Volumio and Spotify Connect, Max2play bites the dust?
In previous posts I already talked about all these different headless audioplayer operating systems there are for small single board computers such as the Raspberry Pies (eg. Volumio and Max2Play). I also discussed that I am a Spotify user and love the Spotify Connect feature and the multiroom speaker possibility it brings. But the two audioplayer OSes that I am current testing did not support Spotify Connect so far, so I am currently resorting to a multiroom setup using Max2Play, Logitech Media Server (LMS) and the “triode” Spotify plugin to control several devices (RPis with Squeezeplayer software/Squeezebox duet receiver) for audio playback. It works, but the look and feel of LMS is very dated, so I am still on the lookout for improvement and I am not alone. The requested features section of the user forums of both Volumio and Max2Play show major interest in Spotify Connect. However the developer(s) of Max2Play does not seem to warm-up to this feature, while it trumps to be the multiroom audio centered OS. A missed chance in my view. In the meanwhile, Volumio has beaten Max2Play to the punch via support of third party plugins and the coding work available at Github of user “Balbuze” which seem to be based on previous work of “Fornoth” and “Plietar”. I am planning to test Balbuze’s Spotify Connect plugin “Volspotconnect” in Volumio shortly on my Pi Zero that currently runs Max2play. The plugin is specific for ARM6 and ARM7 chip based computers such the Rasberry Pi’s, so if you are running Volumio on a Intel machine, bad luck for now. It is a basic plugin that just makes your Volumio device show up as a Spotify Connect device. It has no connection with the Volumio interface yet, so no control via this interface or cover-art. This is no problem as you would rather use the Spotify software or app to control playback. It is clearly a work in progress. I also thought that you also needed a Spotify app developers key, which your can request here. However commenter Wim, indicated that this key is already present in the zip file provided by Balubuze. That makes it even simpler, I hope to have time soon to get this up and running. This also seems a good topic for a Youtube tutorial so stay tuned!
Balbuze’s avatar on Github
Yeah, it works! See the tutorial here:
4 thoughts on “Volumio and Spotify Connect, Max2play bites the dust?”
Amazing, fantastic etc. etc.. Thank you so much for posting this and putting it all together in such a straightforward video. I’ve been trying to do this on and off for months with various tools like Max2play and Bubbleupnp on my Android phone and always hit problems. As you say “yeah, it works!” There are a few subtle differences since you made the video but, all good.
Thanks for the appreciation Steve! Just started my youtube channel and this rather simple video really caught some attention. I should maybe do more of this Spotify Connect stuff to get more subscribers.
Just a quick update on our current Spotify implementations, we now have two new distinct solutions for Spotify.
– Plugin Spotty by MHerger in Squeezebox Server
This plugin for the Squeezebox Server allows multiroom playback of Spotify. The interface of the server and any apps that might be used to control show the usual Spotify controls: search, top 100, playlists, etc.
(triode is outdated, we also updated our HowTo article on Spotify to incorporate the new, great Spotty by MHerger)
– Max2Play Premium Plugin Spotify Connect
A new plugin for Max2Play that utilizes the librespot solution by plietar. It looks very much like our other audio players’ simple interface. Just select your output device, enter your login credentials, start the player and it shows up in the apps.
Thanks for update, but I was already aware and preparing a post and video on the Spotify Connect plugin of Max2play. But because of time restraints have not been able to put it out there….
Amazing, fantastic etc. etc.. Thank you so much for posting this and putting it all together in such a straightforward video. I’ve been trying to do this on and off for months with various tools like Max2play and Bubbleupnp on my Android phone and always hit problems. As you say “yeah, it works!” There are a few subtle differences since you made the video but, all good.
Thanks for the appreciation Steve! Just started my youtube channel and this rather simple video really caught some attention. I should maybe do more of this Spotify Connect stuff to get more subscribers.
Hi Megantonneke,
Just a quick update on our current Spotify implementations, we now have two new distinct solutions for Spotify.
– Plugin Spotty by MHerger in Squeezebox Server
This plugin for the Squeezebox Server allows multiroom playback of Spotify. The interface of the server and any apps that might be used to control show the usual Spotify controls: search, top 100, playlists, etc.
(triode is outdated, we also updated our HowTo article on Spotify to incorporate the new, great Spotty by MHerger)
– Max2Play Premium Plugin Spotify Connect
A new plugin for Max2Play that utilizes the librespot solution by plietar. It looks very much like our other audio players’ simple interface. Just select your output device, enter your login credentials, start the player and it shows up in the apps.
Dear Heiner,
Thanks for update, but I was already aware and preparing a post and video on the Spotify Connect plugin of Max2play. But because of time restraints have not been able to put it out there….