ConvoFS - room correction in the file system

[michaelg]

[The text below describes a novel way of implementing digital room correction in a non-DRC aware streaming setup, I hope that it is OK to post here. This is free software, and I have no economic interests in it. On the contrary, I've used precious free time maturing it so that others can make use of it.]

 

During the past month or two, I've from time to another been implementing a small virtual file system - ConvoFS - for Linux which will take a directory tree / mounted NAS share containing a music collection and present it under another directory (mount point).

 

The functionality added is that any FLAC file in the former directory will be accessible in the latter under the same name/position but convolved with Anders Torger's Brutefir convolver using a user-specified DRC filter.

 

After having installed and started ConvoFS, you can configure Minimserver, Logitech LMS or something third to use the ConvoFS mount point for music. The end result is that you suddenly have DRC support without it being available before in your music server or streamer. That's the beautiful thing, the not as beautiful detail is that ConvoFS does not support multi room setups properly because it naturally can't know which room the music data is bound for. ConvoFS supports gapless playback of albums and also contains logic to reduce gaps in playlists.

 

I have developed and tested it with my Auralic bridge fed by Minimserver. I believe that it will also work with other streamers like Lumin / Linn. I've done very simple testing with my old Squeezebox Touch w/LMS. I use AudioLense for generating filters but I'm confident that other products generating filters in the same format will work too. Dirac cannot be used.

 

The idea was born because DRC is not supported by my brand new streaming setup and as a because-we-can project knowing that nobody had probably done such a crazy thing before. Having worked through a lot of obstacles, it has ended up as a very useful tool for me, and during my Christmas/New Year vacation, I've used time maturing it for use by others than me.

 

I've added a page: http://www.aysabtu.dk/blog/convofs/ describing it in further detail including instructions on how to get it. I will be happy to receive feedback.

 

Beware that ConvoFS requires a Linux machine to run itself and the music server, and that even though the installer does a lot of work for you, installation will require Linux skills. Also do observe sound DRC precautions, turning volume down to a minimum before testing new software / filters. I've never got white noise during normal playback use, but take care anyway.

[YashN]

That's thoroughly interesting, Michael. Coupled with a memory player and network share of the resulting files, this makes for a very, very interesting setup indeed as storage is affordable nowadays.

 

It doesn't do multi-room and so far, I'm fine with that (likely to change in the future).

 

However, I am looking for multi-channel. Does it cater for it?

[YashN]

Read the linked article, so a cache is used in RAM?

 

Is there a way to use ConvoFS and save the resulting file on a disk somewhere instead or does that defeat the purpose of the VFS as you envisioned it?

[ringenesherre]

Multi-room = multiple file systems, that is unless I miss something

 

saving results to hard disk is the same as copying from the file system to another location, right?

 

neat!

[michaelg]

That's thoroughly interesting, Michael. Coupled with a memory player and network share of the resulting files, this makes for a very, very interesting setup indeed as storage is affordable nowadays.

 

It doesn't do multi-room and so far, I'm fine with that (likely to change in the future).

 

However, I am looking for multi-channel. Does it cater for it?

 

No multi-channel support, and unlikely to appear, I'm a two channel guy

[michaelg]

Read the linked article, so a cache is used in RAM?

 

Is there a way to use ConvoFS and save the resulting file on a disk somewhere instead or does that defeat the purpose of the VFS as you envisioned it?

 

Convolved music is cached internally on disk by ConvoFS. Information is stored about the setup at the time the file was cached. This means that if you disable DRC, another cache file will be created. If you re-enable it, the old cache file will still be valid unless - of course - it has been purged by the storage manager.

[michaelg]

Just a short update to signal that this DRC project is alive, evolving and not a fire&forget proof of concept. The current Linux release still requires Linux skills and for easy installation, a Debian/Ubuntu based system. I have a user running it on a Raspberry Pi 2 so it doesn't demand a very fast CPU. Now there's also an easy-to-install package for Intel based Synology NAS boxes. ConvoFS has been tested with MinimServer, Logitech LMS, AURALiC Lightning server and - what I'm currently mostly doing - with Roon mounting the convolved share directly from my NAS. The ConvoFS home page is still at http://www.aysabtu.dk/blog/convofs and it is and will remain open source software.

[Gordian]

love the idea. Will read how it works and report back.

 

Thanks for sharing all of this with us

[Gordian]

The installer will create a directory 'ConvoFS-data' in the directory above

the one containing the installer.

 

ConvoFS-data has not been created during the installation, as a consequence when you run

sudo /etc/init.d/ConvoFS start

it sends you some error messages

[Gordian]

solved :

Michael nicely helped me to solve the issue, the installation needs to be done in the home folder to avoid privileges issues

[The Computer Audiophile]

I know this sounds crazy, but I'm finally getting around to researching what I can do with ConvoFS. It seems really cool, especially on a QNAP.

 

I'm trying to install it on a QNAP but getting the following error message. I already have Container Station installed at running. I know this because I'm running a different Linux install from it right now :~)

 

@michaelg any ideas?

 

   
Error    2020/04/03    10:27:35    System    127.0.0.1    App Center    App Installation    [App Center] Failed to install ConvoFS3 3.2.3-517. You must first install and start Perl container-station.    
 

[michaelg]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I know this sounds crazy, but I'm finally getting around to researching what I can do with ConvoFS. It seems really cool, especially on a QNAP.

 

I'm trying to install it on a QNAP but getting the following error message. I already have Container Station installed at running. I know this because I'm running a different Linux install from it right now :~)

 

@michaelg any ideas?

 

   
Error    2020/04/03    10:27:35    System    127.0.0.1    App Center    App Installation    [App Center] Failed to install ConvoFS3 3.2.3-517. You must first install and start Perl container-station.    
 

 

Hi, ConvoFS  is indeed supported on QNAP. You should check that the software package Perl is installed - it's the language that the startup-scripts are written it. ConvoFS itself run inside a container. Beware that the ConvoFS initial install will take up to about 15+ minutes -- it builds a small linux subsystem Docker image. Also, always use AppCenter if stopping/starting ConvoFS.

 

Most of the  ConvoFS users known to me are located in Germany, using  Synology NAS + MinimServer + ConvoFS w/Acourate filters a and use Linn streamers. 

 

- Michael

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, michaelg said:

 

Hi, ConvoFS  is indeed supported on QNAP. You should check that the software package Perl is installed - it's the language that the startup-scripts are written it. ConvoFS itself run inside a container. Beware that the ConvoFS initial install will take up to about 15+ minutes -- it builds a small linux subsystem Docker image. Also, always use AppCenter if stopping/starting ConvoFS.

 

Most of the  ConvoFS users known to me are located in Germany, using  Synology NAS + MinimServer + ConvoFS w/Acourate filters a and use Linn streamers. 

 

- Michael

Thanks Michael.

[The Computer Audiophile]

22 hours ago, michaelg said:

 

Hi, ConvoFS  is indeed supported on QNAP. You should check that the software package Perl is installed - it's the language that the startup-scripts are written it. ConvoFS itself run inside a container. Beware that the ConvoFS initial install will take up to about 15+ minutes -- it builds a small linux subsystem Docker image. Also, always use AppCenter if stopping/starting ConvoFS.

 

Most of the  ConvoFS users known to me are located in Germany, using  Synology NAS + MinimServer + ConvoFS w/Acourate filters a and use Linn streamers. 

 

- Michael

Installing the Perl package on QNAP was the solution!

[audiobomber]

This sounds very interesting. I have gear that seems to qualify, QNAP 451+ NA with 8GB RAM, via wi-fi to an sMS-200. I will give ConvoFS a try, hopefully it's not too complex for an audiophile who is not computer savvy. 

[michaelg]

9 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

This sounds very interesting. I have gear that seems to qualify, QNAP 451+ NA with 8GB RAM, via wi-fi to an sMS-200. I will give ConvoFS a try, hopefully it's not too complex for an audiophile who is not computer savvy. 

 

It certainly should, yes. Remember to install / start the Perl and Container station packages  in advance. The initial install can take 10-15 minutes, as the installer builds a miniature Linux system inside a container. ConvoFS works good in combination with the Minim UPNP server, which I believe the sMS should able to access.

 

In case of problems, do contact me, either here / PM / the ConvoFS.net contact address.