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How to record with DAC+ ADC Pro - NEED DOCS

Peter Pichler

April 14, 2020 00:12

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I've installed the newest HifiBerryOS (hifiberryos-20200403-pi3.img) on my Pi3/B+.

I had to remount /boot rw to fix: dtoverlay=hifiberry-dacplusadcpro (no card detection or config via HTTP setup in HifiBerryOS?)

The card is listed correctly now:

# arecord -l
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: sndrpihifiberry [snd_rpi_hifiberry_dacplusadcpro], device 0: HiFiBerry DAC+ADC Pro HiFi multicodec-0 [HiFiBerry DAC+ADC Pro HiFi multicodec-0]

I have a line level source connected to the to the DAC+ ADC Pro 3.5mm input jack.

I used arecord to capture 44100 and 48000 kHz at 16 bits (red LED turned on while recording) and loaded the resulting WAV file into Audacity (on a PC).

The recorded signal was present but very weak.

I then used alsamixer to raise the "ADC" volume to "57 [55%] [16.50dB]".

Then I tried capturing S32_LE - DOES NOT WORK

Higher sample rates (96000, 192000) - DOES NOT WORK

Recording 96000@16 worked, but I had to fix the speed in Audacity (might be an arecord or Audacity bug?)

Can you please provide proper documentation (with working examples) on the sample-rates and bit-depths that are supported and can be used to capture audio with the DAC+ ADC Pro (at least when using HifiBerryOS)?

Maybe you can also provide some help for configuring the recording levels in alsamixer... (After several experiments, I can now only record audio on the left channel with arecord)

Best regrads,

Peter

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15 comments

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 14, 2020 08:49

  Here is a simple example how to use arecord/aplay to record/play a 10 second sample in 96kHz/32bit:
  
  arecord -f S32_LE -r 96000 -c 2 -d 10 1; sleep 1; aplay 1

  The input sources should not be changed, the standard value is just fine. With a line-level source, there is no need to 
  
  If you do this on HiFiBerryOS, make sure you stop alsaloop, otherwise you won't be able to record anything.
  
  systemctl stop alsaloop
  
  These are the amixer settings we're using here:
  
  

  Simple mixer control 'DSP Program',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'FIR interpolation with de-emphasis' 'Low latency IIR with de-emphasis' 'High attenuation with de-emphasis' 'Fi
  xed process flow' 'Ringing-less low latency FIR'
  Item0: 'FIR interpolation with de-emphasis'
  Simple mixer control 'DSPVolume',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 255
  Front Left: 230 [90%]
  Front Right: 230 [90%]
  Simple mixer control 'ADC',0
  Capabilities: cvolume
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 104
  Front Left: Capture 24 [23%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Capture 24 [23%] [0.00dB]
  Simple mixer control 'ADC Left Capture Source',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'No Select' 'VINL1[SE]' 'VINL2[SE]' 'VINL2[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL3[SE]' 'VINL3[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL3[SE] + VI
  NL2[SE]' 'VINL3[SE] + VINL2[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL4[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VINL2[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VI
  NL2[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VINL3[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VINL3[SE] + VINL1[SE]' 'VINL4[SE] + VINL3[SE] + VINL2[SE]' 'VI
  NL4[SE] + VINL3[SE] + VINL2[SE] + VINL1[SE]' '{VIN1P, VIN1M}[DIFF]' '{VIN4P, VIN4M}[DIFF]' '{VIN1P, VIN1M}[DIFF] + {VIN4
  P, VIN4M}[DIFF]'
  Item0: 'VINL1[SE]'
  Simple mixer control 'ADC Left Input',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'No Select' 'VINL1[SE]' 'VINL2[SE]' 'VINL2[SE] + VINL1[SE]' '{VIN1P, VIN1M}[DIFF]'
  Item0: 'VINL1[SE]'
  Simple mixer control 'ADC Mic Bias',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic Bias off' 'Mic Bias on' 'Mic Bias with Bypass Resistor'
  Item0: 'Mic Bias off'
  Simple mixer control 'ADC Right Capture Source',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'No Select' 'VINR1[SE]' 'VINR2[SE]' 'VINR2[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR3[SE]' 'VINR3[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR3[SE] + VI
  NR2[SE]' 'VINR3[SE] + VINR2[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR4[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VINR2[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VI
  NR2[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VINR3[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VINR3[SE] + VINR1[SE]' 'VINR4[SE] + VINR3[SE] + VINR2[SE]' 'VI
  NR4[SE] + VINR3[SE] + VINR2[SE] + VINR1[SE]' '{VIN2P, VIN2M}[DIFF]' '{VIN3P, VIN3M}[DIFF]' '{VIN2P, VIN2M}[DIFF] + {VIN3
  P, VIN3M}[DIFF]'
  Item0: 'VINR1[SE]'
  Simple mixer control 'ADC Right Input',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'No Select' 'VINR1[SE]' 'VINR2[SE]' 'VINR2[SE] + VINR1[SE]' '{VIN2P, VIN2M}[DIFF]'
  Item0: 'VINR1[SE]'
  Simple mixer control 'Analogue',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 1
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 1 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 1 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Simple mixer control 'Analogue Playback Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 1
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Simple mixer control 'Auto Mute',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [on]
  Front Right: Playback [on]
  Simple mixer control 'Auto Mute Mono',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
  Simple mixer control 'Auto Mute Time Left',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '21ms' '106ms' '213ms' '533ms' '1.07s' '2.13s' '5.33s' '10.66s'
  Item0: '21ms'
  Simple mixer control 'Auto Mute Time Right',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '21ms' '106ms' '213ms' '533ms' '1.07s' '2.13s' '5.33s' '10.66s'
  Item0: '21ms'
  Simple mixer control 'Clock Missing Period',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '1s' '2s' '3s' '4s' '5s' '6s' '7s' '8s'
  Item0: '1s'
  Simple mixer control 'Deemphasis',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
  Simple mixer control 'Digital',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 207
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 160 [77%] [-23.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 160 [77%] [-23.50dB] [on]
  Simple mixer control 'Max Overclock DAC',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Mono: 0 [0%]
  Simple mixer control 'Max Overclock DSP',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Mono: 0 [0%]
  Simple mixer control 'Max Overclock PLL',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 20
  Mono: 0 [0%]
  Simple mixer control 'PGA Gain Left',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '-12.0dB' '-11.5dB' '-11.0dB' '-10.5dB' '-10.0dB' '-9.5dB' '-9.0dB' '-8.5dB' '-8.0dB' '-7.5dB' '-7.0dB' '-6.5dB
  ' '-6.0dB' '-5.5dB' '-5.0dB' '-4.5dB' '-4.0dB' '-3.5dB' '-3.0dB' '-2.5dB' '-2.0dB' '-1.5dB' '-1.0dB' '-0.5dB' '0.0dB' '0
  .5dB' '1.0dB' '1.5dB' '2.0dB' '2.5dB' '3.0dB' '3.5dB' '4.0dB' '4.5dB' '5.0dB' '5.5dB' '6.0dB' '6.5dB' '7.0dB' '7.5dB' '8
  .0dB' '8.5dB' '9.0dB' '9.5dB' '10.0dB' '10.5dB' '11.0dB' '11.5dB' '12.0dB' '12.5dB' '13.0dB' '13.5dB' '14.0dB' '14.5dB'
  '15.0dB' '15.5dB' '16.0dB' '16.5dB' '17.0dB' '17.5dB' '18.0dB' '18.5dB' '19.0dB' '19.5dB' '20.0dB' '20.5dB' '21.0dB' '21
  .5dB' '22.0dB' '22.5dB' '23.0dB' '23.5dB' '24.0dB' '24.5dB' '25.0dB' '25.5dB' '26.0dB' '26.5dB' '27.0dB' '27.5dB' '28.0d
  B' '28.5dB' '29.0dB' '29.5dB' '30.0dB' '30.5dB' '31.0dB' '31.5dB' '32.0dB' '32.5dB' '33.0dB' '33.5dB' '34.0dB' '34.5dB'
  '35.0dB' '35.5dB' '36.0dB' '36.5dB' '37.0dB' '37.5dB' '38.0dB' '38.5dB' '39.0dB' '39.5dB' '40.0dB'
  Item0: '0.0dB'
  Simple mixer control 'PGA Gain Right',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '-12.0dB' '-11.5dB' '-11.0dB' '-10.5dB' '-10.0dB' '-9.5dB' '-9.0dB' '-8.5dB' '-8.0dB' '-7.5dB' '-7.0dB' '-6.5dB
  ' '-6.0dB' '-5.5dB' '-5.0dB' '-4.5dB' '-4.0dB' '-3.5dB' '-3.0dB' '-2.5dB' '-2.0dB' '-1.5dB' '-1.0dB' '-0.5dB' '0.0dB' '0
  .5dB' '1.0dB' '1.5dB' '2.0dB' '2.5dB' '3.0dB' '3.5dB' '4.0dB' '4.5dB' '5.0dB' '5.5dB' '6.0dB' '6.5dB' '7.0dB' '7.5dB' '8
  .0dB' '8.5dB' '9.0dB' '9.5dB' '10.0dB' '10.5dB' '11.0dB' '11.5dB' '12.0dB' '12.5dB' '13.0dB' '13.5dB' '14.0dB' '14.5dB'
  '15.0dB' '15.5dB' '16.0dB' '16.5dB' '17.0dB' '17.5dB' '18.0dB' '18.5dB' '19.0dB' '19.5dB' '20.0dB' '20.5dB' '21.0dB' '21
  .5dB' '22.0dB' '22.5dB' '23.0dB' '23.5dB' '24.0dB' '24.5dB' '25.0dB' '25.5dB' '26.0dB' '26.5dB' '27.0dB' '27.5dB' '28.0d
  B' '28.5dB' '29.0dB' '29.5dB' '30.0dB' '30.5dB' '31.0dB' '31.5dB' '32.0dB' '32.5dB' '33.0dB' '33.5dB' '34.0dB' '34.5dB'
  '35.0dB' '35.5dB' '36.0dB' '36.5dB' '37.0dB' '37.5dB' '38.0dB' '38.5dB' '39.0dB' '39.5dB' '40.0dB'
  Item0: '0.0dB'
  Simple mixer control 'Softvol',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 255
  Front Left: 255 [100%]
  Front Right: 255 [100%]
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Down Emergency Rate',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '1 sample/update' '2 samples/update' '4 samples/update' 'Immediate'
  Item0: '1 sample/update'
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Down Emergency Step',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '4dB/step' '2dB/step' '1dB/step' '0.5dB/step'
  Item0: '4dB/step'
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Down Rate',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '1 sample/update' '2 samples/update' '4 samples/update' 'Immediate'
  Item0: '1 sample/update'
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Down Step',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '4dB/step' '2dB/step' '1dB/step' '0.5dB/step'
  Item0: '1dB/step'
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Up Rate',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '1 sample/update' '2 samples/update' '4 samples/update' 'Immediate'
  Item0: '1 sample/update'
  Simple mixer control 'Volume Ramp Up Step',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '4dB/step' '2dB/step' '1dB/step' '0.5dB/step'
  Item0: '1dB/step'

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 14, 2020 10:11

  I just noticed a strange behavior here that this isn't always working. There might be a driver bug.

   

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 14, 2020 12:46

  Just an update here: It seems there is a bug when switching between sample rates and bit depth with the DAC+ ADC Pro. We're looking into this now.

• 0
  
  Peter Pichler April 15, 2020 12:56

  @HiFiBerry team - THANK YOU very much for following up on this!

  I can now confirm, that recording 96000@24bits is working - AFTER STOPPING ALSALOOP as indicated in the answer.

  However, the resulting .wav files need to be slowed down by 50% (factor 0.5) and recording at 192000kHz does not work yet...

  Best regards, Peter

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 15, 2020 13:02

  The "WAV needs to be slowed down" thing is caused by the fact that arecord doesn't put the right metadata into the file. We're just working on an experimental build that should fix the recording problem for all samples rates and bits/channel.
  BTW: You should use 32bits/sample, not 24bits/sample. Problem is that 24bit/sample are padded internally which creates some trouble, especially when dealing with arecord.

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 16, 2020 10:46

  We have an experimental HiFiBerryOS with the updated kernel driver available now. You can try it by updating like this:
  
  /opt/hifiberry/bin/update --experimental

• 0
  
  Peter Pichler April 16, 2020 14:20

  Recording at 192kHz / 32bits via arecord is working out of the box with the experimental HiFiBerryOS (updating works w/o problems) - GREAT !!!

  • systemctl stop alsaloop     # or even: systemctl disable alsaloop
  • alsamixer   # TAB to capture settings, set ADC slider with cursor keys
  • arecord -c 2 -r 192000 -f S32_LE file.wav    # stop via ^C when done

  Setting the recording volume via the "ADC" slider in alsamixer works as expected (nothing else was changed).

  Speed is also correct and I can edit my recordings in Audacity and save to FLAC 192/24.

  Thank you!!!

  Edited by Peter Pichler April 16, 2020 19:16
• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 16, 2020 14:31

  Is think it should work now with all sample rates and 16/32 bits. The fix will also be included in the next Raspbian kernel update via rpi-update.

   

• 0
  
  Sam East April 16, 2020 20:26

  I have the same issue with a DAC+ADC Pro and am keen to try the experimental kernel driver. I have the latest Raspian Buster (with Desktop) image updated to the latest kernel (4.19.114-v7l+). However, I don't have a hifiberry folder in /opt to do the update.

  Many thanks.

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 17, 2020 04:45

  There is no "experimental" driver. The command above is used to update HiFiBerryOS. It won't work on Raspbian. You either need to compile your own kernel or wait a bit until the fixed kernel is available via rpi-update

• 0
  
  Sam East April 19, 2020 18:41

  Thanks for the clarification. The kernel update has come through rpi-update and I can confirm it's working as expected. 
  
  Many thanks, 

  Sam

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team April 19, 2020 19:40

  Thanks for the feedback!

• 0
  
  Person July 11, 2023 19:00

  I'm having the same issue with playback working but not recording. I've tried disabling alsaloop to now avail and am currently on rasbian 5.10.103-v71+. This is the mic I am using as well: https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ.

  What's odd is that using a loopback cable and sounddevice.playrec() I get nonsilent wav files, but absolutely nothing with arecord and audacity.

  Thanks

• 0
  
  mXpert June 21, 2024 18:11

  I have rpi-5 with volumio 3.7.x (latest as of June 2024). I am working with hifiberry DAC + ADC pro trying to capture audio in 24/96k with following command

  $ arecord -D hw:0 -c 2 -r 96000 -f S24_LE test.wav
  Recording WAVE 'test.wav' : Signed 24 bit Little Endian, Rate 96000 Hz, Stereo
  arecord: set_params:1339: Sample format non available
  Available formats:
  - S16_LE
  - S32_LE

  Any advice why am I not able to record this format? Here is my capture device listing

  $ arecord -l
  **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
  card 0: sndrpihifiberry [snd_rpi_hifiberry_dacplusadcpro], device 0: HiFiBerry DAC+ADC Pro HiFi multicodec-0 [HiFiBerry DAC+ADC Pro HiFi multicodec-0]
    Subdevices: 1/1
    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team June 22, 2024 13:58

  S24_LE isn't supported. Just capture in S32_LE format. If you want to remove the 8 LSB bits, use tools like sox to convert between different sample formats.