RPi + Hifiberry as a music server

[Ranho]

Hi everyone, I have a few questions for you about a project.

First I would like to point out that I am a noob in raspberry, but have experience assembling computers and I am used to linux and command lines. Never solder anything nor own something to solder, but I don't see it as a challenge. I'll try to divide what I want to accomplish with my project in points, so if you have a opinion on something and don't really know about other things just "reply" to that section.

1) I would like to use the raspberry pi b+ + hifiberry digi component to use as a music server in two ways:

a) Connected directly by optical cable to my amp (marantz PM6005) and use the amplifier DAC.

b) Use it as a server to play music in a Sonos airplay device

2) I would like to use a usb hub to power the RPi and the harddrive with my music library, and with this having just a power adapter, options for the hub (http://elinux.org/RPi_Powered_USB_Hubs):

a) Belkin 4 Port Ultra Slim Series Hub (Powers the pi quite well, 4.85V across TP1&2 during idle and load. The PSU for the hub is a 2.5A 5v made in china. Seems solid. Does backfeed the mini USB port)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0061RSACG/r ... 9NU2&psc=1

b) D-Link DUB-H4/B USB 2.0 4-Port Hub
(Charging port doesn't power Raspberry Pi) What does this mean? It says verified that it works

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00006B7DA/r ... 4CZ59QNNPF

c )D-Link DUB-H7 7 - Port USB 2.0 Hub External
(Power USB slots can be used to power Raspberry Pi) Does this mean only the ones for charging should

be used?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0002AFZVM/r ... 83AF1KRMMO

3) I would like to connect by wifi and for that I have a D-link DWA-127 http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/home-solutio ... sb-adapter

In here (http://elinux.org/RPi_USB_Wi-Fi_Adapters) it does state if it works or not, if someone knows if it will work I would appreciate.

4) I would like a shutdown button and was thinking on this one

(http://www.mausberrycircuits.com/produc ... own-switch) the problem is that it uses the same connection (don't know if the same pins) as the hifiberry, is there any solution for this? How can I have both things?

5) I would like a monitor, as the only one I own is actually a tv, and so it's not nice for programming and such, I was thinking in this

a) http://www.adafruit.com/products/2232 but it's currently unavailable, is there other alternatives? Using the HDMI?

b) if it is easy I could live with something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-3-TFT-LCD-C ... 19e9bb2ca2

6) The software the pros and cons for this project for:

a) Volumio
b) mopidy
c) runeaudio

7) A suggestion for project box is appreciated

Thank you for your time!

[FM81]

1) I would like to use the raspberry pi b+ + hifiberry digi component to use as a music server in two ways:

a) Connected directly by optical cable to my amp (marantz PM6005) and use the amplifier DAC.

b) Use it as a server to play music in a Sonos airplay device

a) This should work!
b) No idea how Sonos works, but the distributions of your point 6 includes MPD as far as I know, and MPD allows different kinds of music-data-streams.

2) I would like to use a usb hub to power the RPi and the harddrive with my music library, and with this having just a power adapter, options for the hub (http://elinux.org/RPi_Powered_USB_Hubs):

a) Belkin 4 Port Ultra Slim Series Hub (Powers the pi quite well, 4.85V across TP1&2 during idle and load. The PSU for the hub is a 2.5A 5v made in china. Seems solid. Does backfeed the mini USB port)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0061RSACG/r ... 9NU2&psc=1

b) D-Link DUB-H4/B USB 2.0 4-Port Hub
(Charging port doesn't power Raspberry Pi) What does this mean? It says verified that it works

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00006B7DA/r ... 4CZ59QNNPF

c )D-Link DUB-H7 7 - Port USB 2.0 Hub External
(Power USB slots can be used to power Raspberry Pi) Does this mean only the ones for charging should

be used?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0002AFZVM/r ... 83AF1KRMMO

I'm a little bit critical about things written at such pages in general. But many people use hubs ... And if your harddisk doesn't have a separate power-connector, then a hub is a MUST in very most cases.

4) I would like a shutdown button and was thinking on this one

(http://www.mausberrycircuits.com/produc ... own-switch) the problem is that it uses the same connection (don't know if the same pins) as the hifiberry, is there any solution for this? How can I have both things?

You can use both devices on GPIO-pins, they use different.
But be aware, the mouseberry uses a script to poll the GPIO (at least in earlier versions); this can create much CPU-load. Better idea is, to use python or some C-compiled binary instead.

6) The software the pros and cons for this project for:

a) Volumio
b) mopidy
c) runeaudio

a) and c) I've tested by myself; both include a nice graphical interface and many, many functions (useful for one, may be useless for the next). This can make reactions sometimes a little bit slow ...

Greetings, FM_81

[Ranho]

Thank you for your thoughts FM_81.

A very stupid question, but can you shutdown the system with volumio or runeaudio?


I'm thinking of leaving the idea of a HDMI monitor altogether but instead having a LCD screen that shows what's playing. I already saw a few projects with this, but none explained how to add the LCD and the hifiberry at the same time, like using cables, or de-soldering... if there is some video or tutorial even if for something unrelated I would like to see it, if someone can forward me to it, I would appreciate.

The sonos uses the network to reach local disks, or something similar written with the proper technical words, so I would just want that volumio or runeaudio integrate the network and leave the folders with music to be reach by sonos. Is it possible?

Cheers

[Ranho]

Should I just do something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXElSSsFNcM

In the hifiberry site they don't sell the DIGI without the soldering, just the DAC, because they say is more delicate or something.

[FM81]

A very stupid question, but can you shutdown the system with volumio or runeaudio?

Yes, there is a software-button in the graphical userinterface. But means also that you'll need a second computer (or smartphone or what ever) to perform this.
Of course, for a real hardware-shutdown-solution (like mouseberry, as said before) no other things are required.

MfG, FM_81

[Ranho]

Thank you, that's reassuring!

I was checking and the Digi+ has GPIO holes on the board http://www.kiwi-electronics.eu/image/ca ... 00x533.jpg if I use these wires http://www.adafruit.com/products/759 can I connect the Digi+ and a LCD? Or do I need GPIO headers solder first and then connect female cables to it?

[FM81]

Or do I need GPIO headers solder first and then connect female cables to it?

There is no need in general to do so, the correct electrical connection is the important part, no matter which way you prefer.
But it seems a better (and cleaner) solution to make it in this way. (I would sold an male header on the inner pins of the hifiberry-board, but feel free to do what ever you want!)

MfG, FM_81

[Ranho]

This is almost a dialog, but from what I can see, and really don't understand because I already saw projects with the hifiberry and a lcd, is that both interfaces use GPIO18... is it possible to share it?

[FM81]

I think, it is not possible to share it? But may be someone knows ...

I assume those hifiberrys use all the I2S-bus? I know this only about the 1st model with analog audio out. I use this also with the old raspberry, which has a separate connector P5 for I2S-bus, so no conflicts here.
I2S-pins on the new raspberry+ models seems to be different, but there are also enough free GPIOs for a shudown-button; you need two for the mouseberry, a for a selfmade shutdown-button-solution may be one is enough.

MfG, FM_81

[Ranho]

For what I am seeing the only way could be changing the GPIO18 of the LCD, is it possible? I can't find the answer.

Then there's the i2c/SPI backpack... https://learn.adafruit.com/i2c-spi-lcd- ... k/overview for what I reckon I can't connect anything else to the i2c

The bad news is that you have to use the 'hardware' i2c pin. You can't change those pins and you can't use them for reading analog data. If you absolutely need those two pins, use SPI (see next section)

,
that the hifiberry uses but says it can share.

The SPI its free, but I just can't find or understand where I need to fit the other wires, or better said the GPIO that the backpack uses.

Cheers

[FM81]

May be, you are mixing something? I2S and I2C are two different kinds of a data-bus!
I2S is for sound only and can be described as "something special".
But I2C is usable for several devices like LCD, sensors, data-extenders, EEPROMs; all on the same data-lines, every device gets here its own address (coded by hardware).

Greetings, FM_81

[Ranho]

No, that is the HAT directly from hifiberry, as is the quote. Why it uses it? That I don't know.

I did find a guide that hopefully will help me: http://www.hifiberry.com/forums/topic/s ... liteslave/

This guy changed the lcd gpio configuration, so it can be done