Using Airfoil Speakers

To get started, just run Airfoil Speakers on the Mac where you want to receive audio. After launching, you'll see the main Airfoil Speakers window, as well as the global Airfoil Speakers menu bar icon in the upper right of your screen:

Airfoil Speakers' Menu Bar Icon
Airfoil Speakers Menu Bar Icon

Once Airfoil Speakers is running on a machine on your local network, you'll be able to receive audio from Airfoil running on another machine.

Receiving Audio

After you open Airfoil Speakers, it will be ready to receive audio. You can send audio to it, from Airfoil running anywhere on your network. As well, if Airfoil for Mac 4 (or later) is running on your network, Airfoil Speakers will show it in the list of available audio sources, as below:

Airfoil Speakers' Main Window
Airfoil Speakers, ready to receive audio

To start receiving audio right from Airfoil Speakers, just click the Receive button. Once you do, Airfoil will begin sending audio from its source, right to Airfoil Speakers.

Airfoil Speakers' Receiving Audio
Airfoil Speakers receiving audio

Enhanced Metadata and Remote Controls

Whenever Airfoil Speakers sees a compatible copy of Airfoil on the network, it will show metadata about the currently-selected source.

For some supported sources, Airfoil Speakers offers even more. It will show enhanced metadata, including track titles and album artwork. As well, remote controls to control playback will also be available. Learn more about remote controls on the Remote Control page, and see the list of supported sources for Windows and for Mac.

Other Controls

When it's receiving audio, you'll see all available metadata from the source right at the top of the Airfoil Speakers window. This may include album artwork and track info, as well as the source machine and the source application. From there, you can disconnect from Airfoil, by pressing the Stop button.

Just below that is the visualizer. Click this to cycle through a rainbow of colors, or to turn it off. Finally, the volume slider controls the output levels from Airfoil Speakers.