyhairguy]

What frontend are you using on that HTPC? Kodi has a built-in Airplay receiver. I use it almost daily.

 

[el-Capitan]

What frontend are you using on that HTPC? Kodi has a built-in Airplay receiver. I use it almost daily.

WMC. Mostly used for watching cable TV. I am not familiar with Kodi

 

[Kaido]

WMC. Mostly used for watching cable TV. I am not familiar with Kodi

It's just XBMC (got renamed).

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Assuming that you are playing the music through a HT receiver, why not just get a $25 Bluetooth receiver and connect directly to the HT receiver's RCA inputs?