Verhalenmachine (Story Machine)

Verhalenmachine (Story Machine) is a RaspberryPi based audio player/ recorder/ Soundcloud uploader.

The player part is implemented on top of Volumio. It controls Volumio via MPD and presumes a custom enclosure outfitted with:

• 2 buttons: For play & stop and next.
• a volume slider: For volume control :) (controlled via Davids work)
• a VU meter: For display of output volume (controlled via Davids work)
• ...

The recorder part is implemented by:

• 1 button: For record & stop.
• a VU meter: For display of input volume (controlled via )
• ...

The Soundcloud uploader uploads

Setup

1. Install Volumio on an SD card

https://volumio.org/get-started

2. Boot it and setup Volumio

Plugin network cable and electricity and startup the device. Connect to http://volumio.local/.

• Change Player Name to Verhalenmachine http://volumio.local/plugin/system_controller-system

• Set audio output to Audio Jack http://volumio.local/plugin/audio_interface-alsa_controller

• Turn off volume control in Volumio http://volumio.local/plugin/system_controller-network

We use our own hardware for it and it improves audio quality. https://volumio.github.io/docs/User_Manual/Volume_Control_and_audio_quality.html

• Change Hotspot Name & Password http://volumio.local/plugin/system_controller-network

• Enable SSH access

https://volumio.github.io/docs/User_Manual/SSH.html

3. Connect with SSH and checkout this script

ssh [email protected]

git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
git config --global user.name "Your Name"

cd /home/volumio/
git clone https://github.com/erwinelling/verhalenmachine.git

To update:

cd /home/volumio/verhalenmachine
git pull

4. Install (Python) dependencies

Install GPIO stuff

sudo apt-get install rpi.gpio

Install python development headers

sudo apt-get install python-dev

Install pip

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install python-pip

Install Soundcloud, psutil, socketIO and MPD2

sudo pip install soundcloud psutil socketIO-client-2 python-mpd2

Install Remot3.it

For remote SSH/ web access setup Remot3.it

https://remot3it.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115006015367-Installing-the-remot3-it-weavedconnectd-daemon-on-your-Raspberry-Pi

sudo apt-get install weavedconnectd
sudo weavedinstaller

Add services

As per http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2015/10/how-to-autorun-a-python-script-on-boot-using-systemd/ and Give it the right permissions and enable our unit file as service

sudo chmod 644 /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/verhalenmachine.service
sudo systemctl enable /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/verhalenmachine.service

To control or check the service manually:

sudo systemctl start verhalenmachine
sudo systemctl stop verhalenmachine
sudo systemctl restart verhalenmachine
sudo systemctl status verhalenmachine

Add cronjobs

chmod a+x /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_upload.py
chmod a+x /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_recordcheck.py
sudo crontab -e
sudo chown root: cron_*.log

Make sure to use crontab and not sudo, so the cronjob will run for user pi.

Add:

*/15 * * * * /usr/bin/python /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_upload.py > /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_upload.log
*/15 * * * * /usr/bin/python /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_recordcheck.py > /home/volumio/verhalenmachine/cron_recordcheck.log

When connecting to new network

https://volumio.github.io/docs/User_Manual/Quick_Start_Guide

Turn it on

Wait for startup

Connect to Wifi Network Verhalenmachine with password verhalenmachine

Setup Wifi connection http://192.168.211.1/plugin/system_controller-network

It should now be reachable at http://verhalenmachine.local/

Convenient for testing

cd tail -f ~/verhalenmachine/verhalenmachine.log

Make VU meter for player work:

Add this to /etc/mpd.conf

audio_output { type "fifo" name "my_fifo" path "/tmp/mpd.fifo" format "44100:16:2" }