Volumio Multiroom: some questions

[Ma_junior]

Volumio Information

Volumio Version: V2.917
Hardware: Raspberry Pi3
DAC: NO

Hello

I have a question: I wanted to create a multiroom system using Volumio and Snapcast Plugin.

I thought I was doing something like this:

• 1 raspberry 3 as a server and place it on the data rack (connected to Lan) and connected to the NAS to read the Playlists
• 3 raspberry zero W with DAC on the various rooms
• possibility to listen to everything even from the PC

I Have 3 questions:

• on Raspberry Zero W do I have to install VOlumio and activate SnapCast Client?
• how do i listen to music and web radio from my desktop pc? I tried to connect to the volumio-server but I don’t hear anything
• the raspberry “volumio server” must have the DAC? I do not think since the transmission of the songs is via LAN

[ashthespy]

Volumio 3 (currently in RC1 testing) should allow you to do (most of) this OTB with minimal fuss

@volumio

Multi-Room Synchronized Playback

Finally, we made it. With Volumio3 you will be able to play in sync ANY source to up to 6 Volumio players (Available for MyVolumio Superstar users).
You will be surprised to hear that we work on this for about 4 years, but we never got something we felt quite up to our expectations.
It took so long because we wanted to be able to synchronize playback, not only for MPD sources, but for all sources, like Bluetooth, TIDAL and so on. And we wanted it to be easy to use and with the ability to switch from single device playback to multiroom playback without interruptions.

This has been made possible by using Volumio AAMPP, by adding a processing module which selectively outputs audio to the audio card or to the network. The rest is handled by the excellent snapcast, which ensures playback is synchronized with a latency of max 0.2 ms.

[Ma_junior]

Ok, but:

• the raspberry server must have a dac?
• ok but the multiroom with volumio 2?

[ashthespy]

@Ma_junior

• the raspberry server must have a dac?
• ok but the multiroom with volumio 2?

I know I’m not being particularly helpful, but you can do it either way:

• Either run snapserver as only a server, doesn’t do any local playback and sits on your rack
• Look up the volumio-snapcast-plugin

For streaming from your PC - use UPnP/DLNA to send audio to the client on the server.

[smclpdr]

I’ve been running owntone on a Pi 4 as the server with a few Pi3 + DAC Volumio setups around the house.

On the Volumio “clients,” I just make sure that ‘Shairport-Sync’ is active (Settings > Sources > Functionalities Control) & the server sees them as available speakers (in addition to everything else configured for Airplay around the house, like our Roku, Kodi, etc.). As in your system, the server machine doesn’t output anything directly.

It works really well. Some caveats:

• The apps for controlling owntone can be a bit laggy (particularly in selecting speakers), but the web interface is pretty zippy.
• Occasionally the Volumio speakers disappear; the server sees them again if I toggle the “Shairport-Sync” setting off and back on. I need to just write a script for that, but I’ve been lazy.

Having said all that, I definitely am looking forward to trying out the syncing on Volumio3.

[Ma_junior]

Thank you

Reading the tutorial on this forum we talk about editing mpd.conf by adding

type “alsa”

name “Output”

device “hw:0,0”

dop “no”

#}

audio_output {
type “fifo”
name “my pipe”
path “/tmp/snapfifo”
format “44100:16:2”
mixer_type “software”
} [/code]

It must be done?

[tekdrumio]

Hey @Ma_junior , I don’t know If you got answers to your questions and solved your problem but if not, I’ll try to help.

You don’t need a DAC for the volumio server or any of the Pis to test the sound output.

This is my Setup:

RPI3 (with volumio 2.915) in Server room (connected by headphone jack to stereo amp)
RPI3 (with volumio 2.915) in Office (connected by headphone jack to a DTA30HP Mini Amp)
RPI 1 (with volumio 2.915) in Bedroom (connected by headphone jack to stereo amp)

I installed the volumio-snapcast-plugin that @ashthespy mentioned on every pi

I do have SnapServer and SnapClient enabled on all 3 RPIs so that I can, at times, switch between Servers and clients depending which Pi I want the source to be (not necessary for you).

I don’t use desktop pc for the sound output in office because I want to be able to listen to music even if the pc is off or needs a reboot. I only use pc to access web GUI and control Volumio.

I haven’t had to make edits to any conf files. Once the SnapCast plugin was installed, I just use the setting from the GUI.

If needed, you can follow this video for instructions on installing and setting up snapcast plugin. It worked well for me. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA0L4tSvPKk)

See attached screenshots of my snapcast setting for each Pi

Let me know if you need any more help.

[Ma_junior]

@tekdrumio

I do have SnapServer and SnapClient enabled on all 3 RPIs so that I can, at times, switch between Servers and clients depending which Pi I want the source to be (not necessary for you).

I don’t use desktop pc for the sound output in office because I want to be able to listen to music even if the pc is off or needs a reboot. I only use pc to access web GUI and control Volumio.

I haven’t had to make edits to any conf files. Once the SnapCast plugin was installed, I just use the setting from the GUI.

If needed, you can follow this video for instructions on installing and setting up snapcast plugin. It worked well for me. (Multiroom music with Raspberry PI and old Android devices - YouTube)

See attached screenshots of my snapcast setting for each Pi

Let me know if you need any more help.

thanks, you have been very kind
I try…

[Ma_junior]

Thank you
everything works