I have 2 overhead zones combined into a small amp ( Moukey Home Audio Amp). Not used for AV, just playing music from an echo dot.
Main problems are:
For those that have something similar:
I have muted the echo that I have connected to my AV system so that it never hears commands. I use Echo Speaks to issue commands to that echo for music, etc. I use webcore for most of my music automation. Vocal commands to echos around the house or buttons on my dashboards usually trigger webcore pistons. Those options can issue commands to the muted echo. There are plenty of users here that use RM for this purpose. The smart plugs that I use are the Smartthings U999SJVLDAA and the Aeotec Smart Switch 7, but they are not available on Amazon right now.
I would leave your Amp on all the time. The power draw when it isn’t playing is probably tiny. You could put it on a simple Zigbee plug and turn it on when awake and off at night or when away to save some power, but during the day turning it on and off when music is playing isn’t worth the hassle or the lag time.
As for Alexa hearing on the right device, this is a training thing. The Alexa platform has logic to determine which device you meant to respond. It will periodically ask you if the right device responded and when it does you should respond so it can learn. If you stand in a place where both can hear you, speak multiple commands until it gives you this prompt. Repeat this from other locations. Training will take time but it works. If all else fails you can mute the echo dot and tell the kitchen show to play on the echo dot.
Both suggestions in here led me to mute the dot. That makes sense.
Can you explain how echo speaks/pistons/RM would be used in this case? I have echo speaks installed, but really have had a hard time wrapping my head around how I’d use is.
I cannot speak much on how to use RM with Echo Speaks. I don't use that method. And if you are not familiar with Webcore, then RM is probably the path to use. I can interact with Echo Speaks using voice (with Echo devices around my house), dashboards around the house, my phone, sensors around the house....you get the idea. For instance, I have various virtual switches on my pads around the house that control playing different types of music from my ceiling speakers. I have Alexa routines that mirror those virtual switches so that I can also use voice to control my music. Those switches/routines trigger webcore pistons to do the heavy lifting. For example, my Christian Hits button triggers a piston that uses Echo Speaks to send a command to the dedicated, muted echo to play "Amazon Christian Playlists." The muted echo is plugged into my AV system and that music source and speakers are activated in that particular location in my house to play that selected playlist. I am sure that someone here can explain how to do that with RM.
Thanks, I get the dashboard usage and automation.
But I guess, if I tell Alexa to play ‘edm playlist’, what is the benefit to route that through echo speaks? Is it because the echo is muted, that is the way to take it out of listening to everything said?
I have had little luck "training" my echos to distinguish which one I am talking to when in close proximity to others. If you know that you are ONLY going to give your dedicated AV echo device (AKA "music dot") verbal commands to play music from that device, then you don't need any of what I have described above. Just always issue verbal commands to that music dot. BUT, if other echoes are picking up those verbal commands, and you are never sure which echo will respond (and thus start playing music), then you might have to build Alexa routines that will direct your music dot to play music no matter which echo device actually hears your music request command. You may not have to mute any devices for that. But that will probably require you to use Echo Speaks. So no matter which echo responds to your command, the music will always be played from your music dot. So, for example, you could be in your bathroom and say "Alexa, play my edm playlist" and your music will start playing from your music doc to your speakers in your kitchen. You may not even need RM for that.
If you ONLY have music playing from your music dot at a single location, then your process should be much easier than mine. I use my music dot as a source of music to play in multiple different areas of my house. That has required webcore to direct my AV controller to pipe music to those areas.
I use different wake words for Echo's in the same room sometimes. My wife's Bedside Echo is Alexa and mine is Echo. That might help with part of your plan.
@Hal3 And this is with using echo speaks, or just native echo rules/settings routines?
@all - I’ve had mentally a tough time figuring out efficiencies gained with echo speaks. I don’t need announcements for switches or my Rachio turning on or off. Where I see it could be good is to mute them all from listening to you, but you lose some of the benefits of asking questions, weather, etc.
I think I’ll mute my dot (physically on the device, didn’t see setting in the app) that is hooked to my overheads/amp. I’ll command music to be played from my mobile app or via voice from kitchen echo show. Sounds like I can just do that via echo groups/routines?
Appreciate your detail/patience!
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