Audio Output Routes for AirPlay

Question

I have looked but can't find a way to access the Audio Output Routes so i can detect if the audio is coming out via AirPlay.

This is what i found in the Documentation for iOS 5.0

kAudioSessionOutputRoute_AirPlay

Discussion

These strings are used as values for the kAudioSession_AudioRouteKey_Type key for the dictionary associated with the kAudioSession_AudioRouteKey_Outputs array.

I can't find a way to get access to the kAudioSession_AudioRouteKey_Outputs array.

Thanks

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 30 '13 at 03:50

Even if Bassem seems to have found a solution, for completion's sake, here's how to detect whether the current output route is AirPlay or not:

- (BOOL)isAirPlayActive{
    CFDictionaryRef currentRouteDescriptionDictionary = nil;
    UInt32 dataSize = sizeof(currentRouteDescriptionDictionary);
    AudioSessionGetProperty(kAudioSessionProperty_AudioRouteDescription, &dataSize, &currentRouteDescriptionDictionary);
    if (currentRouteDescriptionDictionary) {
        CFArrayRef outputs = CFDictionaryGetValue(currentRouteDescriptionDictionary, kAudioSession_AudioRouteKey_Outputs);
        if (outputs) {
            if(CFArrayGetCount(outputs) > 0) {
                CFDictionaryRef currentOutput = CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(outputs, 0);
                CFStringRef outputType = CFDictionaryGetValue(currentOutput, kAudioSession_AudioRouteKey_Type);
                return (CFStringCompare(outputType, kAudioSessionOutputRoute_AirPlay, 0) == kCFCompareEqualTo);
            }
        }
    }

    return NO;
}

Keep in mind that you have to #import <AudioToolbox/AudioToolbox.h> and link against the AudioToolbox framework.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 21 '15 at 10:18

Since iOS 6, the recommended approach for this would be using AVAudioSession (the C-based AudioSession API is deprecated as of iOS 7).

let currentRoute = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().currentRoute

currentRoute returns an AVAudioSessionRouteDescription, a very simple class with two properties: inputs and outputs. Each of these is an optional array of AVAudioSessionPortDescriptions, which provides the information we need about the current route:

if let outputs = currentRoute?.outputs as? [AVAudioSessionPortDescription] {
    // Usually, there will be just one output port (or none), but let's play it safe...
    if let airplayOutputs = outputs.filter { $0.portType == AVAudioSessionPortAirPlay } where !airplayOutputs.isEmpty {
        // Connected to airplay output...
    } else {
        // Not connected to airplay output...
    }
}

The portType is the useful info here... see the AVAudioSessionPortDescription docs for the AVAudioSessionPort... constants that describe each input/output port type, such as line in/out, built in speakers, Bluetooth LE, headset mic etc.

Also, don't forget to respond appropriate to route changes by subscribing to the AVAudioSessionRouteChangeNotification.

Can you explain in what scenario would the outputs array be non-nil but empty? — Jordan H, Oct 10 '18 at 18:24

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 04 '11 at 22:53

0

CFArray *destinations;
CFNumber *currentDest;

// Get the output destination list
AudioSessionGetProperty(kAudioSessionProperty_OutputDestinations, nil, destinations);

// Get the index of the current destination (in the list above)
AudioSessionGetProperty(kAudioSessionProperty_OutputDestination, nil, currentDest);

Im not too sure of the exact syntax, so you'll have to mess around with it a bit, but you should get the general idea.

answered Dec 04 '11 at 22:53

craig1231

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kAudioSessionProperty_OutputDestinations >A CFArrayRef object containing details on the available audio output destinations in a USB audio accessory attached through the iPad camera connection kit. Each element of the array contains a CFDictionaryRef object with the keys and corresponding values described in “USB Accessory Audio Destination Dictionary Keys.” I can't use this because its only used for USB connected devices. – Bassem Dec 05 '11 at 00:21
I figured out how to get the audio out put of the device but can't answer my own question just yet because i'm a noob and don't have 100+ rep. I will post the answer in 5 hours :) – Bassem Dec 05 '11 at 00:41

Audio Output Routes for AirPlay

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