Set Up an AV Zone with Sources

Goal: create an audio or video area — a listening zone or a TV — that can power on, select sources, and control volume.

An AV Zone extends a regular zone with AV-specific behavior: source routing, power-on/off sequences, and volume control. AV Sources are the things it can play (a cable box, a streamer, an audio server).

Before you start

• You're logged in as an administrator.
• The AV equipment is commissioned (see Commission a Device): the receiver/amp or display that the zone runs on, and the source devices it will play.

1. Create the AV zone

1. Open AV Zones and click Add.

   Open AV Zones

2. Choose the AV Type:

   • audio — ceiling speakers, soundbar, multi-room audio.
   • video — a display or projector.

3. Select the parent zone. An AV zone wraps a regular zone. Create a new zone here, or attach to an existing one (see Commission a Device → add zones).

4. Configure AV behavior:

   • On Macro / Off Macro — sequences run when the zone powers on and off (e.g. turn on the amp, select the right input, set a default volume). Build these as ordinary macros — see Build a Macro.
   • Address — the matrix switcher address (the zone's output) when audio/video is routed through a matrix.
   • Volume Device — a separate device for volume control, if volume isn't handled by the main zone device.

5. Save.

2. Add sources

Use the AV zone's View AV Sources action (or open AV Sources directly) and add the content sources for this zone.

Open AV Sources

For each source:

• Device — the physical source (cable box, Apple TV, audio streamer). This link is what gives the source transport control (play, pause, stop).
• AV Zone — assign it to this zone, or mark it Global to make it available in every AV zone.
• AV Type — audio or video.
• On Macro / Off Macro — optional sequences run when the source is selected/deselected.
• Address — the matrix input number, when routing through a matrix.

Verify it

• Power the zone on — its On Macro should run and the equipment should come to life.
• Select a source and confirm it plays; try transport controls if it's a playback device.

What's next

• Route a Source to Multiple Zones — share one source across rooms.
• Configure Channels — add a TV channel lineup to a tuner source.
• AV Zones and AV Sources in the Admin Reference.