Google Play Music is presently the perfect streaming music service for individuals who have their very own music collections. The service lets customers add 50,000 of their very own music recordsdata, then entry the audio on a variety of streaming units. It’s a good way to entry your personal music recordsdata from anyplace, and it doesn’t value a dime.
Unfortunately, the free journey is nearly over. At the top of this yr, Google will discontinue Google Play Music and push customers over to YouTube Music as a alternative. But whereas YouTube Music now helps music uploads and gives a straightforward migration instrument for Google Play Music customers, the transition comes with a catch: YouTube Music’s uploads aren’t playable on Google Home Speakers and Chromecast streaming dongles, not less than not with out paying $10 per thirty days for a full-blown YouTube Music Premium subscription.
In a really perfect world, Google would proceed supporting free playback on Google Home and Chromecast units as a goodwill gesture to longtime customers, or not less than supply a less expensive upload-only subscription tier. Instead, those that have intensive MP3, FLAC, or different digital music collections must start thinking about different methods to play music through Google Cast.
Google to digital music collectors: Pay as much as play your personal music in your Google-centric speaker programs.
Let’s stroll by means of the choices for holding the music alive on Google Home audio system after Google Play Music goes away in December.
First, a disclaimer
Before we get into the alternate options, take into account that not one of the choices beneath help launching music by voice through Google Home audio system. You can ask Google to pause, resume, or cease playback, however you possibly can’t choose music, quick ahead, or rewind. That means you’ll want to make use of a telephone, laptop, or pill to begin a listening session and skip tracks.
The excellent news, nonetheless, is that every one the options I’m about to explain do help multi-room audio. If you’ve set up some groups in the Google Home app, you’ll give you the option maintain casting music to these teams identical to earlier than.
Option 1: Plex
Plex is a well-liked program for internet hosting media recordsdata on one gadget and streaming them to others. If you’ve gotten a desktop laptop, Nvidia Shield TV Pro, or compatible NAS device, you possibly can set up Plex’s Media Server software program and host your music recordsdata on it, then play the music by means of Plex’s streaming devices. Plex’s iOS, Android, and desktop internet apps all help casting, so you should use them to ship music to your Google Home audio system or Chromecast units. This even works with any Google Home speaker groups you’ve created.
Jared Newman / IDGWhile it doesn’t help voice instructions past taking part in and stopping, Plex does allow you to solid to exterior audio system.
As for the prices, Plex’s desktop internet app is free to make use of, even with Chromecast units, however the iOS and Android apps value $5 every to take away playback time limitations.
If you subscribe to Plex Pass, which prices $5 per thirty days, $40 per yr, or $120 for all times, all of Plex’s apps are free. This additionally unlocks some additional options, corresponding to artist metadata, quantity leveling, crossfades between tracks, and visualizations.
The setup’s a bit burdensome given the {hardware} concerned, but it surely’s well worth the effort if you wish to entry your music from a variety of streaming units. You can entry your library remotely by means of your server at dwelling, and it even helps lossless audio codecs corresponding to FLAC. While not Chromecast-related, Plex helps Android Auto as nicely.
Here’s easy methods to get rolling:
Desktop
- Download Plex Media Server on your desktop laptop (Windows, Mac, or Linux) or NAS, then observe the set up course of and hit “Launch.”
- Create an account if you happen to don’t have one. If you’d actually relatively not, you possibly can click on “What’s this?” then choose “Skip and settle for restricted performance.
- When prompted, specify the folder the place your music recordsdata are situated. This will enable Plex to scan for music recordsdata and stream them to your different units.
Jared Newman / IDG- To change the place Plex seems to be for music recordsdata in your laptop, head to app.plex.tv. Locate the “Music” part within the sidebar, hit the vertical “…” button, then choose Manage Library > Edit > Add folders.
Nvidia Shield TV
- Download the regular Plex app, which ought to detect your Shield and supply to put in the media server. (Detailed Shield set up directions can be found on Plex’s website.)
- If your music recordsdata are on an exterior onerous drive, arrange Plex to scan these recordsdata by visiting app.plex.tv. Locate the “Music” part within the sidebar, hit the vertical “…” button, then choose Manage Library > Edit > Add folders.
Jared Newman / IDGPlex’s internet app helps you to handle your music library, even with the Shield TV.
NAS
Instructions for NAS setup fluctuate relying on the producer, however you can begin by visiting Plex’s download page to get the suitable software program. Be positive to learn Plex’s devices and limitations web page as nicely.
Using Plex with Chromecast and Google Home
Once you’ve handled all that setup, utilizing Plex is pretty straightforward. Just go to app.plex.tv or obtain Plex’s apps for iOS or Android, then register with the identical account with which you arrange the server. Plex ought to discover your media server robotically, and you must see the Cast icon on the display. Select any of your Google Home audio system, speaker teams, Chromecast units, then select some music to begin taking part in.
If you’re a Plex Pass subscriber, I additionally recommend trying out Plexamp, a superb different app that’s strictly targeted on music as a substitute of all media sorts. Chromecast help is presently in improvement.
Jared Newman / IDGThe Plexamp app shall be a fair higher technique to play music as soon as it will get Chromecast help.
Option 2: Hi-Fi Cast for Android
For Android customers who don’t need to cope with all of Plex’s setup, the Hi-Fi Cast app is a advantageous different, particularly in case your telephone has ample storage or a MicroSD card slot for holding a big music assortment. The app helps gapless playback on Chromecast units for any MP3, AAC, FLAC, and WAV Files saved in your telephone, and it’s free to make use of. (A $3-per-year or $9 one-time in-app buy removes ads and unlocks Android Auto help.)
Jared Newman / IDGHi-Fi Cast is a advantageous possibility for Chromecast and Google Home music in case your telephone has sufficient storage.
Once put in, Hi-Fi Cast robotically detects all of the music in your gadget and allows you to browse by artist, album, style, or playlist. To begin casting, simply hit the “Playing to this device” button on the backside, and select your Google Home speaker, speaker group, or Chromecast from the gadget record.
One different factor to think about: If you’re paying for sufficient cloud storage to carry your MP3 assortment, you would possibly use the Autosync apps for OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive to sync some or all your music assortment onto your telephone robotically.
Option 3: Music Caster for Windows
If you need to play music out of your laptop computer, however haven’t arrange a Plex server, Music Caster might help. It has its personal music participant, it helps casting to particular person audio system or teams, and it really works with out concern in my expertise. Head to the download page, choose the “Portable.zip” possibility, then extract it anyplace in your laptop.
Jared Newman / IDGNow, open Music Caster.exe, and you must see a white Cast button in taskbar. Double-click the icon to open the music participant, or right-click and spotlight “Select Device” to decide on your audio system or Chromecast units from the record.
With any luck, Google will see the sunshine and supply a means for YouTube Music customers to maintain casting their very own document collections. But if that doesn’t occur, not less than you’ll have an exit plan.