Smart Home Integration by Crestron, Control4, Universal Remote, Lutron and Apple

Home System Integration 
Not so very long ago, the TV in the living room, the stereo in the den, the smaller TV upstairs in the bedroom, and the radio in the kitchen were totally separate entities. There was absolutely no connection or communication between them. But in today’s wired homes, we try to think of the home’s electronics as a single, integrated system. This home system integration is what we will be exploring in this article.

Whole-house audio systems
Whole-house audio (or sometimes known as multi-zone audio) is a single, centralized audio system that can be controlled and enjoyed anywhere in the home. In its simplest form, a whole-house audio system can play the same music source (CD, radio, iPod) in various rooms of the home. In each room (or zone) are speakers and some way of controlling the sound. The control can be simple volume adjustment, or it can be more extensive with complete control of songs, stations, playlists, etc. The important thing to remember is that only one source of music can be played at a time. If dad wants to listen to his old, dusty Beatles CD, the whole house is stuck listening to the same thing.

Advanced whole-house systems add multi-source capability, where each listener can independently select what they want to hear. Dad can listen to his CD in the den; mom can listen to the news in the home office; the kids can rock out to the music on an iPod upstairs. Crestron Control4 Lutron universal remote  Control of the system is again available in each room, but this time with source selection.

The most common style of zone control is a wall-mount keypad or touchscreen. Keypads use regular buttons mounted on a small light switch-sized panel to operate the system, while a touchscreen uses a small touch sensitive LCD screen with buttons displayed electronically on the screen. Installed in a convenient, accessible location, these keypads and touchscreens enable users to listed to whatever they want, whenever they want it. Wireless remote controls can also be used with whole-house audio systems, adding convenience and flexibility.

Whole-house audio systems are available in a wide range of styles and configurations.  Crestron Control4 Lutron universal remote They vary in the number of zones available and the number of sources that can be played at a time. A four-zone, four-source system can play four independent sources in up to four different rooms of the house. An eight-zone, eight-source system doubles that and might be better suited for a large family living in a larger sized home.

Whole-house video systems
You can also make video part of your whole-whole house system. The big advantage is the centralization of all of your video sources. For example, Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) can be shared by viewers throughout the home…or satellite receivers and cable converters. And when video is combined with whole-house audio, the picture and sound for each television is controlled by the same keypads, touchscreens, and remote controls. The system’s easier to use because there’s only one set of controls to learn.

Integrating HVAC
Other home systems can be integrated, including you home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The same keypads and touchscreen used for audio and video can also used to control HVAC. You’ll not only be able to make temperature adjustments from any room, you can also automate the system to be more effective and economical.

Contact the experts in home systems integration
Sound Advice has been designing and installing whole-house audio and video systems for many years. So, if you want to learn more about home system integration, make us the first place you call. Take the first step toward adding the convenience and fun of system integration to your home.