Stream What You Hear

Stream What You Hear (SWYH) offers a straightforward solution for anyone looking to share their PC's audio with other devices on their home network. Unlike traditional media servers that manage a library of files, SWYH focuses on capturing and streaming whatever is currently playing on your computer.

This makes it ideal for broadcasting audio from variety of sources, including:

• Music streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, etc.)
• Internet radio stations
• Audio from videos or games
• Any other application producing sound

Setting up SWYH is quick and easy. Once installed, it runs in the system tray, allowing you to start and stop streaming with a simple click. The configuration options are minimal, focusing on core functionalities like selecting the audio source and network interface. This simplicity is a key strength, making it accessible even for users who are not technically inclined.

The software broadcasts the audio stream in a format compatible with a wide range of UPnP/DLNA certified devices, including:

• Smart TVs
• Networked audio receivers and speakers
• Game consoles (Xbox, PlayStation)
• Other computers running compatible media players

SWYH operates by creating a virtual audio device that captures the output of your sound card. This captured audio is then encoded and broadcast over your local network. The resource footprint of the application is minimal, ensuring it doesn't significantly impact your computer's performance while streaming.

While SWYH excels at its core function of broadcasting the current audio, it does not provide advanced features like media library management, transcoding options, or elaborate playback controls on the server side. Its strength lies in its focused functionality and ease of use for broadcasting the live audio output.

Review of Stream What You Hear (SWYH)

Stream What You Hear (SWYH) presents itself as a simple yet effective solution for broadcasting the audio output of a Windows PC to networked UPnP/DLNA compatible devices. In a landscape populated by feature-rich media servers and complex streaming setups, SWYH takes a focused approach, delivering on its core promise of streaming whatever audio is currently active on the host machine.

Installation is a breeze. The downloaded executable is small, and the setup process is guided and quick, requiring minimal user interaction. Once installed, SWYH resides in the system tray, acting as a discreet background process. This unobtrusive presence is a significant advantage, as it doesn't clutter the desktop or interfere with other applications.

The primary function of SWYH is to capture the sound generated by the computer and make it available as a stream to other devices on the local network. This is achieved by effectively creating a virtual audio endpoint that intercepts the output from the sound card. This approach is particularly useful for scenarios where you want to stream audio from sources that aren't easily integrated with traditional media servers, such as streaming services like Spotify, online radio played through a browser, or even game audio.

The configuration options for SWYH are intentionally limited, contributing to its ease of use. Users can typically select the audio device to capture from (useful if you have multiple sound cards or audio interfaces) and the network interface to broadcast on. There are also basic options for controlling the streaming format and quality, though for most users, the default settings will suffice and provide compatibility with a wide range of DLNA receivers.

Compatibility with UPnP/DLNA devices is a cornerstone of SWYH's functionality. Once SWYH is running and broadcasting, it should appear as a media server or audio source on compatible devices on the same network. This includes smart TVs, network audio receivers, wireless speakers, and software media players that support DLNA browsing and playback. The discovery process is generally smooth and automatic, adhering to the UPnP standard.

Performance-wise, SWYH is lightweight. It doesn't consume excessive CPU or memory resources, making it suitable for running on a variety of Windows systems, including older hardware. The streaming itself is generally stable, provided the local network is robust. Latency can vary depending on the network conditions and the receiving device, but for typical audio streaming, it's usually acceptable.

While SWYH excels at its primary task, it's important to understand its limitations. It is not a media library server; it does not catalog or serve files from your hard drive. Its focus is solely on the live audio output. There are no features for managing playlists, transcoding audio on the fly for different devices, or providing advanced control over playback from a remote interface (beyond the standard controls offered by the receiving device). For users requiring such features, a more comprehensive media server solution would be more appropriate.

However, for its specific use case – broadcasting the sound of your computer simply and effectively – SWYH is highly successful. Its open-source nature and lack of intrusive advertising are also positive points. The interface is minimalist, but functional, providing clear indicators of the streaming status.

In conclusion, Stream What You Hear is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to easily stream their PC's audio to other devices on their home network. Its simplicity, efficiency, and broad compatibility with UPnP/DLNA ensure that it delivers on its promise without unnecessary complexity. It's a focused application that does one thing well, making it a recommended choice for its specific purpose.