Audio server for multiple simultaneous streams

[fashionbye]

Hi,
I intend to setup my Raspi PI 2 in that way, that it can play 4 simultaneous webstreams within the LAN. I plan to have four active house radio channels:
1) Webradio-Relay of my favorite web radio station (Antenne Bayern Chillout).
2) MP3-Playlist with selected Pink Floyd sings playing endless in repeat mode.
3) Live input from a Vigo SpeedLink (mono) playing the TV audio center box.
4) Airplay receiver to be able to http-stream airplay to every webradio in the house
In all rooms I have small radio controlled webradio modules (http://www.elv.de/elv-fs20-internet-rad ... usatz.html, starts in less than 3 seconds on LAN streams) with a smart remote control.
I could save the four "in house channels" as station keys on the remote control for every room.
Solutions, I found:
1) I found nothing for direct relaying without reencoding. IceCast relaying need to be IceCast or ShoutCast server. Works with reencoding with MPD & Icecast or MPD with httpd ouput. Tested and was ok.
2) Works with MPD & Icecast or MPD with httpd ouput.Tested and was ok.
3) Works with DarkIce & Icecast. Tested and was ok.
4) Shairplay. Could not manage to redirect audio output to IceCast or httpd in MPD.
1,2 and 4 tested with MusicBox PI (great solution!) and volumio. I could also accept three stream channels i.e. with MusicBox PI when AirPlay stops source 1 or 2.
Questions:
a) How can I setup the PI2 to be able to broadcast all four sources simultaneously as web radio streams into my LAN
b)How many sound cards do I need? (I do not use any direct sound output, every source will be web stream)
c) Can Shairplay send audio direct to IceCast?
d) How can I i.e. use three instances of mpd, each playing to its output (web radio stream) at the same time?
Thank you for every help/idea!!!

[FM81]

a) How can I setup the PI2 to be able to broadcast all four sources simultaneously as web radio streams into my LAN

Start several instances of MPD and hope that you have enough CPU-power if you need to trancode the streams. (It should work in every case without transcoding.)

b)How many sound cards do I need? (I do not use any direct sound output, every source will be web stream)

May be one for the mono-input?

c) Can Shairplay send audio direct to IceCast?

Didn't know, never used this?

d) How can I i.e. use three instances of mpd, each playing to its output (web radio stream) at the same time?

Yes, you can! See point a)

One question back: Do these ELV-FS20-parts play a MPD-stereo-http-stream in MP3-format correct? I'm thinking about, to buy one ...
Relevant part of my 'mpd.conf':

Code: Select all

audio_output {
type "httpd"
name "HTTP Stream from Raspberry Pi"
encoder "lame"
bitrate "128"
port "65432"
format "44100:16:2"
}

Thanks!

Greetings, FM_81

[fashionbye]

Hi FM81,
I use in total eleven of these FS20 IRB units, four at business to drive 100V-amps to play webradio in our fashion stores and seven at home.
Yes, I tested with MPD (direct, with MusicBox PI and with Volumio), in all cases mp3-streams. worked fine. IRB has only LAN port no wifi, I use TP-Link TL-WR702N WLAN Nano-Router in Wifi client mode.
IRB can ONLY play mp3 streams. With the radio remote control you can place it hidden, also 3 rooms apart. starts quik in 3 seconds, but only 2-3 seconds buffer, must be good a web connection!
The remote control has station keys, mich easier to handle than a phone app... . The built in amp 2x1 watts is plenty enough for good speakers. i use velcro to fix the remote control to a blind cover besides the light switch in every room, so it is always there... . No need for an extra hole, just a frame extension. The unit is 5 volts powered by: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/5126 ... archDetail.

How can I run several instances of MPD???

[fashionbye]

With the line out jack of the IRB, I drive amps in some cases, such as http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0036D3 ... detailpage.
Of course the power will not be reached, but very good to change old speakers into active speakers with built in wifi-webradio and just a power plug.

[FM81]

How can I run several instances of MPD???

Several ways should work, the easiest: put in '/etc/rc.local' before the "exit"-statement:

Code: Select all

/usr/bin/mpd /opt/path/to/alternate.conf
/usr/bin/mpd /opt/path/to/another.conf

The alternate-configs should refer to different ports, different playlist-paths, different state-files, databases and so on. But it should be possible to use same source-files (but you must not).

Of course you can go a "more comfortable way" by creating own INIT-scripts ...

MfG, FM_81

[fashionbye]

@FM81:
Ok, I will try multiole instances and give you a feed back.

How can I control and start multiple instances, I guess not with the usual mpd commands? I googled some poorly documented things like MMPD or Ampache. Hoping to find a way through.... .

[Josvds]

Can you tell me if this did work for you and how you make it work?