[mythtv-users] SqueezeSlave prevents audio in .24

Nick Rout nick.rout at gmail.com
Wed Nov 24 01:53:30 UTC 2010


On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 9:32 PM, Michael PARKER <michael.parker at st.com> wrote:
> <snip>
>
>> Mike,
>> I am using a workaround of only starting SqueezeSlave on demand by
>> hitting a remote button and closing it by hitting another.  It is a
>> kludgy work-around in that I would prefer SqueezeSlave running all the
>> time, but it is what needs to be done.
>>
>> I noticed, coincidentally, that a new major version of SqueezeSlave
>> was released yesterday.  I tried to join the logitech forums where the
>> release was announced and ask if the developer could make sure that
>> SqueezeSlave does not keep the audio device open while SqueezeSlave is
>> not actually playing audio, but could not register and could not post.
>>  I could not find the developers email address either; however, it
>> seems like the issue can only truly be fixed by modifying
>> SqueezeSlave.
>
> Gabe,
>
> FYI, I compiled Squeezeslave 1.0-210 over the w/e and the audio blocking problem persists (at least on x86_64 Fedora 12 using ALSA) :o(
>
> Running a quick strace on the squeezeslave invocation suggests that after starting up and before audio is played (i.e. squeezeslave is just sat there, dormant, waiting for the server to give it audio to play) a filehandle is left open on the /dev/snd/pcmXXXXX device. This might be the reason why squeezeslave is observed to block other applications from playing audio.
>
> I'm at work at present so don't have access to the full strace o/p, but I'll post it when I can. I'm no expert when it comes to interpreting strace o/p but it seems odd that all other open()'s are close()'ed in short order with the sole exception of this one open() on the /dev/snd/pcmXXXX device.
>
> I've registered on the Squeezebox forum in an attempt to mail Ralphy with a description of the problem but cannot post until my email address has been validated (2 days and counting.....)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mike

I don't presently have a need of squeeze on either of my frontends as
i have a squeezebox in the bedroom, an don't usually listen to music
in the lounge.

However in the past I have used slimp3 starting it from a menu in
myth, I posted about it to the list ages ago here:

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/278169#278169

Given that squeezeslave seems to be a lot like slimp3 (a console
client with an optional curses interface), a similar approach should
work.

It seems to me you are either listening to music, or watching TV, but
not both. Therefore starting squeezeslave from a myth menu is no
penalty (for me). If your use case scenario is different, the utility
of this approach may not be so. (eg if you are running squeezeslave
truly headless and controlling from a web browser).

There is also a mythsqueeze plugin by George Galt (IIRC), but I don't
know if it is currently operational.


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