Output to seperate speakers in seperate rooms

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dzirkelb

New Member
I am starting home automation, and part of this process will involve outputting whatever sound to a certain speaker in the house...aka, if I'm in the basement and I want to hear music in the basement, then I need my computer to know which speaker to send it to.

For the program I am using for Home Automation to work, it needs to select an output on which speaker to send it to.

So, I am looking for some piece of hardware to install to my cpu that will allow me to identify up to 8 different audio outs. The quality needs to be minimal, just enough to send speech basicaly, and some music...but nothing special.

Any ideas on where I need to start looking or any items anyone can think of?
 
Whew...well, not too sure about a low-end solution that would function within a PC like the way you wish. From what you are describing, you would be better off with a distributed amplification system that has multiple, independently selectable source inputs. I can point you in the right direction there, but they are not cheap.

Can you elaborate further about what you are trying to accomplish? Are you talking full home automation with a lighting and HVAC controller? Or, are you just referring to multi-room audio?
 
I'm talking full automation. I will have the software, more than likely be HomeSeer, speak what command she just accomplished (on those commands I choose). I will have microphones throughout the house to accept incoming messages with some sort of bridge for them all to gate them. Then, I'm pretty sure the HomeSeer software will recognize which microphone it is receiving from, and by that, I will be able to tell my computer which speaker to output on. If needed, I could possibly just install 3 of the cheapest sound cards around and tell HomeSeer to output to that sound out. That would work for what I am wanting as I have my HDMI out for my media portion. Think that'll work? Be a hell of a lot cheaper too. However, my next issue would be outputting to a wireless speaker...do they make wireless in ceiling speakers for computers? If not, I can mod a regular one somehow.
 
OK. Yes, you can configure your computer with multiple sound cards. It is possible.

You can use any wireless speaker system and connect the line out from a sound card to the transmitter's line it. It just depends on how much you are willing to spend.
 
Well, the good part about the output to the speakers is it will be 95% speech, so nothing special on the speakers, the cheaper the better in my mind on that aspect.

I think for sending the out commands, I'll look for some sort of bridge, but it would be easier / cheaper for me, I think, to get a couple sound cards.
 
Really you only need one sound input with HomeSeer, right? You could set up an intercom system that is attached to the line input on your computer.
 
Ya, one input. Instead of an intercom system, however, i want wireless mic's so I don't have to physicall go to the interom...it's all about laziness :)

I can set up motion sensors to tell which room i'm in also to know which room to output.
 
Ah! Ha ha. I understand completely. :)

Well, ultimate laziness does come at a price - either in expense, up-front labor, or both.

The only problem I see with multiple microphone inputs into HomeSeer is with multiple (even unintended) commands coming in at the same time. Do you have more than one person in the house that may want to communicate with the controller, possibly even at the same time?

You know, you could just carry a cell phone or cordless phone around with you, too.
 
I think it works as a bridge to tell HomeSeer which room it is coming from. I think without that bridge, HomeSeer will just take it as a mic input, but doesn't know which room it comes from.
 
OK. I understand your plan. Sounds like a fun programming project. End goal = speak a command in a room, without specifying the room, HomeSeer should see the audio coming from that room and apply the command accordingly to that space. Correct?

Is HomeSeer that flexible? Just curious.
 
Yup...I think with getting the SECU 16 item it will understand. Without it, I don't think it will.

For now, however, I will start with just all microphones and I'll describe in my speech which room to run events on and which not to (aka, I say "turn kitchen lights on" opposed to standing in the kitchen and saying "turn lights on")
 
The bonus to specifying commands like that is you can shutdown (or power up) the house from any room. Perfect for when you forgot to turn off a light and you are already comfy in bed.

Sounds like fun. Good luck with the project!
 
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