>>>Hi All,
>>>
>>>I have usually programmed using VFP but the app I am now involved with seems to need to be multi-threaded and Fox doesn't do that.
>>>
>>>I need to stream via multicast, multiple live audio streams over a local intranet. We will need both server and player software and my boss is pretty hot about getting it done. This is not a school project, monies will be paid to qualified programmers.
>>
>>A quick Google search found at least one open-source project that seems it can do this:
>>
>>http://www.videolan.org/
>
>Hi Al,
>
>Thanks for the response.
>
>Already tried VLC. I need multiple channels and VLC's latency was too high. Fact is VLC is my primary player.
>
>I've tried both Windows and Linux solutions (icecast, shoutcast, darwin, etc.) The best I have been able to accomplish is using multiple Windows Media Encoder sessions with multiple USB audio devices. I got it to run 16 channels with 1 second latency.
>
>AudioTX Multiplex Server was the most elegant solution I've found so far but their pricing started at $3995.00 and goes up depending on the licensing. They had a fine demo, though.

Can you explain further why you need low latency? What are you trying to do?

One area where I think low latency might be desirable would be in the security/surveillance business. I don't know if there are any low-cost or open-source solutions there but it might be worth checking out.

Hmm, I *only just* noticed you're talking about audio, rather than video (somehow I read video instead of audio in your first message). Took a look at your site - looks like you're already in the audio narrowcast business, but not yet over IP - maybe that's what you're trying to get into?

If that's the case maybe you could check out VOIP PBXs like Asterix. I don't know much about them but I imagine they have conference-call capabilities, and they should be well-optimized for low latency on *2-way* conference communications, thanks to the requirements of telephone conversations. In comparison, one-way multicasting should be a piece of cake for a system like that.