Crestron Home OS 4.6: The Best Audio Experience Yet
This latest update brings a “symphony of simplicity” to music on the platform
July 1
Crestron Home OS 4.6: The Best Audio Experience Yet

The smart home is more than just connected devices; it's the beating heart of a living space, orchestrating the perfect ambiance for every moment. And what sets the tone more than music? With Crestron Home® OS 4.6, we're putting music front and center, reimagining the entire experience. Now it’s faster, more intuitive, and more enjoyable than ever before.

"At Crestron, we believe the soundtrack of a person’s life deserves a prominent place in their smart home experience," says Michael Short, VP of marketing operations and residential. "OS 4.6 isn't just an update; it's a transformation of how a user interacts with their music, making it easier than ever to enjoy the perfect soundscape, anywhere in the home."

A Music Experience Refined

The first thing you'll notice is the new "Music" tile on the home screen. This isn't just a button; it's a window into a home's audio. See album art for what's playing, or a clear visual cue when things are quiet. With multi-source playback, the artwork gracefully transitions between sources, keeping you visually connected to the music flowing throughout a home.

But the real magic happens when you touch that tile. We've streamlined the music selection process down to just four taps:

  • Tap the Music Tile: That first touch opens the gateway to a world of sound.
  • Select Location(s): Choose single room, multiple rooms, or a whole floor.
  • Choose the Source: Dive into a favorite streaming service or jump straight to a go-to playlist, artist, or radio station.
  • Start Playing: The last tap offers instant access to your clients’ perfect soundtrack.

We've also added the "Music Circle" within the "Now Playing" tile, providing an even faster entry point to the music selection process when music’s already playing and there’s a desire to add more rooms or change the source.

Multi-Room Magic
Favorites — Front and Center

Multi-Room Magic, Redesigned

Multi-room audio has been completely redesigned. From seamless room selection at the start to intuitive controls for adding and removing rooms on the fly, managing whole-home audio is now effortless. The new multi-room volume slider gives the user granular control over audio levels in each room, ensuring a perfectly balanced listening experience. "We obsessed over every detail of the multi-room experience," explains Short. "The goal was to make it so intuitive that it disappears into the background, leaving the user free to simply enjoy the music."

This seemingly simple experience is the result of a deep dive into user behavior and countless hours of testing and refinement by the Crestron software team and our beta group. "We didn't just want to improve multi-room audio; we wanted to redefine it," says Chase Bouchard, product owner for software applications. "We meticulously analyzed every step of the process, focusing on minimizing the number of taps required while maximizing control and flexibility."

The team explored various design approaches, rigorously testing each iteration to ensure the flow of the interface was as quick and intuitive as possible. "We paid close attention to the smallest details," Bouchard adds. "Things like the placement of buttons, the responsiveness of the touch screen, and the visual feedback the interface provides all contribute to the overall experience. For example, the new multi-room icon on the ‘Now Playing’ tile provides a clear and concise overview of grouped rooms. From there, the user can add or remove rooms with a single tap. It's these subtle yet significant design choices that truly elevate the experience." The result is a multi-room audio experience that is not only powerful and flexible but also remarkably easy to use, allowing anyone to effortlessly orchestrate the perfect soundtrack for an entire home.

Favorites Front and Center

One of the most exciting enhancements in Crestron Home OS 4.6 is its streamlined access to a user’s favorite music. No one wants to have to hunt for their go-to playlist, artist, or radio station, and that’s why we’ve redesigned the music selection process.

Now, when a user chooses a source, they’ll see their favorite radio stations, curated playlists, and most-played artists readily available. No more navigating through multiple menus or searching for that one song that they can't get enough of. It's all right there, just a tap away. "We wanted to make it as easy as possible for everyone to listen to what they love," explains Bouchard. "By surfacing favorites right within the source selection screen, we've eliminated unnecessary steps and significantly reduced the time it takes to start enjoying the music."

This seemingly small change has a big impact on the overall user experience. It's about more than just convenience; it's about personalization. It's about making Crestron Home OS an integral part of a client’s home, where their favorite music is always within easy reach. "It's the little things that make a big difference," adds Short. "This enhanced access to favorites is a perfect example of how we're constantly refining Crestron Home to create a more intuitive and enjoyable experience for our users."

More Than Just Music: Enhancing the Entire Crestron Home Experience

Crestron Home OS 4.6 isn't just about music; it's about refining the entire Crestron Home experience. New enhancements include:

  • Simplified DALI® Lighting Control with DIN-DLI: This update offers streamlined DALI lighting control and an intuitive web interface for effortless commissioning. Find more info here.
  • Expanded Door Lock Support (pending for both North America and international applications): Enhanced security and seamless integration with Yale® locks international models, including compatibility with Yale | August and Emtek® locks. (The Yale driver will be posted separately.)
  • Enhanced Intercom Functionality: Respond to pages directly and customize auto-answer and ring tones for a more personalized intercom experience.
  • Personalized Touch Screen Experience: Adjustable font sizes for increased readability and accessibility.
  • DM NVX® 385 Expands Network AV Capabilities: Further enhancing your network AV distribution capabilities within Crestron Home OS.

At Crestron, we're committed to continuous improvement. We listen to our users and strive to deliver updates that not only enhance functionality but also elevate the entire smart home experience. With Crestron Home OS 4.6, we're confident that we've delivered a truly exceptional upgrade, putting your clients and their families in complete control of their home's soundtrack — it’s truly a “symphony of simplicity.”

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Crestron Home® OS

With Crestron, everything in the home is controlled with ease on one intelligent platform. Your home becomes more secure, comfortable, and convenient.

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Crestron Home Audio

With a Crestron audio system, every room of your home can be filled with the sounds of nature. This can help reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain, as well as improve focus and promote restorative sleep.

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