Volume management in a media playback system
Example techniques may provide volume enhancements to a media playback system. An example implementation involves a first playback device in a first playback configuration playing audio at a first volume level and storing the first volume level in association with the first playback configuration. The first playback device receives instructions to change to a second playback configuration. Based on receiving the instructions, the first playback device joins a synchrony group with a second zone and adjusts the first playback device to play audio at a second volume level which is based on a volume level of a second playback device in the second zone. While in the second playback configuration, the first playback device receives instructions to change to the first playback configuration and, based on the instructions, leaves the synchrony group and adjusts the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level.
1. A first playback device comprising:
a network interface;
one or more speakers;
one or more processors; and
data storage having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:
while in a first audio playback configuration that consists of a first zone that includes the first playback device, playing, via the one or more speakers, audio content at a first volume level;
storing the first volume level in association with the first audio playback configuration;
receiving, via the network interface, data representing instructions to change to a second audio playback configuration, wherein the second audio playback configuration comprises a synchrony group with a second zone, and wherein the second zone includes a second playback device;
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) joining the synchrony group with the second zone, wherein the second playback device is configured as group coordinator of the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at a second volume level that is based on a volume level of the second playback device;
while the first playback device is playing audio as part of the second audio playback configuration, receiving, via the network interface, data representing instructions to change to the first audio playback configuration; and
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) leaving the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level as part of the first audio playback configuration.
2. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is the same volume level as the volume level of the second playback device.
3. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first volume level is inaudible, and wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is audible.
4. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device.
5. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device and a third playback device configured into a stereo pair to play respective channels of stereo audio content.
6. The first playback device of claim 5 , wherein the functions further comprise:
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: sending one or more instructions to (i) cause the third playback device to join the second audio playback configuration, and (ii) adjust the third playback device to play audio content at the second volume level as part of the second audio playback configuration.
7. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device and a subwoofer playback device configured into a bonded zone to play respective frequency components of the audio content.
8. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:
while in a first audio playback configuration that consists of a first zone that includes the first playback device, playing, via one or more speakers of the first playback device, audio content at a first volume level;
storing the first volume level in association with the first audio playback configuration;
receiving, via a network interface of the first playback device, data representing instructions to change to a second audio playback configuration, wherein the second audio playback configuration comprises a synchrony group with a second zone, and wherein the second zone includes a second playback device;
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) joining the synchrony group with the second zone, wherein the second playback device is configured as group coordinator of the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at a second volume level that is based on a volume level of the second playback device;
while the first playback device is playing audio as part of the second audio playback configuration, receiving, via the network interface, data representing instructions to change to the first audio playback configuration; and
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) leaving the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level as part of the first audio playback configuration.
9. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is the same volume level as the volume level of the second playback device.
10. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the first volume level is inaudible, and wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is audible.
11. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device.
12. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device and a third playback device configured into a stereo pair to play respective channels of stereo audio content.
13. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the functions further comprise:
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: sending one or more instructions to (i) cause the third playback device to join the second audio playback configuration, and (ii) adjust the third playback device to play audio content at the second volume level as part of the second audio playback configuration.
14. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device and a subwoofer playback device configured into a bonded zone to play respective frequency components of the audio content.
15. A method to be performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:
while in a first audio playback configuration that consists of a first zone that includes the first playback device, playing, via one or more speakers of the first playback device, audio content at a first volume level;
storing the first volume level in association with the first audio playback configuration;
receiving, via a network interface of the first playback device, data representing instructions to change to a second audio playback configuration, wherein the second audio playback configuration comprises a synchrony group with a second zone, and wherein the second zone includes a second playback device;
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) joining the synchrony group with the second zone, wherein the second playback device is configured as group coordinator of the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at a second volume level that is based on a volume level of the second playback device;
while the first playback device is playing audio as part of the second audio playback configuration, receiving, via the network interface, data representing instructions to change to the first audio playback configuration; and
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: (i) leaving the synchrony group, and (ii) adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level as part of the first audio playback configuration.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is the same volume level as the volume level of the second playback device.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first volume level is inaudible, and wherein adjusting the first playback device to play audio content at the second volume level that is based on the volume level of the second playback device comprises adjusting the first playback device to play audio content to play audio content at a particular second volume level that is audible.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first zone consists of the first playback device and a third playback device configured into a stereo pair to play respective channels of stereo audio content.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
based on receiving the data representing instructions to change to the second audio playback configuration: sending one or more instructions to (i) cause the third playback device to join the second audio playback configuration, and (ii) adjust the third playback device to play audio content at the second volume level as part of the second audio playback configuration.