[nyc_paramedic]

So my Parts Express (band-aid until I decide) regulated ps showed up.  It has settings for, among others, 7.5V, 9V and 12V.  Do I care which one for the Alix, as they are all within spec?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=120-536

9 volt should be fine

[jkelly]

Can you actually hear a difference using another powersupply?

Not only difference in PS but in using the KECES PS - changing power cables made a big difference.

Jeff

[ted_b]

Well, the Antelope Zodiac Plus Linux-capable DAC is here tomorrow.  As i posted back on March 6th, Antelope has a Linux how-to on their website and they list this for MPD servers:
You will need to change the following section in your ‘/etc/mpd.conf’:
audio_output {
type "alsa"
name "Zodiac Gold"
device "plughw:1,0"
auto_resample "no"
user_mmap "yes"
period_time 0
buffer_size 0
period_size 0
mixer_device "default"
mixer_control "PCM"
mixer_index "0"}


Question:  Do I really need to have device as "plughw:1,0" if my Yoyage MPD is up to date (i.e shouldn't I just do "hw:1,0" ) ?   Are there any other lines above that are in that same out-of-date category or not relevant for Voyage?  I want the Antelope to handle all sample rates and auto switch.  I do not upsample, I listen to native sample rates.  Thx
Ted

[nyc_paramedic]

Well, the Antelope Zodiac Plus Linux-capable DAC is here tomorrow.  As i posted back on March 6th, Antelope has a Linux how-to on their website and they list this for MPD servers:
You will need to change the following section in your ‘/etc/mpd.conf’:
audio_output {
type "alsa"
name "Zodiac Gold"
device "plughw:1,0"
auto_resample "no"
user_mmap "yes"
period_time 0
buffer_size 0
period_size 0
mixer_device "default"
mixer_control "PCM"
mixer_index "0"}


Question:  Do I really need to have device as "plughw:1,0" if my Yoyage MPD is up to date (i.e shouldn't I just do "hw:1,0" ) ?   Are there any other lines above that are in that same out-of-date category or not relevant for Voyage?  I want the Antelope to handle all sample rates and auto switch.  I do not upsample, I listen to native sample rates.  Thx

Ted,

With mpd versions 0.16, which supports 24 bit packed samples, you don't need plughw. hw is just fine.

You only need plughw for mpd versions 0.15 and prior.

[nl12048]

Has anyone experience with other casing than the ALIC standard one?

thanks

[ted_b]

I assumed MPD could connect to the clients (in my case Minion and mPad) even if the audio output was having issues.  Audio output is the only thing I changed, other than power supplies and conencting the Antelope to the Alix, and yet the clients won't connect.  I'm back to the "server not selected" error in Minion.  I can talk to Alix via Putty (log in, remountrw, etc) but no go.  here is what aplay -l says:
*****List of playback hardware devices******
card 0:  Zodiac [Zodiac+], device 0:  USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices:  1/1
Subdevice  #0:  subdevice  #0

My audio portion of mpd config is:
#
audio_output {
   type      "alsa"
   name      "Zodiac+"
   device      "hw:1,0"   
          auto_resample       "no"
          user_mmap           "yes"
          period_time         0
          buffer_size         0
          period_size         0
          mixer_device        "default"
          mixer_control       "PCM"
          mixer_index         "0"
# optional
#   format      "44100:16:2"   # optional
#   mixer_device   "default"   # optional
#   mixer_control   "PCM"      # optional
#   mixer_index   "0"      # optional
}
#


Any help appreciated.  It worked up until I edited md config and moved the player into the music room and connected it to Antelope and internet.  As I said, Putty works.  ??

EDIT:  I changed to hw:0,0 since that's what aplay showed (weird in that i was using Antelope's own user manual guidelines for 1,0) but still nothing

[nyc_paramedic]

EDIT:  I changed to hw:0,0 since that's what aplay showed (weird in that i was using Antelope's own user manual guidelines for 1,0) but still nothing

But did you restart MPD via /etc/init.d/mpd restart?

[ted_b]

I don't know that file or command, Nick.  I simply do "shutdown -r now" in Putty after every change.  Is that equivalent?

[nyc_paramedic]

EDIT:  I changed to hw:0,0 since that's what aplay showed (weird in that i was using Antelope's own user manual guidelines for 1,0) but still nothing

Also, lets start with a basic audio output section first:

audio_output {
         type            "alsa"
         name           "Zodiac"
         device          "hw:0,0"        # optional
#       format          "44100:16:2"    # optional
#       mixer_device    "default"       # optional
#       mixer_control   "PCM"           # optional
#       mixer_index     "0"             # optional
}

[nyc_paramedic]

I don't know that file or command, Nick.  I simply do "shutdown -r now" in Putty after every change.  Is that equivalent?

No need to reboot. As root user type: /etc/init.d/mpd restart

[TomS]

No need to reboot. As root user type: /etc/init.d/mpd restart

Ted,

That command is necessary to get mpd to re-read the mpd.conf file to figure out what's up with changes. I think it only happens when the MPD server starts up (init.d).

Tom

[ted_b]

I typed what you said, and got this response:
Stopping Music Player Daemon: mpd.
Starting Music Player Daemon:  mpdline 188: '"' expected     (editor note:that's single quote-double quote-single quote)
no message buffer overruns
failed!  (editor note: in red letters)

So then i went to line 188 and it was part of the period time, buffer size, etc so i commented it all out for now.  Success!  At least MPD starts and clients see it.  Now to see if Antelope runs (no pun intended).

[nyc_paramedic]

I typed what you said, and got this response:
Stopping Music Player Daemon: mpd.
Starting Music Player Daemon:  mpdline 188: '"' expected     (editor note:that's single quote-double quote-single quote)
no message buffer overruns
failed!  (editor note: in red letters)

Check your mpd.conf. You have a " missing. Line 188

[ted_b]

Nick, yes caught that, thanks.  See edited post (while u were typing).  Thx again.

[ted_b]

Antelope Zodiac Plus is now playing music from Alix!!!  Yes!  Thanks to all (esp nick, TomS and Mgalusha).  Will report back on sonics, etc later.

[jrebman]

Congrats, Ted!  Well done (with a little help from your friends.)

Will be interested in your impressions, as well as any differences you hear between the stock and upgraded power supplies.

When you get some listening in, of course.

-- Jim

[ted_b]

So my successful (so far) audio output config for the Antelope looks like this:
#
audio_output {
   type      "alsa"
   name      "Zodiac+"
   device      "hw:0,0"   
            auto_resample       "no"
#           user_mmap           "yes"
#          period_time         0
#          buffer_size         0
#          period_size         0
#          mixer_device        "default"
#          mixer_control       "PCM"
#          mixer_index         "0"
}

What am I missing by commenting out the other parameters (realizing that one or more have missing characters or quotes that were preventing MPD from running, which is why I commented them out for now)?  Are the sonics possibly affected by any of these?  The reason I ask is that my first 30 minutes session with Alix/Antelope was a bit on the analytical/dry/brittle side compared to the best setups I've heard with the same DAC.  But these are initial impressions and are with a $15 Alix power supply as well.  No noise, no background issues, just a bit "digital".  Thanks.

UPDATE:  I inserted back in the user_mmap and mixer lines.  MPD restarts fine.  As soon as i try to include period_time 0 (now with one space between time and 0) the restart throws up again and says "expecting quotes", yet the MPD config wikis never show these lines with quotes.  So still wondering what they do, when implemented correctly.  I will re-listen tonight with the new mixer and user_mmap lines added.

[nyc_paramedic]

UPDATE:  I inserted back in the user_mmap and mixer lines.  MPD restarts fine.  As soon as i try to include period_time 0 (now with one space between time and 0) the restart throws up again and says "expecting quotes", yet the MPD config wikis never show these lines with quotes.  So still wondering what they do, when implemented correctly.  I will re-listen tonight with the new mixer and user_mmap lines added.

We don't want the mixer, aka, dmix enabled. You might be res-ampling your audio to 48Khz and/or enabling the software volume. The user_mmap option might be deprecated and/or not needed.

Try the super simple output section that I recommend.

[ted_b]

Thanks Nick, I did.  however, even before the Antelope DAC is showing all the normal native sample rates.  No downsampling, etc is going on.  It sounds very good, just not the equal of my Mac server setup with PM.....so far. 

[ted_b]

After a listening session last night with a buddy, Rob (questfortone), I am not ready to call the Alix king yet, but will admit that it is either breaking in nicely or just that the last few nights have been much better sonically.  It has lost most of its slight digititis, is incredibly clean and distortion free, and just has a non-fatiguing nature about it.  All this with a $17 Parts Express ps.  And I think my Concert Fidelity pre might be open to a little tube rolling to flavor the Alix slightly toward the sound I'm looking for. 

BTW, Antelope tech support in Europe claims plughw:1,0 is the right setting, but it clearly is not for the zodiac plus (no sound; MPD shows card 0, device 0).  I have it set for hw:0,0 and all is fine.  I ping'd them back.