Recording from radio stream

[Learnincurve]

It supports BBC On Demand streams, at least it does via the command line (which is what I would use).
I feel nervous about discussing this...

Understood.

[drmatt]

I have been thinking it would be good to timeshift radio, yes. A virtual PVR. A plugin that spins up a virtual player and pipes the stream in, encodes a flac or MP3 output file with a predictable filename on a timed basis with some sort of UI for scheduling recordings would be awesome.

Partly because some stuff doesn't make it to listen again and partly because many stations don't offer it anyway. If there's concerns about ripping of media, the files could be encrypted using an LMS generated key that would not work on another LMS instance. I.e., what a PVR does.


Transcoded from Matt's brain by Tapatalk

[bpa]

A plugin that spins up a virtual player and pipes the stream in, encodes a flac or MP3 output file with a predictable filename on a timed basis with some sort of UI for scheduling recordings would be awesome.

Squeezelite can output to a file. The problem is that user will want a fully functional UI on Web, Classic and Touch to schedule/playback recordings etc. Most work will be in the UI.,

[Learnincurve]

Just come back to this having lost any configuration which may or may not have worked last time and am not getting far.

I've tried the stdout approach:

squeezelite -a 16 -o - | flac - -f --best --endian=little --sign=signed --channels=2 --bps=16 --sample-rate=44100 -s -o "/var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/`date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S`.flac"

Starts, but playback of anything doesn't like it (jumps and stops)
and

squeezelite -a 16 -o - | arecord -f CD | flac - -f --best -s -o "/var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/`date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S`.flac"

which appears to play and leaves a silent file behind

as does this loopback approach:

modprobe snd-aloop

create /etc/asound.conf:

pcm.mycard {
    type hw
    card 1
}

ctl.mycard {
    type hw
    card 1
}

pcm.myconvert {
    type plug
    slave {
        pcm "myrecord"
        format S16_LE
    }
}

pcm.myrecord {
    type file
    format "raw"
    slave.pcm "mycard"
    file  "| arecord -f CD | flac - -f --best -s -o /var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/`date +%%Y%%m%%d_%%H%%M%%S`.flac"
}

pcm.!default{
   type asym
   playback.pcm "myconvert"
   capture.pcm "mycard"
}

giving:

squeezelite -l
X11 connection rejected because of wrong authentication.
xcb_connection_has_error() returned true
X11 connection rejected because of wrong authentication.
xcb_connection_has_error() returned true
Output devices:
  null                           - Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
  pulse                          - PulseAudio Sound Server
  mycard                        
  myconvert                     
  myrecord                      
  default                       
  sysdefault:CARD=PCH            - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Default Audio Device
  front:CARD=PCH,DEV=0           - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Front speakers
  surround21:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
  surround40:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
  surround41:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
  surround50:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
  surround51:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
  surround71:CARD=PCH,DEV=0      - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - 7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
  iec958:CARD=PCH,DEV=0          - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Digital - IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
  hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=0            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 - HDMI Audio Output
  hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=1            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1 - HDMI Audio Output
  hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=2            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2 - HDMI Audio Output
  hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=3            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3 - HDMI Audio Output
  hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=4            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 4 - HDMI Audio Output
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=0            - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=1            - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Digital - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=3            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=7            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1 - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=8            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2 - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=9            - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3 - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=10           - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 4 - Direct sample mixing device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=0          - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=1          - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Digital - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=3          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=7          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1 - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=8          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2 - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=9          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3 - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=10         - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 4 - Direct sample snooping device
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0              - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1              - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Digital - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3              - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7              - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1 - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=8              - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2 - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=9              - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3 - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=10             - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 4 - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0          - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Analog - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1          - HDA Intel PCH, ALC283 Digital - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1 - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=8          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2 - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=9          - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3 - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=10         - HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 4 - Hardware device with all software conversions
  sysdefault:CARD=Loopback       - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Default Audio Device
  front:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0      - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Front speakers
  surround21:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
  surround40:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
  surround41:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
  surround50:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
  surround51:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
  surround71:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0 - Loopback, Loopback PCM - 7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
  dmix:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0       - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct sample mixing device
  dmix:CARD=Loopback,DEV=1       - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct sample mixing device
  dsnoop:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0     - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct sample snooping device
  dsnoop:CARD=Loopback,DEV=1     - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct sample snooping device
  hw:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0         - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  hw:CARD=Loopback,DEV=1         - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Direct hardware device without any conversions
  plughw:CARD=Loopback,DEV=0     - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Hardware device with all software conversions
  plughw:CARD=Loopback,DEV=1     - Loopback, Loopback PCM - Hardware device with all software conversions

and starting squeezelite with:

squeezelite -o myrecord

I'm guessing that I'm missing something quite stupid as the source plays into my squeezelite recorder and a file is dumped. Just that it doesn't contain any audio.

[bpa]

Just come back to this having lost any configuration which may or may not have worked last time and am not getting far.

I've tried the stdout approach:.

Start simple.

Does stdout approach save PCM OK to a file - that can be played back later ?

Remember - any output file format that has a header may not be complete as when you stop recording - buffer will be flushed but the header at the start of the file may not be updated.

[Learnincurve]

Start simple.

Does stdout approach save PCM OK to a file - that can be played back later ?

Remember - any output file format that has a header may not be complete as when you stop recording - buffer will be flushed but the header at the start of the file may not be updated.

Well I did try:

squeezelite -o - > /var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/raw.wav

but that had already written a 44GB file before I managed to turn it off. I forgot the -a 16 and it didn't play back. Source file for testing is from a 16bit 44100Hz CD rip.

After that I decided to try saving the ssd and going for smaller files.

[bpa]

Well I did try:

squeezelite -o - > /var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/raw.wav

but that had already written a 44GB file before I managed to turn it off. I forgot the -a 16 and it didn't play back. Source file for testing is from a 16bit 44100Hz CD rip.

After that I decided to try saving the ssd and going for smaller files.

WAV file have header - stdout produced a PCM file with no header so no woinder it will nto play.

However unless I think you have forced squeezelite to produce CD quality - the PCM will be whatevver the source (e.g. 44.kHz for many radio but 48kHz for some other - with no header - the file will be unplayabale)

I think you need to tell squeezelite to output CD quality and let LMS do transcoding / upsampling etc. to get CD (16bits 2 chan 44.1khz).

edit:

Just to be sure - should check squeezelite source to see what default output audio format is used for stdout.

edit2:

default with no args is S32_le and 44.1khz. So -a 16 is required to give CD quality. Any player will need to be told that file is PCM (not WAV) stream is in S16le 44.1kHzformat.

[Learnincurve]

WAV file have header - stdout produced a PCM file with no header so no woinder it will nto play.

However unless I think you have forced squeezelite to produce CD quality - the PCM will be whatevver the source (e.g. 44.kHz for many radio but 48kHz for some other - with no header - the file will be unplayabale)

I think you need to tell squeezelite to output CD quality and let LMS do transcoding / upsampling etc. to get CD (16bits 2 chan 44.1khz).

edit:

Just to be sure - should check squeezelite source to see what default output audio format is used for stdout.

edit2:

default with no args is S32_le and 44.1khz. So -a 16 is required to give CD quality. Any player will need to be told that file is PCM (not WAV) stream is in S16le 44.1kHzformat.

Thanks for those pointers. I am getting closer but some problems remain.

I tried -a 16 with:
squeezelite -a 16 -o - > "/var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/`date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S`.pcm"

with similar problems: the output file is very large and cannot be played.

When playing a source file into the squeezelite started with the above parameters -in this case a CD-rip to flac:

File Format: FLAC
Duration: 7:29
Bitrate: 643kbps VBR
Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
Sample Size: 16Bits

The progress slider jumps forward very fast, so a 7.5 minute track plays in a few seconds and pregresses to the next.

The resultant .pcm file was very large (about 19GB after a minute) and refused to play at all (play button refused to activate),

After that I decided to try ffmpeg:

squeezelite -a 16 -o - | ffmpeg -f s16le -ar 44100 -ac 2 -i pipe: -c:a flac  "/var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/`date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S`.flac"
ffmpeg version 4.0.4-0ubuntu1 Copyright (c) 2000-2019 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 8 (Ubuntu 8.2.0-7ubuntu1)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0ubuntu1 --toolchain=hardened --libdir=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu --incdir=/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu --arch=amd64 --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-avisynth --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libopencv --enable-libx264 --enable-shared
  libavutil      56. 14.100 / 56. 14.100
  libavcodec     58. 18.100 / 58. 18.100
  libavformat    58. 12.100 / 58. 12.100
  libavdevice    58.  3.100 / 58.  3.100
  libavfilter     7. 16.100 /  7. 16.100
  libavresample   4.  0.  0 /  4.  0.  0
  libswscale      5.  1.100 /  5.  1.100
  libswresample   3.  1.100 /  3.  1.100
  libpostproc    55.  1.100 / 55.  1.100
Guessed Channel Layout for Input Stream #0.0 : stereo
Input #0, s16le, from 'pipe:':
  Duration: N/A, bitrate: 1411 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 1411 kb/s
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (pcm_s16le (native) -> flac (native))
Output #0, flac, to '/var/lib/squeezeboxserver/recordings/20191213_201516.flac':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf58.12.100
    Stream #0:0: Audio: flac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 128 kb/s
    Metadata:
      encoder         : Lavc58.18.100 flac
^Csize=  203578kB time=30:23:58.22 bitrate=  15.2kbits/s speed= 425x    
video:0kB audio:203570kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 0.003976%
Exiting normally, received signal 2.

Even this produced a larger file than expected (about 200MB after a couple of minutes) and I still got the slider jumping ahead problems when playing the source file, but there was a portion of the dumped -flac file that could be played and which sounded normal.

The squeezelite I'm using is the default Ubuntu package, so don't have the source. You mentioned letting LMS do the upsampling but I can't see where to do that. I did play with C3PO once before and could use sox options for the output, but know very little about sox too. Whatever options I use, it would be good if they were specific to that squeezelite, so that my regular listening setup isn't affected.

[bpa]

with similar problems: the output file is very large and cannot be played.

When playing a source file into the squeezelite started with the above parameters -in this case a CD-rip to flac:

You must know how to play the file before you can convert it.
If you cannot play it - then you will make assumptions on its format like you ffmpeg command. These assumption may be incorrect.

What and how are you using to to play the file ?

On a Linux box, usually I use aplay and standard audio output that is known to work with aplay with a known file (e.g. a WAV file created from a flac / MP3 /AAC file).

[bpa]

It may be that squeezelite could be outputting silence and it is being saved to a file and so file grows.

Here is the initial post for the feature.

https://forums.slimdevices.com/showt...l=1#post762055