Homebridge Yamaha MusicCast Multiroom Plugin

Official MusicCast support in Apple HomeKit is limited. This plugin provides quick access to favorite presets, input source selection and power/volume control within the Apple Home app. Speakers will always be linked to their MusicCast server.

Configuration:

• server: IP address or hostname of the Yamaha receiver (or main MusicCast speaker) that will serve music to the clients
• clients: IP addresses or hostnames of the Yamaha speakers (or other MusicCast devices) that will be connected to the server

{
    "server": {
        "host": "192.168.178.80",
        ...
    },
    "clients": [
        {
            "host": "192.168.178.81",
            ...
        },
        {
            "host": "192.168.178.82",
            ...
        }
    ],
    "platform": "MusiccastMultiroom"
}

Volume

The current Apple Home app doesn't really support volume for speakers and receivers, so the source selector is "misused" to quickly adjust volume in 6 steps.

Lower and upper volume limits can be adjusted in the settings for each device. Something like 25% (lower limit) to 65% (upper limit) is probably reasonable for most environments.

{
    "server": {
        ...
        "volumePercentageLow": 25,
        "volumePercentageHigh": 65,
        ...
    },
    "clients": [
        {
            ...
            "volumePercentageLow": 30,
            "volumePercentageHigh": 65
        }
    ],
    "platform": "MusiccastMultiroom"
}

Input Sources

For the server device, there will be a separate accessory to select the input source. It will provide all favorites saved on the device. Use the Yamaha MusicCast app to save, edit and order favorites.

Additional inputs like HDMI can be added and named in the settings:

{
    "server": {
        ...
        "inputs": [
            {
                "input": "audio3",
                "name": "Plattenspieler"
            },
            {
                "input": "airplay",
                "name": "Airplay"
            },
            {
                "input": "hdmi1",
                "name": "Apple TV"
            }
        ]
    },
    ...
    "platform": "MusiccastMultiroom"
}

Input sources that provide their own content (like Amazon Music, Net Radio, Spotify, etc.) are more useful when specific playlists or stations are saved as favorites in the Yamaha MusicCast app. Those will then be availabe in HomeKit.

Available input sources for a Yamaha receiver include for example:

airplay
alexa
amazon_music
audio1
audio2
audio3
aux
av1
av2
av3
bluetooth
deezer
hdmi1
hdmi2
hdmi3
hdmi4
mc_link
napster
net_radio
qobuz
server
spotify
tidal
tuner
usb

Additional switches

When supported by the server device, up to two additional switches will be published:

• Surround Decoder:
  • on: set sound program to Surround Decoder
  • off: set sound program to Straight
• Lip Sync:
  • on: set link audio delay to Lip Sync, which prefers lipsync between audio and hdmi video (and may cause delays between connected speakers)
  • off: set link audio delay to Audio Sync, which prefers audio sync between all connected speakers (and may cause delays between audio and hdmi video)

Language

Initial names for devices/switches etc. will all be in English, rename them if necessary in your HomeKit app.