New SnakeOil OS 1.2 for 64 bit computers as well as Pi

[Guest]

48 minutes ago, was_a said:

Figured it out - thankyou. One final question - after enabling Ramdisk, do I need to 'mount' this or copy music files / point my server to this folder?

You will see the Ramdisk as a mounted disk in library.  Use Browse tab to move files to the Ramdisk.  Then, play music from Ramdisk.  

[was_a]

Yes, working well also - nice improvement in sound quality.

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, was_a said:

Yes, working well also - nice improvement in sound quality.

Agree...

[was_a]

I thought I'd share some thoughts on SnakeOil now that I've had some time to listen. 

 

It resides on a separate SSD on my computer with an updated Ubuntu 22.04. Installation is a simple as copying the command below into the Ubuntu terminal:

 

bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://artifacts.snakeoil-os.net/artifacts/snakeoil-installer.sh)"

 

I logged into SnakeOil via my network's IP address using my tablet, unlocked the activated version with a small donation, after which various software options magically appeared! This included the Ramdisk feature. I installed MinimServer, tapped on its 'remote' icon to link my music folder—Ramdisk in my case. Playback is controlled with BubbleUPnP on my tablet, and the endpoint is a ZenStream. I stream audio files locally from another SSD on my computer.

 

(The ZenStream outperforms several far more expensive streamers in my system. I use well-designed power supplies, network filters and cables, but nothing too expensive. Router, network switch, and software settings are also important here). 

 

Sound quality with SnakeOil is addictive. Gone are any treble nasties and bass bloat, noise-floor is very low, and the sound signature is one of 'smooth transparency'. The timbre of acoustic instruments is very natural—piano, trumpet etc are reproduced with a harmonic fullness unequalled by any other streaming methods I've tried. This 'smooth transparency' is perhaps a little homogenous in comparison to my Windows Server 2019 / AudiophileOptimizer / Audirvana Origin UPnP setup—which is a little more resolving, but with SnakeOil you're immersed in the music. The experience is very pleasing.

 

Certainly I found it superior to Euphony and AudioLinux. I'd encourage any curious readers to try SnakeOil. 

 

Thanks Snoopy again for all your help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2024 by was_a

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, was_a said:

Certainly I found it superior to Euphony and AudioLinux.

I have never used Euphony and AudioLinux, so it is certainly high praise indeed.  I will pass this info to the SnakeOil forum. 

 

A few more tweaks.  How you tried enabling CPUsets and downloading the Ubuntu 22.04 Real time kernel?

[was_a]

Didn't know about the real time kernel. I'll have to Google.

 

{Found the info, registered my Ubuntu Pro account, got the token etc. Will install real-time kernel later).

 

And CPUSET is relevant when using Ramdisk? I couldn't work out what to allocate where (System / User) with my 2-core CPU (hyperthreading disabled).

 

By the way, SnakeOil's own kernel 'options' seem interesting....!

 

Edited May 6, 2024 by was_a

[Guest]

3 hours ago, was_a said:

Didn't know about the real time kernel. I'll have to Google.

 

{Found the info, registered my Ubuntu Pro account, got the token etc. Will install real-time kernel later).

 

And CPUSET is relevant when using Ramdisk? I couldn't work out what to allocate where (System / User) with my 2-core CPU (hyperthreading disabled).

Do try the real time kernel.  Not sure how much impact CPUsets will have on Minimserver.  Use 1 CPU for system and 1 for user. 

 

CPUsets allocate specific CPU to processes and can improve SQ of players running on its own CPU.  It is different, and separate to, Ramdisk where the music is stored in Ram. The theory is that Ram has the lowest latency.

[mloutfie]

Anyone can share their settings for generic i2s Dac for pi4 and snakeoilos? Been having problem setting it up it says error but nothing shows in log. I tried both i2s device (not sure why there is 2) and few option settings all work.

 

I also use moode and it runs ok with i2s settings DAC 1704

 

Edited September 13, 2024 by mloutfie

[Guest]

1 hour ago, mloutfie said:

Anyone can share their settings for generic i2s Dac for pi4 and snakeoilos? Been having problem setting it up it says error but nothing shows in log. I tried both i2s device (not sure why there is 2) and few option settings all work.

 

I also use moode and it runs ok with i2s settings DAC 1704

 

Are you using Ubuntu as the base OS? If so, change to Raspberry Bookworm.   

[mloutfie]

1 hour ago, Snoopy8 said:

Are you using Ubuntu as the base OS? If so, change to Raspberry Bookworm.   

already in bookworm

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, mloutfie said:

already in bookworm

Then you will probably have to add the correct dtoverlay for your DAC.  See this thread

https://www.snakeoil-os.net/forums/Thread-Installation-of-SnakeOil-OS-1-3-0-on-RPi-4-with-Raspberry-Pi-OS?pid=7287#pid7287

 

Also, have a look at what moOde has in its config.txt file?   

 

Beyond this, please join and post on SnakeOil forum, where others with more experience with i2S, than myself, may be able to help?

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8 thanks that did the trick

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, mloutfie said:

@Snoopy8 thanks that did the trick

To help others, can you please post what you did. 

 

And interested in your feedback on sound quality of SnakeOil compared with moOde.  No doubt moOde is slicker and more refined.

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8

 

I copied the settings from Moode. under the section that has dtparam in config.txt I replace with below

 

disable_splash=1
disable_overscan=1
hdmi_drive=2
hdmi_blanking=1
hdmi_force_edid_audio=1
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
hdmi_group=0
dtparam=i2c_arm=on
dtparam=i2s=on
dtparam=audio=off
dtoverlay=rpi-dac

 

The difference it's crazy. Like using a different DAC. I have been using snakeoil OS for server since I think snakeoil was released, but this is the first time trying the pi distro. I will want to go back and forth to test but initial impression is totally different than moode.

 

Server: Custom Snakeoil OS server with loads of RAM cache

DAC used is audio gd NOS7 using hdmi i2s input -> raspberry pi using supercapacitor bank and linear PSU using nvarcher hat with built in reclocker and HDMI I2S output

 

Analog chain AudioGD C3 FV Preamp (ACSS connection from dac)->Auralic Merak Monoblock amp -> Magnepan 1.7i

 

Moode:

Just great all around sound good detail, good body, good separation, low end is excellent I use this OS for 3 years and sound is just right for me. compared it to something like eversolo DMP-A6 running as streamer the difference to me is negligible I didn't notice much

 

Snakeoil OS

Soooo much detail, everything is like etched, sound stage is massive and deep, way behind the wall deep, low end is good but in really bass heavy with bass under 40hz a little bit loose (I have Rel t1 with cut off at 35hz). And I'm using magnepan 1.7i which is already massive and deep soundstage. but the same time it's hard to process by the brain if that makes sense. feel like seeing something but the brain is saying can't be that clear (Am I making sense? lols) My analog is like looking at AI generated image it's so real but you know it's fake. and it's edging on harsh which I don't normally associate with my DAC except when I'm using my yamaha NS1000 speaker. But overall it's quite an experience going through my collection like looking through a brand new spectacle

 

One biggest advantage of moode it handles dsd files through DOP perfectly. Snakeoil has lots of hiss (Same problem with volumio). Moode will output dop at 384khz where snakeoil output it at 192khz (my reclocker has sample rate monitoring)

 

 

[mloutfie]

Looks like the main sou d difference is from squezerlite r2, changed it to 1.8 and sound closer to moode.

 

Not sure why this is the case. If player software make this much difference that's another rabbit hole follow

[Guest]

1 hour ago, mloutfie said:

Looks like the main sou d difference is from squezerlite r2, changed it to 1.8 and sound closer to moode.

 

Not sure why this is the case. If player software make this much difference that's another rabbit hole follow

Unfortunately, software players do sound different and even between different versions. 

 

However, I have compared same Squeezelite versions on moOde and SnakeOil and far prefer SnakeOil for its clarity, detail and soundstage.  

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8 which version of squeezelite do you use now?

[Guest]

29 minutes ago, mloutfie said:

@Snoopy8 which version of squeezelite do you use now?

R2,  latest version. Some people were reporting issues e.g.

DOP not working with LMS, Squuezelite
Workaround: download Squeezelite R2 from 

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lmsclie...ite/linux/

tar -xvf squeezelite-2.0.0.1465-aarch64.tar.gz
sudo mv /var/www/players/Squeezelite-R2/squeezelite-R2 /var/www/players/Squeezelite-R2/squeezelite-R2-old
sudo mv squeezelite /var/www/players/Squeezelite-R2/squeezelite-R2

 

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8your link cut of is it https://sourceforge.net/projects/lmsclients/files/squeezelite/linux/squeezelite-pulse-2.0.0.1465-aarch64.tar.gz/download ?

[Guest]

2 hours ago, mloutfie said:

@Snoopy8your link cut of is it https://sourceforge.net/projects/lmsclients/files/squeezelite/linux/squeezelite-pulse-2.0.0.1465-aarch64.tar.gz/download ?

Apologies, download aarch64 version

https://sourceforge.net/projects/lmsclients/files/squeezelite/linux/

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8 have you used MPD in Snakeoil? I'm trying it at the moment but I can't play any of my flac files and there is no log that I can see for MPD

[Guest]

35 minutes ago, mloutfie said:

@Snoopy8 have you used MPD in Snakeoil? I'm trying it at the moment but I can't play any of my flac files and there is no log that I can see for MPD

Yes, been using Mpd. 

 

What versions of SnakeOil and Mpd are you using? And what phone app and have you done a library scan?

Edited December 27, 2024 by Snoopy8
Typo

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8 I use M.A.L.P but while testing I just use myMPD web interface. Library scan all good and MPD thinks it's playing the file. Just no sound out. I've tried adding below in mpd.conf (made the file from template file) based on this article https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=185723

 

audio_output { type "alsa" name "test" format "44100:16:2" }

 

Mp3 files play fine. is there a log file somewhere in myMPD?

Edited December 27, 2024 by mloutfie

[Guest]

3 hours ago, mloutfie said:

@Snoopy8 I use M.A.L.P but while testing I just use myMPD web interface. Library scan all good and MPD thinks it's playing the file. Just no sound out. I've tried adding below in mpd.conf (made the file from template file) based on this article https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=185723

 

audio_output { type "alsa" name "test" format "44100:16:2" }

 

Mp3 files play fine. is there a log file somewhere in myMPD?

Versions of SnakeOil and MPD please. And what O/S and hardware are you using?  

 

Please provide a screen shot your player setup.   There is not need for additional configs, additional ALSA settings etc.   If anything, tinkering with these will cause problems.  Mpd plays flac out of the box.

[mloutfie]

@Snoopy8 the player is in 1.3.0 (Measurements U0) on a raspberry pi 3 the server is on 1.3.0 (Measurements U0) in a x86 machine. the MPD is 0.23.5. The MPD is accessing the server shared drive using a mount point. Also I found I can play some FLAC files the only thing I can see the difference is the flac I can ply is of sample rate 96Khz and the 44.1Khz one doesn't play. it is quite odd