"Realtime" audio output using RPi?

[jzpwood]

I'm working on a project that will require some system to generate low latency (0-5ms RT) audio in response to SPI inputs.

I'll want to load short sound files into RAM, then manipulate the samples before sending them out on an audio bus.

I thought this should be fairly simple using the RPi platform, but I'm yet to find a straight answer or examples of where this has been done.

I was hoping there would be a simple C++ library where I can just shove samples into a buffer at regular intervals and let the Pi and a USB audio interface do the rest, but it seems that even getting HID audio devices to work is not trivial, let alone reducing the latency to acceptable levels.

Using an SPI audio codec might be an option, but I'm not sure if the Pi would be able to meet the timing requirements, and it seems a little over-complicated since I can do this whole thing in 5 minutes on windows, albeit without the SPI input.

Thanks all.

[knute]

Java has a very simple sound API that works just fine on a Pi. As to the 0-5ms latency I don't know. I think that would be affected by the USB sound card's buffering. In any case that is a really short time, even 1 cycle of 800hz tone takes 1.25ms. What are you using the sound for?

[MikeDB]

Just use a standard I2S codec for analogue in and out. You can edit the ALSA libraries to reduce the buffer sizes to 9 (but not 8) to minimize latency, or write your own as it's a simple interface to program and then you can set the buffer size to 1

[jzpwood]

Java has a very simple sound API that works just fine on a Pi. As to the 0-5ms latency I don't know. I think that would be affected by the USB sound card's buffering. In any case that is a really short time, even 1 cycle of 800hz tone takes 1.25ms. What are you using the sound for?

I'm using it to create an electronic drum kit of sorts, so low latency is really crucial here. I know it can be done on windows, with a fast processor and low buffer size, but I'm thinking about going down an ARM Microcontroller route so I can respond in realtime without any interruptions from an OS.

Just use a standard I2S codec for analogue in and out. You can edit the ALSA libraries to reduce the buffer sizes to 9 (but not 8) to minimize latency, or write your own as it's a simple interface to program and then you can set the buffer size to 1

That sounds like a good option, do all of the Pi models include I2S as standard on the GPIO pins?

[Burngate]

... I'm thinking about going down an ARM Microcontroller route so I can respond in realtime without any interruptions from an OS.

You do know that a Pi isn't a Microcontroller - it's a fully-fledged computer, running an operating system (usually Raspbian, but there are others - RISCOS is closer to what you want, but you could write your own)