Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Current state of Crestron integration?

Hi all,

I'm an existing Sooloos owner and am about to step into a new home that has an existing Crestron system. As you might imagine, I'm working with an installer to customize what's there for my own usage needs. What I'm curious about is what the current state of Crestron integration is with Sooloos. Several helpful pieces of information to know about this scenario are:

1 - My original Sooloos dealer no longer carries the line and hasn't for at least 18 months, so they aren't a good source of current info.
2 - I will likely be stepping up to an MD600 and some number of MS200 units to replace some older Store and Source components.
3 - There is a local Meridian dealer in my market, but for a variety of reasons, I will not be engaging with them on the Crestron work and would only be buying the hardware form them.

With that said, here are my questions:

1 - There used to be a bridge hardware unit that I understand is no longer needed in order to interface with Crestron systems. Is that correct and/or is that only true for certain Sooloos hardware (I'm wondering if the need for the bridge was eliminated only with newer pieces like the MD600, MC200, MS600, etc)? I'm just wondering if I will absolutely have to step up to the MD600 in order to

2 - Does Meridian provide a "module" for easy integration into Crestron systems or is it simply a set of protocols that a Crestron programmer could make use of in order to get 2-way communication with Sooloos? In other words, should I expect to spend a bunch of money on Crestron programming just for the Sooloos integration piece that almost has to be built from the ground up or are the tools from Meridian good enough to drop in and make use of with minimal customization? By the way, my knowledge of Crestron programming is VERY limited, so that last question is probably a huge oversimplification. For reference, yes, I know about the ready alternative of using the Crestron iPad app alongside the Meridian Core Control App. If it can be integrated easily though, there are definite benefits to having Sooloos control from within the Crestron interface.

3 - How does the latest Crestron control of the Sooloos system compare with something like the Meridian Core Control iPad app? Is the functionality comparable or is the Crestron control more like basic playback controls with folder style browsing of the library? If anyone has or can link to screenshots or a video of Sooloos control from a Crestron panel in action, I'd be very grateful.

Jeff

Jeff

I have never touched Crestron, but I believe that the Sooloos API was developed to facilitate such integration. It's quite basic and parts are the same as the 'explore' functionality as offered on many of the Sooloos control screens. It's not going to do full Meridian system control though.

I'm currently playing with the API so can help with some questions re the API but not Crestron related.

Rick at Audio Images might be able to provide more info re AMX/Crestron integration as I believe that they worked with Meridian in this area.

Hth

Hi Jeff

There is a Crestron software module.

It has similar functionality to the old Sooloos iPad app except that it cannot display the current queue.

It is a little slow displaying menues. For example,it takes about one second to move from the home menu to the "my Library" menu.

Having said that, I find it useful sometimes to control the Sooloos inside my Command Fusion Iviewer app with it rather than switching to Core Control and waiting for the queue to load

Version 2.0 is available on the Crestron site under Integrated partners - Meridian.

I am using version 2.5 Beta which I got from Rick but from memory there are not many differences.

Contact Rick if you would like a copy.

Jeff,

I know (though haven't seen it in operation yet) that Crestron control pages can be accessed on a Control:10 or Control:15.

Ian

Thanks so much for the info and I found the module on Crestron's site. They included sample images so it was actually a good example of what is capable now. This is hugely helpful and tells me that, at this time, the module's capabilities would be way too simplified for me to use as the main UI, but would likely be fine for the rest of my family.

So, I can see having the Crestron integration while I keep using the Core Control app. It's a win-win as long as the programming cost for implementation is reasonable and with these modules, it looks like is true.

Jeff

I did see that and it is a cool extended usage of the panel. I probably won't pursue it given all the other ways I will have to control my system, but it's is a nice extra.

Jeff

Jeff,

What are you using for touch panels with the Crestron System?
I was planning on using my Control:15, but with the amount of money it would cost to program it, I got an iPad instead.

Using the iPad as a Crestron touch panel also allows me to use the iPad Core Control App.

Crestron programmers have programmed many iPads and will probably give you a break on the programming on it.

While this doesn't integrate my Sooloos system into my Crestron system, it does allow me to control it from a mobile touch panel.

... And for a lot less money.

I think it's important to clarify something about me in general. That is when I get into something new (in this case home automation) I go way deeper than I need to because it interests me and because in the end I usually want more flexibility than less. In this case I already have iPads running the Core Control App and the Crestron system I'm stepping into already is programmed to make use of the Crestron iOS app extensively (no Crestron touchpanels were used in the original installation). I have chosen to add a few dedicated in-wall Crestron panels (never run out of juice, never get lost, generally snappier response, etc). As such, I decided that I wanted to be able to control Sooloos from the Crestron panels, especially when I was using it for whole house or multi-zone audio playback. It's a conscious choice and yes, I know it will incur additional programming costs.

Jeff

Does this work with a Control:One?

According to this, I think so Control:One External Control Utility Guide