Call for testers! Daphile

[kipeta]

Daphile is a audiophile class music server & player OS – targeted to dedicated headless PC.

 

Daphile is based on the open source Squeezebox Server, SqueezePlay and Linux. This is the first public test release.

 

Features

• Headless music server
  
• Bitperfect and gapless playback of various audio formats up to 192kHz/24bit
  
• Automatic configuration of music player for each audio device
  
• Multiplayer support (eg. multiple USB DACs)
  
• CD ripping with automatic metadata tagging and cover art
  
• Easy configuration and installation through the web interface
  
• WiFi hotspot support (if compatible hardware exists)
  
• Software update via web interface
  
• Whole system image ISO-file is below 200MB
  

 

The external file server use as a music source is not yet supported in this release but it will soon be (cifs,nfs). The USB drive use is currently automatic read-only usage, no support in the web interface.

 

Daphile is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/daphile

Sourceforge page is still almost empty. You can find instructions in the attachment.

Instructions.pdf

[kipeta]

I was reminded about the terms of the Sourceforge site and I think I have withdraw the project from there before I have studied the terms more carefully. I think I was a bit too eager to get this shared. I'll come back with new information later but I think it will be delayed due to the vacation plans.

[kipeta]

I guess you are now confusing Squeezeslave and SqueezePlay. The former does not but the latter does.

 

I am not able compare it to Vortexbox because I haven't used it too much. I think the basic idea is pretty much the same.

 

The focus and idea in the development of Daphile was to offer easy to setup system for audiophile who does not want to fiddle with computer and software installations and settings. For example you just plug a new USB Dac into Daphile computer and without any configuration you have new player at media server.

[kipeta]

Daphile is now available at www.daphile.com.

[kipeta]

Unfortunately it's not yet. There was another bug related to installation that is fixed and new image available at Index of /firmware/testing. The version linked at home page still has that bug.

 

I'm now having a short trip and the developmentis delayed to next week.

[kipeta]

CHANGES

- New feature: Support (read-only) for external file servers (NFS, CIFS, ssh and ftp)

- Added configuration for internal and USB disks

- Some bug fixes and minor changes.

 

Download from www.daphile.com or update previous version via web interface.

 

Any feedback is warmly welcomed!

[kipeta]

It should support automatically any ethernet interface you have. I think previous version was missing some kernel drivers (MII) that has been included in this version.

[kipeta]

New test release image (with some bug fixes) and new web page are now available.

 

www.daphile.com

[kipeta]

Thanks for your feedback. Find my comments and answers below.

 

1. Lack of m2tech driver - I was unable to use my DAC because of lack of driver

I have included snd-usb-hiface.ko but because I don't have such a DAC by myself I haven't been able to test it.

2. On atom the interface is still not detected – I used my main computer for tests and without a console I cannot help you with this (for a solution see my previous post, it worked for me)

Could you perhaps give more information about your Atom PC. Please send it though:

http://www.daphile.com/#contact

 

3. Network drivers – is not reliable. First time I din’t work so I had to enter in the log and find out that the mount point should be /srv/mediaserver/music . I think is easier to automatically create subfolders for each share. For example /srv/mediaserver/music/file-server1 etc …

In the Storages settings the "Local mount name" is meant to be short ID for the share (not the mount point). Each network storage will have its own mount point directory automatically (name with "Local mount name") at "/srv/mediaserver/music/Network Drives/".

 

 

4. IMO is a system too closed for a normal linux user and for a windows user there are too many new things to setup – a step by step guide setup may be useful

I understand. Let's see how this develops. At least I'll try to improve documentation because the main target is to have easy to setup and use system for audiophiles who don't want install, compile, setup and configure system by themselves.

 

 

5. I think a status message on the main audio player page for when library update is running should be useful. I don’t know how a user can make an unscheduled update of library if case of a new file or folder added on the file server.

Library update status is available on Info page. Daphile should update library automatically if there are any changes in the library.

 

 

6. No dsd dsf support? With the plethora of new DACs that support dsd over dop this is a major drawn back

 

This is definitely something that I'm also interested though I don't currently have a DAC with DSD support. I'll look into this in the future.

 

...

You should really think to port the system to arm, test some available boards (try focus on usb and network implementation) and you will have a nice streamer. I think the arm thing will be the next hype in the computer audiophile as they draw little power and this translates in a small RF and EMI pollution (of course in the proper implementation) and a bonus a good 5V 2A power source is easy to build.

I tried one ARM board but I wasn't very pleased with it. I haven't found any good board that would also have SATA. I ended up to a Atom N2600 which is also very low power. I have Jetway JBC362F36W-2600-B equiped with SSD which gives me completely silent solution. Its Wifi module supports WLAN hotspot (hostapd) functionality.

[kipeta]

Hi "kipeta",

 

I guess the Daphile solution would be interesting if you manage to play

PCM with 24/352, DSD64 and DSD128 as well.

 

Which Kernel version you use?

 

So far the competitor VortexBox lacks the functionality to work with e.g. Playback Designs.

This problem should be fixed using the relatively new 3.10 Kernel which means about one

year waiting time (or trying Daphile?).

 

PCM with 24/352 and even with 384 might work already but I haven't been able to verify it (no HW).

 

DSD support is definitely one of the most requested feature. And also with high priority on my list. Does anyone have or know good open source implementation for DSD2PCM conversion and DOP-framing. I wouldn't like to code them from scratch.

 

Current kernel is 3.6.11.6-rt38. I ended up using the realtime patch just to avoid couple USB Audio related problems (threadirqs with standard kernel didn't help). This is the latest so called stable realtime kernel version. I have once tried the first realtime patch (3.10.4-rt1 released just Aug 1st) for the 3.10 series but I'm not ready to go there yet.

[kipeta]

Great Idea! Bad sound.

Thanks for testing. It would be nice to know what was the problem with sound and what was your setup.

[kipeta]

New test release available at www.daphile.com!

 

CHANGES on August 7th 2013:

- New "Shut Down" button on the Info page

- Fixed support for M2Tech hiFace DAC (thanks to cmiu)

- Improved kernel driver support for ethernet devices

- Some package updates

[kipeta]

Again another test release available at www.daphile.com!

 

 

CHANGES on August 9th 2013:

• BUG FIX for network manager. The bug had previously prevented the operation of some ethernet and wireless adapters (thanks to Luca N. for reporting the problem).
  
• Ethernet MAC address and Wake-on-LAN support reported at Info page (WOL is enabled if HW and BIOS setup supports it)
  
• Some other minor changes
  

[kipeta]

Hello Kipeta!

What kind of headless pc are you using or you may recommend?

Thanks.

If you want completely silent (and always on) Daphile PC currently I would recommend Intel Atom N2600 based boards (with 1GB RAM or maybe 2GB). It's really low power CPU (max TDP 3.5W). I have used by myself the Jetway JBC362F36W-2600-B (with SSD drive) which is a fanless barebone and its Wifi module (Atheros ath9k) supports WLAN hotspot (hostapd) functionality.

[kipeta]

New test release available at www.daphile.com!

 

CHANGES on August 17th 2013:

 

• Initial DSD file support:
  
  • DSF (.dsf) and DSDIFF (.dff) supported (both DSD64 and DSD128)
    
  • no native DSD-over-USB (DoP) yet. Coming soon - have to get DAC with DoP support.
    
  • no support for DST compressed files (didn't find any samples)
    
  • Known issue: "Clear library and rescan everything" rescan does not include DSD files. "Look for new and changed audio files" rescan works.
    

   

  [*]Linux kernel upgrade from 3.6 to 3.8 series.

[kipeta]

New test release available! CHANGES on August 21st 2013:

 

• Support for native DSD playback with DSD-over-PCM (verified only for DSD64 with Benchmark DAC2 HGC). Enable it from Audio Settings for the DAC that supports it.
  
• DSD file "Clear library and rescan everything" problem fixed
  
• Replay Gain calculation added to the CD ripping process
  
• Some other minor bug fixes and changes
  

Update via your Daphile web UI or download from www.daphile.com.

 

Any feedback is warmly welcomed! Now especially any DSD-over-PCM experiences with different DACs and DSD128.

[kipeta]

Which version of Linux is this based on? And do you recommend also using the normal functionality of a linux workstation for rsync/cron backups, audio processing tasks (beets) etc?

Daphile is built in Gentoo Linux environment mostly from standard Gentoo ebuilds and current version is using realtime kernel version 3.8.13-rt15. Daphile does not (yet?) support backup and it should be handled by some other means (rsync/cron from other host could be recommended). For other audio processing tasks there are many excellent applications in both Window, OS X and Linux environment. Some functionality on that front might be integrated into Daphile later but I try to keep Daphile simple enough.

 

Also, have you tried any of the Android Squeezebox clients? Do they work with daphile?

I have tried Logitech's Squeezebox app and Squeeze Commander with my Nexus 7. Both worked fine but I haven't used them a lot because I prefer iPeng and SqueezePad on my iPad.

 

Not knowing too much about Squeezebox on Linux - which clients are available for a remote Linux desktop? I currently run Ubuntu 12.04 as a personal laptop.

This is difficult one. I think there aren't any ready to install packages at least for Ubuntu (correct me if I'm wrong). I would perhaps recommend Squeezelite but you perhaps have to compile it by yourself.

[kipeta]

...

So I have an nfs share from a Win2k8r2 server, wide open (checked with a linux box and with an NFS util in windows to verify I can get in without any credentials). Also set to root and read-write.

 

So my share is computer1:/cd to make it simple

Do I just put in the first box computer1:/cd and is the second box for an alias for Daphile to use (ie, CDs)? Or do I put in the first box computer1 and the second box is the share 'cd'

...

 

As cmiu already wrote the first box is for computer1:/cd and second box for any alias like "CDs".

 

I'm not familiar with Windows Server NFS, sorry. What do you have in the "exports"-configurations (in Linux /etc/exports). Have you limited authorized address space? And is the address of Daphile among authorized ones?

 

Did you use any special mount option when you succeeded to mount it with other Linux computer?

 

And one stupid basic question: Did you possibly try this with virtual machine or real HW boot?

[kipeta]

Hi Kipeta,

...

The interface looks interesting, but as the design seems to assume you're using DHCP somewhere on your network (router or elsewhere) it's a non-starter for those with static ip configurations who may wanted to have tested your work. Even virtualbox doesn't provide a solution. Can can set up two linux vms on the same vbox host-only adaptor with DHCP ( e.g. vboxnet0 etc.), one for “daphile” and one for another linux install which can have a second bridged adaptor and configured for ip forwarding, but while “daphile” boots and can be accessed from the second vm there's no way to set the gateway on the “daphile VM” and so you cannot access or load 3rd party LMS plugins etc.

...

Thanks for the feedback. I agree the DHCP is a requirement that limits usability for some and I should have mentioned it somewhere. I try to solve the problem by adding support for static IP configuration but still keep solution headless (no configurations through local console; maybe an optional configuration file on unetbootin created USB flash could work).

 

I think VMPlayer could work for you. I tried it on Windows 7 by using NAT Network configuration (default) for Daphile VM. I could access Daphile from Windows 7 web browser and I managed to install 3rd party plugins, streamed from Spotify, even ripped from CD, etc... Only thing that I noticed not to work was File Server that is not available through NAT. Note: there are some problems with audio in VM, short breaks etc...

[kipeta]

...

Not wishing to sound critical, but have you written your own code for ripping CDs or re-used what you might find in vortexbox for example? There are bound to be potential users who will question the quality of CD rips and will want to know what software is being used.

 

The core of the CD ripping is cdparanoia III 10.2. Currently it's used without any special options:

cdparanoia -d $CDDRIVE -L -q -e ...

I have planned to include some ripping related settings (eg. drive offset) to Web UI but not implemented them yet.

[kipeta]

I've made no study of CD rippers, but this does seem to be an area in which Windows software like EAC and dbpoweramp has no real equivalent in Linux. Morituri looks interesting, but is work in progress, and I'm not sure if "abcde" development is still active. When you read this vortexbox page about ripping in Linux, it's not all that encouraging ...

 

Rip CD Collection

 

I agree. At least I don't know if there exists any as versatile CD ripper for Linux as eg. dbpoweramp seems to be (haven't used by myself).

 

I think that all Linux rippers are based on CDparanoia (morituri, abcde, ripit, also Daphile, etc...). So no differences there. Morituri really seems interesting with its AccurateRip, Hidden Track, etc... features. I'll have to take a closer look on it.

 

The ripper implementation in Daphile is currently pretty basic. Use of Gracenote DB for metadata and cover art is kind of a new feature for Linux rippers. It enables for example more consistent GENRE tagging (than FreeDB) and also important metadata for Classical Music (fetching not yet implemented to Daphile). Daphile is also WIP.

[kipeta]

CHANGES on August 28th 2013:

 

• Bug fix release - no new features
  
• Wireless networking fixes: recover from initial scan failure, simultaneous client/hotspot operation fixed
  
• Sound format conversions improved for different audio devices (use plughw as fallback)
  
• Some other bug fixes and minor changes
  

 

Update via your Daphile web UI or download from www.daphile.com.

 

 

Any feedback is warmly welcomed!

[kipeta]

Hi Kipeta,

 

I'm very satisfied with your Daphile, it's so simple to install and the results is very good, the only issue right now is the DSD playback, I have couple dff and dsf files and Exd usb interface and it's not working, it was with mpd solution, any thoughts ?

 

Regards,

 

Alexandre.

Thanks for feedback and reporting problem.

 

Couple "stupid" questions just in order to understand the problem in detail and narrow it down:

a) Is the Exd USB interface working with Daphile for other music formats?

b) Does media server include your DSD files into library?

c) Did you manage to play your DSD files without "DSD-over-PCM"-option (sw conversion to pcm)?

d) Are you using the latest version?

 

Could you also send the content from Daphile web page http://daphile.local/cgi-bin/audioinfo.cgi.

 

You could also reply through the contact form at http://www.daphile.com.

[kipeta]

Hi Kipeta,

 

Thanks for your prompt feedback.

 

a) Yes it is with wav , flac and mp3

b) My DSD files are in the same folder and I can pick any of them from Daphile "My Music"

c) I tryed using both options, with DSD-over-PCM flag on and off and so far no sound

d) Yes I'm using current version 13.08-b281325-x86_64

Regards,

 

Alexandre.

Answer to question c) is interesting. I had very limited set of DSD files during the development and it seems now that my software is somehow not decoding your files. Are they possible DST compressed? Are those files available free somewhere?

 

What exactly happens when you try to play? Does it seem to play but is completely silent? Or is the progress bar stopped?

 

Have you tried any files from High Resolution Music DOWNLOAD services .:. FLAC in free TEST BENCH I have used for example this:

http://www.lindberg.no/hires/test/2L-038_stereo_01_01_DSD64.zip

[kipeta]

Kipeta,

 

I'm using exactly these files form Nordic sound 2L.

 

I can see the progress bar running with DSD files but just no sound.

 

Thanks and Regards,

 

Alexandre.

This interesting...

 

Could you check the output from:

http://daphile.local/cgi-bin/audioinfo.cgireplace daphile.local if needed.

 

Are you able to play DSD files with other audio devices?