Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about Sonorium.

Why don't I hear any sound?

Common causes:

  • Speaker compatibility: The speaker doesn't support HTTP audio streams
  • Network: Firewall blocking the stream, or speaker on different subnet
  • Volume: Channel volume or master gain set to 0
  • Device muted: Physical speaker is muted

Try playing to a different speaker to isolate the issue. Check the Sonorium logs for errors.

My speakers aren't showing up

Sonorium discovers speakers from Home Assistant's media_player entities:

  • Verify speakers are set up as media_player entities in HA
  • Check they aren't disabled in Sonorium Settings
  • Try "Refresh Speakers" in Settings

Speakers must support HTTP audio streaming (Chromecast, Sonos, DLNA work great).

What audio formats are supported?
  • .mp3 — Most compatible, recommended
  • .wav — Uncompressed
  • .flac — Lossless
  • .ogg — Open format

Use MP3 at 128-320kbps for best results. Longer tracks (1-10 min) loop more seamlessly.

What does "Presence" do?

Presence controls how often a track appears in the mix (0-100%):

  • 100%: Always playing
  • 50%: Fades in and out naturally
  • 20%: Occasional appearances

Great for occasional sounds like thunder or bird calls—set to 20-40% so they appear naturally.

What are the playback modes?
  • Auto: Best mode based on file length
  • Continuous: Loop with seamless crossfade
  • Sparse: Play once, wait 30-300s, repeat
  • Gapless: Loop without crossfade
  • Presence: Fade based on presence setting
Does it work with Sonos/Google Home/Alexa?

Yes! Any speaker that's a media_player in Home Assistant and supports HTTP streaming:

  • Sonos: Full support
  • Google/Chromecast: Works great
  • Amazon Echo: Requires extra setup
  • DLNA/UPnP: Most network speakers work
  • AirPlay: Works with AirPlay devices
Where can I get ambient audio files?
  • Included themes: Sleigh Ride and Tavern come with Sonorium
  • Freesound.org: Large free sound library
  • Ambient-Mixer.com: Downloadable ambient soundscapes
  • YouTube Audio Library: Free ambient tracks
  • Record your own: Nature sounds, rain, etc.
Will standalone apps support network speakers?

Yes! Network streaming is on the roadmap for all standalone versions:

  • Windows, macOS, and Linux apps
  • Docker container

Planned support includes Chromecast, DLNA/UPnP, and AirPlay. Currently the Windows app plays through local PC audio.

Is Sonorium really free?

Yes! Sonorium is completely free and open source (MIT license). It's a fork of Amniotic by fmtr.

Source code is on GitHub. Contributions welcome!

How do I report a bug?

Open an issue on GitHub:

Include your setup details, steps to reproduce, and any error logs.