Free Dlna Media Server Mac
Every net surfer wishes to be able to stream audios, videos, photos, and music endlessly. And, it’s a bliss to be able to do so without any hiccups. We all have a collection of some kind of media (music, photos, or videos) on our computers and mobile phones those can be played later as per our convenience. So, to stream these stored media, a home media server does the job.
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Dlna For Mac
DLNA servers are the types of home media server that we are talking about. Using these servers, you can stream or share media among multiple devices without needing any manual setup. Whether it’s your iPhone, game consolers, or Android phone, the DLNA server sets up a connection between these devices and allows you to share your favorite media. It basically transforms your PC into a powerful home media streaming center, allowing you to stream media across your home, wirelessly.
So, if you are wondering where to find the best DLNA server software for your needs, here’s a master list to start with.
Kodi Open Source Home Theatre Software
If you are looking for a software that can spruce up your entertainment space, then Kodi Open Source Home Theatre Software can be the best choice for you. The program offers unlimited features on a user-friendly and attractive interface that brings your stored media to life. Moreover, it also offers a support forum or a community that’s inundated with questions, answers, and tips from people all across the world.
What’s more? It also features a massive catalog of community add-ons that you have access to. You can further customize and adjust these catalogs to arrange a perfect entertainment framework. Whether you own a smart TV or a smartphone, you have entertainment at your finger tips with Kodi. It works with all major platforms that includes Windows, Mac OSX, iOS, Android, Linux, and Raspberry Pi.
Price: free and open source
PLEX Media Server offers some great features and works with majority of the platforms such as, Windows, Linux, Mac, Docker, Synology, Qnap, Netgear, Seagate, etc. The software allows you to stream your favorite live TV, web shows, podcasts, video news along with your personally saved media, on mobile device or computer screen.
The software gets all your media into one place and lets you stream them to all your devices. Among its other features are:
- live TV and DVR that allows you to watch live and recorded TV shows on all your devices;
- offers access to Tidal’s huge collection of tracks (59 million), 250,000 music videos and other original media;
- allows access to podcasts, web shows, news, and more all in single app;
- organizes your personal media that can be streamed on any of your device, anywhere.
Price: 30-day free trial available; upgrade starts from $4.99
PlayOn
Streaming, recording, and casting your favorite media is smooth as silk with PlayOn. It allows you to record movies and TV shows that you can add to your watchlist to be watched later. It also allows you to stream to any device like PlayStation, Roku, Xbox, etc. Among its other major features are:
- offers free mobile app allowing to record or watch a show anywhere in the world;
- allows you to play back the recorded show without ads;
- automatically records fresh episodes of your preferred shows;
- allows you to record a series in just one click;
- enables you to set recording hours in advance;
- automatically sends recordings or a series to iTunes in a single click.
For added assistance, it offers a great support team that’s available to help you out with any concerns.
Price: 7-day free trial available; upgrade available for $1.99/month
Serviio
Serviio allows users to stream various media files, for instance, photos, videos, and music to multiple devices that includes TVs, smartphones, games console, or Bluray player within your home network. While the free version offers connectivity to multiple devices, the pro version offers advanced possibilities of sharing media across your household.
The best part about Serviio is that it’s compatible with different devices within your household such as, smartphones, TV, tablets, Xbox, Playstation 3, and more. It aims to boost the potential of the devices and/or reduce the deficiency of support for the media format playback by providing support for profiles for specific devices.
Additionally, it allows you to access files on the go with the pro version, and also lets you control it simply using your voice. Based Java, it works with all the major platforms such as, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Price: free version available; Pro available for $25
Subsonic
Packed with features, Subsonic can be accessed via browser. It allows you to access music from any location with an internet connection around. Some of its major advantages are:
- it’s an open source software;
- the playlists created by it can be shared with others;
- offers on-the-spot re-sampling where bitrates can be minimized on-the-spot using ffmpeg encoder;
- allows you to build a playlist and cache the tracks on the mobile phones in advance;
- works as Podcast receiver, Chromecast, Sonos, in jukebox mode, multiple frontends, and so on.
Works with all the major platforms such as, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.
Price: $1 per month.
Universal Media Server, a DLNA compatible UPnP media server, was initially based on PS3 media server. It works with all major operating systems that includes Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. What’s interesting is, that the software can stream several different media formats with minimum or without any configuration.
UMS is run by MEncoder, FFmpeg, tsMuxeR, and more, that blends to provide support for a variety of media formats. It works with different devices such as, PS3, Xbox, TVs, Smart phones and so on.
Price: free and open source
Ampache
For the music lovers, the free and open source Ampache is a great catch. It’s a web-based application n offering services in audio/video streaming. It’s also a file manager using which you can access your music and videos from any location and on any device, that’s supports internet connection. Among its major features are:
- allows you to browse and manage your collection of music on your PC using a simple web interface. Using this interface, you can even sync native and remote catalogs to an exclusive and persistent collection;
- lets you stream your selected tracks to your favorite player, manage it using Localplay, or directly listen to the tracks on the webpage using HTML5 player;
- enables you to listen to your favorite numbers from any device such as, smartphones, TVs, or tablets.
Price: free and open source
Emby Media Server
Emby Medi Server helps you carry your music to any device with ease. It brings all your media collection (music, photos, and videos) together into a single place, where it automatically converts your media on the go on any device and streams it right there. Some of its major features include:
- makes it easier to take full advantage of your personally saved media in any location. It does not involve the hassle of using the IP address and rather, you can just sign in and start playing;
- offers support for Live TV and streams it to any device, control your DVR, and take full advantage of your collection of recordings;
- allows you to control access for your children, easily by letting you monitor and remote control their sessions as per your choice.
Moreover, it automatically organizes your personal media into elegant and attractive displays. Best of all, it keeps you notified of server activity depending on events and actions that are crucial to you.
Price: starts from $4.99/month
PS3MediaServer
PS3MediaServer is a DLNA server written in Java that helps you stream or transcode any media file format, with little or no configuration. The program is supported by Mplayer and FFmpeg packages. The best part is, it does not require codec packs for installation, requires no folder configuration and pre-parsing or any such annoyance.
All the media folders on your PC are directly browsed by the PS3. It refreshes automatically, and offers real-time video transcoding through MEncoder.
Price: free
MediaPortal
MediaPortal claims to offer the best media experience by converting your PC in virtually a complete media solution. The program is powered by basic hardware that connects straight away to your TV and shows all your photos, music, movies, and TV shows in a much compelling manner. You can even use the program with your projector for enhanced experience.
Some of its significant features are:
- allows you to watch, schedule, and record Live TV for free;
- lets you play movies, DVDs, videos, and Blu-Ray discs;
- allows you to listen to radio and your favorite music;
- lets you enjoy photos, home videos, or even create slideshows for fun;
- enables you to stream media, TV, and radio to any other PC linked to your network;
- helps you use a remote control sitting from your bed;
- allows you to get detailed updates with news, on weather, and more;
- lets you access the software from mobile phones or directly on web.
It also offers plenty of plugins and skins for advanced activities like, monitoring your HTPC, stream web TV or YouTube videos, and more.
Price: free and open source
MediaTomb
MediaTomb is another great open source DLNA server based on UPnP media server that’s accompanies with a pretty good web interface. It enables you to stream your personal media using your home network connection and then watch or listen them on several different UPnP based devices.
As a user, you can stream your persona media to devices such as, PlayStation 3. Given it’s Ubuntu based software, you may need to look for alternatives to be able to stream to different devices.
Price: free and open source
MEEDIOS
Those looking for a free and open source DLNA server software, MEEDIOS can be a great option. It’s especially designed to manage and show all your digital media in one detailed package. The program offers complete media support, unlimited customizability, and a rich interface that can be used by the entire family. Some of the media that it supports include Photos, Music, TV Shows, Online Media, Web Browsing, games, and so on.
Moreover, it also supports the playback of these media on majority of the formats and mediums that include, physical, digital, and web-based formats.
Price: free and open source
Dlna Media Server Setup
LXiMediaCenter
LXiMediaCenter is DLNA based server that streams or transcodes your favorite media (photos, videos, music, and TV shows) to different DLNA compatible televisions and media players like, PS3, Xbox 360, and Streamium.
What’s interesting is, that the program also provides support for subtitles and audio language choices. It allows you to play your favorite digital media on any of the device you wish.
Price: free
OpenFLIXR Media Server
OpenFLIXR Media Server is a comprehensive media server that automatically downloads and serves media files. Be it any app (Couchpotato, Plex, or SickRage), it brings all your media to display. The best part is, whether it’s a TV, PC, or mobile phone, it streams to any device you can think of. It’s a completely web-based software that includes tools for monitoring and management.
While it can keep all your media files updated and ensures that they run smoothly using smart auto-updating, it can also be run on any platform given it’s a virtual app.
Price: free and open source
OSMC Media Center
OSMC Media Center is a free and open source media server based on DLNA that’s designed for people, by the people. It’s a simple and easy to use software that comes with an attractive look. It’s based on Debian Linux and Kodi Media Center. Additionally, it offers an app store that allows you to customize your experience with the program according to your taste, and all using the remote.
Free Dlna Media Server For Mac
The program plays almost all major media formats available from several different devices and streaming codes.
Price: free and open source
Conclusion
Choose from the comprehensive list of best DLNA server software above and boost your streaming experience.
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Screenshots
Description
Apple Silicon & Big Sur support is here!
Introducing FireStream: the most advanced UPnP/DLNA media server for the Mac platform. FireStream is written for the Mac from scratch with an 'it just works' philosophy, so that you can be sure it provides a true, seamless Mac experience. Enjoy all of your media, including videos, photos and music on all of your DLNA devices. FireStream natively supports music and videos from Music and Photos as well as any user specified folders. The media is organized just like it is on your Mac and includes thumbnails and rich metadata. Its a snap to locate and stream your favorite content from the comfort of your couch.
Transcoding allows you to play media files that would normally not be supported by a device by converting them on the fly. You can specify connection speed and quality settings to fit your network and device capabilities with ease or enable subtitles with a single click.
With automatic device detection and automatic transcoding configuration, FireStream makes streaming your media as easy as can be. Just power on your UPnP/DLNA media device and FireStream will instantly locate it. Using the Devices tab you can adjust advanced per-device transcoding, network and quality settings giving you fine-grained control of each device. FireStream also has a built in authorization system that allows you to limit access to specific devices.
Unique just-in-time indexing technology allows FireStream to instantly share your media without having to index your entire Mac first! Changes to your media libraries or folders are instantly reflected in the FIreStream content index.
FireStream works great with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Sony Bravia TVs, Sony Blu-ray Players, LG Smart TVs, LG Blu-ray Players, Roku, Harman/Kardon receivers, Marantz receivers, Naim Uniti, Grundig DTR, Oppo Blu-ray players, Oppo Sonica, BeoSound Moment, Kodi, MediaMonkey, VLC for iOS/tvOS and many, many other devices.
Get FireStream and enjoy the best Mac media streaming experience today!
Note: Users with iTunes or Photos libraries stored on an external drive or network share may need to add that drive/share to Content > Folders in FireStream and Stop, Quit and restart FireStream to ensure the content is accessible.
What’s New
- Fixed a permissions issue causing Photos to fail to show/update in FireStream
Does what I want
I mainly use this app to enable me to connect and play the music stored on my iMac with a Roberts Radio iStream3 although I have experimented and also connected a laptop sucessfully and shared photos. You do have to set up a profile for each device to get it to connect. I found this a little confusing initially but the support I received via email was prompt and very good. (Kodi is the one that works for me for a Robert Radio)
For future development I would suggest that it would be good if a document giving advise on profile setups could be linked to the app
It connected my Mac wirelessly to my Onkyo receiver :-)
..which is exactly what I wanted it to do. It streams my iTunes music to my home surround system (not videos or pictures from my Mac but that is because I am streaming to a receiver, albeit using my TV to show what the receiver is doing).
I am delighted that my music collection now plays from my Mac on my home’s hi-fi surround sound music system at a cost of £10 and no cabling! Fantastic.
(For those less techie here:
(i) the Mac and the receiver (the amplifier box at the heart of your surround sound system) need to be on the same wireless network, and
(ii) the receiver needs to be 'DLNA capable” which my 3 year old Onkyo receiver is. More modern ones too I’d guess.
The Mac running Firestream then sets up a DLNA “Server” (that’s what Firestream is for) and the receiver in the hi-fi system acts as a DLNA “Client”. Firestream on the Mac looks for the receiver and once it has found it the two parts of the DLNA system (server and client) allows the receiver to play the music from the Mac: Just switch the receiver into DLNA mode and all the music on the Mac suddently appears and is available to play!…like magic.
This App Does Not Work
I purchased this app late last year to allow me to play itunes through my Naim Muso. From the outset the app cut tracks short and immediately began to play the next in line. I contacted Cyaneous through their “temporary” website. After some time I was contatced and asked a single question about settings (as if I had not checked that!). I replied and waited, no response. So I contacted them again. This time they told me that my problem would be resolved in the next software upgrade. I did not hold out much hope, after all how did they know what my problem was? I waited for the next update, it did not come, I contacted them again. It was apparantley all Apple’s fault, they were delaying the update release. So eventually the update is issued. Guess what, tracks are cut short and the next starts to play. I contacted Cyaneous again and asked for a refund. Nothing heard!
So regarding the claim above “it just works”, no I am afraid it just does not!
But I downloaded Asset for free and it does.
Information
macOS 10.14 or later
Supports
Family Sharing
Up to six family members will be able to use this app with Family Sharing enabled.