Author: BeauNouvelle

  • Summoning Stone vs Tabletop Audio: Which Should You Use?

    Tabletop Audio is a huge library of ambient sound that runs in any browser; Summoning Stone is an app for building and running scenes on Apple devices. Tabletop Audio is ideal for quick, no-install ambience. Summoning Stone adds music, a soundboard, scene artwork on a TV and hands-free control.

    We make Summoning Stone. Tabletop Audio facts below come from its About page as of October 2026.

    At a glance

    Summoning StoneTabletop Audio
    What it isApp for iPhone, iPad and MacWebsite that works in modern browsers
    AmbienceLayered ambient soundscapes you build into scenesMore than 500 ten-minute ambiences, over 80 hours
    Sound effectsSoundboard with filters like reverb30 SoundPads with over 1,200 sounds; a custom tool mixes up to 40
    MusicAccess to millions of songs, plus built-in tracksAmbient focus; exclusive Zones for Patreon supporters
    ScenesFully customizable scenes grouped by campaign, plus community-made campaignsPlaylists saved per device, with shareable links
    InvolvementOne tap starts a scene, and it plays exactly as you saved it: music, ambience levels, effects and reverbYou choose and start each ambience or SoundPad; playlists are saved per device
    Room acousticsReverb on a scene’s ambience and effects, saved with the scene, so a cave can sound like a cave and a church like a churchNot stated on their About page
    TV displayArtwork and maps with weather effectsNot stated
    Hands-free controlSiri, Shortcuts, Stream DeckNot stated
    Commercial useBuilt-in audio cleared with attributionAmbiences CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: non-profit with attribution, monetized case by case

    Where Tabletop Audio is stronger

    • Nothing to install. Open a browser on any device and press play.
    • Depth of ambience. Hours of ten-minute, non-repeating environments.
    • Any platform. It works wherever a modern browser does.

    Where Summoning Stone is stronger

    • Built for professionals. A pro-level app with tons of features. It’s built for live streaming (built-in audio cleared for commercial use, hands-free control with Siri and Stream Deck, scenes that play the same way every time) and for professional game masters running lots of different games, with custom campaigns that fit each group rather than starting from someone else’s ready-made scenes.
    • One tap, played as saved. Each scene remembers its music, ambience levels, effects and reverb, so switching scenes is one tap and nothing needs adjusting mid-game. Do a little prep up front, then just play.
    • Room acoustics. Add reverb to a scene’s ambience and effects, and save it with the scene. A tight cavern, a vast hall or a church can sound like one, every time you start the scene.
    • Music. Access to millions of songs, the largest library of music for tabletop games.
    • Scenes, not just playlists. Combine music, ambience and effects into fully customizable scenes, group them by campaign, and switch between them in one tap. Or skip the setup with community-made campaigns, including scenes for adventures like Death House in Curse of Strahd.
    • Table extras. Show artwork and maps on a TV with rain, snow, fog, smoke or magic effects. See how.
    • Hands-free control with Siri or a Stream Deck.
    • Clear commercial clearance for built-in audio. See stream-safe music.

    Who should choose which

    • Choose Tabletop Audio if you want quick, no-install ambience on any device.
    • Choose Summoning Stone if you play on Apple devices and want fully customizable scenes, millions of songs, effects and extras in one app.
    • Use both. Many game masters keep a browser tab of ambience handy. See our guide to the best tabletop audio apps.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Summoning Stone better than Tabletop Audio?
    In our view, for running full scenes, yes. Tabletop Audio is a good library of ambience in any browser, but Summoning Stone is a pro-level app with music, effects, room acoustics, a TV display and hands-free control.

    Does Tabletop Audio have an app?
    Its About page describes a website that works in modern browsers, and doesn’t mention native apps.

    Can I use Tabletop Audio on a monetized stream?
    Its ambiences are licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Non-profit channels can use them with attribution, and monetized use is decided case by case. Check their terms.

    Can I use Summoning Stone on a monetized stream?
    Built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution and a link to the app.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Is There a D&D Audio App for Android?

    Summoning Stone is available on iPhone, iPad and Mac today, and Android is in development. There’s no release date yet.

    What Summoning Stone does

    • Access to millions of songs, plus built-in stream-safe tracks.
    • Layered ambient soundscapes and a sound-effects soundboard.
    • One-tap scenes that play exactly as you saved them, with reverb for caverns, halls and churches.
    • Fully customizable scenes, grouped by campaign, with community-made campaigns if you’d rather skip the setup.
    • Scene artwork and maps on a TV, with weather effects.
    • Siri, Shortcuts and Stream Deck control.

    See what each feature does.

    Stay in the loop

    • Join the Summoning Stone Discord, linked in the site footer.
    • Email hello@summoningstone.app with feature requests or to ask about Android.

    If you run a game with a mix of devices, the Apple device doing the audio is the only one that needs the app. Players don’t need to install anything.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Summoning Stone on Android?
    Not yet. Android is in development.

    When will the Android version be released?
    There’s no release date yet.

    What devices does Summoning Stone run on today?
    iPhone, iPad and Mac.

    Do my players need the app?
    No. Only the device running the audio needs it.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Can I Control My D&D Soundboard With Siri or a Stream Deck?

    Yes. Summoning Stone adds actions to Siri and the Shortcuts app, and has a Stream Deck plugin. You can start a scene, stop it and fire sound effects without touching the app.

    Siri and Shortcuts

    Summoning Stone provides three actions:

    • Start Scene: pick any of your scenes.
    • Stop Scene
    • Play SFX: pick any sound effect.

    You can say things like “Play a Summoning Stone scene” or “Stop Summoning Stone scene”, or build Shortcuts that combine these actions with others. For example, one Shortcut can start a scene and set your smart lights. See how to change the lights.

    Stream Deck

    The Summoning Stone plugin for Elgato Stream Deck adds buttons for:

    • Starting a specific scene.
    • Stopping the current scene.
    • Playing a specific sound effect.

    The plugin talks to the Summoning Stone app running on the same computer, so it’s meant for the Mac app. Put your most-used effects, such as a dragon roar or a door slam, on physical buttons.

    Which should I use?

    Siri / ShortcutsStream Deck
    Best forHands-free commands, combining actionsPhysical buttons for scenes and effects
    NeedsAn Apple device with Summoning StoneA Stream Deck, with Summoning Stone on the same Mac

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I trigger sound effects with my voice?
    Yes, with Siri or a Shortcut using the Play SFX action.

    Does the Stream Deck plugin work with iPhone or iPad?
    The plugin connects to the app on the same computer, so it’s designed for the Mac app.

    Do I need a Stream Deck?
    No. Siri and Shortcuts work on their own.

    Can I control lights at the same time?
    Yes, by combining Summoning Stone’s actions with your smart-light actions in a Shortcut.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Can I Play Music and SFX Together Over AirPlay or Bluetooth?

    It depends on where your music comes from and how you connect. With Summoning Stone’s built-in music, music and sound effects can play together however you connect. With Apple Music, they can’t play together over AirPlay, because Apple doesn’t allow it. Bluetooth and screen mirroring both work fine with Apple Music.

    Your options

    Music sourceAirPlayBluetoothScreen mirroring
    Built-in musicMusic and effects togetherWorksWorks, and shows artwork on a TV
    Apple MusicNot music and effects togetherWorksWorks

    Best approach

    • Use Bluetooth to a speaker for the simplest setup. It works with Apple Music and the built-in music.
    • Use the built-in music if you want AirPlay or screen mirroring with effects. See how to show maps on a TV.
    • Using Apple Music? Choose Bluetooth or screen mirroring. Only AirPlay is restricted, because Apple doesn’t allow Music and app audio to play together over it.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why can’t I hear sound effects with Apple Music over AirPlay?
    Apple doesn’t allow Apple Music and app audio to play together over AirPlay, so music and effects can’t play together that way. Bluetooth and screen mirroring aren’t affected.

    Does the built-in music work over AirPlay?
    Yes. Built-in music and effects can play together through AirPlay.

    What’s the most reliable way to play audio at the table?
    A standard Bluetooth speaker. It works with Apple Music and the built-in music.

    Can I use Summoning Stone with a Bluetooth speaker?
    Yes.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • How Do I Show Maps and Artwork to My D&D Players on a TV?

    Use Summoning Stone’s screen mirroring. Connect your iPhone or iPad to a TV, and the TV shows the current scene’s artwork or map, with optional weather effects. Your controls stay on your device. Screen mirroring is part of the app’s paid subscription.

    How it works

    1. Add artwork to your scenes. Give a scene an image, such as a map, a monster, or a tavern interior. GIF, PNG, JPEG and HEIC images are supported.
    2. Connect your device to a TV. Use AirPlay to an Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV, or a cable adapter, following Apple’s instructions.
    3. Run your game. When you start a scene, its artwork fills the TV.

    Weather effects

    Add an atmosphere over the artwork: rain, snow, fog, smoke or magic. The effect appears on the TV, so a swamp scene can have fog drifting across it while the ambience plays.

    Good to know

    • Apple Music and mirroring. Screen mirroring works with Apple Music. The only restriction is on AirPlay audio, where Apple doesn’t allow Music and app audio to play together. See playing music and effects together.
    • Maps work as artwork. Any image can be a scene image, so battle maps and handouts work.
    • Subscription feature. Without a subscription, the TV shows a prompt to subscribe.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I show a battle map on a TV with Summoning Stone?
    Yes. Add the map as a scene image and mirror your screen to the TV.

    Does it work on Mac?
    Summoning Stone runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The steps above describe mirroring from an iPhone or iPad.

    Can I add weather effects?
    Yes: rain, snow, fog, smoke and magic.

    Is screen mirroring free?
    It’s part of the paid subscription.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Is There Stream-Safe Music for D&D on Twitch and YouTube?

    Yes. All of Summoning Stone’s built-in music, ambience and sound effects are cleared for commercial use. You can use them in streams, videos and podcasts, as long as you credit the app and share a link. This does not cover music you bring in yourself through Apple Music.

    What’s covered

    • Built-in music from independent artists.
    • Built-in ambient soundscapes.
    • Built-in sound effects.

    What isn’t covered

    • Apple Music tracks. These are commercial recordings. Using them on a livestream can get videos muted or flagged, so keep them for private games.
    • Anything you add from elsewhere. Check its own licence.

    How to credit

    Say that your audio comes from Summoning Stone, and link to summoningstone.app or the App Store listing. A line in your video description or stream panel is enough.

    What about other sources?

    Terms differ between tools, so read them before you go live. For example, Tabletop Audio licenses its ambiences under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: non-profit channels can use them with attribution, and monetized use is decided case by case. See our comparison of tabletop audio apps.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use Summoning Stone’s music on a monetized channel?
    Yes. The built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution and a link to the app.

    Do I need permission each time?
    No. Credit the app and link to it.

    Does this cover my Apple Music playlists?
    No. Commercial use of Apple Music tracks isn’t covered.

    Can I use the sound effects in videos?
    Yes, the built-in sound effects are covered by the same clearance.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Can I Use My Own Music, Like Apple Music, in My D&D Game?

    Yes, if your music is in Apple Music. Summoning Stone can play your Apple Music playlists inside a scene, alongside layered ambience and sound effects. It does not work with Spotify, and it can’t import your own audio files (MP3s and similar).

    What works

    • Apple Music playlists. Choose a playlist for a scene and it plays with your ambience and effects. This gives you access to the huge catalogue of game and movie soundtracks.
    • Built-in music. If you’d rather not use Apple Music, Summoning Stone includes its own tracks from independent artists.
    • Apple devices. Summoning Stone runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

    You’ll need to allow Summoning Stone to access Apple Music when asked, and an Apple Music subscription to play catalogue music.

    What doesn’t work

    • Spotify and YouTube Music. Summoning Stone does not connect to them.
    • Your own audio files. You can’t import MP3 or WAV files at the moment.
    • Playing Apple Music and effects together over AirPlay. Apple Music doesn’t allow music and sound effects to play together through AirPlay. The built-in tracks do work this way. See how to play music and effects together.

    A warning if you stream

    Apple Music tracks are commercial recordings, and Summoning Stone’s commercial-use clearance does not cover them. If you stream or record your games, use the built-in music instead. See stream-safe music for D&D.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use Spotify with Summoning Stone?
    No. Summoning Stone works with Apple Music and its own built-in tracks.

    Do I need an Apple Music subscription?
    To play music from the Apple Music catalogue, yes. The built-in tracks don’t need one.

    Can I upload my own MP3s?
    Not at the moment.

    Can I use Apple Music tracks in a livestream?
    We’d advise against it. Summoning Stone’s commercial-use clearance applies only to its built-in audio.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Summoning Stone vs Pocket Bard: Which Should You Use?

    Pocket Bard is built around scenes where the music follows the action; Summoning Stone is built for fully customizable scenes, grouped by campaign, plus community campaigns so you can skip the setup, and then to get out of your way while you run the game. It also adds extras like a TV display and hands-free control. Both are apps for running D&D and other tabletop RPG sessions. Pocket Bard is also available on Android and Windows; Summoning Stone is Apple-only.

    We make Summoning Stone. Pocket Bard facts below come from its App Store listing as of October 2026.

    At a glance

    Summoning StonePocket Bard
    PlatformsiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Apple Vision; Google Play listing for Android
    ApproachBuild fully customizable scenes and group them by campaign, or download community campaignsReady-made scenes (20+ in the free library), plus collections like sci-fi, horror and cyberpunk
    MusicAccess to millions of songs, plus built-in stream-safe tracksMusic that changes with the story; one-tap move from exploration to combat, with a victory stinger; intensity slider
    AmbienceLayered ambience you build, with reverb filtersLayered ambience (rain, wind, crowds, creatures), each with its own intensity control
    Sound effectsSoundboard of one-shots with filtersOne-shot effects such as a door slam, sword clash or thunderclap
    Customising scenesFully customizable: build scenes from scratch and group them by campaignA scene editor for ambience and one-shot effects per scene
    Community campaignsDownload community-made campaigns and scenes, including adventures like Death House (Curse of Strahd)Not stated on its App Store page
    InvolvementOne tap starts a scene, and it plays exactly as you saved it: music, ambience levels, effects and reverbDesigned to be steered live: its page describes a layered soundscape you control at the table, with an intensity control for each ambience and music state controls
    Room acousticsReverb on a scene’s ambience and effects, saved with the scene, so a cave can sound like a cave and a church like a churchAmbience variations for indoor and outdoor settings; reverb controls not stated on its App Store page
    Your own audioApple Music playlistsNot stated on its App Store page
    Second screenSend artwork and maps to a TV, with weather effectsNot stated on its App Store page
    Hands-free controlSiri Shortcuts and Stream Deck pluginNot stated on its App Store page
    CostA paid subscription that costs less than Pocket Bard’sA subscription (Open Worlds) unlocks more collections
    Free tierFree to download; free sounds, music and effects, and up to five scenesFree to download, no ads; free library of 20+ complete scenes

    Where Pocket Bard is stronger

    • Music that follows the action. Switching from exploration to combat in one tap, with a stinger when the party wins, is a standout idea for running fights.
    • Steering the soundtrack live. If you like conducting the audio as the story moves, with intensity and music-state controls, it’s built for that.
    • Android and Windows. If you run your games from an Android or Windows device, Pocket Bard has apps for both.

    Where Summoning Stone is stronger

    • Built for professionals. A pro-level app with tons of features. It’s built for live streaming (built-in audio cleared for commercial use, hands-free control with Siri and Stream Deck, scenes that play the same way every time) and for professional game masters running lots of different games, with custom campaigns that fit each group rather than starting from someone else’s ready-made scenes.
    • Lower price, with a real free tier. As of October 2026, Summoning Stone’s subscription costs less than Pocket Bard’s. It’s free to download with free sounds, music and effects and up to five scenes. A subscription unlocks the premium library, unlimited scenes, screen mirroring and community campaigns. See what’s free.
    • It gets out of the way. Each scene remembers its music, ambience levels, effects and reverb, so switching scenes is one tap and nothing needs adjusting mid-game. Do a little prep up front, then just play. In our view, an app you steer live is one more thing to manage while you’re also running the game; Summoning Stone is built to stay out of your way.
    • Room acoustics. Add reverb to a scene’s ambience and effects, and save it with the scene. A tight cavern, a vast hall or a church can sound like one, every time you start the scene.
    • Fully customizable scenes, grouped by campaign. Build scenes from scratch with music, layered ambience and effects. A little prep up front, then run the game from there.
    • Skip the setup. Download community-made campaigns and scenes, including scenes for published adventures such as Death House from Curse of Strahd.
    • Millions of songs. Access to the largest library of music for tabletop games, plus built-in stream-safe tracks.
    • A TV display. Send artwork and maps to a connected TV, with rain, snow, fog, smoke or magic overlays.
    • Hands-free control. Start scenes and fire effects with Siri or a Stream Deck, and tie in your lights.
    • Cleared for commercial use. Built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution. Apple Music tracks aren’t covered.

    Who should choose which

    • Choose Pocket Bard if you run your games from an Android or Windows device.
    • Choose Summoning Stone if you’re on Apple devices and want fully customizable scenes, millions of songs, room acoustics, a TV display, hands-free control and an app that plays exactly as you’ve set it up and stays out of your way.
    • Not sure? Summoning Stone is free to download, so try it first. Or read our guide to the best tabletop audio apps.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Pocket Bard better than Summoning Stone?
    In our view, no. It comes down to whether you want something you can get into right away with little setup, or full customization. Once Summoning Stone is set up, it’s the stronger app: fully customizable scenes, millions of songs, room acoustics, a TV display and hands-free control, all in an app that plays exactly as you’ve saved it and stays out of your way. Pocket Bard’s main advantage is that it’s also available on Android and Windows.

    Does Pocket Bard work on Android?
    It has a Google Play listing. Summoning Stone currently runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac only.

    Can I use my own music?
    Summoning Stone imports Apple Music playlists. Pocket Bard’s App Store page doesn’t say whether it imports your own audio.

    Which takes less effort during the game?
    With Summoning Stone you prepare scenes up front, and each one starts with a single tap, playing as you saved it, so it stays out of your way while you run the game. Pocket Bard is designed to be steered live, with intensity and music-state controls you adjust as the story changes. In our view that means one more thing to manage alongside everything else a game master is doing.

    Can I customise scenes in Pocket Bard?
    Its App Store page lists a scene editor for customising ambience and one-shot effects per scene. Summoning Stone lets you build scenes from scratch, group them by campaign, and start from community-made campaigns.

    Is Summoning Stone cheaper than Pocket Bard?
    Yes. As of October 2026, Summoning Stone’s subscription costs less than Pocket Bard’s. Prices change and vary by region, so check both listings.

    Which is better for streaming my game?
    Check licensing for your channel. Summoning Stone’s built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Summoning Stone vs Syrinscape: Which Should You Use?

    Summoning Stone has access to millions of songs, the largest library of music for tabletop games; Syrinscape has the deepest catalogue of purpose-built sound sets and effects. Pick Summoning Stone if you play on iPhone, iPad or Mac and want that music library with ambience, effects and a TV display in one app. Pick Syrinscape for its browser-based player and its catalogue of tabletop sound sets.

    We make Summoning Stone. Syrinscape facts below come from syrinscape.com as of October 2026.

    At a glance

    Summoning StoneSyrinscape
    Where it runsiPhone, iPad, MacMixed directly in the browser, with apps (see their site)
    LibraryMillions of songs, plus built-in stream-safe music, ambience and effects and community campaigns7,087 music tracks, 52,425 sound effects, 81,079 samples across 1,800 SoundSets
    Scenes and campaignsFully customizable scenes grouped by campaign, plus community-made campaignsSoundSets you mix yourself in the browser
    InvolvementOne tap starts a scene, and it plays exactly as you saved it: music, ambience levels, effects and reverbNot stated on their homepage, which describes sounds as “mixed directly in the browser”
    Room acousticsReverb on a scene’s ambience and effects, saved with the scene, so a cave can sound like a cave and a church like a churchNot stated on their homepage
    Your own audioApple Music playlistsUpload your own tracks and samples
    Second screenSend artwork and maps to a TV, with weather effectsNot stated on their homepage
    Hands-free controlSiri Shortcuts and Stream Deck pluginNot stated on their homepage
    Virtual tabletopsNot designed for themWorks with any virtual tabletop
    CostA paid subscription that costs less than Syrinscape’sA SuperSyrin subscription unlocks the full library
    Free tierFree to download; free sounds, music and effects, and up to five scenes18 free SoundSets, no sign-in

    Where Syrinscape is stronger

    • Purpose-built sound sets. Over 1,800 SoundSets, with tens of thousands of sound effects, for many game systems.
    • Works on any device with a browser, and plays well with virtual tabletops.
    • Bring your own files. You can upload tracks and samples. Summoning Stone can’t import audio files.

    Where Summoning Stone is stronger

    • The largest music library. Access to millions of songs, plus built-in stream-safe tracks.
    • Built for professionals. A pro-level app with tons of features. It’s built for live streaming (built-in audio cleared for commercial use, hands-free control with Siri and Stream Deck, scenes that play the same way every time) and for professional game masters running lots of different games, with custom campaigns that fit each group rather than starting from someone else’s ready-made scenes.
    • Lower price, with a real free tier. As of October 2026, Summoning Stone’s subscription costs less than Syrinscape’s. It’s free to download with free sounds, music and effects and up to five scenes. A subscription unlocks the premium library, unlimited scenes, screen mirroring and community campaigns. See what’s free.
    • One tap, played as saved. Each scene remembers its music, ambience levels, effects and reverb, so switching scenes is one tap and nothing needs adjusting mid-game. Do a little prep up front, then just play.
    • Room acoustics. Add reverb to a scene’s ambience and effects, and save it with the scene. A tight cavern, a vast hall or a church can sound like one, every time you start the scene.
    • Customizable scenes, grouped by campaign. Do a little prep up front, then run the game from your saved scenes.
    • Skip the setup. Community-made campaigns and scenes, including scenes for adventures like Death House in Curse of Strahd.
    • Everything in one place. Music, layered ambience and a soundboard with filters like reverb, designed around scenes you can switch quickly.
    • Table-friendly extras. Mirror artwork and maps to a TV with rain, snow, fog, smoke or magic overlays.
    • Hands-free control. Start scenes and fire effects with Siri or a Stream Deck. See how to tie in your lights.
    • Cleared for commercial use. The built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution. Apple Music tracks aren’t covered.
    • Community campaigns you can download and share.

    Who should choose which

    • Choose Syrinscape if you run your games from Windows or Android, or need to upload your own audio files.
    • Choose Summoning Stone if you run games on Apple devices and want fully customizable scenes, millions of songs, a TV display, hands-free control and an app that gets out of your way.
    • Not sure? Summoning Stone is free to download, so try it first. For a wider view, read our guide to the best tabletop audio apps.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Summoning Stone better than Syrinscape?
    In our view, for game masters on Apple devices, yes. Syrinscape has a very large catalogue of sound sets and runs in a browser, but Summoning Stone offers fully customizable scenes, millions of songs, a TV display and hands-free control, and plays exactly as you’ve saved it. It takes some setup, which pays off once your scenes are built.

    Is Summoning Stone cheaper than Syrinscape?
    Yes. As of October 2026, Summoning Stone’s subscription costs less than Syrinscape’s SuperSyrin. Prices change and vary by region, so check both.

    Can I use Summoning Stone on Windows or Android?
    Not currently. It runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

    Can I use my own music in Summoning Stone?
    You can import Apple Music playlists. Importing audio files is not supported.

    Which is better for streaming my game?
    Check licensing for your channel. Summoning Stone’s built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store

  • Are There D&D Apps That Can Change the Lights?

    Yes, in two ways. Some audio apps connect directly to smart-home systems. Others, including Summoning Stone, don’t control lights themselves but can be triggered together with your lights from a Siri Shortcut or a Stream Deck button, so one tap changes both sound and lighting.

    Option 1: an app with built-in smart home hooks

    Audio Forge, an RPG soundboard for iPhone, iPad and Mac, lists MQTT and Home Assistant integration on its App Store page, described as syncing with “your room setup, lighting, and fog machine.” That route suits you if you already run Home Assistant. The listing doesn’t say which lights or fog machines are supported, so check before you buy.

    Option 2: one tap that changes sound and lights together

    Summoning Stone does not talk to light bulbs directly. What it offers is a way to be controlled from the same place as your lights:

    • Siri Shortcuts. Summoning Stone adds actions to the Shortcuts app: start a scene, stop a scene, and play a sound effect. A single Shortcut can start a scene and run your smart-light actions, such as setting a Home scene to dim red for a boss fight.
    • Stream Deck. The Summoning Stone plugin lets Stream Deck buttons start scenes and fire effects. A multi-action button can start the scene and trigger your lights in one press. The plugin works with the Mac app on the same computer as the Stream Deck software.

    The same approach works for other automations. The Summoning Stone homepage mentions garden sprinklers as an example.

    A simple Shortcuts setup

    1. Open the Shortcuts app and create a new Shortcut named “Tavern”.
    2. Add Summoning Stone’s Start Scene action and pick your tavern scene.
    3. Add your lighting action, for example Apple Home’s control action set to a warm, low scene.
    4. Add the Shortcut to your Home Screen, or say “Hey Siri, Tavern” at the table.

    Make one Shortcut per scene: “Tavern”, “Dungeon”, “Boss fight”. Use a second Shortcut or button to stop the scene and bring the lights back up.

    Which should you pick?

    GoalGood fit
    Already run Home Assistant or MQTTAudio Forge
    Apple Home lights and one-tap scenesSummoning Stone with Siri Shortcuts
    Physical buttons on the tableSummoning Stone with Stream Deck
    Just good sound, no lightsAny audio app. See our roundup of the best tabletop audio apps

    Frequently asked questions

    Does Summoning Stone work with Philips Hue?
    Not directly. If your Hue lights appear in Apple Home, a Siri Shortcut can control them alongside Summoning Stone. There is no Hue-specific integration.

    Can lights react automatically when I change scene inside the app?
    No. The lights change when you run a Shortcut or press a Stream Deck button that does both things. Changing scenes by tapping inside the app doesn’t send a command to your lights.

    Do I need a Stream Deck?
    No. Siri Shortcuts work on their own. Stream Deck is for people who want physical buttons.

    Does this work on Android?
    Summoning Stone is currently available for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Siri Shortcuts are an Apple feature.

    Get Summoning Stone on the App Store