Drews Sound

This is an open car, from the engine, to the cab. Wind while driving, which helps you to determine the car is moving when it is down an idle stopping at stop lights.

about 7 years ago, I was introduced to the Sonus ecosystem. My dad got one and I was amazed. He didn’t get it all at once, and as it expanded to multiroom in time I continued to be more intrigued. The thing though, that always has been, and is, with the Sonos line, is the cost. It is hella expensive, and though expandable, not as expandable as I might like it to be, and the both of those things, have stopped me from investing in one.

I have had an Amazon Alexa for a few years now, and have always been impressed with it’s virtual AI, much more responsive than Apple’s Siri in my opinion, especially with the 4th gen Alexa devices.
I had heard that you could setup multiroom audio with Alexa, and that is how I have my master bedrooms etup, two Echo 4th gen, and there is 90% of the time no delays between speakers. Each speaker is stereo, and a very small spread at that, so it is almost true mono when you are between them, but oh well. My hesitation for experimenting in multiple rooms, was my want, to use the Alexa’s line out, into a receiver, and what if any DSP is running on the receiver or other speaker system that would cause millisecond delays.

I won’t take all credit for actually experimenting and testing my wonderments, my lady Robin suggested it, and I picked up one of the Echo’s took her in the front room and plugged her into my 8th inch cable. Guess what? No delay, between the two rooms, I was blown away. That day, we ordered two Echo dott 4th gen devices, set one up in the front room, the second, in the second bedroom/office into a pare of small computer speakers. Of course, there are fractional delays across the house from the time the audio leaves the device and hits your ears, but with multi-room audio, you do’t have one system cranked to compinsate for other rooms, so it really does work out.

Ok, a sub, in the bedroom setup. Amazon sells an Alexa sub, but it’s unfortunately not compatible with multi-room setups.

Another Echo Dot, wired out of the line out of the Echo to a small 6 inch woofer that is powered, and has good reviews. It, like the other speakers in the home, has no delays, and the sub is on the outside wall that on the flip side is our patio, so BT from that Echo dot wired to the sub, when the sub is not in use, BTT pared to my Ion Blockrocker works fine, doesn’t cut out on the Patio.

So, what can you listen to?
Anything. What?

Through the Alexa all major music streaming services, just link your paid account.
There is an Alexa Skill, Mypod, which is quite amazing. It allows you to setup playlists to audio files from DB or streaming services, shoutcast Icecast. So, all I got to say is, Alexa, tell My Pod to play local, and I am listening to my in house radio that I have programmed streaming local 24-7.
I also have a second shoutcast server running on the same box, which I call, mobile. To this server, I stream from an old IPhone with a USB Audio Line-in DAC, which I can plug anything into, so, Vinyl, VRStream, TV etc, all through the house on my Alexa. So yes, you may listen to anything.

Any downsides?
I know on the Sonos, you are able to have volume controls for each speaker in the house, I haven’t found that on the Alexa setup, but that isn’t at all a deal breaker for me.
All and all, I am very satasfied. If your looking for a multi-room system on a budget, Alexa may be way to go for you.

In summary, if you already have the main speakers you want to use Echo Dot 4th gen for $50 a pop isn’t bad to create a multi-room system, if you need to invest in other speakers, amps, for your wants, needs, that will increase the price, and that is up to the individual personally.
It is a system though, that you can build in time, which is really cool!

What I love about note takers is the fact of there privacy. #1, There is no visible screen, and #2, they are flat and you can have it on your lap to type even sliding it’s face under a table if need be. Standard laptops are great, though there is the screen, which takes a lot of space, when you think about it and it is virticle.

Using the following links, you can purchase a Windows11 tablet, that comes with a keyboard. The issue with the form factor of this setup, is the tablet and the keyboard both lay flat out,the tablet above the keyboard on a table, it won’t fit on your lap. The second link though, is a BT keyboard with a metal back, that will magnet onto the lid of the keyboard case, so the tablet is closed, no one can look over your sholder, and it’s flat,and the keyboard on top of the case, it feels, like a note taker, like a thin pacmate.

It’s all under $400. Running Windows11, the tablet is quite quick.

ALLDOCUBE iwork20 Pro Detachable… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P8B4DT5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Arteck HB030B Universal Slim Portable Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 7-Colors Backlit Keyboard with Built in Rechargeable Battery, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X5P8BJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_033FMG00VXG1Z2P9NWZC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

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I am a happy Distrokid subscriber. I love that they are able to get my music into stores, and for a fraction of the price of the competitors, and quickly.
About a year or so ago, I became interested in having my music in the #TouchTunes service. I did my research and found that my current distributor already had what they called TouchTunes Beta. I signed up. A Distrokid rep got back to me via e-mail and said she pushed the button to have my music entered into the service, though she could make no promises that it would be.
My understanding was that TouchTunes was different from stores and streaming services such as Itunes and Apple Music, Spotify etc, as TouchTunes hand picks what goes into there service, vs allowing auto pushes into the service without a lot of thought. To me this made sense, as TouchTunes reaches audiences within restaurants, you may not want a free for all. I did though hope, that my music may make it into the service.
Several releases did not show up, and I wondered why? Is it because this service is currently in beta? Is it because I am not a radio/popular artist?
Over the last year I have tweeted at both TouchTunes and Distrokid and haven’t received a response.
Last night, as I sat in a bar, my thoughts of the music being hand picked because of weeding out content was disproven.
At the end of a hip-hop track, was two people having an arguement dropping f bombs and everything else in the book, unedited.
Cirtainly the content that I have provided is much more reasonable than this.
A few weeks ago I went to the TouchTunes website and looked to contact TouchTunes about adding my music. A no go. I was unable to contact them about my media, but, I could use a list of services to try and have my content added. Guess what? Distrokid was not in the list. Why not?

The bottom line:
I feel having the opportunity to get my content into the TouchTunes service is a valid request.
Now I am not sure why the hand picked method is used after what I’ve heard last night.
TouchTunes, if Distrokid is getting you content, why are you not adding it to your services library?
Distrokid, if TouchTunes is not going to add your content that you provide, why do you have it listed as a store?

I hope this post is retweeted and reposted on social media and that it raises enough buz to get some answers.
Thanks for reading, Thanks for reposting.
Distrokid and TouchTunes, thanks for responding and possibally rethinking your stratogy.