Music player controlled remotely. Can this be done?

[mkatich]

Hi there,

My old desktop computer (Win 10) is unused now so I was hoping to turn it into a music player that my dad could use to play downloaded music through his stereo system. His stereo is in the basement (along with set top CD, tape, record player), and they have 2 speakers down there, 2 speakers upstairs, and 2 speakers on the back porch that are controlled by the stereo. My idea was to use my old computer to run Plex (or something), and somehow allow for remote control either thru an Android phone or tablet, a laptop, or even their TV (has Chromecast). That way volume can be adjusted, play/pause, and ideally browse through music and pick songs to play from upstairs rather than having to go down and up the stairs a bunch. Of course he doesn’t have a lot of digital music but I think the convenience will be hard to beat and it’s simple enough to add music. Mobile app would be ideal since chances are it would be simpler for him to use and could be controlled from anywhere he’d want.

I read about something called Plex Companion that would allow for an Android app to control Plex remotely. It seemed that I could install on this Win 10 computer Plex server, Plex client, and then Plex companion as receiver… and then Plex installed on an Android device could be the Plex companion controller. However I can’t seem to find anything current about it such as how to install it.

So just now I installed Plex server and Plex Win 10 app and played some music on it. I came across Unified Remote mobile app and that could be a way to control Plex remotely from a phone or tablet, but it really only has the basic buttons like play/pause, directions, etc. (keyboard functions) and would not be something for browsing songs and such.

Something that might work but is probably unrealistic is using their upstairs TV as the display of the Plex box and have a (super long range?) bluetooth keyboard and touchpad or something. However, either it would have to be a really long HDMI cord run to the TV, or a really long audio cord to the stereo… and I don’t really want to have the computer next to their upstairs TV. That would require a smaller, quieter, nicer-looking computer to fit in there. It’s doable but would cost more and I already have a computer ready to use.

Another thing would be to use the desktop as Plex server and use their TV/Chromecast or laptop as a Plex client. That would allow for a decent way to control it, but then the audio would still have to be sent to the stereo somehow. Maybe the TV has some kind of audio out, no idea.

Do you see a Plex setup that could work like this? Should I consider something else that is a better fit?

Just as background, I’ve had a computer hooked to my TV and stereo for a long time and I’ve read up on HTPC stuff a bunch over the years as well. Of course I’ve read about Plex a lot, but never installed it until now.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any help!

[FordGuy61]

If using Android, he could run the Plex app on his phone/tablet then cast the audio to a Chromecast speaker, chromecast device attached to stereo, etc.

Using the Plex app on my Android phone I can cast media to my Nvidia Shield TV (Android TV).

If you have Apple devices there’s probably a way to do the same with AirPlay devices (speakers, AppleTV, etc).

FYI, a non-Plex alternative is to use Google Play Music. Upload all his music to Google Play Music then use the Play Music app on phone/tablet/PC. Can cast audio to Chromecast speaker, etc, stream to bluetooth speaker, etc. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as Plex, but you stream from Google’s cloud and do not need a server running anywhere. No cost to use the service.

A similar service from Apple is iTunes Match. It does the same thing for Apple devices. It costs $25/year to store music in Apple’s cloud.

[mkatich]

Using his phone or tablet as the player might be fine. He’d have less space for music than the hard drive in this computer, but it would be easy to use.

But I should have made clear - the audio needs to go into his existing stereo with a headphone cable (and adapter to red and white RCA plugs). This stereo is in the basement and I’d like control to be possible from upstairs.

I didn’t know what a Chromecast speaker was until now, but after looking them up I see they are little portable speakers similar to bluetooth speakers but work across wifi. He already has 3 pairs of nice speakers with great sound, surely all better than those little things.

However, when looking up Chromecast speakers, I came across Chromecast Audio. From what I understand, it allows control and casting from an Android device to the Chromecast Audio device, and it has a 3.5mm audio output. You can tap the “cast” button in some music apps (including PLEX!, Google Play Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio).

Ah darn, Google killed off the Chromecast Audio in January apparently. Geez. There is always another roadblock. Maybe I can still find one.

So now if I can find one of those, here is a possibility - I have a Chromecast Audio hooked to his stereo system so it can accept casted audio via wifi. I keep the desktop computer setup with Plex server and it stores music so the music doesn’t fill up his phone or laptop. I install Plex client on his phone or tablet and have that access the Plex server to get music. Then he can control the music with his phone/tablet, and cast it to the Chromecast Audio which will play the music through his stereo system and existing speakers.

I wonder if I can find one of those.

[OttoKerner]

If you have a RaspBerry Pi 3 lying around, you could set up this software on it:

Plexamp for Raspberry Pi Release Notes

Plexamp for Raspberry Pi v2.0 beta 2 We’re pleased to announce the next release of Plexamp for Raspberry Pi, with massive internal changes and improvements. The audio engine inside is the exact same upgraded piece of awesome which powers our iOS and Android apps. Overall, the biggest changes: Support for TIDAL and podcasts. Lower memory usage. Much faster startup of playback in many cases. Much faster seeking/track skipping (in many cases instant). Pre-buffering of next track. Improved sweet F…

It gives you a “headless” Plexamp, which can be controlled from other Plex clients.
(But I recommend getting a separate DAC module for it, for increased audio quality).
You can tuck it away somewhere behind the amp. All it needs is a network connection and power.

[mkatich]

I don’t have one, but I’m curious. Plexamp is a client, right? So I’d still need a Plex server. What does that Raspberry Pi setup gain over just having Plex client (or Plexamp) and server on the same Windows desktop computer?

Space by the stereo receiver in the basement is not a problem. It’s behind a closet door and having a desktop tower by it would be fine. I just don’t want to put it upstairs since there isn’t a good spot for it.

I didn’t realize that you can control Plexamp from another Plex client. That kind of sounds like the Plex Companion thing I mentioned above which I thought had disappeared. That would be great. Is there anywhere to read up on how to do this remote control?

Say I have Plexamp installed on that Windows desktop. If I install Plex mobile app on an android tablet, can I remote control the desktop’s Plexamp client?

Interesting. I found on this page - Plexamp - Frequently Asked Questions - the very last line says…

Can I remote control another Plex app?
The Player selector in the app menu lets you choose which player to use for output. You can choose Local to play on Plexamp itself or choose another Plex app to control.

I also see this page https://support.plex.tv/articles/201358253-choose-a-player/
which is all about choosing a Plex player app from a Plex controller app so I guess you can control any Plex client with another one. That right?

I guess I need to get the mobile app and do some experimentation.

[OttoKerner]

@mkatich

What does that Raspberry Pi setup gain over just having Plex client (or Plexamp) and server on the same Windows desktop computer?

Now that I think about it, not much for a person without a Plex Pass.
It is a bit more suitable for someone who already has a server and only wants a music player which can do loudness levelling and Sweet Fades (both Plex Pass features, atm.)

@mkatich

I didn’t realize that you can control Plexamp from another Plex client. That kind of sounds like the Plex Companion thing I mentioned above which I thought had disappeared.

No, it didn’t disappear. It might have a few bugs/restrictions on a certain client, atm but it’s not gone.
You could download the current public version of Plexamp for Windows (v1) and set it up on a PC. It can act as a Companion controller and as a Companion receiver. http://plexamp.com/

The mobile Plex apps are free to use if you only use them as a controller and don’t play directly on them, btw.

Keep in mind that Companion only works if both controller and receiver are in the same local network.
Some plex client types do also need a plex server to be present in the same local network for Companion to work.

[mkatich]

Ok great, this is what I needed to hear. I had seen most links about Plex Companion I found go to a 404 page. Maybe now it’s just assumed to be part of Plex.

Yes, I did just come across this-
https://support.plex.tv/articles/206318037-what-are-the-features-and-limitations-without-unlocking-the-app/
So here I can see that the free version of the mobile app allows you to have unlimited casting of music and stuff. Only playing on the mobile device itself has a limit of one minute playback. That’s fine. And I have no problem paying a one-time fee for an app to do what I need.

Keep in mind that Companion only works if both controller and receiver are in the same local network. Some plex client types do also need a plex server to be present in the same local network for Companion to work.

This is good info, many thanks. That was my original plan, having everything on their network. But it did cross my mind that I could possibly have the server at my house if I had another device as client at their house. Do you know how to find which Plex client types require the Plex server be on the local network for Companion to work?

[OttoKerner]

The help articles have been reorganized a while ago. Companion docu is here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/categories/features/casting-flinging-remote-control/

@mkatich

Do you know how to find which Plex client types require the Plex server be on the local network for Companion to work?

The Android mobile app and plexamp will probably work.

Most Smart TV apps, Xbox and Playstation probably won’t.
It has to do with how “locked-down” the platform is and if an app is allowed to open a network port to listen on the LAN. Most locked-down platforms don’t allow this, so they need a local plex server to act as a ‘companion relay’.
This plex server doesn’t need to have any media content on it, btw.

[mkatich]

Thank you very much for your help @OttoKerner

Last night I was able to install Plexamp on the same computer as the Plex server… and I also installed Plexamp on 2 other computers, and installed Plex mobile app on my phone (iPhone). I was able to change players and control playback from any one to any of the others. Nice! I even controlled playback on my phone by using Plexamp on a desktop (sometimes it didn’t work immediately but worked after a couple tries). I also learned that I could use the volume buttons on my phone to control volume of the remote playback on a desktop. I later found there are volume controls on the app in the 3 dots menu at bottom right corner.

This is excellent. Now I might try keeping the server at my house and sharing the library. I would still need a Plexamp client plugged into my dad’s stereo system. Actually I could try a Chromecast Audio for that. He could run Plex on his Android tablet or phone, then set the player to the Chromecast Audio. Does that sound doable?

[OttoKerner]

I don’t have personal experience with CC’s. But one of the developers has deployed a fleet of them at his house. Pity, they aren’t made anymore.

[mkatich]

I found one and ordered it. I’ll see how it goes. I suspect it should work just like a regular Chromecast since it’s probably almost the same thing except with an audio output.

Cast from Android | Plex Support

[mkatich]

Hi Otto,
I just wanted to report back that I had great success with this. I bought a Chromecast Audio, and after all the setup, my dad can now play music from his library on my Plex server (at my house) through the Chromecast Audio to his stereo receiver and A/B/C sets of speakers at his house by controlling it with the Plex mobile app on his Android tablet.

The Chromecast Audio seems to perform the job quite well. I noticed the Chromecast Audio was a choice for casting from within the Chrome web browser on his Windows laptop, so that could allow him to stream Youtube audio through his stereo as well. However, strangely the Youtube mobile app also has a cast button and it did not show the Chromecast Audio as a choice for casting (though it showed his smart TV). I did some searching and I think Google has just disabled that unless you are paying for a Youtube Music subscription.

In the course of setting this up and testing, I did install the Plex Windows app on a computer and noticed it was really slow and slowed down the computer - similar to what other people reported here - Plex App Windows 10- Downloads not working and laggy performance

But I did install Plexamp later, and that worked well besides lacking interface. I think I will install Plexamp on my dad’s laptop so he can access the same music that way. He would be able to also play the music through his laptop speakers then, or he could use that similarly to the Android tablet and control play through his receiver.