External Playback

Alternatively, you can configure the MPD server to send content to a remote streaming server such as Icecast 2 [4], which then distributes it. In this scenario, the MPD server acts as the source client. The program then does not play the content through the sound card of the MPD server and devices connected to it (e.g., hi-fi systems or sound systems), but through the sound card of any client that retrieves the contents of the streaming server.

Most modern audio players under Linux are capable of receiving streams off the web, for which you need a computer running an Icecast 2 server. On the MPD server, adjust the /etc/mpd.conf configuration file; to do so, enable the default configuration for the Icecast server in the Audio Output section by removing the hash signs from the start of the corresponding lines. After restarting the MPD server, it contacts the Icecast server and then streams content to it.

Another option is to access the MPD server from external clients in a web browser. The developers have integrated a small web server into the system, which you can also enable in the /etc/mpd.conf file. The web server is configured in the Audio Output area and is usually used with Ogg Vorbis or an MP3 encoder. The bitrate or quality option lets you adjust the quality of the playback to suit your needs. Please note that only one option can be active. Then, call the stream in the web browser on a client on the network by entering the matching URL http://server_IP:8000.

Conclusions

Thanks to the MPD server and Cantata duo, you can change the way you play back your favorite audio in an extremely flexible way. The MPD server is configured in a single file whose entries are well documented by the developers. Cantata is intuitive to use and does not require much training.