OpenAudio Routing Groups: Beyond AirPlay Multi-Selection & Google Cast Grouping

OpenAudio Routing Groups: Going Beyond AirPlay Multi-Selection and Google Cast Grouping

Introduction: When Protocol UX Is No Longer Enough

AirPlay and Google Cast have defined how users interact with multi-room audio for years.
AirPlay offers on-the-fly multi-selection, while Google Cast relies on predefined device groups. Both approaches work well within their respective ecosystems—but they also reveal clear limitations once audio systems grow beyond a few speakers.

With OpenAudio Routing Groups, multi-room audio moves beyond protocol-level UX and into a system-level routing model, where zones, sources, and group logic are managed centrally inside the HoloHome App, independent of whether the input comes from AirPlay, Google Cast, or other streaming sources.

What Are Routing Groups in the HoloHome App?

Routing Groups are logical audio groupings defined at the system layer, not at the protocol layer.

In the HoloHome App, users can:

• Select any combination of audio zones
• Route a single audio source to multiple zones
• Save these combinations as named groups, such as:
  • All Rooms
  • Living + Kitchen
  • Party
  • Outdoor
• Recall or modify these groups instantly at any time

Once created, these groups live inside the OpenAudio system, not inside AirPlay or Google Cast.

How Routing Groups Work in Practice

A typical flow looks like this:

1. A user starts playback via AirPlay, Google Cast, or another supported source
2. Audio enters the OpenAudio system as a single stream
3. Inside the HoloHome App, the user chooses:
   • Which zones receive the audio
   • Whether to use an existing Routing Group (e.g. Party)
4. The system handles:
   • Zone routing
   • Synchronization
   • Group persistence

The streaming protocol provides the content, while OpenAudio controls the distribution.

Routing Groups vs. AirPlay Multi-Selection vs. Google Cast Group

The key difference is where grouping logic lives.

Core Conceptual Difference

• AirPlay Multi-Selection
  → Grouping is created by the phone, per session
• Google Cast Group
  → Grouping is created by the Cast ecosystem, pre-configured
• OpenAudio Routing Groups
  → Grouping is created by the audio system itself, persistent and reusable

Feature Comparison Table

Why Routing Groups Go Beyond Native Protocol Behavior

1. Protocols Are Entry Points, Not System Controllers

AirPlay and Google Cast were designed for consumer playback, not for managing complex multi-zone audio systems.

Routing Groups treat these protocols as inputs, not decision-makers.

2. Group Logic Becomes Independent of the Source

With Routing Groups:

• The same Party group can be used for:
  • AirPlay
  • Google Cast
  • Network streaming
  • Local inputs

Users don’t need to rebuild groups every time they switch apps or platforms.

3. A Single UX for All Ecosystems

Instead of learning:

• AirPlay rules on iOS
• Cast rules on Android

Users interact with one consistent interface: the HoloHome App.

This is especially important in households and projects where iOS, Android, and automation systems coexist.

Designed for Real Multi-Zone Audio Systems

Routing Groups are not a workaround—they are a core architectural feature of OpenAudio’s multi-zone platforms.

They are designed for:

• Permanent installations
• Whole-home audio
• Home cinema + distributed audio coexistence
• Integration with smart home systems

This makes Routing Groups fundamentally different from temporary, protocol-driven grouping mechanisms.

Conclusion: From Protocol UX to System Intelligence

AirPlay Multi-Selection and Google Cast Grouping are effective within their own boundaries.
But as audio systems scale, system-level control becomes essential.

With Routing Groups in the HoloHome App, OpenAudio moves grouping logic out of individual ecosystems and into the audio platform itself—enabling persistent, flexible, and source-agnostic multi-room audio experiences.

This is not about replacing AirPlay or Google Cast.
It is about going beyond them.