AudioBridger for Windows
========================

Stream audio between computers on your local network in real time.

This zip contains:

  AudioBridger.exe All-in-one launcher. Starts the hub, a receiver and a
                   sender together, puts an icon in the notification area
                   and opens the dashboard. Easiest start.
  ab_sender.exe    Picks an input device and broadcasts its audio.
  ab_receiver.exe  Listens for a sender and plays the audio out.
  ab_hub.exe       Optional. Web dashboard at http://<hub-ip>:4466 for
                   routing, monitoring, and remote control.
  ab_align.exe     Post-production helper: turns a multi-machine recording
                   session into DAW-ready offsets.


Quick start
-----------

  AudioBridger.exe

Starts everything and opens the dashboard in your browser. Right-click the
notification-area icon to start, stop or restart each part, to change the
ports, to reach activation, or to exit. Add --no-sender if this machine
should only listen, not offer its audio.


First run, one component at a time
----------------------------------

Open two Command Prompt or PowerShell windows on the same Wi-Fi or
wired LAN:

  Window A:  ab_sender.exe
             rem picks an input device when prompted

  Window B:  ab_receiver.exe
             rem finds the sender automatically over the LAN


Optional: the hub
-----------------

  Window C:  ab_hub.exe
             rem then open http://localhost:4466 in a browser

  In the dashboard you can drag wires between senders and receivers,
  mute receivers, pick output devices, and listen to any sender's AAC
  stream right in the browser.


Capturing system or app audio
-----------------------------

Windows hides system output behind a virtual driver. To capture audio
that isn't a real mic or line-in, install one of:

  - VB-Cable        https://vb-audio.com/Cable/       (free, simple)
  - VoiceMeeter     https://vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/ (free, popular for streamers)
  - "Stereo Mix"    built in to some Windows machines, hidden under
                    Sound -> Recording devices

Then pick it as the input device when ab_sender asks.


First-launch prompt
-------------------

The first time each app runs, Windows Defender will pop up a firewall
prompt. Allow access on private networks (and public if you want
cross-network use).


AAC streaming (optional)
------------------------

If you want the in-browser AAC playback feature, the sender needs
FFmpeg DLLs at runtime. Either:

  1. Install FFmpeg system-wide (e.g. via winget or chocolatey), or
  2. Drop avcodec*.dll and avutil*.dll next to ab_sender.exe.

Without FFmpeg, AAC streaming silently turns off; UDP audio still works.


Useful flags
------------

  ab_sender.exe --version          show version and exit
  ab_sender.exe --activate <CODE>  activate a paid licence (online)
  ab_sender.exe -o                 print this machine's UUID for offline activation
  ab_receiver.exe <sender-ip>      bypass mDNS, connect directly
  ab_hub.exe --http-port 8080      use a different dashboard port

Run any app with no arguments for the interactive flow.


"Windows protected your PC"
---------------------------

The first time you run AudioBridger, Windows may show a blue
"Windows protected your PC" box. Click "More info", then "Run anyway".

This appears because the binaries are not code-signed. A Windows signing
certificate is an annual cost that would have to come out of the price of
the software, and the cheaper kind would not even remove the warning —
only the expensive sort carries instant reputation. We would rather keep
the price down and ask you to click through once.

The warning only appears for files downloaded with a browser, and only the
first time you run each one. Copying the folder from a network share, a
USB stick, or another machine usually avoids it entirely.

If you would rather check what you have before running it: every release
is built from the tagged source, and we will happily confirm a file hash
if you email us.


Where your settings are kept
----------------------------

Routes, device identities, the hub config and your licence all live in one
place: a "config" folder beside the .exe files, with the licence
(registration.lic) next to the binaries themselves.

That makes an install self-contained — copy the folder and it comes with
binaries, config and licence. Keep the .exe files together, since
AudioBridger.exe starts the others from its own folder.


Licensing
---------

The trial runs for 30 minutes per launch on the sender and hub.
Receivers are always free. Buy a licence at:

  https://bluetomatomedia.com/buy/audio-bridger/

See LICENSE in this zip for the full terms.


Trouble?
--------

  support@bluetomatomedia.com

Include your activation code if it's an activation problem.
