sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 6, 2017 23:50:30 GMT -5
Has anyone used Audiophile-Linux (aka AP-Linux) on any sort of machine to run a digital audio server?
I've been wrestling with it for hours now trying to get it to recognize the WiFi adapter and I'm ready to take a plane over to wherever in Europe the guy who created it lives, and stab his eyes out with a spoon. Sorry just had to rant.
/rant over
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Post by qdtjni on Apr 7, 2017 0:23:26 GMT -5
It's absolutely free so unless you donated anything, you got what you paid for. On a more serious note, what triggered you to try AP Linux instead of some more normal Linux Dist like for instance Ubuntu?
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 7, 2017 0:41:16 GMT -5
Yes...free hahaha aaaaahhhh! I've used Mint for some time on larger systems, this was (besides the fact it's specifically designed for streaming and serving bit perfect audio) with a minimalist approach, is because I have this cute little Dell Micro Desktop system, which although it's not super specs, can do a good job as a music server, 4 USB ports, HDMI out if that's your thing, etc. (And it originally cost like $159, too).
L It's even smaller than the Stealth DC-1 I am considering, so it will stack neatly on top and balance out the full-rack width components to half-rack width of the DC-1, to what's about a quarter-rack width.
It's purely cosmetic, but with OCD these things matter LoL.
(On a side note, I'm stubbornly putting off buying the DC-1 on the completely unfounded notion that Emo will soon release the mythical DC-2, which will be full rack width in my hopes, and the silly belief that they will release it right after I buy the DC-1 ha ha ha)
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Post by qdtjni on Apr 7, 2017 0:46:09 GMT -5
So why not any of the Ubuntu versions? Unless you really need it tu run any X-windows manager, he server dist has low overhead and then there's the real time version (which is not needed for this bu nevertheless).
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 7, 2017 0:48:45 GMT -5
Good point Casey. But no Macs for me lol.
I believe the DC-1 inputs are galvanically isolated (including the USB) to allay those fears.
How about Raspberry Pi has anyone played with those? There is an add on board that has both optical and coax SPDIF outputs specifically to serve music. (They also make a DAC version, and an Amp version which seems quite ridiculous) but there is some fascinating stuff going on with them.
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Post by qdtjni on Apr 7, 2017 0:49:25 GMT -5
I could say quite a bit here, but I'll restrain myself. I work with Linux every day and I wouldn't use it for anything other than server operation. I do use it (Ubuntu) for my Squeeze Server with several terabyte of FLAC on it with wired Ethernet and that's fine. Wireless and Linux might be a stretch. And I'd definitely never use it for an application directly connected to stereo equipment. A Mac Mini is a better choice there. Casey Ubuntu works perfect (once installed) on a MacMini too. But assuming you mean Mac Mini with MacOS, deffo better combo for most purpose, Kodi being one of the exceptions.
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 7, 2017 0:51:36 GMT -5
After I get pissed off at this AP-Linux when I try again tomorrow night, I'll probably go with an Ubuntu or something.
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Post by qdtjni on Apr 7, 2017 0:56:12 GMT -5
How about Raspberry Pi has anyone played with those? There is an add on board that has both optical and coax SPDIF outputs specifically to serve music. (They also make a DAC version, and an Amp version which seems quite ridiculous) but there is some fascinating stuff going on with them. I've had RPIs since RPI 1 (A) came out, used them as Squeezeboxes with squeeslite and since a year or so as Roon Endpoints. One of them has the Hifiberrry DAC+ PRO, sounds is pretty good but IMHO the RPI better with a well designed USB DAC. Archimago has a very interesting article with measurements of the RPI 3 Hifiberry+ Pro combo here archimago.blogspot.ch/2016/10/measurements-raspberry-pi-3-hifiberry.html
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Post by ÈlTwo on Apr 7, 2017 8:01:08 GMT -5
I've used AP Linux, but not with WiFi (I used ethernet to a bridged router). It's a very, very small distro, and, in the past when I've used it, it has taken quite a bit of effort to get running the way I want.
First, the install method is just stupid; you install what amounts to a backup image made by the creator of the distro. At least if you install version 3.1 you can regularly update, and maybe this is what needs to be done to get the WiFi working.
Second, the 3.1 release is almost two years old. Based upon the last update time frame, the next version (which he says is around the corner) probably won't be until the summer, at the earliest. And that's the problem with such a tiny distro that only has one person working on it in their spare time. It does a lot, and has a lot of potential, but you're going to have to put in a bunch of work yourself to get out the kinks (but you can try posting on the AP-Linux message board, he might respond.
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Post by jra on Apr 7, 2017 11:33:15 GMT -5
I could say quite a bit here, but I'll restrain myself. I work with Linux every day and I wouldn't use it for anything other than server operation. I do use it (Ubuntu) for my Squeeze Server with several terabyte of FLAC on it with wired Ethernet and that's fine. Wireless and Linux might be a stretch. And I'd definitely never use it for an application directly connected to stereo equipment. A Mac Mini is a better choice there. Casey Ahem. You do realize I hope, that the Emotiva XMC-1 is in fact a Linux box connected directly to stereo e quipment ? It even says so in the manual. I use Linux at home for *everything*, and over the years have had less hassle with it than any Windows or Mac boxes I've had the misfortune to try and admin/fix. But I use bog-standard Ubuntu on everything.
As for "Wireless and Linux might be a stretch" - again, I'm sure you realize that 99% (if not 100%) of wireless routers on the market are Linux boxes underneath. As are SONOS boxes.
Leave the 1990's Casey - the 21st Century is really cool (although we don't have flying cars yet :-).
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Post by jra on Apr 7, 2017 12:11:14 GMT -5
Sorry, I work in the Linux kernel day-to-day and have been for the last 10 years. Again, I'll be politic ... at least as much as I can be ... To your point that Linux is in fact used in a lot of these systems: it's only because a bunch of Linux Fan Boys are making decisions instead of management. If a rational decision were being made to use a Free OS, then it would be FreeBSD hands down and a large number of reasons. I'll stop here because I know I'll get more hate mail from Google searches from Linux fans. Casey Must be hard to have to work every day on something you hate so much. You don't have to live like that - there are plenty of FreeBSD-using companies that would love to have you (I'm sure Apple is one).
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Post by copperpipe on Apr 7, 2017 14:35:24 GMT -5
Casey; the market spoke, and linux won. FreeBSD has merits, but the reason linux is in these devices is not due to fanboys making decisions. Even with the more restrictive license (gpl vs bsd) it is still coming out ahead of the bsds for company platforms and development. Must be a solid reason. I'd really love to see a valid source on that claim (linux being pushed by fanboys) because I think you just yanked that out of thin air I've used linux exclusively (with a brief freebsd stint when it got zfs before linux got it working) since 2002 as both server and workstation. It's had some bumps (gnome3/kde4/pulseaudio/systemd), but every OS has. Not sure why you're singling out wireless because that has been working flawlessly for many people for many years. It has for me. Is this really still an issue? To the original OP; just stick with a proper ubuntu variant (or fedora if you like). These little custom distros with 1 or 2 people on the team cannot do a proper job and you'll just end up with headaches.
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Post by qdtjni on Apr 7, 2017 16:56:16 GMT -5
FTR, Linux kernel was based on the design of Minix and no BSD, where NextSTEP, and later MacOs is based on a combination of Mach kernel and BSD.
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,902
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Post by KeithL on Apr 7, 2017 16:59:27 GMT -5
I use a Raspberry Pi running Volumio - USB output to the USB input on my XMC-1.... works great.... (and full support up to 24/192k) Good point Casey. But no Macs for me lol. I believe the DC-1 inputs are galvanically isolated (including the USB) to allay those fears. How about Raspberry Pi has anyone played with those? There is an add on board that has both optical and coax SPDIF outputs specifically to serve music. (They also make a DAC version, and an Amp version which seems quite ridiculous) but there is some fascinating stuff going on with them.
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 7, 2017 17:27:27 GMT -5
I've used AP Linux, but not with WiFi (I used ethernet to a bridged router). It's a very, very small distro, and, in the past when I've used it, it has taken quite a bit of effort to get running the way I want. First, the install method is just stupid; you install what amounts to a backup image made by the creator of the distro. At least if you install version 3.1 you can regularly update, and maybe this is what needs to be done to get the WiFi working. Second, the 3.1 release is almost two years old. Based upon the last update time frame, the next version (which he says is around the corner) probably won't be until the summer, at the earliest. And that's the problem with such a tiny distro that only has one person working on it in their spare time. It does a lot, and has a lot of potential, but you're going to have to put in a bunch of work yourself to get out the kinks (but you can try posting on the AP-Linux message board, he might respond.
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 7, 2017 17:28:52 GMT -5
I've used AP Linux, but not with WiFi (I used ethernet to a bridged router). It's a very, very small distro, and, in the past when I've used it, it has taken quite a bit of effort to get running the way I want. First, the install method is just stupid; you install what amounts to a backup image made by the creator of the distro. At least if you install version 3.1 you can regularly update, and maybe this is what needs to be done to get the WiFi working. Second, the 3.1 release is almost two years old. Based upon the last update time frame, the next version (which he says is around the corner) probably won't be until the summer, at the earliest. And that's the problem with such a tiny distro that only has one person working on it in their spare time. It does a lot, and has a lot of potential, but you're going to have to put in a bunch of work yourself to get out the kinks (but you can try posting on the AP-Linux message board, he might respond. The install is beyond stupid.
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38
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Post by sethboy on Apr 8, 2017 21:44:50 GMT -5
So earlier today, I gave up on AP-Linux, and installed Daphile Linux which I had initially had issues installing wirelessly, but hard wired, it installed and up and running in like 6 minutes. So, a big fail for AP-Linux, and I'll start testing out Daphile, headless, it's accessed via http from another machine on the network. Until the guy who develops AP-Linux has time to either update, or at least make an .iso file, it's pointless to try and deal with the odd formatting/partition issues and the wireless card issues, etc. Although I might try it on an older laptop with a different wireless card entirely, just to see if it behaves. PS: Don't hate your jobs. I have to deal with morons every day and it wears you down
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nrde
Minor Hero
Posts: 62
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Post by nrde on Apr 9, 2017 7:44:21 GMT -5
I could say quite a bit here, but I'll restrain myself. I work with Linux every day and I wouldn't use it for anything other than server operation. I do use it (Ubuntu) for my Squeeze Server with several terabyte of FLAC on it with wired Ethernet and that's fine. Wireless and Linux might be a stretch. And I'd definitely never use it for an application directly connected to stereo equipment. A Mac Mini is a better choice there. Linux is just fine for wifi also, if you have properly supported wifi card. Most of the recent ones are supported out of the box. If not there's always the ndiswrapper way, i.e., using windows drivers. What is the reason for not connecting linux box to a stereo equipment?
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nrde
Minor Hero
Posts: 62
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Post by nrde on Apr 9, 2017 8:01:23 GMT -5
And Apple is a social case: they're using an ancient forked off version of Linux that the CMU folks sold to DARPA I very much doubt anyone sold Linux kernel to anyone. Apple is BSD/Mach.
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