Create your own Media Centre with Raspberry Pi and KODI

KODI, free media centre software, and the Raspberry Pi form the perfect way to store and enjoy your whole media collection. With KODI, you can easily manage, play and organise your photos, music, TV shows and movies into a Media Centre.

In this how-to, we’ll show you how to install the software onto your Raspberry Pi, go over the components you need to get started and explain how to control KODI through the app.

Get the popcorn out!

The project

Time needed: approx. 30 minutes

Budget: around £60

What you need: Raspberry Pi, SD micro Cards, HDMI cable, any smartphone, screen/TV or projector, power supply, case and a cooling kit.

Can be extended with: a remote control

You also need: PC or USB mouse and keyboard to set up

Preparation – About the components

In order to convert your Raspberry Pi into your own personal Media Centre, you’ll need to complete a few simple installation and setup steps.

The Raspberry Pi

We want the Raspberry Pi to access data on the network so an internet connection is essential. The installation is easier if the Raspberry Pi is already WIFI enabled. So, ideally, you should use a version 3 model or later where this feature is already integrated. Please also note that a LAN cable connection may be required to play some HD resolution movies where there is poor signal strength or speed.

Power

The power supply should provide at least five volts of power, at least two amps (2,000 mA). The Raspberry Pi is very economical, so when you connect external hardware like a mouse, keyboard or USB hard drive, a power supply with less power will quickly reach its limits.

SD card

The SD card should have a read speed of at least 95 MB per second for KODI to run smoothly on the Raspberry Pi.

Case and cooling kit

So that the Raspberry Pi doesn’t get damaged or dusty, we recommend using a case. A simple plastic case is inexpensive and doesn‘t affect the wireless signal.

Since the RPi will probably be running for a long time, we also recommend that you install a cooling kit. You can quickly and easily glue it on to provide efficient protection against overheating.

How to set up KODI

First, you need an SD card to set up KODI on the Raspberry Pi. You can download KODI software free of charge from the company homepage here. Once you’ve selected “Raspberry Pi” under “Choose your weapon”, you’ll see there are a couple of basic distribution options to choose from. We recommend the widely used LibreELEC and OSMC due to its easy installation.

Enter the SD card type and the desired operating system (for example with the Win32 Disk Manager or an installer). Insert the SD card into the Raspberry Pi and then connect it to power – the commissioning starts automatically.

Alternatively, you can buy the Raspberry Pi 16 GB NOOBS microSD card and select “LibreELEC” the first time you start.

Start the installation and follow the instructions on the screen. It’s handy at this point to connect a mouse and a keyboard to your Raspberry Pi, then you can switch between the program items using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select using the cursor and confirm using the enter key.

KODI installation accomplished – now what?

Now it’s time to add the files you want in KODI. Simply click on the file you want to upload and, for example, choose “Add Pictures”. KODI then prompts you to enter a name for the media source – after doing so you can do the step confirm with “done”. Then click on “Browse” and select a folder with pictures. If you then confirm with “OK”, the images are imported into KODI. The process is the same for music and films.

As an alternative to the network folder, the files can also be stored on a NAS (network attached storage). This method will help you consume less power, handle larger amounts of data at once and can be installed without much effort.

Managing your Media Centre

Important: Before you import the media, make sure that all files are neatly sorted by media type and named consistently. That’s the only way the scrapers of KODI (search programs that search the Internet for information such as DVD cover art or fan-art) can recognise the film or song, add information and display the media library clearly.

Common file names and folder structures for the KODI Media Library:

	Hersteller/Typenbezeichnung	Preis	Technologie	Max. Werkzeugleistung	Aufbau	max. Temperatur / Temperaturbereich	Temp.- Genauigkeit	Temp. Stabilität	Betriebsspannung	Display / Hinterleuchtung	Regelung
	Ersa Digital 2000 A Power Tool	331.5	Lötstation	80 W	1-Kanal	50…450 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	LED 4-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Ersa i-CON 2 Vario i-Tool	666.95	Löt- und Entlötstation	200 W	2-Kanal	150…450 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	Grafik-LC-Display / ja	digitale Regelung
	Ersa i-CON Vario 4, Set 1	1485.95	Löt- und Entlötstation	500 W	4-Kanal	50…550 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	2 x Grafik-LC-Display / ja	digitale Regelung
	Ersa i-CON NANO	237.95	Lötstation	68 W	1-Kanal	150…450 °C	0 Grad nach Kalibrierung	k.A.	230 V	LC-Display / nein	digitale Regelung
	RND LAB 560-00155	134.95	Lötstation	100 W	1-Kanal	100…500 °C	k.A.	k.A.	110 / 230 V	LC-Display 3×3-stellig + Symbole / ja	digitale Regelung
	Weller WD 1	219	Lötstation (Versorgungseinheit)	80 W	1-Kanal	50…450 °C	+/- 9	+/- 5	230 V	LC-Display (3stellig + Symbole) / nein	digitale Regelung
	Weller WDD 81V	876	Löt- und Entlötstation	80 W	1-Kanal	50…450 °C	+/- 9	k.A.	230 V	LED 3-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Weller WHS MC	365.6	Akku-Lötstation	40 W	1-Kanal	100…400 °C	+/- 9	+/- 5	100-240 V	LC-Display (3stellig + Symbole) / nein	digitale Regelung
	Weller WSD 151 Set	607	Lötstation	150 W	1-Kanal	50…550 °C	+/- 11	k.A.	230 V	LED 3-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Weller WTHA 1	874	Heißluft Lötstation	900 W	1-Kanal	50…600 °C	+/- 30	k.A,	230 V	Grafik-LC-Display / ja	Tandem-Regelung mit Dual-Sensor
	Weller WXD 2010	999.95	Löt- und Entlötstation	255 W	2-Kanal	50…550 °C	+/- 9	+/- 2	230 V	LCD-Matrix (255×128) / ja	digitale Temperaturregelung
	Xytronic IR-860II	1149.95	Infrarot-Rework-Station	150 W	1-Kanal	45…350 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	3x LED 3-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Xytronic LF-852II	189.95	Heißluft Lötstation	1000 W	1-Kanal	100…480 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	LED 3- + 2-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Xytronic LF-3200	149.95	Lötstation	120 W	1-Kanal	200…500 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	LED 3-stellig, selbstleuchtend rot	digitale Regelung
	Zhongdi ZD-912	114.95	Löt- und Heißluftstation	380 W	2-Kanal	160…480 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	2x zweizeiliges LC-Display / ja	digitale Regelung
	Zhongdi ZD-987	154.95	Löt- und Entlötstation	2 x 80 W	2-Kanal	160…480 °C	k.A.	k.A.	230 V	2x zweizeiliges LC-Display / ja	digitale Regelung

Control KODI through the app

Finally, you not only have the ability to control KODI by a mouse and keyboard but also through the app Kore or even a remote control. The app is available for both iOS and Android for free download.

For Kore to work the control must be enabled in KODI over HTTP. To do this, select the setting “Services – Web server” in the system menu of KODI. If your smartphone or tablet is now on the same network as the Raspberry Pi, then it should be able to detect all running KODI installations on the network.

Once you‘re connected to KODI, you can browse your Media Centre by using your smartphone as a remote control. In the Kore app, you can search text, browse media, select and start watching your favourite film. So there’s nothing standing in the way of a friendly KODI service on the sofa.

Even your own remote control can be used to control KODI. If your TV supports CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) and it will automatically recognise the Raspberry Pi and you can surf to your heart‘s content.

Cover picture: fotolia, 120301866