Instructions Updated for Version 1.2.0:
Fixes play URL command for >OS16.4 - can't get BI camera streams working, but https:// mp4 and mu38 play well. (if particularly file doesn't play will relate to compatible file settings)
Adds Airplay2 Speaker Support - allows playback of file to all Airplay2 devices. Allows creation of indigo device for Airplay2 Speaker, and then file playback to these devices, including all Sonos Speakers that I have tested. (Note does not allow control of Airplay2 devices, just playback, further control will likely follow)
It uses the pyatv library (many thanks!) and this needs to be installed via a pip3 terminal command before usage. (Packaging it wasn't an option unfortunately as to many depencencies)
https://github.com/postlund/pyatv
It use the pyatv Push Listeners for playback activities to be immediately 'pushed' to the plugin devices. No polling required. This means if have lights dimming up on pause - it should happen immediately!
Potential Uses:
Create Indigo devices for Speakers, appleTVs or Homepods. Pair you appleTV and HomePod devices. Once paired, Indigo receives immediate updates on status/play/pause being the most basic.
Enables:
- Dim Lights on playback, turn on lights with pause with immediate response
- Launch a particularly App on the appleTV, via Indigo as action
- Annouce across one or all HomePods - either a mp3 file, or a Device State/Variable or text which will be read out in the current OSX system voices.
- Playback mp3 files to Airplay2 speakers eg. Sonos and cheaper equivalents...
###Installation
Download and double click Plugin Bundle
Potential issue:
You may need to install Command line tools for Xcode. It is because of the dependencies of pyatv is miniaudio which requires Clang to be installed to compile.
See FAQ at bottom of this page if ongoing issues
Can try: The below terminal command - if also fails see FAQ for manual method.
xcode-select —install
This one above. Press the "Generate AppleTV Devices" - with some options if devices not found.
Options:
Force Discovery of all Devices:
This seems to be required for more new OS devices. Default should be enabled.
This will create indigo devices for all airplay devices the plugin via library pyatv can find.
Now Homepods will be appropriately named and created, as will all Airplay2 compatible devices.
Scan a single IP address If your device is not found without using this option, you can enter its IP address and being a unicast scan based on IP This is more robust that a wider network multicast scan. If you device is not found with multicast, but correctly found with unicast you should assign it a fixed IP address (in your router level - outside of plugin) If not, when it's IP changes the plugin may loose it altogether.
Generate AppleTV Devices Using the options above. This will search your network for appleTV device and generate plugin Devices corresponding. These devices will be located in Indigo's main device folder, but can be moved anywhere you like later. You can re-press and re-press the button (if you like), and new devices should not be duplicated (unless you have deleted them)
Following the above generation of devices, all devices will be in the main Indigo Device directory. Once created they can be moved to whereever makes sense.
Next go to a Device:
Open a device, with the Edit Device Details
You should see the above.
Since OS16 and Apple4k you will need to pair your indigoplugin Device with your appleTV
Some devices do not need to be paired (such as Homepods), but they still need to be connected.
The Start Connection button below will setup them up for use
Press the Start Connection Button. And keep an eye on the Indigo Log where info will be displayued.
The plugin should find and connect to your appleTV device, or Homepod.
If a pincode is needed the Indigo log will let you know. If not needed when prompted press SAVE and close the dialog.
Otherwise on the appleTV device - A pincode should be displayed on the screen of the appleTV device.
Enter the Pincode in the box, and press submit Pincode (Press) Button.
You should receive confirmation that pairing has been successful in the log.
Press the SAVE button on the Config Dialog.
(I believe we need to do this only once... but time will tell...)
For Homepods:
Simply press the Start Connection button, observe the indigo log for confirmation of setup and then click Save, once given okay to do so.
I expose a number of playback states (Thanks Karl for the typing on these!)
You will also see the device is an Indigo Relay - so there are Turn On/Turn Off/Toggle buttons that power down/power on the relevant appleTV. (caveat here is power reporting is not perfect)
I have choosen to exposes all command options supplied by very helpful pyatv library. We Progammatically creates command menu, so if more options with library updates, down the track should be immediately available. Allows sending of arguments with remote command To enable: Seeking to set position Set Volume (if supported) and Play URL
For most commands the optional arguments should be left blank, however can select double tap, hold etc. as per the Dialog
I have also implemented Launch App - which allows you to launch a specific application of the appleTV.
Unfortunately it doesn't allow LiveTV within the app, or more detailed control - but this can be managed with a lauchApp command, and then, left, down, down, select remote commands for example
This AG will save the current artwork for the selected appleTV if it exists.
Add an Action Group to Send Text to Speech annoucement to HomePods with current OSX System voice (Change current voice in Macs OSX settings voices)
Allows Device and Variable subsitution so can read weather forcast etc. depending on setup
NEEDS ffmpeg (included in plugin), need to run quaranatine command on new install
Converts text to speech with system say command and then converts to mp3 for playback. Add a slight delay but seems to be under a second in my testing.
This enables Homepod playback of a mp3 file. There are quite specific file aspects that the HomePods like, primarly mp3.
Stream_File, or the Remote setting:
"Stream local file or remote file to device"
e.g: Optional Argumment: https://www.soundhelix.com/examples/mp3/SoundHelix-Song-1.mp3
or Local file: (like) /Users/Indigo/Desktop/doorbell-1.mp3
You can pre-generate yuou own voice files as needed, if do not wish to use the action Group as above:
To do so
To generate voice file:
In terminal
say "Person arrived Home" -o personhome.aiff
This aiff generated file needs to be converted to mp3 files ffmpeg, which is a commandline tool can convert say generated aiff
The follow command gives appropriate mp3 output to use.
ffmpeg -i Input.aiff -f mp3 -acodec libmp3lame -ab 192000 -ar 44100 Output.mp3
Use Output.mp3 in the "Stream local file or remote file to device"
Fails - with some red lines and an error about a dependency miniaudio (which we don't use...) It appears to want to install some x-code "command line developer tools" -- commandline tools - to help build this dependency. Install the xcode components, appears to be usr/bin/clang and hopefully will able to be installed.
Oh No - it looks like needs 14gig of Xcode for this to work. What a pain. Try: https://developer.apple.com/download/more/ Login and download Command Line Tools for Xcode and install.
The above worked for my production machine - which hit this issue. (avoided Xcode install thankfully)
Currently I expose all airplay devices - Sonos included. I do not believe these can be controlled or report status. Confimred these use AirPlay2 which has not been reverse engineered, we use Airplay1 here. The AppleTV devices are those we are aiming to support here. No longer - by default only appleTV devices are generated. Use the forceDiscovery option to enable creation of all devices found.
This gives a few options of logging information for particuarly appletv that may help troubleshooting issues
See here for more related to pyatv library