Scanner feed using Rasberry Pi ?

[frazpo]

HDMI -VGA on Rpi

On the subject of a monitor for initial setup. I am reading that you need an HDMI/vga converter as opposed to a simple cable to connect to a vga monitor. However I have also read that it works fine. What have you all had luck with??

 

[DC31]

On the subject of a monitor for initial setup. I am reading that you need an HDMI/vga converter as opposed to a simple cable to connect to a vga monitor. However I have also read that it works fine. What have you all had luck with??

My tv has an hdmi jack so that is the only experience that I have. You are correct, though, the only display output on the pi is hdmi. If you don't have an hdmi jack, you will need an adapter.

The primary reason for the external display during setup is to get the pi's IP address, then you can remote into it. If you can log into the router to which the pi is connected from another computer, you can determine its ip address from a settings page (look for something like DHCP client table).

There are lots of tutorials out there on how to do things with the pi. Setting it up to work remotely is covered in: Overview | Adafruit's Raspberry Pi Lesson 6. Using SSH | Adafruit Learning System

Note that you can skip the section about "enabling SSH" as all new pi's come with it enabled. Connect up your pi and your other computer to the same network router, determine the pi IP address, then follow the instructions to log in remotely.

Once you get through that step you will want to learn how to use VNC. Installing VNC | Adafruit's Raspberry Pi Lesson 7. Remote Control with VNC | Adafruit Learning System

Good luck with it. When you get stuck at a step just google that step followed by raspberry pi and you will find lots of others that got stuck on the same step.

Jim

 

[frazpo]

Thanks Jim, I have some experience with linux and using ssh and such so I think I can get past some of the beginner stuff (fingers crossed). I guess I will use a small tv with HDMI output that we are not using. It sounds like using the adapter is not a good idea. Thanks again.

 

[DC31]

You will be all set then. You will quickly abandon the TV!

 

[frazpo]

They are all basically the same $. Mine came from newark.com. Get the model B. Best way to run one is to remote into it from another computer thus you don't need keypad, mouse, or monitor. HDMI output connects easily to a modern TV for initial setup. Then once you determine the pi's IP address (ifconfig is the command) you can remote in from puTTY on a windows machine or from the Terminal application on a Mac. Lots easier than having all those cables around.

Attached is a shopping list of what you need. Choose another 5v. power supply as they are out of the one listed. Just make sure that it has a minimum 1amp output.

Here is the sound card:

USB External 7 1 Channel 3D Virtual Audio Sound Card Adapter PC A 229 | eBay

On that soundcard. Does it require a 3 conductor plug for audio in. I puchased the same thing and and im using it for dsd. I was told that it needed a 3 conductor plug for audio in and that is what I have confirmed.

 

[DC31]

I am not really sure what is "required". All mine are 3-conductor plugs and they work.

 

[csmith00]

Been using a RasPi to feed scanner audio for a while now. it has run as long as 37 days and even then it only came down because I did a shutdown in order to back up. Its down now and I'm not home to see if its a RasPi problem or maybe my ISP.. still its been a great performer so I wrote up a guide..
https://sites.google.com/site/glyman3home/scannerfeed
Oh, did I mention I also have local audio file archiving with dead air removed? Thats sweet.

Thank you for this guide! I just orderged a RasPi. This week I started streaming from a Dreamplug I had sitting on a shelf using Liquidsoap on Wheezy. I'm not happy with Liquidsoap. I was going to switch to Darkice. But now I think I will go with the RasPi and put the Dreamplug to another use.

 

[IredellMon]

Sounds good! The Dreamplug is a little expensive for a audio streamer, since I was able to do it with a RasPi for under $50.
My guide is a little dated so let me know if you run into any issues. I'm no expert but I might have some ideas.
Also the audio archiving is nice, but adds some complexity that is not needed if one does not want to archive his own feed.

ps,
@ frazpo.. I use a mono plug on both ends and do a mono feed. If you wanted to, I am sure you could do a stereo feed... at least I am as sure as can be without actually working it out and doing it myself

 

[IredellMon]

On the Pi. Are there any Pi sellers that are recommended? Ebay? Amazon?

I ordered two Pis from MCM Electronics: Home and Pro Audio/Video, Security and Test Equipment
They had a great special running with a RasPi model B with 8 gig NOOBs SD card for $40 and free shipping! Plus they were fast! They might do free shipping again sometime..
In the past I bought two other RasPis from Newark and with shipping but no SD card they were about $46 or $47 I think, and they took longer to get to me.

 

[frazpo]

USB sound issue

I am experiencing poor sound quality. I have tried reducing the USB to 1.1, I have also ran it from both the USB hub and directly from the PI. No luck with what I have done. The sound is scratchy. I am using one of the 7.1 channel surround cheap dongles. Has anyone had any luck with messing with the sample rate??
I have tried two dongles to rule out an issue. They both react the same way.

 

[IredellMon]

First guess would be the levels.
1. What audio source are you using (headphone, speaker, line level, etc)
2. Have you tested recording and playback on the RasPi (arecord, aplay or equilvant) instead of streaming?
3. Have you tried a recording with a standard microphone?
4. Have you used alsamixer on the RasPi (along with adjusting the volume level on the scanner)?
5. Can you offer a file or source to hear the audio?

 

[frazpo]

First guess would be the levels.
1. What audio source are you using (headphone, speaker, line level, etc)
2. Have you tested recording and playback on the RasPi (arecord, aplay or equilvant) instead of streaming?
3. Have you tried a recording with a standard microphone?
4. Have you used alsamixer on the RasPi (along with adjusting the volume level on the scanner)?
5. Can you offer a file or source to hear the audio?

1. scanner audio from headset
2. Yes. I can record from arecord. The playback is not acceptable.
3. No. Good idea. That should isolate the recording or the playback.
4. It does not seem to be a a mixing issue. The sound is muffled and cracking.
5. I could do that.

Thanks. I will try those options. Seems to be a common challenge as I have trolled through forums. Itll happen. This is why linux and Pi is fun.

 

[IredellMon]

As I understand it.. alsamixer controls the input level (and more).. I used a trial and error combination of alsamixer and the scanner volume control to get good audio. When I was over-driving with too high levels the audio is what I would call scratchy. Using a mike and alsamixer, if you can get good audio then that strongly points to my guess being right. I have to admit that alsamixer was not intuitive to use, at least for me.
GL

 

[frazpo]

I will get on that theory. Thanks!
I take you are speaking of the alsa mic mixer on the dongle side. Correct.

 

[IredellMon]

I take you are speaking of the alsa mic mixer on the dongle side. Correct.

Referring to the software, assuming your RasPi is using "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture aka ALSA" drivers ( I think its part of the std Raspbian system)

see:
alsamixer(1) - Linux man page
and
https://wiki.debian.org/ALSA

 

[frazpo]

Referring to the software, assuming your RasPi is using "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture aka ALSA" drivers ( I think its part of the std Raspbian system)

see:
alsamixer(1) - Linux man page
and
https://wiki.debian.org/ALSA

Yes. I am using alsa. I have a functioning sound card outside of it sounding acceptable. Playing an internal test .wav file sounds great. My issue is with playing a recorded .wav file with "arecord"
It has improved by running it from the Pi without a hub and defaulting it as the primary device in alsa-base config. Configuring it as usb 1.1 does not improve it. Increasing the sample rate makes it worse.

Any advice from here??

 

[IredellMon]

Unfortunately I really don’t know my way around the Linux sound system and ALSA as well as I should...
But since playback works, and recording works too but just sounds bad, I still suspect a problem with the recording level and suggest a methodical approach to that before more in depth troubleshooting.

I would still like to hear a sample. If you can’t make a short recording available online, you can upload (FTP) it to me (see below).

On alsamixer be sure to use F6 to select sound card, might be listed as Generic USB audio device.
Then F5 to view all controls or F4 for capture control…

Left Right Arrow keys to move to MIC/CAPTURE (assuming of course you are using mike input).
Up down arrow keys to adjust volume. (FYI I am at 70%, 16 dB gain)

IF MM shows at the bottom of the bar graph that means it is muted. Press m key, should show 00 now.
Try autogain on and off: (left/right arrow to that column and press M to toggle it. I have it ON.

On my system Scanner is at about normal listening volume setting and I’m using the speaker jack. This seems to work well. However if I take autogain off and set vol to max in alsamixer then I have to turn the scanner up quite a bit to get decent audio (counter-intuitive).

It’s a shot in the dark but you could try ‘alsactl init’ to reset things.

If it’s not levels causing the problem and if no one else chimes in then I would post this question in a RasPi or Debian forum focused on sound issues.
-----
Audio sample file..
You can upload to me at ftp://gl.asuscomm.com/sda1/ReadWrite/
Request Password in a Pvt Msg if you need to.

 

[frazpo]

IF MM shows at the bottom of the bar graph that means it is muted. Press m key, should show 00 now.
Try autogain on and off: (left/right arrow to that column and press M to toggle it. I have it ON.

On my system Scanner is at about normal listening volume setting and I’m using the speaker jack. This seems to work well. However if I take autogain off and set vol to max in alsamixer then I have to turn the scanner up quite a bit to get decent audio (counter-intuitive).
-----
Audio sample file..
You can upload to me at ftp://gl.asuscomm.com/sda1/ReadWrite/
Request Password in a Pvt Msg if you need to.

OK, It will have to wait a bit but this is something I have missed (autogain) Can this take out the scratchy effect? I will mess with this later this evening.

Im PMing you also

 

[frazpo]

Update for the future forum trolls researching sound issues.

Adjusting MIC gain with CAPTURE made all the difference. I am surprised that it cleaned it up so well.

Thanks Iredellmon for you lengthy replies and help.

 

[W2GLD]

Has anyone been able to get the following command to work?

" sudo update-rc.d darkice defaults "

It generates the follow:



The feed is working great; however, if I reboot the device, I must manually start the service for audio to begin processing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just spent countless hours on this and my mind is exhausted, time for a cold one...

Thanks,

Jerry, W2GLD

Anybody on this topic/issue? I ran through the entire process again today with another Raspberry Pi and the same issue occurs...