[split] moOde 8.3.0 and CamillaDSP Volume

[jonners]

Thanks Tim. I've been using it on Fixed, but switching to Variable Volume makes no fundamental difference.

[ycdtosa]

Good to see progress!
My system upgraded from 8.2.5 too (and many version before).

About the Hardware/Software volume control, I am using a Geshelli J2 DAC (no volume control, USB), which reports this:

Code:

pi@moode:~ $ sudo moodeutl -d | grep amixname
amixname|PCM
pi@moode:~ $ 
pi@moode:~ $ amixer -c2 scontrols
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
pi@moode:~ $ 
pi@moode:~ $ amixer -c2 
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 32767
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 32767 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 32767 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 32767
  Mono: Playback 27646 [84%] [-20.01dB] [on]
pi@moode:~ $

[jonners]

@ycdtosa : Very cool-looking DAC, and available in different flavours depending on the chip! Hope it sounds as good as it looks.

[Tim Curtis]

Good to see progress!
My system upgraded from 8.2.5 too (and many version before).

About the Hardware/Software volume control, I am using a Geshelli J2 DAC (no volume control, USB), which reports this:

Code:

pi@moode:~ $ sudo moodeutl -d | grep amixname
amixname|PCM
pi@moode:~ $ 
pi@moode:~ $ amixer -c2 scontrols
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
pi@moode:~ $ 
pi@moode:~ $ amixer -c2 
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 32767
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 32767 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 32767 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 32767
  Mono: Playback 27646 [84%] [-20.01dB] [on]
pi@moode:~ $

Can you adjust the volume of this DAC in alsamixer?

[ycdtosa]

Sorry I am not 100% sure what you mean with alsamixer.
If I change the Max volume in the ALSA options from 100% to 50% it has no effect (Volume type at Software).

[Tim Curtis]

Sorry I am not 100% sure what you mean with alsamixer.
If I change the Max volume in the ALSA options from 100% to 50% it has no effect (Volume type at Software).

Open the SSH terminal in System Config, login with userid = pi and the password you setup from the Pi Imager and type in the command below

Code:

alsamixer -c2

[ycdtosa]

Thank you Tim; the alsamixer does not change the volume.
The Geshelli J2 DAC is using a Amanero USB Module, from moodeutl:

Code:

20230318 145004 worker: --
20230318 145004 worker: -- Audio debug
20230318 145004 worker: --
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA cards: (0:b1 | 1:Headphones | 2:Amanero | 3:empty
20230318 145004 worker: MPD config: (2:Combo384 Amanero | mixer:(PCM) | card:2)
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA mixer actual (PCM)
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA PCM volume set to (0%)
20230318 145004 worker: --

[ycdtosa]

@ycdtosa  : Very cool-looking DAC, and available in different flavours depending on the chip! Hope it sounds as good as it looks.

Yes very happy with it, I have the one with the AK4493.

[Tim Curtis]

Thank you Tim; the alsamixer does not change the volume.
The Geshelli J2 DAC is using a Amanero USB Module, from moodeutl:

Code:

20230318 145004 worker: --
20230318 145004 worker: -- Audio debug
20230318 145004 worker: --
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA cards: (0:b1 | 1:Headphones | 2:Amanero | 3:empty
20230318 145004 worker: MPD config: (2:Combo384 Amanero | mixer:(PCM) | card:2)
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA mixer actual (PCM)
20230318 145004 worker: ALSA PCM volume set to (0%)
20230318 145004 worker: --

Thats very odd that the DAC reports having a Hardware mixer but it can't be adjusted by ALSA :-0

That will cause some amount of breakage in moOde because moOde will think the DAC has an operational Hardware volume controller. Things like CamillaDSP volume switching, Renderer 0dB setting and so on won't work correctly.

I'd really like to understand why these two DAC's have this behavior where alsamixer can't control their Hardware volumes.

Geshelli J2 DAC
IFi Audio Zen DAC V2

-Tim

[Tim Curtis]

@bitlab suggested that the DAC's might be reporting an invalid USB mixer profile to ALSA.

@jonners and @ycdtosa, run the command below and then post/attach the log file. It may contain some info about whats going on and possibly lead to a method for detection so moOde will not flag these or other similar DAC's as having Hardware volume.

It might print a couple odd messages but they are harmless

Code:

alsa-info --stdout > /tmp/alsa.log

cat /tmp/alsa.log

Either copy/paste into a code box in the post or upload it as an attachment.