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What DAC setting is correct for RPi zero W, Berri DAC+ zero and Volumio 2.580?

phil.balaam

July 13, 2019 11:15

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Hi people in Berryland :-)

Trying to get the above working but having problems with no audio out!

If I set the DAC type to HiFiBerry DAC+

then I get an Alsa error message

"Fail to open ALSA device "HW:1.0" no such file or directory"

If I set the type to HiFiBerry DAC

Then Volumio appears to work properly (no error messages and playback timer operating) but no sound (Cables and audio equipment checked and OK)

Which is the "correct" setting (if any) and any pointers to troubleshooting the issue

(Warning! - Linux newbie - handle with care!!)

I also briefly tried the Zero with a DIGI pro (with the correct setting :-) and got the same ALSA error message.

Thanks in advance for any help

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15 comments

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 13, 2019 15:12

  Update

  Tried the DAC with the same SDcard image straight from the Zero onto a Pi3 with the settings set to DAC (not DAC+) and it works perfectly! I guess that answers the first part of my question.

  So the issue would seem to be with the Zero W, software config, or hardware detection on the Zero.

  Zero appears to be working perfectly well on its own awful audio out or HDMI

  Any thoughts anyone?

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team July 14, 2019 06:52

  If you soldered the header by yourself, most likely the soldering isn't good. Check all the header solder connections.

  Best regards,
  Daniel

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 15, 2019 09:42

  Hi Daniel

  I honestly cant remeber if I soldered the header myself or if the Zero W came with one as at my age I have only one remaining functional brain cell! :-)

  Looks OK under a microscope so I'll put a scope on the appropriate pins when I get a chance and see if that identifies anything.

  Thanks for the help

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 18, 2019 18:16

  Latest update.

  Just checked back through the depths of time to find out that the Zero was a WT version so vame with the header already soldered (and as all the soldering looks OK I'm pretty certain its not been soldered by me :-)

  With a track playing there is no activity at all on the I2S pins (header pins 12 (GPIO18),35(GPIO19) and 40(GPIO21).

  5V and 3.3V are OK.

  How does the Zero know which DAC its using if there is no EEprom on the DACzero board.

  I'm starting to think that this is a Volumio config issue. I've just got some more SD cards so I'll try a RuneAudio image and report back on what happens with that.

   

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team July 18, 2019 18:17

  The boards needs to be configured in config.txt.

  How does this file look like?

  Best regards,
  Daniel

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 19, 2019 18:21

  Hi Daniel

  Heres the config.txt file after setting up I2S for the HIFi Berry DAC

   

  initramfs volumio.initrd
  gpu_mem=32
  max_usb_current=1
  dtparam=audio=on
  audio_pwm_mode=2
  dtparam=i2c_arm=on
  disable_splash=1
  hdmi_force_hotplug=1

  #### Volumio i2s setting below: do not alter ####
  dtoverlay=hifiberry-dac

  Phil (not in the config file :-)

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team July 20, 2019 06:36

  Looks good so far. If the same config runs well on a Pi3, I think there is a hardware problem. Just try the same SD card on the Pi3.

  Best regards,
  Daniel

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 21, 2019 15:57

  Hi Daniel

  Begining to think the same way as the same DAC and SDcard work OK on a Pi3 with no issues.

  I also tried LibreElec (with correct setting in config.txt) and it either refuses to play (no time change) or it hangs whenever I try to play anything.

  Weird though as this is the first sick pi I've come across and the fact that everyhing else seems to work (USB,HDMI.Network etc).

  If I get a chance I'll write a simple python script to toggle all the GPIO's to see if they are broken and report back if I find anything interesting but for now its looking like a semi dead zero!

  Thanks for the help anyway and keep up the good work!

   

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 24, 2019 13:21

  Hi Daniel - Latest update

  Just got hold of a brand new ZeroW and it has the same problem which pretty much rules out a HW fault on the Zero.

  So just to summerise

  Using the same DACzero and volumio SD card and image (the current on e as above) configured from a brand new image on the Zero

  ********************************

  Works perfectly on a Pi 3B.

  No output at all using two different Pi Zero W (bought with a gap of about 3-4 months so its unlikely to be a batch issue problem).

  just as a side bit of info, the audio output has hum on it which would suggest that the output muting on the DAC isnt operating.

  So the only difference between the working setup and the non working setup (apart from a wired network interface) as far as I know is the Broadcom processor type!

  Any more thoughts?

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team July 24, 2019 13:23

  Haven't seen this before. Maybe it's a Volumio issue with the Pi Zero in general...
  Have you tries any other distribution?

  Best regards,
  Daniel

• 0
  
  phil.balaam July 26, 2019 23:14

  Latest update

  Tried latest version of Libreelec with Zero and DAC zero - media stops playing immediately.

  Also tried a DAC+ with volumio and the Zero W

  I get the same ALSA error message as I did with the Digi (see 1st post)

  So basically nothing works with the Zero with either volumio or Libreelec.

  When I get a moment I will try the official rasbian Buster.

  My gut is telling me this is something to do with processors, drivers and device tree's but I must admit I dont know enough about the subject to make a sensible comment! :-)

• 0
  
  sacke October 18, 2019 09:53

  Hi all,

  I stumbled upon (almost) the exact same problem. I fiddled around a bit and found the HifiBerry DAC+ Zero and RPI Zero WH do work with Volumio if you set the I2S type to Adafruit MAX98357A. Very strange, because that seems to be a mono (!) amp (!), but it works flawlessly. Hope this helps.

  Best regards,
  Stefan

• 0
  
  phil.balaam October 18, 2019 10:12

  Thanks for the Info Stefan

  I will give this a try over the weekend and try and confirm your findings which may help Daniel and the boys (and girls) at Volumio to find a solution.

  I'm pretty certain that its a volumio Processor type / driver issue rather than the Berry DAC zero as that works perfectly with all the othe Pi's so the only real difference is the Broadcom processor.

  Again! Thanks for the heads up and watch this space.

  best wishes

  Phil

• 0
  
  Joost Looijmans March 16, 2020 21:09

  Hello,

  I had the same issue and found the solution in the following settings:

  output device: Adafruit UDA1334A

  I2S DAC: on

  DAC model: Adafruit UDA1334A

  DSD play: DSD direct

  mixer type: software

  MPD Clients volume: off

  These settings are working perfect for my pi zero w with berry dac + zero and volumio. It is playing for several months now. And in stereo

  Hopefully this will work for other users.

  Joost

• 0
  
  sacke April 04, 2020 13:10

  Hello,

  After updating to the current version, Volumio suddenly gave an ALSA error. However, when I changed the setting to 'Hifiberry DAC' (outpit device as well as DAC model), it played again flawlessly. I guess the Adafruit workaround isn't needed anymore.

  Kind regards,
  Stefan