INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 31 for Windows => Topic started by: kpstanton on June 02, 2023, 01:38:20 pm

Title: Zone Groups
Post by: kpstanton on June 02, 2023, 01:38:20 pm
Is it possible that some kind person could tell me how 'Zone Groups" work or at least post a link to documentation on "Zone Groups"?  I can create one, but I see know way in which to send audio to it.  How do they differ from "Linked Zones"?  Any help would be most appreciated. 
Title: Re: Zone Groups
Post by: HPBEME on June 04, 2023, 11:24:17 am
Here are a couple threads that should help (I simply used the forum search for "Zone Group" to find them):
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,129502.msg898641.html#msg898641
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,131592.msg912406.html#msg912406

Title: Re: Zone Groups
Post by: kpstanton on June 04, 2023, 01:44:29 pm
I did do a search in the forum for "Zone Groups", but could find nothing that explained (at least to a non techie like me) exactly how they work, i.e. how does one send audio to a zone group.  I was hoping that someone had a link to some official JRiver documentation on the feature. I am unable to find any.
Title: Re: Zone Groups
Post by: HPBEME on June 04, 2023, 02:04:40 pm
how does one send audio to a zone group.
You need to set up Zone Switch rules.  Search the forum for that.

NOTE: I don't personally use Zone Link or Zone Group myself, but I definitely use Zones/Zone Switch, which are rather awesome tools. You just have to be patient until you get the hang of implementing the Switch rules correctly (rule order can be vital).

I was hoping that someone had a link to some official JRiver documentation on the feature. I am unable to find any.
The wiki for zones is: https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Zones, which is why I linked to the threads in my previous post. If you read through them from beginning to end, especially the 1st link, I think it is reasonably clear.

My take from what I read is:
- Zone Link: MC plays all linked zones simultaneously (depending on your zone switch rules, they may be unique playlists or the same playlist)
- Zone Group: Each zone assigned to the group will have the identical playlist (normally playlists are unique to each zone) and each zone can be played one at a time (unlike Zone Link).  It seems to me that zone switch rules could conflict with this behavior, and I have no idea how MC deals with that.

In any event, that is my understanding of the difference.  If I've got it wrong, hopefully a zone expert will weigh in and provide better information.