Synchronizing audio between 2 browser windows

[chrisgary]

This isn't a problem, nor is it of the highest priority. However, it is so cool when it happens.

I listen to streaming internet radio stations while at work. During one of my slow times, I experimented and found that if I open another tab in the browser and connect to the same internet radio source, I receive a 2nd stream. Sometimes they sync perfectly, other times there is only a slight discrepancy which results in a cool reverb effect. Sometimes, however, the 2 streams are completely out of sync, so I have to close the 2nd stream. Is there any way I can manually sync the 2 streams, or is it just a matter of luck? I have tried everything my rudimentary knowledge of computers allows, to no avail. Is it possible? Believe me, it is so cool when it happens, so I'd love to be able to control it myself.

 

[bill001g]

Your main problem is that people are confusing the concept of "stream". You would think that a video/audio source would just send out data and you would receive it much like a tv or radio broadcast over the air. The technology has existed to do this for many many years and is called muliticast but there has be little acceptance by the ISP (suspect the cable monopolies have something to do with that)

What you are actually doing is opening multiple delayed video feeds. Kinda like if you would open 2 youtube videos a couple seconds apart. The transmission is actually sent into some form of bufffer and then copied to each persons connection. Because each person connection has different random delays they use this buffer to keep the video/audio smooth. Of course if a connection gets delayed enough it will just reset and start a new buffer which is why you see those jumps sometimes.