MusicCast + Alexa
Amazon Alexa on MusicCast
Amazon Alexa-enabled devices — including Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus and Echo Spot — can now control key functions of any MusicCast product using voice commands. Discover a new, exciting way to control music and entertainment experiences in your home.
Now available in Australia.
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to
link the kitchen with all rooms."
More Ways to Take Control, Hands-Free
Yamaha offers two Alexa skills that work hand-in-hand to give you a wide range of voice command possibilities, allowing you to control either a single MusicCast product or a whole MusicCast system.
MusicCast Smart Home skill
Lets you use standardised Alexa commands for the most commonly-used control functions.
MusicCast skill
Goes beyond the basics - giving you enhanced control of unique MusicCast functions with custom commands.
|
MusicCast Smart Home skill
-common commands- |
MusicCast skill
-custom commands- |
|
|---|---|---|
| Power on/off | "Alexa, turn on the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn on the Kitchen."
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn off all rooms." |
| Volume up/down | "Alexa, volume up in the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn volume up in the Kitchen."
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to turn the group volume down in the Kitchen" |
| Volume settings | "Alexa, set volume to 30 in the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to set volume to 30 in the Kitchen."
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to set group volume to 30 in the Kitchen." |
| Play/Pause/Stop | "Alexa, pause in the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to pause in the Kitchen." |
| Next/Previous | "Alexa, next in the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to skip song in the Kitchen." |
| Mute/Unmute | "Alexa, mute the Kitchen." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to mute the Kitchen."
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to mute all rooms." |
| Input selection | "Alexa, select HDMI 1 in the Living Room." | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to switch input to HDMI 1 in the Living Room." |
| Room Linking | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to link the Kitchen with the Living Room."
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to link the Kitchen with all rooms." |
|
| MusicCast
Playlists/Favorites |
"Alexa, ask MusicCast to play Favorite 1 in the Kitchen." | |
| Disklavier Piano Controls | "Alexa, ask MusicCast to play 'Angel' on the piano." |
Yamaha will be adding more Alexa control features in 2019, including the ability to play a specific artist, album or song from select streaming services. This can currently be accomplished using an Echo or Echo Dot connected to a MusicCast device via Bluetooth. Click here for details.
Control a Yamaha Disklavier Piano
Imagine "playing" a piano just by talking to it. With a Yamaha Disklavier ENSPIRE™ connected to a MusicCast system, the MusicCast skill lets you control your piano with your voice and have it play music not only in the living room, but throughout the whole home. It’s truly magical.
How to Get Started
Ready to try it out? First make sure you’ve got all of the parts you’ll need, then download the Setup Manual for step-by-step instructions. You’ll be up and running in no time!
What you’ll need:
- Any MusicCast product
- Any Amazon Echo product
- Yamaha MusicCast app
- Amazon Alexa app
A Few Helpful Tips
Using Amazon Alexa to voice control MusicCast products is amazingly powerful and it keeps getting better. Still, it can be helpful to know what to expect and ways to improve your experience, especially if you’re new to voice control. Here are some tips.
Place Your Echo Carefully
It’s recommended to put a little space between your Echo and your speaker or sound bar, and to place it where it can pick up your voice. When you have music or TV sound playing, this gives your Echo a better chance of hearing the "Alexa" wake word and your voice commands.
Get Familiar with Available Commands
The MusicCast skills are intended to allow voice control of the most common, everyday functions rather than every feature available on every model. It can be helpful to know what you can and can’t do. For a complete list of currently available commands, click here.
Watch Your Words
While Alexa is very good at handling natural language, certain words or phrasing may not be recognized as a command by the MusicCast skills. Also, ambient noises can sometimes cause a problem. If it seems that Alexa keeps hearing you incorrectly, you can watch what Alexa heard in the Alexa app (Menu > Settings > History).
Use Default MusicCast Room Names
It is recommended that you use the default room names vs. customized room names in the MusicCast app, as the default room names may be more easily recognized. If the default room names conflict with the names of other smart devices in your home, it may be necessary to modify the names of the other devices.
Set Up Your MusicCast Favorites and Playlists
In 2019, Yamaha will add the ability to play a specific artist, album or song from select streaming services. In the meantime, you can recall favorites or playlists that you have set up in the MusicCast app. Take a few minutes to set up the ones you use most often.
Still Have Questions?
We’re here to help. Check out MusicCast + Alexa FAQs for common questions or contact Yamaha customer support.
Echo or Dot Connected to MusicCast
Using Echo as a Source for a MusicCast System
The Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show offer the ability to output audio to external devices. MusicCast products are especially well-suited to make the most of this great feature.
MusicCast + Echo/Dot/Show: Wireless
All MusicCast devices offer a Bluetooth input. Just pair your Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Show with any MusicCast wireless speaker, sound bar or AV receiver and the sound will play from the MusicCast device. Using the MusicCast app, you can then select the Bluetooth input and link multiple MusicCast devices for playback, allowing you to hear it throughout your home.
How to Bluetooth Pair Echo with a MusicCast Device
- Open the Alexa app and select Settings.
- Select Echo / Echo Dot / Echo Show and then select Bluetooth > Pair a New Device to enter pairing mode. Put MusicCast device in pairing standby. Your MusicCast device will appear in the list of available.
- Select the MusicCast device. The Echo connects the speaker and Alexa and tells you if the connection is successful.
Note: When Echo is Bluetooth-connected to a MusicCast device, you hear the sound only through the MusicCast device. It is easy to connect or disconnect them by simply saying "Alexa, Connect" or "Alexa, Disconnect."
MusicCast + Echo Dot: Wired
Many MusicCast products also offer inputs which can be connected to Echo Dot via its line output, if a wired connection is preferred over Bluetooth. This requires using an optional analog audio cable. Using the MusicCast app, you can select the wired input and link multiple MusicCast devices for playback, allowing you to hear sound from Echo Dot throughout your home.
How to Make a Wired Connection from Echo Dot to a MusicCast Device
- Connect an audio cable between Echo Dot and an analog input on a MusicCast device
- In the MusicCast app, select the input. If desired, you can rename the input name to "Echo Dot" in the MusicCast app under Settings > Room Settings > Edit Sources.
Note: When Echo Dot is wired to a MusicCast device, you hear the sound only through the MusicCast device and only when the correct input is selected.
