youtube-music-cast

# YouTube Music Cast

YouTube music → your Chromecast. Simple, free, works.

Download audio from YouTube or YouTube Music and stream it through Home Assistant to any Cast-enabled device. No subscriptions, no cloud services, just your local network.

## Features

- ✅ **Free forever** — No subscriptions, no premium accounts needed
- ✅ **High quality** — 320K MP3, crystal clear audio
- ✅ **Video mode** — Create MP4 videos with album art and text overlays
- ✅ **Radio mode** — Auto-discover and play related songs
- ✅ **Local storage** — Your music stays on your machine, no cloud
- ✅ **Multi-room** — Cast to any Chromecast device in your home
- ✅ **Batch download** — Download entire playlists, stream anytime
- ✅ **Simple CLI** — Fast commands, no browser required
- ✅ **Works offline** — Once downloaded, music is yours to keep

## Use Cases

### Daily Music
Download your favorite tracks in the morning, cast them throughout the day. No waiting, no buffering.

### Party Mode
Download a playlist before guests arrive, then queue up songs without fumbling with phones or apps.

### Background Audio
Play ambient music or podcasts while you work without worrying about ads or interruptions.

### Multi-Room Sync
Stream the same track to multiple Chromecasts simultaneously (bedroom + living room + kitchen).

## Why This Over Premium Services?

| Feature | YouTube Music Cast | Spotify Premium | YouTube Premium |
|---------|-------------------|------------------|------------------|
| Cost | Free forever | $10.99/month | $13.99/month |
| Quality | 320K MP3 | Up to 320K | Up to 1080p video |
| Offline | Yes, forever | Download limit | Download limit |
| Ads | None | None | None |
| Platforms | Any Chromecast | Spotify Connect devices | YouTube apps |
| Privacy | Local only | Cloud-based | Cloud-based |

## Quick Start

```bash
# 1. Setup (one time, takes 2 minutes)
cast-setup

# 2. Download your first song
cast-download https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

# 3. Start the web...