05.08.2009 — CasaTunes now offers LCD keypads for its PC-based multiroom audio systems – the last missing piece of the company's hardware line.

Originally a software-only provider doing business as CasaTools, CasaTunes is well known among enthusiasts for bringing PC and Windows Media Center interfaces to Russound and NuVo multiroom audio.

Last year, CasaTunes branched into hardware, delivering its XL line of PC audio cards and music servers – solutions that would deliver music throughout the house, without the need for a dedicated multiroom audio system like Russound or NuVo.

We were thrilled with the new offering when it debuted at EHX Spring 2008 because it had the one big thing that Windows Media Center lacks natively: support for multiroom audio.
But there was one big question (as posed in the original article): How do you control it?

At EHX, the company demonstrated control of its system via a PC, a TV (through the Media Center interface), an iPhone, Nokia N800, Samsung Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), VidaBox vPad tablet and some other off-the-shelf devices.

But no keypads – one of the most important elements of Russound and NuVo music systems.

I asked last year, "Can you live without keypads?"

It was always in the CasaTunes game plan. The original hardware included Cat 5 ports for future keypad functionality (and, no, those connections do not support other vendors’ keypads at this time).

The new keypad may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Now you can really use Windows Media Center as the hub of a multiroom audio system.

CasaTunes fills the void left by Fuze AV, which offered a similar solution but abandoned the market last year. (CasaTunes, how about buying up the powerline keypads from Fuze?!)

About the CasaTunes Keypads

The new LCD keypads let users turn their music and and off, adjust the volume, switch between sources and advance songs. Users also can change SHOUTcast Internet Radio stations with the touch of a button.

Tunes can be selected by album, genre or artist and add them to the queue. Metadata is provided on the LCD screen. CasaTunes hardware and software aggregates music from virtually any digital source on the network.

The LCD screen also relays system feedback. Is the room is set up as a do-not-disturb zone? Is the keypad a "master" for the current zone group? Is the room scheduled to wake to music?

The keypads are fed by a CasaTunes USB6 Keypad Hub, which plugs into the USB port of a CasaTunes server.

Each hub supports up to six CasaTunes keypads, which connect using Cat 5 cable. Multiple hubs can be connected to the system.

Assignment of a keypad to a specific room or Zone Group is accomplished using the keypad menus, "dramatically simplifying the installation process when compared to other products," according to CasaTunes.

The CasaTunes Keypad and CasaTunes USB6 Keypad Hub can be purchased individually or as a bundle. The bundle – including one hub and six keypads -- retails for $999

Keypads, which fit in a single gang box, are available in almond, white, ivory and black.