Airfoil Satellite lets you turn any Mac on your network into an audio receiver for Airfoil. With Airfoil Satellite, it's easy to send music all around your network. Whether you just want to stream audio between two Macs, or run an office-wide “radio” station, Airfoil Satellite is ready to assist.

Versions of Airfoil Satellite are also available for many other platforms, so you can turn almost any device into an audio receiver.

## Getting Started

This manual provides you with a useful overview of the application, including an outline of the interface, as well as details on using the application. We recommend a quick read-through, but you can also just dive in if you like. Refer back here for assistance at any time, right from Airfoil Satellite's Help menu.

## Additional Assistance

The following resources will supplement a read-through of the manual and help you get the answers you need.

### Search This Manual

Use the search field in the upper right to locate specific keywords in this manual.

### Visit Our Online Support Center

Our searchable Airfoil for Mac Support Center provides answers to common questions, as well as tutorials, tricks, and more.

### Email Support

Finally, Rogue Amoeba's top-notch Support team is always ready to assist, both before and after purchase. Select Contact Support in the Help menu to get in touch. We're amazingly responsive, and strive to reply within 24 hours.

# Receiving Audio with Airfoil Satellite

To get started, just run Airfoil Satellite on the Mac where you want to receive audio. After launching, you'll see the main Airfoil Satellite window. Once Airfoil Satellite is running on a machine on your local network, you'll be able to receive audio from Airfoil running on another machine.

After you open Airfoil Satellite, it will be ready to receive audio. You can send audio to it from Airfoil running anywhere on your network. By default, Airfoil Satellite will show a waiting view:

Airfoil Satellite, waiting

Once a copy of Airfoil appears on your network, Airfoil Satellite can link to it. At that point, Airfoil Satellite is ready to receive audio. It's also able to control the remote copy of Airfoil. Here, you can see that Airfoil Satellite is linked to Airfoil running on “My Mac”.

Airfoil Satellite, connected

Once it's linked to a remote copy of Airfoil, you can instruct Airfoil Satellite to receive audio by clicking the Receive button. Once you do, Airfoil will begin sending audio from its source right to Airfoil Satellite.

Airfoil Satellite receiving audio

### Now Playing Information

When Airfoil is transmitting a supported source, it will provide Now Playing information to Airfoil Satellite. You'll see album artwork on the left side of the window, as well as artist and track details under the playback controls.

# 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.

# Menu Bar Mode

Airfoil Satellite's Display Setting

If you like, Airfoil Satellite can run exclusively in your menu bar, with no icon in the Dock or application switcher. To adjust how Airfoil Satellite displays, open the Preferences window. From there, you can opt to have Airfoil Satellite appear in the menu bar, in the Dock, or in both.

## Airfoil Satellite's Global Menu

When you opt to show Airfoil Satellite in the menu bar, Airfoil Satellite's global menu will provide access to its settings from any application. By default, you'll see the icon for the global Airfoil Satellite menu in the upper right of your screen:

Airfoil Satellite's Global Menu Bar Icon

Clicking this icon gives you access to Airfoil Satellite's most important functions no matter what application you're currently using.

Airfoil Satellite's Global Menu in Action

As you can see, the menu also shows information on what's currently being received by Airfoil Satellite. Use this global menu for quick access to Airfoil Satellite.

# Receiving From iOS, Music.app/iTunes, and More

Airfoil Satellite is able to receive audio directly from iOS devices, as well as applications like Music.app/iTunes and more. These sources send audio out via the AirPlay protocol, and can select Airfoil Satellite as their remote output. This page provides a simple overview on sending to Airfoil Satellite with these sources.

## Sending Audio From iOS

If you've used AirPlay on iOS to send audio out before, you'll immediately be able to understand using it with Airfoil Satellite. Once Airfoil Satellite is running on your Mac, just tap the AirPlay button in your iOS audio app.

The AirPlay button is seen near the bottom in the middle

Once you tap that button, the AirPlay output selector will appear.

The AirPlay output selector shows available outputs

Just select the appropriate Airfoil Satellite output (here it's called “My iMac”), and the audio will play through your Mac.

### Sending From iOS to Multiple Outputs

Sending from an iOS device is limited to one output. However, by coupling Airfoil Satellite and Airfoil, it's possible to send audio from iOS to multiple outputs! For more details, please see “Sending from iOS to multiple outputs” on our website.

## Sending Audio From Music.app

Sending audio to Airfoil Satellite with Music.app is just like using any other AirPlay output. Just launch Airfoil Satellite on your Mac, then use the AirPlay menu in iTunes to select the desired output.

The AirPlay button is to the right of the volume slider in the main Music.app window

Once you click that button, the AirPlay output selector will appear.

Music.app's AirPlay output selector shows available outputs

Just select the appropriate Airfoil Satellite output (it's again called “My iMac”), and the audio will play through your Mac.

## License Required

Airfoil Satellite is a complimentary add-on to Airfoil, but it is not a free application. A license for Airfoil is required to unlock Airfoil Satellite. When receiving audio from a licensed copy of Airfoil, it will automatically be unlocked. Otherwise, you'll need to manually enter your Airfoil license once, in Airfoil Satellite's License window.

# Preferences

Airfoil Satellite's preferences can be accessed from the Airfoil Satellite menu. The available settings are divided into three tabs.

## Speaker Preferences

Name: You can adjust the name with which Airfoil Satellite appears in Airfoil's list. By default, your Mac's machine name is used for this setting.

Require password to connect: When active, a password will be required to connect to the Airfoil Satellite output. Use this setting to prevent undesired audio playback.

### Play Local Audio Through

This setting adjusts the output device through which audio from Airfoil Satellite plays.

## User Interface Preferences

### General

Show Airfoil Satellite: This toggle determines how Airfoil Satellite's interface appears. By default, Airfoil Satellite appears in both the Dock and in the menu bar in the upper right of your screen. For more details, see the page detailing Airfoil Satellite's menu bar mode.

Start Airfoil Satellite at login: Turn this option on to have Airfoil Satellite run automatically when you login to your computer. Turning this on will mean your machine is always ready to receive audio from Airfoil.

### Global Hotkeys

Setting global shortcuts enables you to access Airfoil Satellite's controls without needing to bring Airfoil Satellite forward. You'll want to be sure to set unique shortcuts which aren't used by any other applications.

Show/Hide: This global keyboard shortcut toggles the visibility of Airfoil Satellite's main window.

Previous Track: This global keyboard shortcut jumps to the previous track in the selected source application.

Play/Pause: This global keyboard shortcut toggles audio playback in the selected source application, pausing if audio is set to play, and resuming playback if audio is currently paused.

Next Track: This global keyboard shortcut jumps to the next track in the selected source application.

## Updates Preferences

### Software Update

Automatically check for software updates: With this option activated, Airfoil Satellite periodically compares itself to the most current version available from our server and alerts you when a new version is available. Leave this on and Airfoil Satellite will help you stay up-to-date. You can also select Check for Update from the Airfoil Satellite menu to initiate a check manually.

# Installing & Uninstalling Airfoil Satellite

## Installing Airfoil Satellite

As you're reading this manual, it's likely you've already successfully installed Airfoil Satellite. Still, in the interest of being comprehensive, the following is the entirety of the installation procedure for Airfoil Satellite.

Drag Airfoil Satellite from your download folder to the Applications folder, then double-click its icon to begin using it.

## Uninstalling Airfoil Satellite

If you wish to remove Airfoil Satellite, we'd certainly like to know why! You can contact us directly to provide feedback. We're always working to improve our products, so don't hesitate to tell us what was missing or didn't work for you.

To remove Airfoil Satellite, just quit the application, then place it in the Trash.

# Airfoil Satellite Rights and Restrictions

## Distribution

Unless explicitly stated in writing, Rogue Amoeba Software does not grant permission to sell Airfoil Satellite ("The Software"). Non-profit distribution of The Software in its trial form is acceptable provided that The Software is not modified in any way, and the complete works of The Software are included in the distribution package. If The Software is to be included in a distribution package, Rogue Amoeba requests but does not require that one complimentary copy of said package be sent to the snail mail address found on our site.

### What that said:

Don't sell this software directly for profit. If you want to distribute it, great! Just make sure it's unmodified from the download from our site. If you create a distribution package, it'd be cool if you sent a copy to the address above, though this is not required.

## Disclaimer

Airfoil Satellite ("The Software") is provided as is. Rogue Amoeba Software ("The Author") is not responsible for any damage to the user's computer system or data and in no event will The Author, its officers, directors, employees or agents be responsible to the user for any consequential, incidental, or indirect damages (including damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use the The Software, even if The Author has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitations may not apply to you. Further, the consumer agrees that using this software in any way illegal, or even for the purposes of assessing its viability for illegal usage, is prohibited.

### What that said:

Be safe when you use the software. Be aware that it's simply a tool designed to make your life better. Don't use it to do illegal or evil things. If you do, be ready to take responsibility for your own actions.