[Testers Required!] SqueezePlay Bugfix

[roobarb!]

Hi all,

If you use SqueezePlay and don't mind having it potentially break on you a bit, I'd like people to try out a new release I have ready.

It's basically identical to the version currently available, except it should work with PulseAudio. It's also compiled with the very latest PortAudio, now that a bug with their build has been fixed.

I'm trying to find out:

• 1. If audio still works for everyone.
  2. If audio works without failing over long periods (running >6 hours).
  • This is the old 'disappearing audio' trick that was worked around by making an /etc/asound.conf file.
  3. If audio works even when the "/usr/share/alsa/pulse.conf" line in /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf is NOT commented out.
  4. If simultaneous audio from different applications works.

In my tests the only oddity is that when PulseAudio is enabled in Ubuntu, the sound effects that SqueezePlay generates are at a much lower volume than the music. I'm not sure why this is, but it's a small (and perhaps temporary) price to pay for properly working, properly mixed audio.

How To Help
Just install the new version and use it normally, then post back in this thread on how the above 4 points have been for you. I could do with volunteers using the native OS as well as the USB-stick alternatives.

To help using the Native OS:

1. Remove Previous Version

Code: Select all

cd /media
./sqp.sh remove native

2. Install New Version

Code: Select all

cd /media
wget http://birdslikewires.co.uk/download/joggler/squeezeplay/sqp9411.sh
mv sqp9411.sh sqp.sh
chmod +x sqp.sh
./sqp install native

To help using an Ubuntu OS:

1a. Remove Previous Version (If you installed by hand)

Code: Select all

cd /opt
sudo -s
bash ./sqp.sh remove ubuntu
exit

1b. Remove Previous Version (If your version came preinstalled)

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove squeezeplay

2. Install New Version

Code: Select all

sudo -s
mkdir /opt; cd /opt
wget http://birdslikewires.co.uk/download/joggler/squeezeplay/sqp9411.sh
mv sqp9411.sh sqp.sh
chmod +x sqp.sh
bash ./sqp install ubuntu
exit

The one that really interests me is the 'disappearing audio' bug - I'm hoping it's been squashed for good. If you modified or created an /etc/asound.conf file under Ubuntu, if you could move it temporarily that would be great.

Code: Select all

sudo mv /etc/asound.conf /etc/asound-moved.conf

If you need to put it back:

Code: Select all

sudo mv /etc/asound-moved.conf /etc/asound.conf

And if you could try it with and without the "/usr/share/alsa/pulse.conf" line in /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf commented out (if you're using Ubuntu), that would be awesome.

I understand that this request probably isn't one for those without a bit of Linux confidence, but it's much appreciated if you could spare some time.

[BuZz]

Are the pulse audio compatibility fixes due to changes in portaudio, or a new pulse audio native output module ?
Not to take this offtopic, but we should speak about using your squeezeplay by default on the linux distros I maintain perhaps. It would be one less thing for me to think about and no doubt yours offer more functionality than mine . Are you able to roll some packages from your squeezeplay? it has some package stuff built in, but its not done in quite a way to build one that could be sent to a ppa, which is a shame.

[gegs]

Sorry to be such a noob, but what are the benefits of PulseAudio?

Also, my present sound out is through a USB soundcard. How could I maintain USB sound without the /etc/asound.conf file?

[roobarb!]

Sorry to be such a noob, but what are the benefits of PulseAudio?

Also, my present sound out is through a USB soundcard. How could I maintain USB sound without the /etc/asound.conf file?

In theory, I believe you should be able to set the sound card as normal in Sound preferences and then just fire up SqueezePlay. This is part of what I would like testing, though - whether it works and whether it causes any problems.

The benefits of PulseAudio... well, for some that's debatable. If you would prefer to test with your /etc/asound.conf file intact and see what happens, I would be very happy with that. To be honest, I'm really just hoping this release brings about greater compatibility without breaking anything, rather than re-inventing the wheel.

[Regor]

cd /media
wget http://birdslikewires.co.uk/download/jo ... sqp9411.sh
mv sqp9411.sh sqp.sh
chmod +x sqp.sh
./sqp install native

Hi
Attempted to install native version on Saturday. Failed to install, sorry, but I did not note the exact error message.
Your current version does install from http://birdslikewires.co.uk/articles/sq ... or-joggler.

[roobarb!]

Hmm, right. I'll take a look tomorrow. Thanks for giving it a try.

[roobarb!]

Are you able to roll some packages from your squeezeplay? it has some package stuff built in, but its not done in quite a way to build one that could be sent to a ppa, which is a shame.

If you could tell me how you managed it with your version, I can give it a shot. I've never created .deb packages before, so it'll be a learning curve for me.

[BuZz]

they have a script that makes a package, but its not a proper source package but rather a binary package - so it's no good for uploading to a ppa for example.
there is a makefile target for building the debian package. "make -f Makefile.linux squeezeplay-deb" or so. ideally id like to make a proper source package out of this, but it would be a fair amount of work I would think. We can chat about this via email or on msn if you like.

[Horatio]

What's the current status with this, still need testing? I tried it, and it seemed to download ok but then had some trouble decompressing and won't run. Its on a fairly fresh ubuntu install.

[roobarb!]

I wasn't getting much response on this thread, so I started making some changes. Unfortunately I didn't get them finished before going away, so it's broken right now. Think I'll spend a little time on it again today.

[Horatio]

Cool, happy to test again when ready