‘Tandem Playback’ to several clients

Feature Suggestions
425

Unfortunately nothing but crickets in years.

And I believe the feature here should work more similar to sonos/airplay. You start something on one player, then select the “add other players” type button, and tick other player you want going.

Personally, I’m not exactly holding out hope though. Plex seems to have pivoted their focus to services, offering streamed movies, tv and now games (which I’m sure no one asked for), rather than focusing on improving the actual features of their platform.
After 7 years I give up. I’m going to look at putting in a hdmi/hdbt splitter at home to get close something close to this feature going.

426

I’m trying an airplay extension for my PC (AirMyPC)…it makes it one way, but might suffice for what I need to do. Also, lets me replicate the PC on the Home Theater. We’ll see, would still prefer this solution as it would help when having groups over (if that ever happens again)

427

It would seem like this should be even easier these days with watch together. I would think you would think it would be as simple as creating some Non-User type ID, then expanding the watch together to be able to push to those sources. Its something I have wondered about for a while as I work at home and can wind up going between rooms or even being in the same room and having TVs in multiple locations (also multiple monitors… yes as an IT goof you would be amazed the tech you put around you for multiple usages.

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428

+1, a must have system. Would essentially replace a much more expensive Sonos system with some Raspberry Pi devices.

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429

Ended up going back to Sonos as it is not looking promising for Plex to add this feature. Second GEN Play Connects can be had for cheap on fleabay and work with the new Sonos Gen 2 app and devices. I now have tandem playback of music throughout the entire house and outside… still would be nice to have movies and series be able to tandem throughout the house and outside :cry:

430

Like others, I have multiple Pi clients and would like to play the same audio through more than one simultaneously.

431

Using Plexamp, you can easily select other Players to Cast to. Unfortunately it is only one at a time. If using a Browser, you are able to use Cast and get two locations to sync, then Disconnect from browser and both locations essentially will continue simultaneous playback, using the same playlist. Unfortunately the sync messes up with the start of the next song, with the Plexamp skipping ahead 2-20 secs. Playlist is the same but browser player lags in start time. So close!

432

Hi all. First - I haven’t read all 427 comments in this request yet, so there is definitely context I haven’t seen. Some of the original comments were around concurrent playback and we have the watch together feature. I will readily admit that it needs a few updates, but it works well for a single title use case concurrent playback. Some of the newest comments are discussing some of the simultaneous playback possible via Plexamp with music.

However, after looking at the first chunk of comments and the most recent, I am a little curious to see if anyone wants to revive this request and if so, what does it mean to you now today? What is the use case here? Do either of the synchronized playback pieces mentioned here (plexamp, watch together) potentially address those use cases? Do those need to be improved in some way or is this request targeting an entirely new feature and how would that work?

433

The use case for me would be to start a watch together session on the PC, cast the video only to a chromecast, and leave the audio on the PC so that the wireless headset’s receiver plugged into the PC can be used.

434

Plexamp, while a very nice app, is not available to run on apple tv for no apparent reason, and so cannot help those of us who invest in the Apple ecosystem. It’s bizarre to me that after 10 years PMS has no ability to simulcast on a local network to multiple endpoints. The request is pretty simple: we’d like to be able to start video or music playback on one device and join additional rooms and devices to the stream. I doubt anyone is worried about millisecond-scale precision (like is available with Sonos), but rather is looking to be able to have party music playing, or a TV show running in multiple rooms in our homes.

As an example, in my home, I have a windows pc with the plex app in my office, an Apple TV 4k in my living room, and a Fire stick 4k in a bedroom. I would like to be able to start music playback on one (any one, no real preference) of those systems, open the Plex app on the others, and join the second and third devices to the stream, to have music playing throughout my home. If we could control this through the plexamp app on a wifi-connected phone, that would be close to perfect.

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435

The following are a list of settings that should give a feel for the functionality we would like to see implemented. Our use case is several screens around the house that we like to start playing automatically when powered on. We have two of these within earshot making it necessary to also add a delay setting.

  • Introduce setting “PTS Offset” (Implement globally in all players today.)
    • User selectable delay to apply to every playback, which allows for acoustic allignment of multiple players with the listening position. Must be a per player setting independent of Tandem Session settings. (In the event the Host player requires a delay.)
    • Presentation Timestamp is not to be mistaken with the lip-sync setting which is for allignment of audio and video during playback within one player.
  • Definitions
    • Tandem Session - When media playing on a Host is available on the network.
    • Tandem Host - A player that initiates playback on its own screen, announces the Tandem Session on the local network, and listens for playback commands.
    • Tandem Client - Any player that joins a Tandem Session.

  • Include setting “Enable Tandem Hosting”

    • Begin a Tandem Session when selected by the user from the menu of a media title page. (Like “Watch Together”) Selecting Tandem Playback will initiate the session immediately and begin playing on the host screen.

  • Include setting “Full-Time Tandem Hosting”

    • When enabled, this player will automatically initiate a Tandem Session for everything it plays without additional user input. Joining Tandem Session will suspend Full-Time host functionality.

  • Include setting “Enable Casting as Tandem Session”

    • All casting will initiate a Tandem Session if enabled here or if “Full-Time Tandem Host” is enabled.

  • Include setting “Allow control from Tandem Clients” - ( “None” | “All” | “Hosts” )

    • “None” - Only this player or its casting originator may control the Tandem Session.
    • “Hosts” - Tandem Clients with settings that allow hosting may control Tandem Sessions of this player.
    • “All” - Any Tandem Client may control Tandem Sessions of this player.

  • Include setting “Enable Tandem Playback”

    • Adds Tandem Playback items to the UI, giving the user the option to join a Tandem Session from an on-deck title object or menu selection. (Much like “Watch Together”)

  • Include setting “Auto Join Tandem Playback” **

    • When a Tandem Session starts, this player will automatically join the session if it is idle.
      (Automatic, hands off, no touch, no confirmation, joining and playback of Tandem Sessions must be included as a use case.)
      ** When a Player is logged in using an identity with content restrictions (content-ratings) functionality of “Auto Join Tandem Playback” may be suspended.

  • Include setting “Notify Viewer Tandem Playback Available” (If “Auto Join Tandem Playback” is enabled.)

    • Display momentary notification when Tandem Session starts if player is currently playing other media.

  • Include setting “Send Tandem Playback Commands”

    • Attempt to send commands to the host to control playback. (May be ignored based on the “Allow control from Tandem Clients” setting)
436

I would like to see “listen together” for plexamp or music in general.

A delay setting would be appreciated. It’s noticeable when watching a movie while having reactions during a call. People laughing seconds apart is a little weird and could use some improvement. It can ruin jumpscares when watching a horror movie.

For TV shows - queue the next episode without re-inviting everyone.

437

Separate suggestion.

Also covered by a separate suggestion.

438

So over the past several months I have been scouring the web for an easy and affordable option so play the same music at two locations that “sync up” correctly. Sonos does it and I have an old Sonos Connect player in my main living/theater room but I just don’t have the money to shell out for another player for my MB so I started looking for alternatives. First thing I found was the Google Music Cast device, Perfect I thought!.. oh wait they discontinued it! OK, no problem, I find a few pages that talk about connecting the Google Nest Mini (Gen-2) via Bluetooth to external BT speakers, Great!, I have a BT enable Logitech Z537 speakers in my bedroom that are connected to my laptop and I find a lot of web pages talking about how the Shield TV can now be “Grouped” into the “Create speaker group” option in the Google Home app… Sweet! I found an affordable solution for sending music to both my systems at the same time (or so I thought)… So I find a killer discount deal on the Nest Mini ($39) close to what a Google Audio cast used to cost and I start setting up my cheap Sonos alternative… I get the Mini all setup and start sending my PlexAmp music to it, Great it works!, I then go to add the Shield TV to the mix… strange, it does not show up under the “Create speaker group”??? Ok, I do a little more digging online and and says you need to be on the Beta of the Chromecast built-in so that you have version 1.47, Ok, no problem. I join the Beta group and reinstall Chromecast on the Shield TV… still nothing… Ok, let me chat with Google and see if they can help me… see where this is going yet???.. so I chat with Google Nest support, they have me try everything that I already tried, reboot everything, uninstall and reinstall the Google Home app… stand on one leg with my right index finger touching the tip of my nose… well you get the idea… then they tell me, we will need to investigate this issue more and will call you back in 1-2 hours… OK, great! Google should be able to figure this out … right?
So I wait and wait… no call… but then 4 hours later and email shows up… here is what they tell me:

"Hello Mark,

Thanks for reaching out to the Google Nest Customer Care Team.
This is Jacqueline, one of Maurine Joy’s colleagues. I apologize for the late call back and I tried to reach out on you but it seemed like call keeps on disconnecting.

In regards to your previous concern in creating a speaker group/ multi-room group on the Google Home app with your Google Home Mini and Nvidia Shield TV, after further investigation we have verified that Home Group integration for Built-in Chromecast and Android TV has been removed and it’s no longer supported.

Nvidia Shield TV is powered by Android TV with Chromecast built-in and it’s integration for the Home group feature has been removed together with Chromecast built-in TV due to complex error with the integration. This is also the reason why you are unable to see the Shield TV when attempting to create a group.

For your reference your case number is 2-5993########6. If you need more help, you can contact us again and reference this case number or reply to this email to reopen your case.

Have a new question? There are lots of ways to get back in touch with us below.

Thank you,
Jacqueline

The Google Nest Customer Care Team"

So now I am not a very happy Google customer. So it looks like there is currently only one expensive solution available and that is Sonos? I really find that amazing.

I really hope Plex can step up and fill the void of a much needed “Whole Home Audio Solution.”

439

Well, with Google what ELSE did you expect? LOL… that’s the reason why I avoid them like the plague. And as for companies removing features in updates, and updating their software every 5 minutes (because they can’t get it right the first time…)? That’s the new norm :(.

SOLUTION that works (and has worked for me for 6 years now)… Alexa (play the old Microsoft “TADA” wav now…). I have 12 alexa-enabled devices throughout my home. Some are stand-alones (the tall unit and the “show” devices), some are connected to amps (the little barebones discs or echos), and some are connected to BT speakers (SengleLED blue-tooth combo lights & speakers in the bathrooms). I’ve paid for the subscription Amazon music service to avoid commercials in the free version. I created speaker groups (“upstairs”, “downstairs”, “outside”, and “everywhere”) and this links all of them so they play sync’d content via my network wherever I want. I can annoy my neighbors and control it all from any room by voice or by using my phone :slight_smile: Nothing like blasting Rhianna’s “S&M” in every room lol.

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440

12!!! Sounds like you have a nice setup there! Not sure if I want to invest in the Amazon echo system just yet… was really hoping for a software solution as I really only need two locations to sync up. Thus why I am hoping Plex comes out with a solution in the near future. I have been messing around with the Nest Mini and while voice control is slick at first I am not sure I want to keep on using it. Where I am located in the world in Colombia SA in a very small town internet is not all that reliable. Some days I can get almost 9MB download speeds… other days just 1MB so I don’t like relying on the internet for steaming much of anything (nothing worse than a spinning cog on the display) and is why I like Plex so much as I can access my 10TB of Movies, series and music locally without having to worry about what the internet is doing today.

Sonos for some strange reason does not support Google Assistant here in Colombia even if I have the language set to English but I have a URC Total Control 2 system that I was able to program to control the Sonos via Google Assistant and the URC TC2 system also lets me control my Lutron RA2 lighting system and so with more and more programming on my URC system I am able to control more and more with the Nest Mini, or my Phone, or even my WearOS smartwatch with my voice… but like I said, not sure voice control is for me… it is fun to show off and walk into the house with some friends and just say “Hey Goggle, ask URC Home” and the lights come on to a scene of my choice and Sonos starts playing music, but for everything else I find it just as easy to just press the “Movie” button on my URC TC2 app and have it launch my theater system to the Shield TV.

Looks like Alexa is available in Colombia in English according to this page:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202207000

For those out there that might want to give it a try.

For me, I think my only (cheap) option at this very moment in time to get synced music is from the Sonos Connect to play in both my Theater and my MB is to buy a 5.0 BT transmitter and connect it to one of the outputs of the Sonos and send that to my BT system in the MB. Not sure how well it will sync up but will have to find out. I know the range is good as I was able to connect my Shield TV in the Theater to my MB BT speaker system but unfortunately once the Shield TV is connected via BT the HDMI output is shut off so I can not even use it for music in both locations. So many electronics devices in my house and still no way to do a simple music distribution system… :joy: :rofl: :man_shrugging:

441

Once upon a time I used Airfoil to send audio to multiple devices.

https://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/

442

( Anyone else seeing a corrupted timeline in this topic? )

443

This can happen if duplicate threads have been merged.

444

( How many posts does it take to reset the activity date? I’m still getting the “Revive…4 years ago.” message. )