Chowmainsoft has expanded the capabilities of Control4 with the release of two new integrations for Google products, bringing Google Home and Google Cast audio devices together with Google TV media players and streaming devices within the Control4 ecosystem.
Control4 already provides strong integration with Google Home, allowing customers to use Google Assistant to control Control4-integrated devices throughout the home, including lighting, shades, thermostats and more. Chowmainsoft’s new integrations complement this existing functionality by extending integration in the other direction — bringing Google devices, their playback activity and control into Control4.
Released this week, the new native Chowmainsoft Google Cast and Chowmainsoft Google TV drivers provide Control4 integrators with direct IP-based integration across a wide range of Google-powered entertainment products. Customers can continue using the Google experiences they already know, while Control4 gains the control, feedback and automation capabilities required to make those products part of the wider automated home.
The Chowmainsoft Google Cast driver integrates Google Home, Nest speakers, Nest Hubs, Chromecast Audio, and other compatible Google Cast devices with Control4. Customers can continue casting music directly from their phones or using voice commands such as “Hey Google, play music,” while Control4 gains visibility and control over the resulting audio session.
The integration provides Now Playing information and artwork, playback control, discrete volume and mute control, automatic room on/off functionality, Control4 keypad bindings, programming events, and support for announcements and URL-based audio playback.
Google Cast devices can also be configured as Control4 audio endpoints, allowing Google smart speakers to coexist with traditional distributed audio systems within the same Control4 project. This creates a complementary relationship between the existing Control4 and Google Home integration and Chowmainsoft’s new driver. Google Home can control devices integrated into Control4, while Control4 can now monitor and control compatible Google Cast audio devices.
Native Google TV Integration
The new Chowmainsoft Google TV driver extends this integration to televisions, streaming devices and set-top boxes running Google TV OS. The driver communicates using the same method as the official Google TV app, providing direct bi-directional IP control without requiring IR emitters, additional hardware, middleware, or third-party applications.
Control4 receives real-time power and playback feedback including On, Off, Play, Pause and Stop states, together with information about the content currently playing. Importantly, this feedback is available regardless of how playback was initiated — whether through Control4, the physical Google TV remote, the Google TV app, or by casting content from another device. This enables integrators to build automation around the customer’s viewing experience. Lights can automatically dim when playback begins, raise when content is paused, and return to normal when playback stops.
The driver can also automatically power on a Control4 room when the Google TV device turns on or begins playing content. A customer can therefore cast a video from their phone and have Control4 automatically turn on the television, AV receiver, or amplifier and configure the room for playback.
Control4 Mini App support provides direct launching of installed services including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video, and other Google TV applications.
Compatible products include Google Home and Nest smart speakers and displays, Chromecast devices, Google TV Streamer, NVIDIA Shield, DIRECTV Stream and DIRECTV Gemini devices, along with other compatible Google TV and Android TV media players and set-top boxes.
For Google TV products, devices that can be controlled through the official Google TV app should be compatible with the Chowmainsoft Google TV driver.
Both drivers are available now from Chowmainsoft with a free 90-day trial for Control4 integrators.
Going to CEDIA Expo? Visit Chowmainsoft at booth #3332 and attend its free manufacturer product training session, “Control4 Third-Party Drivers & Integrations by Chowmainsoft,” to learn more.
