Hey everyone! I’ve been diving into the world of smart music automation and wanted to share my journey and some tips that might help others. I’ve been using Home Assistant alongside Plex, Music Assistant, and Roon to create a seamless music experience, and it’s been quite a ride!
My Goal: I wanted to create a system where I could enjoy fresh, randomized instrumental jazz tracks throughout the day without relying solely on Spotify. My setup includes a Sonos system linked to a shared drive with thousands of local tracks. The challenge was figuring out how to automate this without the bookmarks from Roon’s “focus” feature being accessible via API.
The Solution: After some research, I discovered that Music Assistant might be the key. While it doesn’t have a built-in smart playlist feature, I found a workaround by using Home Assistant automations. Here’s how I did it:
- Setup Music Assistant: I configured Music Assistant to scan my local library and make it available through Home Assistant.
- Create an Automation: I set up a simple automation in Home Assistant that triggers when I press a specific button on my remote. This automation sends a command to Music Assistant to play a random instrumental jazz track from my local collection.
- Integration with Sonos: The best part? This automation seamlessly integrates with my Sonos system, ensuring the music plays throughout my house.
Why I Love This Setup: It’s incredibly flexible and allows me to enjoy my extensive local music library without any subscription fees. Plus, the randomization keeps things fresh and exciting every time I press the button.
Tips for Others:
- Catalog Your Music: Make sure your local library is well-organized with proper genres and tags. This makes automation much more effective.
- Experiment with Integrations: Don’t be afraid to mix and match different tools. Sometimes the best solutions come from unexpected combinations.
- Automation is Your Friend: Home Assistant’s automation capabilities are vast. Take the time to explore and see what you can achieve.
I’d love to hear how others are using their local music libraries with smart home systems. Have you found any unique solutions or integrations? Let’s share and learn together!
Cheers,
[Your Name]