4.1 TriggerCMD (Required)

TriggerCMD is a required component for Smart Home Cinema – Voice Control. It acts as a secure command bridge between your voice assistant (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) and your Windows PC.

Without TriggerCMD installed and running, Smart Home Cinema cannot receive or execute any voice commands.

What TriggerCMD Does

• Receives trigger signals from your voice assistant
• Executes predefined commands locally on your PC
• Runs silently in the background

What TriggerCMD Does NOT Do

• Does not stream, upload, or analyze your media files
• Does not control playback directly
• Does not send playback data to the cloud

All movie control logic remains fully local inside Smart Home Cinema.

What You Must Do Before Installation

• Create a TriggerCMD account
• Install the TriggerCMD desktop application
• Log in successfully
• Confirm that TriggerCMD is running in the system tray

Do NOT create any commands in TriggerCMD yet. Command setup will be covered later in this tutorial.

4.2 Voice Assistant (Required)

Smart Home Cinema – Voice Control requires a voice assistant in order to receive spoken commands.

A voice assistant (Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) is used only as a voice input layer. It listens to your spoken words, recognizes the command, and forwards it to TriggerCMD.

The voice assistant does not control playback directly and does not interact with your media files.

What the Voice Assistant Does

• Listens to spoken voice commands
• Converts speech to text
• Matches the command to a predefined routine
• Sends a trigger signal to TriggerCMD

At this point, the voice assistant’s role ends.

What the Voice Assistant Does NOT Do

• Does not play, pause, or stop movies directly
• Does not access your Movies Folder
• Does not manage files or subtitles
• Does not execute commands on your PC by itself

All playback logic and automation happens locally on your computer, inside Smart Home Cinema.

Supported Voice Assistants

Smart Home Cinema can be used with:

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant

Both assistants work independently and forward commands to TriggerCMD.

It is technically possible to have both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant configured at the same time, and to issue commands from either one. Smart Home Cinema does not distinguish between assistants — any valid command received through TriggerCMD is executed in the same way.

In practice, most users choose to use a single voice assistant for simplicity. Using more than one assistant is optional and not required.

How You Can Speak Commands

• A smartphone (Alexa app or Google Assistant app)
• A dedicated smart speaker (Amazon Echo or Google Nest)

Using a phone is fully supported and works correctly. Using a smart speaker is optional and improves convenience, but is not required.

Phone vs Smart Speaker — Important Clarification

Many users use their phone as the primary voice control device. This is a valid and supported way to use Smart Home Cinema.

Dedicated smart speakers offer a more seamless hands-free experience, especially when watching from a distance (bed, couch, or across the room), but they are not mandatory.

Smart Home Cinema works correctly in both scenarios.

Important Notes

• A phone app is required to configure the voice assistant
• Voice routines must be created to trigger Smart Home Cinema commands
• Routine setup is covered later in this tutorial

The voice assistant is used only as a trigger mechanism. It does not replace Smart Home Cinema, TriggerCMD, or your media player.

4.3 OpenSubtitles (Optional)

OpenSubtitles is required only if you choose to enable subtitle automation in Smart Home Cinema.

If you do not want to use subtitles, you can skip this component entirely.
Smart Home Cinema works perfectly for movie playback and voice control without subtitle automation.

What OpenSubtitles Is Used For

When subtitle automation is enabled, OpenSubtitles is used to:

• Download subtitles automatically for your movies or episodes
• Match subtitles based on the original movie filenames
• Provide subtitle files that can later be synchronized and managed by Smart Home Cinema

OpenSubtitles is used only for subtitle downloading.
It does not affect playback, movie selection, or voice control in any way.

How Subtitle Downloading Works in Smart Home Cinema

When you run the Download Subtitles command, Smart Home Cinema does not rely on a generic subtitle downloader.

Instead, it uses its own subtitle search and selection logic built specifically for OpenSubtitles.

This logic analyzes available subtitle results and automatically selects the most relevant match based on:

• the original movie filename
• the selected subtitle language
• subtitle availability and relevance

No manual selection is required.
The entire process is automatic and consistent across all supported movies.

All subtitle downloading and selection runs locally on your PC and is designed to be predictable, fast, and reliable.

What OpenSubtitles Does NOT Do

• Does not provide movies or video content
• Does not stream or play subtitles
• Does not control subtitle timing during playback
• Does not interact with your media player directly

All subtitle processing (synchronization, cleaning, file handling) happens locally on your PC.

Account & Credentials

If you enable subtitle automation, you must provide OpenSubtitles credentials during setup.

• Credentials are used only to obtain a user authentication token
• Credentials are stored locally on your PC
• Credentials are not shared or transmitted to third parties

Smart Home Cinema does not collect or store OpenSubtitles credentials on any external server.

Important Notes About Subtitle Automation

Subtitle automation is completely optional.

Many users choose to watch movies without subtitles, and Smart Home Cinema is fully functional in this mode.

If you later decide to enable subtitle automation, OpenSubtitles can be configured at that time.

Important Clarification — Subtitle Synchronization Commands

Note: This configuration is required only if you plan to use subtitles with Smart Home Cinema. If you do not use subtitles, you can safely skip this section. All playback and movie management features will continue to work normally without it.

Smart Home Cinema provides two different subtitle synchronization mechanisms, designed to work together, not to replace each other.

Although they may sound similar at first glance, they serve different purposes.

1) Main Subtitle Synchronization (Batch Sync)

• This is the primary and recommended subtitle synchronization method
• Synchronizes subtitle files automatically, in batch
• Analyzes the entire subtitle file and adjusts timing globally
• Is part of the Subtitle Automation Block
• In most cases, this step alone provides perfect or near-perfect synchronization

For the vast majority of movies, no further manual adjustment is required after this process.

2) Fine Adjustment — Sync Forward / Sync Backward

• These commands are not a second synchronization system
• They are designed as a fine-tuning fallback, used only if needed
• Adjust subtitle timing during playback
• Move subtitles forward or backward by small increments (±1 second)
• Useful only in rare edge cases where minor timing drift remains

Think of them as a precision adjustment tool, not as a replacement for automatic synchronization.

Why both systems exist

• Batch Sync → solves 95–99% of synchronization issues automatically
• Sync Forward / Backward → provides manual fine control only if necessary

Most users will rarely need Sync Forward or Sync Backward — but having them available ensures complete control in all scenarios.

👉 Next, we will configure PotPlayer so that these fine-adjustment commands can be triggered reliably through Smart Home Cinema voice commands.

7.1 PotPlayer version — Subtitle Sync Hotkeys (Required)

To enable voice-controlled subtitle synchronization in Smart Home Cinema – Voice Control, PotPlayer must be configured with two specific keyboard shortcuts.

These shortcuts allow the system to shift subtitles forward or backward by one second using voice commands.

Why this step is required

By default, PotPlayer uses the . (dot) and , (comma) keys for subtitle synchronization. These keys are not universal Windows keys and cannot be reliably triggered by external automation tools.

For this reason, Smart Home Cinema requires the subtitle sync actions to be reassigned to F10 and F9, which are standard, universally supported keys.

Note: F9 and F10 were historically used by PotPlayer’s old broadcast/chat features. These features are deprecated and no longer active, so the keys are safe to reuse.

Required key mapping

• F10 → Increase Subtitle Sync (+1 second)
• F9 → Decrease Subtitle Sync (–1 second)

Step-by-step configuration

1. Open PotPlayer.

2. Right-click anywhere inside the player window.

3. Select Preferences (or press F5).

   PotPlayer Open Preferences

   

4. Go to General → Keyboard, then click Add… to create a new custom hotkey.

   PotPlayer Preferences → Keyboard

   

5. 5.1 Select Increase Subtitle Sync
   In the Custom Hotkey window, expand Subtitles, then expand Subtitle Sync. Select the first Increase Subtitle Sync entry in the list (the one without any key combination assigned).

   PotPlayer Select Increase Subtitle Sync

   

6. 5.2 Assign F10 and confirm
   Click inside the Hotkey field at the top, press the F10 key on your keyboard and verify that F10 appears in the field. Then click OK to confirm.

   PotPlayer Assign F10

   

7. 5.3 F10 mapping completed
   After clicking OK, PotPlayer automatically returns to the Preferences → Keyboard screen.

   At this point, the F10 key is already listed and mapped to Subtitles → Subtitle Sync → Increase. This is the starting point for adding the next hotkey (F9).

   PotPlayer F10 mapping completed

   

8. Assign F9 — Decrease Subtitle Sync

   • Click Add… again
   • Expand: Subtitles → Subtitle Sync
   • Select the first “Decrease Subtitle Sync” entry in the list (the one without any key combination assigned)
   • Click in the Hotkey field and press F9
   • Click OK to confirm

9. Final check

   • Keyboard list must show: F10 → Subtitles → Subtitle Sync → Increase
   • Keyboard list must show: F9 → Subtitles → Subtitle Sync → Decrease
   • Click Apply, then OK to save the changes

PotPlayer Final hotkey mapping

Once this is done, subtitle fine adjustment commands in Smart Home Cinema will work correctly.

7.2 VLC version — Subtitle Sync Hotkeys (Required)

In this section, you will configure VLC so Smart Home Cinema can adjust subtitles forward and backward by one second using voice commands.

Step-by-step configuration

1. Open VLC Media Player.

   VLC Main Window

   

2. Go to Tools → Preferences.

   VLC Open Preferences

   

3. In the Preferences window, open the Hotkeys tab.

   VLC Preferences → Hotkeys

   

4. Scroll until you find:

   • Subtitle delay up
   • Subtitle delay down

   Double-click the current hotkey next to Subtitle delay up.

   VLC Locate subtitle delay hotkeys

   

5. When the popup appears, press F10 and then click Assign.

   VLC may warn that F10 is already assigned to another function. This is expected — click Assign to replace it.

   VLC Assign F10

   

6. Now repeat the process for Subtitle delay down and assign F9.

   VLC Assign F9

   

Once these mappings are saved, Smart Home Cinema can control subtitle timing with precise +1s / −1s adjustments using voice commands.

Switching between editions (PotPlayer ↔ VLC)

You can switch versions at any time — for example, from PotPlayer version to VLC version, and back again.

Rule: always do it in this order:

• Uninstall the current Smart Home Cinema edition
• Delete the folder: C:\Program Files\Smart Home Cinema (PotPlayer\VLC version)
• Install the new edition

Important: Each edition (PotPlayer / VLC) uses its own command set.
After switching editions, you must import the new Smart Home Cinema command file again in TriggerCMD so it replaces the previous one.

This prevents old configuration or progress files from causing unexpected behavior.

Phase 1 — Install Alexa App & Create Account / Sign In

This phase covers installing the Amazon Alexa app and completing the initial account setup.

1. Install the Amazon Alexa app Search for Amazon Alexa in Google Play or the App Store and install the app
2. Open the Alexa app Once installation is complete, open the app to begin setup
3. Accept the terms of use Review the information shown and tap Agree & Continue
4. Confirm the account holder Select Account holder
5. Confirm your name Verify that your name is correct and tap Agree & Continue

Phase 2 — Skip Initial Device Setup Screens

During the initial setup, Alexa may display screens related to device setup, permissions, or device discovery. These steps are not required for Smart Home Cinema. Tap Skip, Later, or Not now, exactly as shown in the screenshots below, and continue.

1. Notifications screen When asked to allow notifications, you may tap Later. Notifications are optional and not required for Smart Home Cinema.
2. Device setup prompt If Alexa asks whether you want to set up a device now, choose Skip or Later to continue.
3. Nearby devices permission If prompted for nearby devices access, you may tap Cancel or skip when available. This does not affect Smart Home Cinema.
4. Bluetooth setup If Alexa requests Bluetooth for device setup, tap Skip to continue without enabling it.
5. Device selection screen When the device list appears, do not select any device. Simply close the screen using the X button in the top-right corner.

📌 Short note:
Echo devices are not mandatory for Smart Home Cinema and can be added later if desired. All features work the same using voice commands from your phone, but an Echo device makes everyday use easier and more comfortable.
This does not affect Smart Home Cinema functionality.

Phase 3.1 — Navigate to Alexa Skills (Account Linking Preparation)

In this step, you will begin the process of linking your Alexa account with your TriggerCMD account. This connection is required so that Alexa can send voice commands to your computer and control Smart Home Cinema.

After completing the initial Alexa app setup, you will land on the Home screen. From here, you need to navigate to the section where Alexa allows you to add extra functionality, called Skills.

Follow these steps:

• open the More menu in the Alexa app (this is the three-line icon at the bottom of the screen, highlighted with a turquoise underline in the screenshot);
• go to Skills & Games by following the same turquoise underline cues shown on the screen.

This will take you to the Discover Alexa section, where you can browse and search for new skills. In the search bar at the top of the screen, type TriggerCMD. When the search results appear, select TriggerCMD Smart Home, exactly as highlighted with the turquoise underline in the screenshot. This is the skill used to connect Alexa with Smart Home Cinema.

Phase 3.2 — Enable the TriggerCMD Skill & Sign In

In this step, you will enable the TriggerCMD Smart Home skill and link it to your TriggerCMD account. This step authorizes Alexa to communicate with TriggerCMD and send voice commands to your computer.

After searching for TriggerCMD, the Alexa app will display a list of results. From this list, select TriggerCMD Smart Home, exactly as highlighted with the turquoise underline in the screenshot. This ensures you are opening the correct skill.

Once the skill page opens, tap Enable to Use. This button is also highlighted with a turquoise underline to clearly indicate where to tap.

After enabling the skill, you will be redirected to the TriggerCMD sign-in page. Here, log in using your TriggerCMD account credentials. You may sign in using your email and password, or another available sign-in method, depending on your account.

After signing in, TriggerCMD will ask for permission to access your account. Tap Allow, following the turquoise underline shown in the screenshot, to approve the connection.

This step completes the authorization process between Alexa and TriggerCMD.

To finish this step, tap Next on the confirmation screen shown above. This will complete the skill linking process and return you to the Alexa app.

Phase 3.3 — Device Discovery & Final Confirmation

After completing the TriggerCMD account authorization, Alexa will automatically proceed to the device discovery step. During this process, Alexa searches for the virtual smart home devices created by TriggerCMD.

While device discovery is in progress, you will see a screen indicating that Alexa is looking for devices. This process may take up to one minute and requires no action from you.

Once discovery is complete, Alexa will confirm that the device setup is finished and ready to use. Tap Done to finalize the setup process.

After tapping Done, you will be taken to the Alexa Devices section. Here, you should see multiple new smart home devices created by TriggerCMD, each representing a Smart Home Cinema command (for example: download subtitles, delete movie, clean subtitles).

The presence of these devices confirms that TriggerCMD is successfully connected to Alexa and that Smart Home Cinema voice commands are now available.

This completes the Alexa–TriggerCMD integration. You can now proceed to using voice commands or creating Alexa routines.

To send a voice command to TriggerCMD, tap the microphone button located in the bottom-right corner of the Alexa app. This area is highlighted with a turquoise underline in the screenshot, making it easy to identify. After tapping the microphone, simply speak your command.

Alternatively, if the Alexa app is already open and voice activation is enabled on your phone, you can simply say “Alexa” without tapping the microphone.

When no Alexa routines are used, voice commands must follow the default smart home format. For example:

“Alexa, turn on Play Movie”

This is the required command format before creating any Alexa routines. Shorter commands without “turn on” can be used later by creating Alexa routines.

Phase 3.4 — Alexa Routines (Short Voice Commands)

In the previous steps, you learned how to control Smart Home Cinema using the default voice command format:

“Alexa, turn on Play Movie”

Alexa routines allow you to use shorter and more natural voice commands, such as “Alexa, Play Movie”, by translating your phrase into a Smart Home action.

In this phase, you will create a simple Alexa routine from scratch. This routine will let you say a shorter command while Alexa still sends the correct TriggerCMD action to your PC.

Step 1 — Create a new routine

Open the Alexa app and make sure you are on the main screen. Then open the menu and select Routines.

Next, tap the + button in the top-right corner to create a new routine.

You will now see the New Routine screen, where we will configure the trigger and the action.

Step 2 — Define the voice trigger

Tap When this happens, then tap the + button. From the list, select Voice.

In the next step, you will choose the phrase that will activate this routine.

Phase 3.4 — Create an Alexa Routine for “Play Movie” (Voice Trigger & Action)

Step 3 — Define the voice trigger (continued)

Enter the phrase you want to say, for example: Play Movie.

Tap Next in the top-right corner.

This phrase will become the voice command you say to Alexa.

Step 4 — Add the Smart Home action

Tap Alexa Will, then tap the plus (+) button.

Select Smart Home.

Scroll down and choose All Devices.

Phase 3.4 — Complete the “Play Movie” Routine

Step 5 — Select the Play Movie device

From the list of Smart Home devices, scroll until you find Play Movie and tap on it.

Step 6 — Set the action

On the next screen, enable the checkbox for Power, then choose On.

Tap Next in the top-right corner.

This action tells Alexa to trigger the corresponding TriggerCMD command on your PC.

Step 7 — Save the routine

Tap Save to create the routine.

Once saved, your routine is ready to use. You can now control Smart Home Cinema using the shorter voice command:

“Alexa, Play Movie”

Google Assistant — Screenshot Gallery (Steps 1–10)

These screenshots are displayed as thumbnails. Click any image to enlarge it.

Phase 2 — Link TRIGGERcmd to Google Home

In this section you will connect TRIGGERcmd with Google Home so Smart Home Cinema commands can be controlled by your voice.

1. Step 1 — Open TRIGGERcmd

   Tap TRIGGERcmd Smart Home.

2. Step 2 — Start linking

   Tap Continue to begin linking your account.

3. Step 3 — Review permissions

   Google shows what this integration allows. Tap Agree and continue.

4. Step 4 — Sign in to TRIGGERcmd

   Sign in using the same TRIGGERcmd account you used before:

   • Continue with Google
   • or email + password

   Then tap Sign In.

5. Step 5 — Approve Google access

   Tap Allow so Google can trigger your commands.

6. Step 6 — Wait while devices are imported

   Google loads all Smart Home Cinema devices automatically.

7. Step 7 — Select all Smart Home Cinema devices

   Select (check) every single device.

   ⚠

   Very important:

   • scroll all the way down — there are about 24 commands
   • enable (check) every single command

   If you miss one, some routines may not work later.

   When finished, tap Add to a room.

8. Step 8 — Choose the room

   Select the room , then tap Next.

9. Step 9 — Confirm or create room name

   If needed, type a custom room name and tap Continue.

Google Home — Screenshot Gallery (Screenshots 11–20)

Tap any screenshot to enlarge it.

Google Assistant — Screenshot Gallery (Steps 21–30)

These screenshots are displayed as thumbnails. Click any image to enlarge it.