# Remote Control with Airfoil Satellite

In addition to receiving audio, Airfoil Satellite offers two types of remote control. Airfoil Satellite can control the copy of Airfoil to which it's linked. This enables you to toggle remote outputs on or off, adjust their volumes, and even change the audio source Airfoil is transmitting. If you like, Airfoil Satellite can be used exclusively as a remote control for a copy of Airfoil running on another Mac.

Airfoil Satellite can also control playback of selected audio sources being transmitted by Airfoil. When Airfoil Satellite is receiving audio that Airfoil is transmitting from a supported source, it will provide remote controls for playback as well. With these controls, you can pause and restart playback, as well as skip tracks or jump back. A list of the sources which are supported for remote control can be found on our site, for both Airfoil for Mac and Airfoil for Windows.

## Control Diagram

The remote controls Airfoil Satellite offers are shown in the following diagram, and detailed below:

(A) Receive/Stop Button: The Receive/Stop button at the top of the window controls whether Airfoil Satellite is receiving audio from Airfoil. This control mirrors the Transmit button found in the Remote Speakers area at the bottom of the window.

(B) Source Selector: The source selector enables you to change what application or device the remote copy of Airfoil is pulling audio from. The five most recent applications will be listed, as well as the System Audio source, and any audio input devices connected to that machine.

(C) Playback Controls: These control the selected source application, and should be fairly straightforward. Click back to jump back a track, forward to jump forward, and play/pause to toggle playback.

(D) Remote Speakers: The Remote Speakers section shows all outputs to which the linked copy of Airfoil can send audio. Here you can toggle any output on or off by clicking the Transmit button on the left side. You can also adjust the output volume with the sliders on the right.

## Multiple Copies of Airfoil on the Network

If you're on a network with multiple copies of Airfoil, you'll see the Airfoil selector control at the top of the Airfoil Satellite window:

When you click that menu, you'll see the available copies of Airfoil on the network. Select the Airfoil you wish to link to, and Airfoil Satellite will connect.

## Additional Notes

Two other items which may be relevant to your use of Airfoil Satellite are detailed below.

### Remote Control May Be Unavailable

Be aware that Airfoil offers preferences to prevent Airfoil Satellite from remotely connecting, and remotely controlling, Airfoil. If you're connecting to someone else's copy of Airfoil, you may see a greatly simplified version of the Airfoil Satellite interface:

### Playback Control Delay

You should also know that when you click a remote control button, the result is not immediately heard. Airfoil uses Apple's AirPlay audio streaming protocol, which buffers audio for approximately two seconds before playing it back. When you click a button in Airfoil Satellite, you'll see a brief spinner like this:

Note the spinner around the Play/Pause button

Once the spinner stops, you'll hear the result of the action you selected.