Upcoming moOde 8.3.0 release (Q1 2023)

[Tim Curtis]

Hi,

Here are WIP release notes for upcoming moOde 8.3.0 feature release (Q1 2023). 

In addition to bug fixes and improvements the 8.3.0 release will include some nice new features as described below. More new features may be included time permitting :-)

- An option to configure MPD to use the 64-bit CamillaDSP volume control including volume specific DSP for example a Loudness curve to enhance low level listening.
- In-place update progress is available via a Status screen in the UI. No need to drop into SSH anymore
- Hardware volume updated using ALSA instead of MPD to avoid the 0-volume and one-channel-only issues that have been reported.

Code:

################################################################################
#
# 2023-MM-DD TC moOde 8.3.0
#
################################################################################

New Features

- NEW: Option to use CamillaDSP software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness and Volume control configurations
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to update Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Format of auto_coverview value in System info
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option to print ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info

[Tim Curtis]

Here's the latest WIP release notes.

A bump to bluez-alsa has been added compliments of @bitlab :-)

Code:

New Features

- NEW: Option to use CamillaDSP software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness and Volume control configurations
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to update Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Bump to bluez-alsa 4.0.0
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Format of auto_coverview value in System info
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option to print ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info

[Tim Curtis]

Here's the latest WIP release notes.

I also noticed that the Raspberry Pi Linux kernel has bumped to 6.x.x :-)

   

Code:

################################################################################
#
# 2023-MM-DD TC moOde 8.3.0
#
################################################################################

New Features

- NEW: Volume type "CamillaDSP" software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness and Volume Control configurations
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to update Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen

Audio devices

- NEW: ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 (I2S)

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Bump to bluez-alsa 4.0.0
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option to print ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal
- UPD: Improve help text and labels in CamillaDSP Config
- UPD: Improve Airplay protocol option
- UPD: Add CamillaDSP volume support to Airplay and Spotify Connect
- UPD: Add Playback item to main menu in Configs
- UPD: Add ALSA buffer_time option to MPD Config

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info
- FIX: Default thumb image not showing in Queue for UPnP files
- FIX: Format of auto_coverview value in System info

[Tim Curtis]

Here's latest WIP release notes.

The main changes are:

1. MPD Volume type is now automatically set when switching Camilla configs. This means that if a config has a volume filter MPD will be set to use the CamillaDSP volume control.
2. Polarity Inversion configs (one with a volume filter and one without) have been added to CamillaDSP
3. During first startup the SSID and PSK from Pi Imager (or other) generated wpa_supplicant.conf file will be imported into moOde network config. The PSK will be used for both WiFi and Access Point mode. The import occurs before System Restore (if any) or processing a manually added /boot/moodecfg.ini.

We are also thinking of doing an official pre-release to shake out any major bugs. It would require an investment in your time to do some testing and report bugs and an understanding that there would be no upgrade from pre-release to release.

If anyone is interested in this let me know in this thread.

Code:

################################################################################
#
# 2023-MM-DD TC moOde 8.3.0
#
################################################################################

New Features

- NEW: Volume type "CamillaDSP" software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness, Volume Control and Polarity Inversion configs
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to control Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen instead of SSH

Audio devices

- NEW: ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 (I2S)

Security (new image only)

- UPD: Userid Pi, SSH and WiFi Access Point password not included by default
      They can easily be created using the official Raspberry Pi Imager

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Bump to bluez-alsa 4.0.0
- UPD: Add CamillaDSP volume support to Airplay and Spotify Connect
- UPD: Add ALSA buffer_time option to MPD Config
- UPD: Add WPA3-Personal Transition Mode to Network Config
- UPD: Add Home button to configs header (returns to Playback view)
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option to print ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal
- UPD: Improve help text and labels in CamillaDSP Config
- UPD: Improve viewswitch tabs in configs
- UPD: Improve Airplay protocol option
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Move Metadata file option to MPD section of Audio Config

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info
- FIX: Default thumb image not showing in Queue for UPnP files
- FIX: Format of auto_coverview value in System info

[Tim Curtis]

Here are the draft release notes for upcoming 8.3.0 release. The first ~pre image is being tested and is looking great :-) 

The changes since last post include: 

- UPD: Improve WiFi section in startup (faster AP mode activation)
- UPD: Update Chip Options help for Piano 2.1 DAC Stereo mode
- FIX: Error not logged when source mount fails
- FIX: Wrong PSK used in saved SSID's

There is also an updated Security section in the Setup Guide. Please read it carefully to understand whats required to setup the pi userid and password, WiFi SSID and password and Access Point password.

SECURITY

The ISO image does not contain the userid pi, SSH service, WiFi SSID or Access
Point password.

- The pi userid/password and WiFi SSID/password can can be created using the
  official Raspberry Pi Imager. Refer to the link below for information on
  operating system security and how to use the Raspberry Pi Imager.
  https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspber...pril-2022/

- The Access Point password can be entered via the WebUI, Network Config screen
  after the system starts or via an edited /boot/moodecfg.ini file. The file is
  described in this document in the CUSTOM CONFIGURATION section.

To access the operating system command console use Secure Shell (SSH). An easy
to use WebSSH terminal is available in System Config.

Release notes

Code:

################################################################################
#
# 2023-MM-DD TC moOde 8.3.0
#
################################################################################

New Features

- NEW: Volume type "CamillaDSP" software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness, Volume Control and Polarity Inversion configs
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to control Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen instead of SSH

Audio devices

- NEW: ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 (I2S)

Security (new image only)

- UPD: The ISO image does not contain the userid pi, SSH service, WiFi SSID or
       Access Point password. Refer to the moOde Setup guide for details on
       how to set these up.

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Bump to bluez-alsa 4.0.0
- UPD: Add CamillaDSP volume support to Airplay and Spotify Connect
- UPD: Add ALSA buffer_time option to MPD Config
- UPD: Add WPA3-Personal Transition Mode to Network Config
- UPD: Add Home button to configs header (returns to Playback view)
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option for printing ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Add System Config option for downloading the Startup log
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal
- UPD: Improve help text and labels in CamillaDSP Config
- UPD: Improve viewswitch tabs in configs (use icons for mobile)
- UPD: Improve Airplay protocol option
- UPD: Improve WiFi section in startup (faster AP mode activation)
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Move Metadata file option to MPD section of Audio Config
- UPD: Update Chip Options help for Piano 2.1 DAC Stereo mode
- UPD: Sort the output from the Wifi SCAN
- UPD: Setup guide to reflect new security information

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info
- FIX: Default thumb image not showing in Queue for UPnP files
- FIX: Format of auto_coverview value in System info
- FIX: Error not logged when source mount fails
- FIX: Wrong PSK used in saved SSID's

[the_bertrum]

Here are the draft release notes for upcoming 8.3.0 release. The first ~pre image is being tested and is looking great :-) 

The changes since last post include: 

- UPD: Improve WiFi section in startup (faster AP mode activation)
- UPD: Update Chip Options help for Piano 2.1 DAC Stereo mode
- FIX: Error not logged when source mount fails
- FIX: Wrong PSK used in saved SSID's

There is also an updated Security section in the Setup Guide. Please read it carefully to understand whats required to setup the pi userid and password, WiFi SSID and password and Access Point password.

SECURITY

The ISO image does not contain the userid pi, SSH service, WiFi SSID or Access
Point password.

- The pi userid/password and WiFi SSID/password can can be created using the
  official Raspberry Pi Imager. Refer to the link below for information on
  operating system security and how to use the Raspberry Pi Imager.
  https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspber...pril-2022/

- The Access Point password can be entered via the WebUI, Network Config screen
  after the system starts or via an edited /boot/moodecfg.ini file. The file is
  described in this document in the CUSTOM CONFIGURATION section.

To access the operating system command console use Secure Shell (SSH). An easy
to use WebSSH terminal is available in System Config.

Release notes

Code:

################################################################################
#
# 2023-MM-DD TC moOde 8.3.0
#
################################################################################

New Features

- NEW: Volume type "CamillaDSP" software volume (64-bit with dither)
- NEW: CamillaDSP Loudness, Volume Control and Polarity Inversion configs
- NEW: Use ALSA instead of MPD to control Hardware volume
- NEW: Monitor in-place update via WebUI Status screen instead of SSH

Audio devices

- NEW: ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 (I2S)

Security (new image only)

- UPD: The ISO image does not contain the userid pi, SSH service, WiFi SSID or
       Access Point password. Refer to the moOde Setup guide for details on
       how to set these up.

Updates

- UPD: Bump to MPD 0.23.12
- UPD: Bump to bluez-alsa 4.0.0
- UPD: Add CamillaDSP volume support to Airplay and Spotify Connect
- UPD: Add ALSA buffer_time option to MPD Config
- UPD: Add WPA3-Personal Transition Mode to Network Config
- UPD: Add Home button to configs header (returns to Playback view)
- UPD: Add quick jump indexes back to Pi Touch
- UPD: Add AlbumArtist to ashuffle mode to handle same name albums
- UPD: Add moodeutl option for printing ALSA hwparams
- UPD: Add System Config option for downloading the Startup log
- UPD: Improve readability of Receivers modal
- UPD: Improve help text and labels in CamillaDSP Config
- UPD: Improve viewswitch tabs in configs (use icons for mobile)
- UPD: Improve Airplay protocol option
- UPD: Improve WiFi section in startup (faster AP mode activation)
- UPD: Sync CoverView auto and toggle during startup
- UPD: Move Metadata file option to MPD section of Audio Config
- UPD: Update Chip Options help for Piano 2.1 DAC Stereo mode
- UPD: Sort the output from the Wifi SCAN
- UPD: Setup guide to reflect new security information

Bug fixes

- FIX: Session ID missing in moodeutl -i (autocfg-import.php)
- FIX: Mapped ALSA volume not being used to set ALSA volume max
- FIX: Allo Piano 2.1 mixer name "Digital" no longer used by driver
- FIX: Audioinfo does not report renderer info
- FIX: Default thumb image not showing in Queue for UPnP files
- FIX: Format of auto_coverview value in System info
- FIX: Error not logged when source mount fails
- FIX: Wrong PSK used in saved SSID's

If I'm reading the page from raspberrypi.com correctly, then new installations will either have to be done with the Raspberry Pi imager, or have a correctly configured ini file on the SD card in order to create the initial user.  Have I understood that correctly?
Also, what happens in in-place upgrades, I assume the default pi user remains?  If so will the user renaming process work?

[Tim Curtis]

If I'm reading the page from raspberrypi.com correctly, then new installations will either have to be done with the Raspberry Pi imager, or have a correctly configured ini file on the SD card in order to create the initial user.  Have I understood that correctly?
Also, what happens in in-place upgrades, I assume the default pi user remains?  If so will the user renaming process work?

Systems that are in-place upgraded are left as-is with respect to security. You could consider this to be a legacy security configuration although some users as a matter of practice do change the old default passwords. Note that the userid pi should not be renamed because there are still a few hard coded "/home/pi" paths left in the code. A future release will address this :-)

New images don't contain a default userid and the moodecfg.ini process doesn't create one so either the Raspberry Pi Imager needs to be used to create the user pi (easiest) or a userconf.txt file has to be created in /boot as per the raspberrypi.org link referenced in my earlier post.

Easiest process for new images:

Use Raspberry Pi Imager
1. Enable SSH
2. Specify userid pi and password
3. Specify WiFi SSID and password
4. Write the image

After the image is written:

Option 1: Boot up (Ethernet or WiFi) and then use Menu, Configure, System, Restore to apply settings etc from a previous backup. Also use Network Config screen to set the Access Point password.

Option 2: Before first boot place a moodecfg.ini file in the /boot directory to have preferences and configuration settings including WiFi and Access Point passwords (or PSK's) automatically applied when the system first starts up.

[the_bertrum]

Thanks for the explanation Tim, all very clear now.

Out of interest how is this fact:

Note that the userid pi should not be renamed because there are still a few hard coded "/home/pi" paths left in the code. A future release will address this :-)

dealt with on new systems where the default user is specified? Is there still a /home/pi created even without a pi user?

[Nutul]

Thanks for the explanation Tim, all very clear now.

Out of interest how is this fact:

Note that the userid pi should not be renamed because there are still a few hard coded "/home/pi" paths left in the code. A future release will address this :-)

dealt with on new systems where the default user is specified?  Is there still a /home/pi created even without a pi user?

This is the main issue: since there are hardcoded references to /home/pi, and from now on such user is not automatically created, it should be specified so with the installer, otherwise such folder won't be found... until we eventually remove all such entries, and replace them with "~/".
At least this is how I understand it...

[Tim Curtis]

Thanks for the explanation Tim, all very clear now.

Out of interest how is this fact:

Note that the userid pi should not be renamed because there are still a few hard coded "/home/pi" paths left in the code. A future release will address this :-)

dealt with on new systems where the default user is specified?  Is there still a /home/pi created even without a pi user?

Yes the directory /home/pi is present on the ISO image.

Code:

pi@sig:~ $ ls -l /media/rootfs/home/pi
total 4
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1389 Mar  5 10:01 piano.sh
pi@sig:~ $ 

In the Pi Imager if SSH is not selected a userid and password are not required. This is not a recommended configuration because SSH is almost always needed for troubleshooting issues but moOde should still work without the userid pi being present.

ETA (Edit To Add)
 
I suppose that my statement below is not really correct because IIRC if something other than "pi" is chosen as the userid the Imager will alias the new id to the pi id (I think).

Code:

[b]Note[/b] that the userid pi should not be renamed because there are still a few hard coded "/home/pi" paths left in the code. A future release will address this :-)

The Imager creates this file /boot/firstrun.sh

Code:

#!/bin/bash

set +e

FIRSTUSER=`getent passwd 1000 | cut -d: -f1`
FIRSTUSERHOME=`getent passwd 1000 | cut -d: -f6`
if [ -f /usr/lib/raspberrypi-sys-mods/imager_custom ]; then
  /usr/lib/raspberrypi-sys-mods/imager_custom enable_ssh
else
  systemctl enable ssh
fi
if [ -f /usr/lib/userconf-pi/userconf ]; then
  /usr/lib/userconf-pi/userconf 'pi' '$5$L9QXMdEni1$rrm8vu353U0MGXtv7bfIcYsBYaEKnDGTPuK5i8u8N94'
else
  echo "$FIRSTUSER:"'$5$L9QXMdEni1$rrm8vu353U0MGXtv7bfIcYsBYaEKnDGTPuK5i8u8N94' | chpasswd -e
  if [ "$FIRSTUSER" != "pi" ]; then
     usermod -l "pi" "$FIRSTUSER"
     usermod -m -d "/home/pi" "pi"
     groupmod -n "pi" "$FIRSTUSER"
     if grep -q "^autologin-user=" /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf ; then
        sed /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf -i -e "s/^autologin-user=.*/autologin-user=pi/"
     fi
     if [ -f /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d/autologin.conf ]; then
        sed /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d/autologin.conf -i -e "s/$FIRSTUSER/pi/"
     fi
     if [ -f /etc/sudoers.d/010_pi-nopasswd ]; then
        sed -i "s/^$FIRSTUSER /pi /" /etc/sudoers.d/010_pi-nopasswd
     fi
  fi
fi
if [ -f /usr/lib/raspberrypi-sys-mods/imager_custom ]; then
  /usr/lib/raspberrypi-sys-mods/imager_custom set_wlan 'AirnetN5' '4c5d8834c963a31e5c3e7412de1481378ba3fcaf5a00c1b7cbae334269d75d73' 'GB'
else
cat >/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf <<'WPAEOF'
country=GB
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
ap_scan=1

update_config=1
network={
    ssid="AirnetN5"
    psk=4c5d8834c963a31e5c3e7412de1481378ba3fcaf5a00c1b7cbae334269d75d73
}

WPAEOF
  chmod 600 /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
  rfkill unblock wifi
  for filename in /var/lib/systemd/rfkill/*:wlan ; do
      echo 0 > $filename
  done
fi
rm -f /boot/firstrun.sh
sed -i 's| systemd.run.*||g' /boot/cmdline.txt
exit 0