ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
After quite a few emails back and forth with B&O support and I suppose some assistance from Khimo, the Beoremote Halo can now finally control MasterLink devices that are connected via a BLC NL/ML Converter. The latest B&O app update now allows us to select NL/ML Converters as products to show up for control by the Halo.
This is amazing. Now, we can start a CD playing on the Beosound 9000 (even without speakers) and then JOIN that source from any other device using the Halo. We can also control playback using the Halo. This is a big step forward for full integration, but it's still not perfect yet. Here are the issues:
1. ML video sources via the NL/ML Converter still have the old basic control screen and not the new video control screen (with the four color buttons).
2. We still need a way to select which CD to play on the Beosound 9000. The basic control screen just lets us move back and forward between tracks.
3. Matrix sources do not appear in the sources.
Hopefully, it could be an easy fix for B&O to at least let us select the type of control screen to use so that we can choose to use the video control screen for those sources for which we need the extra control. Still, for me this is a joyous day!
I feel like I'm being ungrateful in adding to my wish list. Yet.....:
1. We need to be able in the B&O app to change the order in which the devices appear on the Halo list. E.g., it makes more sense for the BeoSystem 4 to appear first on my living room Halo, but it makes more sense for my BeoVision 10 to appear first on my bedroom Halo.
2. For at least the BLC NL/ML and the BeoSystem 4, ALL sources are visible on the Halo -- even if we have those sources marked as hidden. We should be able to hide the sources we don't use. Also we should be able to change the order the sources appear on the Halo list.
Beolab 28s Beolab 9s Beolab 12-3s Beolab 1s Beolab 6000s 2 pairs Beolab 4000s Beovision 7-55 Beovision 10-40 Beoplay V1 32 inch Beovision Avant 32 inch Beosound 1 (CD player) Beosound 3000 Beosound 5 Core Essence MKII Beoplay M5
Razlaw:This function requires a BLI, correct? And is it just audio sources, or for instance could it start music from a Core via a converter to speakers connected to a BV10?
Nope. This does not require a BLI. The BLC NL/ML converters are now recognized as devices the Halo can control and add to its list of devices.
My sources from my BeoSound Moment that are integrated with the BeoVision 10 via a BLC NL/ML converter are there, too! However, ALL sources show up, such as QPlay -- which is useless in the U.S. -- appear. Even though we have only certain sources selected on the NL/ML Converter to show up as available on NL, ALL sources still show up. This was similarly a problem with the BeoSystem 4.
BTW, I had an earlier response from B&O support that it was IMPOSSIBLE to control the NL/ML Converter with the Halo. That person from support said that it was impossible because the NL/ML Converter had no sources. I replied and pointed out that it was the entire purpose of the NL/ML converter to make sources available on NL from the ML side.
beojeff:BTW, I had an earlier response from B&O support that it was IMPOSSIBLE to control the NL/ML Converter with the Halo. That person from support said that it was impossible because the NL/ML Converter had no sources. I replied and pointed out that it was the entire purpose of the NL/ML converter to make sources available on NL from the ML side.
Razlaw: beojeff: BTW, I had an earlier response from B&O support that it was IMPOSSIBLE to control the NL/ML Converter with the Halo. That person from support said that it was impossible because the NL/ML Converter had no sources. I replied and pointed out that it was the entire purpose of the NL/ML converter to make sources available on NL from the ML side. Thanks! Tried it and it works. I guess it will only work for the Master Link device that is set as Master? And no ability to control volume, unfortunately. Would a BLI add volume control and/or ability to control ML products in two different rooms?
beojeff: BTW, I had an earlier response from B&O support that it was IMPOSSIBLE to control the NL/ML Converter with the Halo. That person from support said that it was impossible because the NL/ML Converter had no sources. I replied and pointed out that it was the entire purpose of the NL/ML converter to make sources available on NL from the ML side.
Thanks! Tried it and it works. I guess it will only work for the Master Link device that is set as Master? And no ability to control volume, unfortunately. Would a BLI add volume control and/or ability to control ML products in two different rooms?
I tested and see that you're right: there's no volume control. For example, I can select a source on my BeoSystem 3 with connected speakers, but can't control the volume.
A separate NL/ML converter would be needed to make any former ML link room its own node on the NL system -- just like on the app.
beojeff: The latest B&O app update now allows us to select NL/ML Converters as products to show up for control by the Halo.
The latest B&O app update now allows us to select NL/ML Converters as products to show up for control by the Halo.
Sounds great, only I cannot make the BLC NL/ML appear on the device list for Halo. It persistenly shows only the Stage (that it controls) and the A9 in the bedroom (that it doesn't currently).
Meanwhile, BLC NL/ML is normally present on my home network and the B&O app sees it, actually right now I am playing one CD via multiroom on my A9 controlled through the app. Really confusing. But certainly looking forward to hearing more of your findouts Jeff while I try to make it work for me too.
AnalogPlanet:Sounds great, only I cannot make the BLC NL/ML appear on the device list for Halo.
until I chanced the setting of one of my BLC from ASlave to VMaster (and back). Suddenly they appeared!
the ML sources are shown, but not the BLC line in.
Note: with BLI I already have complete access within my setup.
In the meantime, I managed to fundamentally f**k up the BLC, after endless power offs, factory resets and other "tricks" while trying to make itself shown in the Halo devices list, now it is in endless green-led-blinking mode... well, update, moved to orange LOL. Which means bringing it to the service center one pf next days, hopefully they can get it to work again.
Anyway, ontopic: that Halo/BLC/BLI combo seems to be expanding on usability and variety of creative ways to incorporate existing products and control and automate them. Wow, amazing, can't wait to see how it develops!
The BLI solution has its purposes, but it's a very different approach using scene macros as triggers. However, I have a BeoVision 10 and two BeoSystem 3s that benefit from appearing as devices so that all of their sources can be listed. B&O will need to address the issue of the volume not being controlled and adding the full Beovision control screen, though.
Great news and move from B&O!Thank you Bang & Olufsen!
Thank you, beojeff for spreading the good news. :-)
beojeff:The BLI solution has its purposes, but it's a very different approach using scene macros as triggers. However, I have a BeoVision 10 and two BeoSystem 3s that benefit from appearing as devices so that all of their sources can be listed. B&O will need to address the issue of the volume not being controlled and adding the full Beovision control screen, though.
Razlaw: beojeff: The BLI solution has its purposes, but it's a very different approach using scene macros as triggers. However, I have a BeoVision 10 and two BeoSystem 3s that benefit from appearing as devices so that all of their sources can be listed. B&O will need to address the issue of the volume not being controlled and adding the full Beovision control screen, though. You have three ML products showing? I have three ML locations in my house but all I see in the app is the converter which does give me control of the Beosound 3000 but not of anything else. Could you clarify what you see? And do you have multiple converters? Thanks!
beojeff: The BLI solution has its purposes, but it's a very different approach using scene macros as triggers. However, I have a BeoVision 10 and two BeoSystem 3s that benefit from appearing as devices so that all of their sources can be listed. B&O will need to address the issue of the volume not being controlled and adding the full Beovision control screen, though.
You have three ML products showing? I have three ML locations in my house but all I see in the app is the converter which does give me control of the Beosound 3000 but not of anything else.
Could you clarify what you see? And do you have multiple converters? Thanks!
Oh, Razlaw.... I have NINE NL/ML converters! All nine of them appear as available to be added to the list of controlled devices. There's a limit of only 10 devices that the Halo can control, though. So I have to choose appropriately.
I have converters for the following:
1. BeoVision 10 integrated with BeoSound Moment (bedroom)
2. BeoSystem 3 (kitchen)
3. BeoSystem 3 (den)
4. BeoSystem 4500 (dining room)
5. BeoSound 4 (dining room)
6. BeoSystem 2300 (bedroom)
7. BeoSystem 5500 (living room)
8. BeoSound 9000 (living room)
9. BeoCenter 2 & BeoSound 5 (living room)
Of these, I only had to do a power cycle on the converters for the BeoSound 4 and BeoSystem 4500 to get them dark black and not grey in the list of devices that could be added.
@Razlaw-
I believe that you must have a separate NL/ML converter for each ML room -- just like for the B&O app if you want it controlled through the app. I no longer have any ML slave rooms.
Great news!Now if only NL/ML sources would show on my Beosound Stage via the App and BeoRemote One.....
beojeff:@Razlaw- I believe that you must have a separate NL/ML converter for each ML room -- just like for the B&O app if you want it controlled through the app. I no longer have any ML slave rooms.
beojeff:Oh, Razlaw.... I have NINE NL/ML converters! All nine of them appear as available to be added to the list of controlled devices. There's a limit of only 10 devices that the Halo can control, though. So I have to choose appropriately. I have converters for the following: 1. BeoVision 10 integrated with BeoSound Moment (bedroom) 2. BeoSystem 3 (kitchen) 3. BeoSystem 3 (den) 4. BeoSystem 4500 (dining room) 5. BeoSound 4 (dining room) 6. BeoSystem 2300 (bedroom) 7. BeoSystem 5500 (living room) 8. BeoSound 9000 (living room) 9. BeoCenter 2 & BeoSound 5 (living room) Of these, I only had to do a power cycle on the converters for the BeoSound 4 and BeoSystem 4500 to get them dark black and not grey in the list of devices that could be added.
The converters show up in the app. I've named the converters to correspond to the ML devices that are controlled.
beojeff:@Razlaw- The converters show up in the app. I've named the converters to correspond to the ML devices that are controlled.
beojeff:I no longer have any ML slave rooms.
Quite impressive 9 BLC!
My predominant system is NL/B&o ControlLink with 4 BLC all set as ASlaves with a total of 4 ML Audio systems connected 1 BS5 Encore and 1 BG4000.
So there are no speakers connected to any ML/older product. That way one have almost complete control of the ML Audio systems in the NL/B&o Controllink environment . As explained before I can choose the CD to play on a BS9000.
Carolpa: beojeff:I no longer have any ML slave rooms.What do you mean with ML slave rooms? Quite impressive 9 BLC! My predominant system is NL/B&o ControlLink with 4 BLC all set as ASlaves with a total of 4 ML Audio systems connected 1 BS5 Encore and 1 BG4000. So there are no speakers connected to any ML/older product. That way one have almost complete control of the ML Audio systems in the NL/B&o Controllink environment . As explained before I can choose the CD to play on a BS9000.
I no longer have any link room speakers or TVs that are part of an ML network. I.e., no Beolab 3500 or Beovision in slave mode that is reliant on a separate Audio or Video Master. All devices are now either natively NL or joined to NL via that device's dedicated NL/ML Converter.
A question that relies more to you BLI and Masterlink products…. Do you still have full access to your ML through your NL/ML converters from your BLI in the same way as with MLGW
beojeff: Carolpa: beojeff:I no longer have any ML slave rooms.What do you mean with ML slave rooms? Quite impressive 9 BLC! My predominant system is NL/B&o ControlLink with 4 BLC all set as ASlaves with a total of 4 ML Audio systems connected 1 BS5 Encore and 1 BG4000. So there are no speakers connected to any ML/older product. That way one have almost complete control of the ML Audio systems in the NL/B&o Controllink environment . As explained before I can choose the CD to play on a BS9000. I no longer have any link room speakers or TVs that are part of an ML network. I.e., no Beolab 3500 or Beovision in slave mode that is reliant on a separate Audio or Video Master. All devices are now either natively NL or joined to NL via that device's dedicated NL/ML Converter.
Carolpa: until I chanced the setting of one of my BLC from ASlave to VMaster (and back). Suddenly they appeared!
Worked for me too, thanks! Now I can join CD from BS9000 to Stage in multiroom, as beojeff described only with the Halo. I love it!
Carolpa: the ML sources are shown, but not the BLC line in.
Oh! So that means if I connect Beogram 4004 to a BLC line in it won't be controllable by Halo? Hopefully I can still multiroom it through the B&O app at least?
But would it show on Halo if I add BLI, despite the fact it is on BLC line in?
AnalogPlanet: Oh! So that means if I connect Beogram 4004 to a BLC line in it won't be controllable by Halo? Hopefully I can still multiroom it through the B&O app at least? But would it show on Halo if I add BLI, despite the fact it is on BLC line in?
You would have to create a macro in the BLI to make a new button for the line-in source.
I've sent an email to beocare pointing out to them some of these -- such as the lack of volume control and lack of the full video control screen.