Is there a way to stream music from local storage to chromecast audio over wifi but WITHOUT THE INTERNET

JMak

JMak

Yeah.. I am at it ;)
Herald
I Have been wanting to do it coz I listen all my music via streaming flac files from local storage to chromecast audio..and from there to the amp and passive speakers..
Yesterday there was no internet so no local or remote streaming and the itch got back to settle this..
This effectively means that if Google decides to close the chromecast audio servers then I would have no way to use the device..
Although I am in process to acquire an all in one streamer but I wish to still settle this issue.
 
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Symfonium is an android/iOS phone app that allows you to connect to an SMB share and then you can use chromecast on the app to cast to TV or speakers.

This is the simplest way.

A much more elaborate way would be to use a music server like Navidrome/Jellyfin and then use either a browser directly on the TV or through an app (like Symfonium) to cast to the TV or speakers.

Symfonium is paid (one time only). XPlore File manager on Android allows SMB shares but I doubt chromecast support on the app exists.
 
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badwhitevision said:
Symfonium is an android/iOS phone app that allows you to connect to an SMB share and then you can use chromecast on the app to cast to TV or speakers.

This is the simplest way. A much more elaborate way would be to use a music server like Navidrome/Jellyfin and then use either a browser directly on the TV or through an app (like Symfonium) to cast to the TV or speakers.

Symfonium is paid (one time only). XPlore File manager on Android allows SMB shares but I doubt chromecast support on the app exists.
Click to expand...

Well, I have been using vlc android app and it's performing well.. It does connect via smb protocol.. But again as soon as there is no internet despite being connected to chromecast audio streaming doesn't happen
.

You think symfonium wouldn't need internet.. I doubt that coz latching onto internet seems a feature of chromecast audio..
 
I misinterpreted your issue. Symfonium has a 7 day trial period, so maybe you can check within that period whether it works without the internet, although I doubt it will.

Isn't bluetooth a viable alternative?

This seems chromecast specific and the service wanting to reach Google servers every x seconds.

rsaeon might be able to help.
 
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Chromecast needs internet access because it's a google product and for Google, the end user is the product they're offering to their advertisers.

(if you're not paying for the service, you're not the customer, you're the product being offered to a customer — which usually are advertisers)

So every initiation, connection, handshake, etc with chromecast goes through Google for logging metrics. There are other things that are made possible, like syncing audio across multiple devices, etc. Also, going through the internet bypasses any firewall restrictions that may block client-to-client traffic inside a local network. It's why/how IoT devices work.

The alternative before chromecast was DLNA. These days the non-Google alternative for local audio streaming is a raspberry pi with Volumio or Kodi. Older androids could do charging with OTG so you can use them while connected to a charger and a USB DAC.

I used to have a streaming PC connected to my stereo, just a random pentium with 8gb memory, 120gb ssd and a sub 2k motherboard. Need to build another soon, my unplayed podcasts are piling up.

Many, many years ago I had Virgin Webplayer doing the same thing, with internet radio. I still have the hardware somewhere in storage: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Webplayer

People wonder why I have dozens of systems, it's because of this — many of them are single purpose systems, like an audio streaming receiver.

A used/refurbished x86 based thin client would work out to be half the price of a raspberry pi.
 
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rsaeon said:
Chromecast needs internet access because it's a google product and for Google, the end user is the product they're offering to their advertisers.

(if you're not paying for the service, you're not the customer, you're the product being offered to a customer — which usually are advertisers)

So every initiation, connection, handshake, etc with chromecast goes through Google for logging metrics. There are other things that are made possible, like syncing audio across multiple devices, etc. Also, going through the internet bypasses any firewall restrictions that may block client-to-client traffic inside a local network. It's why/how IoT devices work.

The alternative before chromecast was DLNA. These days the non-Google alternative for local audio streaming is a raspberry pi with Volumio or Kodi. Older androids could do charging with OTG so you can use them while connected to a charger and a USB DAC.

I used to have a streaming PC connected to my stereo, just a random pentium with 8gb memory, 120gb ssd and a sub 2k motherboard. Need to build another soon, my unplayed podcasts are piling up.

Many, many years ago I had Virgin Webplayer doing the same thing, with internet radio. I still have the hardware somewhere in storage: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Webplayer

People wonder why I have dozens of systems, it's because of this — many of them are single purpose systems, like an audio streaming receiver.

A used/refurbished x86 based thin client would work out to be half the price of a raspberry pi.
Click to expand...

Thanks bud..
Let me share my no cost setup
I have converted many of my cds and downloaded the rest in lossless format..
All past and newer music is stored on an ext hdd and plugged into my secondary router the tplink archer c7.
I have installed vlc for android on my personal phone and connect the vlc to the ext hdd via smb.
As vlc has cast icon hence I can 3wsiot cast to chromecast audio which is connected via analogue output (Cca has a decent internal dac so that also helps in audio quality) to my fosi bt 20a pro....

I have been trying to get hold of a wiim pro plus or an auris Audifi from US..

Now please suggest what other options are there for me which are cost effetive and may be non or less intrusive...
A streaming device which has a decent dac inside or something as you suggested which could be cheaper than a pi

Thanks
 
JMak said:
I Have been wanting to do it coz I listen all my music via streaming flac files from local storage to chromecast audio..and from there to the amp and passive speakers..
Yesterday there was no internet so no local or remote streaming and the itch got back to settle this..
This effectively means that if Google decides to close the chromecast audio servers then I would have no way to use the device..
Although I am in process to acquire an all in one streamer but I wish to still settle this issue.
Click to expand...
Why do you need Chromecast though ?

Just use a bt reciever or a Bluetooth dac. Thats what I do . Also my fiio m6 as Bluetooth sink mode and reciever mode so I just stream through it and connect it to any device .

I would suggest keep Chromecast for what it primarily is and use a proper device for music streaming :)
 
the_dude said:
Many file explorer like x-plore and mix let you stream files over wifi , smb and http
Click to expand...
Unfortunately they can connect to the local storage via dlna or smb but they can't cast the audio

Sola Minor said:
Why do you need Chromecast though ?

Just use a bt reciever or a Bluetooth dac. Thats what I do . Also my fiio m6 as Bluetooth sink mode and reciever mode so I just stream through it and connect it to any device .

I would suggest keep Chromecast for what it primarily is and use a proper device for music streaming :)
Click to expand...
I believe Google chromecast audio is exactly for audio unless I am missing something or you are Confusing chromecast audio with usual video casting chromecast..


Seetex said:
Look forthe project https://volumio.com/
It can be run on a Pi and can do all that you are looking for
Click to expand...
Yeah for that I ll have to get a pi, had one but it went kaput a year back.


FWIW, as i said earlier I am in process to aquire a wiim pro plus device.. Just need to fine one at right price..
 
ssslayer said:
The simpest way, I have found is to use VLC.
VLC can cast to chromecast devices (you have to the top menu->playback->renderer->your device).
Click to expand...
Yes that's what I have been using..
Over here my intention was to ask if I could use my chromecast audio without internet..
Vlc streams my music from my local storage to Cca via casting.. But I want this setup to be completely internet free and entirely dependent on wifi (without Internet)
 
JMak said:
I believe Google chromecast audio is exactly for audio unless I am missing something or you are Confusing chromecast audio with usual video casting chromecast..
Click to expand...

Nope Chromecast audio requires wifi where's a normal BT dac doesn't and since you want to operate without a wifi connection , hence my suggestion .
 
Sola Minor said:
Nope Chromecast audio requires wifi where's a normal BT dac doesn't and since you want to operate without a wifi connection , hence my suggestion .
Click to expand...
Wish to find a a way to operate without interner not wifi..
My ext is attached to my wifi router so wifi is integral to my setup for steaming high bitrates and for convenience, was trying yo find a way to not be dependant upon Internet.

Bluetooth DACs or streamers, the sort whicj I want should have aptx aptx hd and ldac so that higher bitrates can be streamed.. My amp already has bt but supports only sbc and aac which aren't enough to stream FLAC..

Anyways no point saying same thing over.. I would wait for my wiim device now.. Cca is internet dependant no way to by pass that
 
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