[MAC-How To]Vent DJ

[ßetray]

As almost any Mac user knows (who uses vent), the ability for Mac users to stream music over vent was basically impossible. However, unbeknown to many of us, a program was already out that allowed us to stream music rather easily!

“Soundflower is a virtual audio device that provides aneasy and simple way for Max/MSP and other applications to send and receive audio to and from any other application. Running with very low latency and cpu usage, Soundflower allows each client application to use its usual buffer size.
Soundflowerbed is an application that resides in the menu bar allowing you to tap into Soundflower channels and route them to an audio device. For more information, refer to the Soundflowerbed section below.”

Simplified: You can use Soundflower as an output source (whether it be from SyS Pref or from the individual application if it allows it) and then you can set it also as the input from other sources.




What You Need:
Ventrilo - Ventrilo - Download
SoundFlower - Soundflower - Cycling 74


Setup:
1. Install Ventrilo and Soundflower with the on-screen instructions like any other program. If you can't install them in Applications, then install them wherever you have the permission to do so. If you already have Ventrilo, then just install Soundflower.


2. There are different ways to do this next step, but here's how I do it: Create an archive of Ventrilo (the program). Unzip it onto your desktop and rename it Ventrilo DJ or something. Then move V. DJ to the same folder where your regular Ventrilo is.
Drag Ventrilo, Ventrilo DJ, and Soundflower to your Dock.



3. Now, this will assume you are using iTunes, however ANY application will work (and most make it easier to setup, but iTunes works fine).


4. Now that everything is installed and in place, we'll begin setting up the proper inputs and outputs. First, open System Preferences under the Apple .
From here, click on Sound:



5. The first tab we're in now should be Sound Effects. We want to make sure 1 thing is set here:
Make sure that the output is NOT set to Soundflower 16 Channel (or people will hear it. I have it set to my headset atm, but with the volume on effects turned off).

6. Click on the Output Tab and scroll down the list until you see Soundflower (16ch). Select it.
.
Your input can remain the same (just don't have it set to Soundflower (16ch)

7. Close System Preferences. (I assume you already know how to use Ventrilo for the most part so I'm just going to show you how to setup your DJ account). Open Ventrilo. Create a new User Name by selecting your User Name you normally use and hit "Clone", then name it whatever you want (I usually do "User Name DJ"). Hit Ok.

8. Click on Setup. What we're going to do is have our Sound Input be set to SoundFlower (16ch).

Make sure "Push to Talk" is disabledand that sensitivity is rather low (something just over 0 works best).

9. Next Click on the "Events" tab at the top and click the "All Nothing" button. This'll make it so this account wont hear any events. Under the "Binds" tab (next tab), make sure the 3 selections are Unchecked. Under the "Speech" tab, make sure the "text to speech" is unchecked.

10. Now just check "Mute Sound" in the bottom left of Ventrilo (you don't want to be hearing anything through this Ventrilo). I'd also suggest Muting Microphone/Binds as well until you have logged into the server you want and are in the channel you want. After that, you can Unmute Microphone.

11. Now, everytime you play music (be it through any internet application or music application [any application that doesn't have a specified output]), it will be played through your Ventrilo with rather nice quality.



On a side note: Make sure that you've setup your regular Ventrilo to have a specific Sound Output OTHER than default (speakers/headphones/USB are generally best).

Note 2: In World of Warcraft, before you stream music, hit Esc and bring up the "Sound and Voice" menu. Under "Hardware", click on the drop down menu and select an output OTHER than Sys Default or Soundflower (16ch). [if you don't do this, and you play with any wow sounds, they'll be streamed also].

Note 3: Often, if you're multi-venting you'll have to switch the settings between your Vent Accounts (in terms of selecting Sound Input between Soundflower 16ch and your normal input).


If you have any further questions about this setup, please post here and I'll gladly respond.

-ß