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SECTION 1: GETTING STARTED
To use SoundBridge you will need to do the following (detailed explanations follow):
I. Make sure you have a compatible music server installed. Compatible music servers include
iTunes,® Microsoft® Windows® Media Connect, Rhapsody,™ Musicmatch,® and others.
[Note: If you plan only to listen to Internet radio, you can skip this step because no music
server is needed.]
II. Connect SoundBridge to your Ethernet or Wi-Fi home network.
III. Connect SoundBridge to powered speakers or your home stereo system’s receiver or
amplifier.
IV. Plug in SoundBridge to AC power (there is no “on/off” switch).
V. Put batteries into your SoundBridge remote control.
VI. Establish a network connection. If you are using Wi-Fi and have WEP security enabled, you
will need to enter your security key with SoundBridge’s remote control.
VII. Enable any music sharing options required by your music server:
a.
Windows Media Connect: authorize SoundBridge as a recognized device.
b. iTunes: enable Music Sharing feature in Preferences menu.
c. Rhapsody: enable Music Sharing from the UPnP tab in the Options menu.
d. Musicmatch: enable Music Sharing feature and UPnP option in Options menu.
VIII. Select and connect to your music library.
IX. Play music: Using your remote control, find a song you want to play, then press
Play [] to
play it immediately or Add [+] to add it to the Song Queue.
I. Music Server Software Requirements
Roku SoundBridge is designed to act as a remote client for several kinds of music libraries,
including Windows Media Connect, Rhapsody, Musicmatch and iTunes. You can also play WMA
and DRM WMA files purchased from popular online music stores such as Napster.
™
(Apple’s
policy does not allow SoundBridge to support playback of protected AAC files purchased from
the iTunes Music Store.)
What Is a “Music Server”?
SoundBridge is a network music player. That is, it doesn’t store any music, but plays files that
you have stored on a computer connected to your home network. (It can also play Internet
radio without connecting to your computer, using a direct connection to the Internet.) To play
the music files stored on your computer, SoundBridge needs to receive data from software
installed on the computer that “serves” the music. This “music server” is responsible for
streaming the music to SoundBridge. It is also responsible for sending the list of music you
have available to SoundBridge (when asked), and performing searches of the music library at
SoundBridge’s request.
You probably already have a music server but perhaps didn’t realize it. For example, iTunes acts
as a music server when it shares music to another iTunes user on the network. Microsoft has
released its own music server, Windows Media Connect.
The most common music servers are iTunes, Windows Media Connect, and Rhapsody. But there
are others. If you want to use a Microsoft PlaysForSure music service, you must use Windows
Media Connect. If you want to use the Rhapsody music service, you currently must use
Rhapsody as your music server. One of the benefits of SoundBridge is that it supports all the
common servers out there with an easy-to-use interface.
Note: For playing back Internet radio using SoundBridge’s “Radio Favorites” library, you don’t
need a music server, because SoundBridge receives the radio stream directly from the Internet.
SoundBridge Has Two UI Modes
Each music server has different capabilities. To experience the full SoundBridge user interface,
which includes searching and robust browsing modes, you must use a server that supports
these functions, such as iTunes or Windows Media Connect. Some other servers don’t have the
functionality required to deliver the full SoundBridge feature set. For example, you won’t be
able to search, and the browse modes will vary by server.
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Section 1: Getting Started Section 1: Getting Started