GentooPlayer

[bobfa]

Thank you Steve.  That will help I am sure.  

 

I am working between MoOde and Gentoo Player right now.    It looks like your help with setting up Gentoo Player uncovered one of the problems I am having with MoOde.  I changed Roon Advanced settings and turned off the FLAC compression switch.  That may have been the cure for the track issue disease and maybe the pop issues I was seeing.

 

bob

 

[antonellocaroli]

GentooPlayer has both squeezelite and squeezelite-R2.

squeezelite-R2 accepts all input formats

squeezelite, by my choice, was compiled to accept only PCM and DSD...
for this reason with roon, using squeezelite as endpoint, you have to deactivate flac compression.

I don't think it centers with clicks...that has more to do with the kernel.

[randytsuch]

Can I get the beta version for the usbridge sig?  Really would like to try this SW.

I'm using the allo version of dietpi right now.

 

Thanks

Randy

[antonellocaroli]

32 minutes ago, randytsuch said:

Can I get the beta version for the usbridge sig?  Really would like to try this SW.

I'm using the allo version of dietpi right now.

 

Thanks

Randy

64bit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uK9AKMU_II_oHQY_sMVqCfDy07-hTxQT/view?usp=sharing

32bit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVkoQT3KlX1oSW5rH59K4zGw4bXO31qI/view?usp=sharing

 

in the 64bit there is also a hint of the web interface.

accessible from

ip:5000

or

http://gentooplayerraspi64:5000

[randytsuch]

3 hours ago, antonellocaroli said:

64bit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uK9AKMU_II_oHQY_sMVqCfDy07-hTxQT/view?usp=sharing

32bit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVkoQT3KlX1oSW5rH59K4zGw4bXO31qI/view?usp=sharing

 

in the 64bit there is also a hint of the web interface.

accessible from

ip:5000

or

http://gentooplayerraspi64:5000

Great, thanks

Plan to try over the weekend.

[randytsuch]

OK, so I downloaded, then was looking for installation instructions.

Wondering if there are any instructions for setting up as a NAA for HQPlayer?

 

TIA

Randy

[clipper]

15 minutes ago, randytsuch said:

OK, so I downloaded, then was looking for installation instructions.

Wondering if there are any instructions for setting up as a NAA for HQPlayer?

 

TIA

Randy

I can take a crack at writing up some instructions now.  

 

Are you trying the 32-bit version, or the 64-bit version?

 

I don't know if antonellocaroli (the developer) will agree with this, but my personal recommendation at this particular point in time is to try the 32-bit version first.  I say that because antonellocaroli is in the process of making improvements to the 64-bit version.  At this point in time, the 32-bit version is more functional and more polished (in my opinion).  Example - the ramdisk feature is fully implemented and works perfectly in the beta 32-bit version, but antonellocaroli is still working on doing what is necessary to get it working with the beta 64-bit version.  When he's finished with the 64-bit version, I have no doubt that it may be the way to go.

 

I will try to post instructions (for the 32-bit version) in the next 30-60 minutes or so.  So that there's room, I guess I will try this as a blog post.  I'll post the link here when finished.

[randytsuch]

7 minutes ago, clipper said:

I can take a crack at writing up some instructions now.  

 

Are you trying the 32-bit version, or the 64-bit version?

 

I don't know if antonellocaroli (the developer) will agree with this, but my personal recommendation at this particular point in time is to try the 32-bit version first.  I say that because antonellocaroli is in the process of making improvements to the 64-bit version.  At this point in time, the 32-bit version is more functional and more polished (in my opinion).  Example - the ramdisk feature is fully implemented and works perfectly in the beta 32-bit version, but antonellocaroli is still working on doing what is necessary to get it working with the beta 64-bit version.  When he's finished with the 64-bit version, I have no doubt that it may be the way to go.

 

I will try to post instructions (for the 32-bit version) in the next 30-60 minutes or so.  So that there's room, I guess I will try this as a blog post.  I'll post the link here when finished.

Great, thanks

I downloaded both versions, so if 32-bit is better for now, I'll use that.

[the_bat]

Perfect timing.  I've just downloaded both versions and was looking for Pi installation instructions.

[clipper]

When I try to post the instructions in a blog or here in this thread, I get a message that says I need to contact the administrator.  So I'll contact Chris.

 

Maybe what I'm trying to post has too many pictures in it.  So for now I'll remove the pictures and then will add them later (to another post) if possible.

[clipper]

Setting Up RPI 32-bit GentooPlayer (version 191103)

 

I think these instructions should be applicable to any RPI3 device, but they are written with Allo's USBridge Signature (and USBridge Signature/Digione Signature combo) particularly in mind.

 

1) Download the image from the link posted by antonellocaroli (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVkoQT3KlX1oSW5rH59K4zGw4bXO31qI/view?usp=sharing).

 

2) Burn the image to SD card or eMMC.  I use Etcher for that.  With Etcher, you don't even have to decompress the .xz file first.

 

3) Boot up the Allo device with the new card.

 

4) After you've given the Allo device a short while to boot, find its IP address on your network.  You can use LanScan on a mac, Advanced IP Scanner on a windows machine, iNet in iOS, or anything else you want to use.  My Allo device shows up with a vendor name of CEM Solutions Pvt Ltd.

 

5) ssh into the Allo device.  You can use Terminal on a mac, Putty on a windows machine, or anything else you want to use.  Using the IP address from step 4, the command is:

ssh root@IPaddress.  The password is raspiroot.

 

6) If you can't ssh in from another machine or if you'd prefer not to, you can connect a keyboard and monitor to the Allo device.

 

7) Once you're in, you should see this:

 

[clipper]

Ok, I think the length was the problem.  So I'm going to break it up into parts...

 

 

8) Issue the gp-menu command.  You should see this:

 

 

 

9) Choose 6 to synchronize the date and time.

 

10) Optional - Issue the home command (type home at a prompt) to get the the "home screen" and see the main menu choices again.  You can give the home command at any time to get back to the picture in step 7 above.

 

11)  Issue the gp-menu command.

 

12) Choose 3 (choice of audio output).

 

13) For USB output on Allo device, choose 2 (DAC USB).  For SPDIF output on Digione Signature, choose 5 (Allo DigiOne Signature).  The system will reboot.

 

14) After about 30 seconds or so, ssh in again.

 

15) If you want to run squeezelite, squeezelite-R2, or mpd, run the Wizard configuration script.  To do that: gp-menu command, then choice 8 (Wizard configurations, Mpd, squeezelite, squeezelite-R2).  Instructions for each step - q to exit viewer, escape key, choose card number, confirm, q to exit viewer, choose max sample rate supported, confirm, choose minimum sample rate supported, confirm, confirm selected sampling rate, y or n (to start mpd), y or n (to start squeezelite-R2), y or n to start squeezelite.

 

16) gp-menu (or home to go to home screen first if you want).

[clipper]

17) Choose 1 (Players/Server).  You should see this:

 

18) Start, stop, set up options for your preferred player.  Examples (for squeezelite or HQPlayer NAA):

 

or

 

 

 

18) Optional - Try different kernels.  They do sound different.  gp-menu, choice 4 (Choice between RT and NO-RT kernels, and various configurations).  Right now I like GentooPlayer-4.14-RT-MIN-NOGRAPH-EUP100RCU.  Switching kernels is easier than it sounds.  When you choose one, the system reboots with the selected kernel.  That's it...  The home screen information (get there by issuing the home command at any time) will show the kernel that's running.

 

19) Optional - Try different profiles.  gp-menu, choice 5 (Select the settings Profile).  The home screen information will show the active profile.

 

20 Optional - Ramdisk mode.  I really recommend this, but decide for yourself.  gp-menu, choice 9 (Ramdisk - System in ram).  I run squeezelite on the Allo device, and send music to it from Roon running on another machine, so I choose Ramdisk mode 1, but if you want to run more than squeezelite, squeezelite-R2, mpd, networkaudiod, or upmpdcli, choose a different mode.  If you're in ramdisk mode and change settings, use the ramdisk menu to save the changes to ramdisk.  You can also choose to have the system boot into ramdisk mode.  The home screen information will show the ramdisk mode that's active.

 

 

 

That's it for now.  I wanted to write this quickly so it could be posted.  Changes or corrections could come later.  Feel free to ask any questions.

[antonellocaroli]

thanks steve,

I'll just add that the time and date in future versions will sync itself better than it does now...

and there will no longer be any need to resize the root...

now you have to do it either with gparted from linux
or directly in gentooplayer:

 

fdisk /dev/mmcblk0

 

 

then give

 

resize2fs /dev/mmcblk0p2

[clipper]

Oh, and if you're running Squeezelite and Roon, set Use FLAC Compression to No in Roon (Device Setup, Show Advanced Settings).

 

[askat1988]

Thanks, will this work on RPi4?

[clipper]

1 hour ago, askat1988 said:

Thanks, will this work on RPi4?

I don't think this version will, but there's a version from August for the RPI4.

 

Go to https://www.nexthardware.com/forum/pc-top-software/90075-gentooplayer-immagini-x86_64-raspberry-pi-3b-3b-allo-sparkyusbbridge-beaglebone-black-botic-driver.html.

 

The page is in Italian, so translate if you need to.  I use Google Chrome, which translates it for me.

 

Click on Pre-compiled images for Raspberry PI 3B / 3B + / 4B (64bit and 32bit) (in red).  Or click on Immagini precompilate per Raspberry PI 3B/3B+/4B (64bit e 32bit) (in red, in Italian).

 

Scroll down a little bit, until you see this:

or

(depending on the browser or if you translate, I think).

 

You can download the RPI4 version from there.

[askat1988]

I'm already using that, was interested in the newer beta version, thanks.

[DomieMic65]

I first came across Gentoo player on fbook.

l was a bit reluctant to install it because I don’t speak Italian but after doing I see that it’s very very good.

I have many questions but to start with:

1) I didn’t manage to resize the partitions. I can’t find what I should put to the “sda” field.

2) what is the “alsacap” command for Gentoo??

 

 

[antonellocaroli]

3 hours ago, askat1988 said:

I'm already using that, was interested in the newer beta version, thanks.

I'm making it...

 

 

2 hours ago, DomieMic65 said:

 

1) I didn’t manage to resize the partitions. I can’t find what I should put to the “sda” field.

2) what is the “alsacap” command for Gentoo??

 

 

 

1)  you're talking about rpi? on rpi is not sda bat mmcblk0

 

2) It's not unusual... but I'll do it. It's nice.

 

[randytsuch]

Thanks for the instructions!

I installed it earlier today, was pretty simple except for a simple problem that was my fault.

But once I fixed that, and made a ssh connection, I had it working pretty quickly as a naa.

 

I also tried connecting a keyboard and monitor, but that was less successful because the keyboard mapping was different and the symbols were all in other places.

 

But with ssh it was no problem, so thanks for this software.

 

I was a little worried about having pops and clicks that I had with dietpi until I made some tweaks, but gentoo sounds great with no pops

 

Randy

[bobfa]

33 minutes ago, randytsuch said:

I was a little worried about having pops and clicks that I had with dietpi until I made some tweaks, but gentoo sounds great with no pops

I would be interested in a comparison to what you were listening to before and Gentoo Player.

 

I have not had enough time to give it yet.  The little bit of listening I did on my headphone system made me want try more and tell others about it.  

[zackthedog]

I can get it to boot and can enter the system, but when I go to the Wizard I get a set of keypad instructions but don't know how to get past that.  So far cannot get Audirvana to see the player.

[antonellocaroli]

42 minutes ago, zackthedog said:

I can get it to boot and can enter the system, but when I go to the Wizard I get a set of keypad instructions but don't know how to get past that.  So far cannot get Audirvana to see the player.

 

if you do not finish the wizard (sqconfig), the player will not start...

if you finish the procedure you have to start mpd and upmpdcli...then you should see the player in audirvana....

[clipper]

44 minutes ago, zackthedog said:

I can get it to boot and can enter the system, but when I go to the Wizard I get a set of keypad instructions but don't know how to get past that.  So far cannot get Audirvana to see the player.

In the wizard configuration:

 

Page 1 - (the page says "use the arrow keys" at the top left) - hit q 

Page 2 - (AlsaMixer) - hit Esc key

Page 3 - choose the card number for your audio output device, then confirm

Page 4-  (the page says "use the arrow keys" at the top left) - hit q 

Page 5 - choose maximum sampling rate, then confirm

Page 6 - choose minimum sampling rate, then confirm

Page 7 - confirm sampling range frequency

Page 8 - In your case, type y to start mpd; type n to not start squeezelite-R2; type n to not start squeezelite

 

Then you have to go into the Players/Server menu to start upmpdcli (type gp-menu at prompt, 1-Players/Server, 7-Upmpdcli, 1-Restart).

 

If you always use Audirvana, I think you may as well go into the menus (Players/Server) for MPD and upmpdcli and set them both to start at boot (add to system boot).