I successfully installed ALARM, Squeezebox, Squeezelite and SAMBA into a POGO-E02 using grayman4hire's excellent guide. I'm a newbie in Linux but the guide got me a working archlinux server the first time I tried setting one! Thanks grayman4hire!
Using my newly found experience (and joy) on setting up archlinux, and since I want to improve the sound coming from the Logitech Z323 speakers I connected to this squeezelite player, I immediately searched the wiki how to add a software equalizer to the system. The Z323 speakers provides good sound quality however the bass muddies the highs and no controls for treble is provided so I thought only an equalizer can resolve my issue.
ALSAEqual Installation Woes
After searching the net on how to install alsaequal, I was finally able to compile, build and install this package. Even the caps plug-in is a pain to build and install but I managed to get it built and installed and I could say it's worth the trouble.
For my benefit, in case I need to reinstall alsaequal and caps once again, and to benefit those who are also struggling in getting the same installed, I prepared the guide below:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
# Building and installing ALSAEqual and CAPS
# download alsaequal 0.6-9 from AUR
mkdir -p /media/usb/share/build
cd /media/usb/share/build
mkdir -p alsaequal
wget https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/al/alsaequal/alsaequal.tar.gz
tar -xzf alsaequal.tar.gz
cd alsaequal
# Edit the PKGBUILD file for ARM build:
# Replace line arch=(i686 x86_64) with arch=('arm')
nano PKGBUILD
# if not installed yet in your system, get necessary build tools for building alsaequal
pacman -S binutils ladspa patch make gcc python
# compile and build alsaequal
makepkg --asroot
# install freshly built alsaequal :)
pacman -U alsaequal-0.6-9-arm.pkg.tar.xz
# edit alsa config file to use the equalizer
nano /etc/asound.conf
# before we can use alsaequal, we need to install CAPS (C Audio Plugin Suite)
mkdir -p /media/usb/share/build/caps
cd /media/usb/share/build/caps
# Either build the caps package yourself
# or download the package I just compiled
# wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/xpw1xq9ugzjyiyj/caps-0.4.5-1-arm.pkg.tar.xz
# Below are the steps for building the caps package yourself
#
# download the PKGBUILD file (revised for ARM/pogoplug)
# Note: This is for caps v0.4.5. I can't compile v0.9.10 due to missing xxmintrin.h
wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/8vc4va8y8g0ocp2/PKGBUILD
# build caps! - this will take a while
makepkg --asroot
# install freshly built caps package :)
pacman -U caps-0.4.5-1-arm.pkg.tar.xz
# check if alsaequal is successfully installed
# If you see the equalizer window, congratulations and you can now configure your equalizer!
alsamixer -D equal
# Test out some mp3's using the equalizer.
# Open another putty window and play an mp3 file using alsaequal as output device
# Try changing the equalizer settings on the other putty window
mpg123 -a equal some-music.mp3
')
Alsaequal does make a huge difference in sound quality!
I can now hear the midranges and highs while having just enough amount of bass. I can already imagine, changing the equalizer settings depending on my mood and type of music I want to listen to.
For those wanting to find out the best alsaequal settings, you may refer to this guide that talks about equalizer basics.
Squeezelite, avahi and alsaequal conflicts
Now, this is the tricky part. While I was able to use the equalizer using mpg123 and squeezelite in the command line, e.g., squeezelite -o equal, I can't get squeezelite use alsaequal when started as a service.
Below is my squeezelite.service file:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[Unit]
Description=Squeezelite lightweight headless squeezebox emulator
After=sound.target
Requires=avahi-daemon.service
After=network.target
After=avahi-daemon.service
[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/squeezelite -n SqzLite1 -m 00:00:00:00:00:00 -o equal
Restart=always
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target')
This is the result of systemctl command:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '[root@alarm ~]# systemctl
UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB JOB DESCRIPTION
.
.
.
avahi-daemon.service loaded activating start start Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack
.
.
.
.
squeezelite.service loaded inactive dead start Squeezelite lightweight headless
.
.
.
.
')
But if I remove the -o equal in the Squeezelite service file, I can get squeezelite to run as service but I don't get the sound routed to the equalizer.
Anyone else having the same issue? Appreciate any help on this.
