RopieeeXL - HQPlayer NAA disappears during playback

spockfish · July 10, 2022, 5:47pm

Thanks, found that as well.

This is the complete log of the run:

Jul 10 16:34:20 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): networkaudiod Copyright (C) 2011-2020 Jussi Laako / Signalyst. All rights reserved.
Jul 10 16:34:20 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): create alsa engine
Jul 10 16:34:20 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): listen discovery on ::
Jul 10 16:34:20 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): listen discovery on 0.0.0.0
Jul 10 16:41:55 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): discovery from 192.168.1.100:49671
Jul 10 16:41:55 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): discovery from 192.168.1.100:49671
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): connection from 192.168.1.100:41282
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): asoundlib version: 1.2.7
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): Found ALSA device: hw:CARD=SRCDX,DEV=0 - SRC-DX: USB Audio
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): begin disconnection
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): disconnected 192.168.1.100:41282
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): discovery from 192.168.1.100:55761
Jul 10 16:41:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): discovery from 192.168.1.100:55761
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): connection from 192.168.1.100:41284
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): asoundlib version: 1.2.7
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): Found ALSA device: hw:CARD=SRCDX,DEV=0 - SRC-DX: USB Audio
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): begin disconnection
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): disconnected 192.168.1.100:41284
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): connection from 192.168.1.100:41286
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): Input set channels: 2 (2)
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): Input supports DSD with any base rate
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): asoundlib version: 1.2.7
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output device: hw:CARD=SRCDX,DEV=0
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output control element: Clock Source 5 Validity
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output control element: PCM Playback Switch
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output control element: PCM Playback Volume
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output control element: PCM Playback Volume
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output control element: Playback Channel Map
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output mixer element: PCM
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output mixer element: PCM
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output access mode: RW_INTERLEAVED
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format: S32_LE
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM bits: 32
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM physical width: 32
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM rates: 44100 - 768000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format: DSD_U32_BE
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD bits: 32
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD physical width: 32
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD rates: 1411200 - 24576000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 44100
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 48000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 88200
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 96000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 176400
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 192000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 352800
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 384000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 705600
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output rate available: 768000
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output backend initialized
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 44100/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 48000/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 88200/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 96000/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 176400/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 192000/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 352800/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 384000/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 705600/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output PCM format available: 768000/32/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 2822400/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 3072000/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 5644800/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 6144000/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 11289600/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 12288000/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 22579200/1/2
Jul 10 16:41:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output DSD format available: 24576000/1/2
Jul 10 16:43:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): start 768000/32/2 [pcm]
Jul 10 16:43:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output set channels: 2 (2)
Jul 10 16:43:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output set sampling rate: 768000 (768000)
Jul 10 16:43:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): enter streaming mode
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine starting...
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output set hardware parameters for requested rate: 768000
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output channels: 2 - 2
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output active channels: 2
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output number of periods: 2
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output period times: 125 - 1000000
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output period sizes: 96 - 768000
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output period time: 100000
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output period size: 76800
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine started at: 768000 (768000)
Jul 10 16:43:08 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine running...
Jul 10 17:37:55 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): push to queue timed out!
Jul 10 17:37:55 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): begin disconnection
Jul 10 17:37:55 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine stopping...
Jul 10 17:37:56 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine stop request...
Jul 10 17:37:57 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): clALSAEngine::Stop(): snd_pcm_wait()
Jul 10 17:38:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): snd_pcm_drain() failed: (-5) Unknown error -5
Jul 10 17:38:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output engine stopped
Jul 10 17:38:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): ALSA output backend uninitialized
Jul 10 17:38:07 ropieeexl networkaudiod[1590]: [/opt/RoPieee/apps/hqplayer/networkaudiod] (1590): disconnected 192.168.1.100:41286

So you’re saying that this might be related to the USB DAC disappear? There’s nothing in the kernel log suggesting that something goes wrong there…

spockfish · July 10, 2022, 5:50pm

@Marc_Stern

Do you have some kind of USB hub sitting in between the Usbridge and your DAC?

jussi_laako · July 10, 2022, 5:54pm

This happens when producer thread has waited 10 seconds for free space to appear in FIFO. Meaning that consumer thread has not been able to feed audio output and consume audio out of the FIFO.

These are then ALSA errors when ALSA fails to stop the output device. Usually because the output device has disappeared due to USB disconnect (which should appear in kernel log). You typically get this kind of result if you pull out the DAC USB cable while playing.

…or something else is going really wrong in the system, blocking networkaudiod or the audio device from operating properly…

spockfish · July 10, 2022, 6:05pm

So @Marc_Stern looking from the logs you use Roon as front-end to HQP and then to NAA on the RoPieee client. This might seem far-fetched, but can you rule out Roon by using HQP directly?

And second question: do you have something else then your current USB DAC to test with?

Marc_Stern · July 10, 2022, 8:14pm

@jussi_laako @spockfish
Harry, Jussi, first - thank you so much for trying to figure this out.

Yes, I do have something(s) in between the NAA and the DAC, but before I elaborate the chain, let me just say that if I eliminate the NAA and use the exact same chain connected directly to HQPlayer everything works flawlessly, and it used to work flawlessly also with the NAA

This is my chain:
Laptop running Roon Core + HQPlayer embedded → Allo USBBridge Signature (connected to same network switch as Laptop) → Optical USB isolation transmitter → Optical USB receiver → Holo Audio USB reclocker → USB to Dual BNC converter -->Chord Qutest DAC

Links to gear:
Optical USB isolator: OPTO•USB Optical Isolation for USB DACs – AudioWise
Holo Audio Reclocker: Holo Audio – Titanis – Active USB processor | Kitsune HiFi - HoloAudio USA
USB to dual BNC converter: SRC•DX USB to COAX Bridge – AudioWise

By the way, I used to also have the USBBridge connected to an Etheregen switch which I know that Jussi you say that may limit the bandwidth with high sample rates - but even when I used that in the above chain before the NAA it worked great with no issues with 768

In HQPLayer the DAC is seen as “ropieeexl: SRC-DX: USB audio” when using the NAA, and as “SRC-DX: USB audio” when using ALSA

Marc_Stern · July 12, 2022, 8:25am

@jussi_laako @spockfish
Looks like I “scared” you guys with my front end chain
Anyway, I kept on playing around and testing
reducing the up-sampling in HQP to 384 helped a bit (longer playing session before failure)
I didn’t go down further but I did add the Etheregen into the chain - just to see if perhaps the buffer/re-clocking it has might help. It didn’t

Then I increased the buffer in HQP from 0 (default), to 250ms. BAM! - playing with 768 for more then 2hrs now (with the Etheregen connected…)

Tony_Hedley · July 24, 2022, 3:29pm

Hi Marc, I’m the “other user” of RopieeeXL, HQPlayer, Usbridge Sig and Chord Qutest who has been getting dropouts. I only upsample integer from 44.1 to 705.6kHz. I’ve experimented with every version of RopieeeXL up to 6.3 and could only stop the problem by reverting to 4.017.
In exasperation I have temporarily swapped the Usbridge Sig for a Pi4 and run Jussi’s own 4.2.3 software. This works satisfactorily.
Today I noticed that RopieeeXL 6.4 has been available for 4 days and claims to specifically address the issues with bandwidth on the Usbridge Sig. Unfortunately I won’t be able to test it for another week until I can swap it back for the Pi4.
However I tried RopieeeXL 6.4 in the Pi4 and guess what? Play stopped at 43 minutes 29 seconds. This is the first time I have experienced this in the Pi4.
Then BAM I read your post about adjusting the buffer in HQPlayer. Mine was on 20ms. I adjusted it to 250ms and I’m happily now 2 hours into Don Giovani and it’s still playing uninterrupted!
I can’t wait to get the Usbridge Sig back next week and to find out if this simple change has sorted out the issue there too.

Marc_Stern · July 24, 2022, 6:50pm

Hope it works out for you

By the way, according to @jussi_laako, the Chord Qutest will up sample any incoming rate to 768 for the WTA1 stage (before going to DSD, I think….). He therefore recommended upsampling everything to 768 with HQPlayer and by that skip the entire first internal upsampling stage of the Qutest.
If you sample by integer only up to 705.6, it will be upsampled in the Qutest to 768. So if you prefer the HQP uspamokung over the Chord you might as well go all the way to 768.

Tony_Hedley · July 24, 2022, 7:40pm

That’s very interesting but I was trying to give my humble pc an easier time by sticking to integer only upsampling. Also at 768kHz I’ve had a few issues with the static white noise which I never get at 705.6kHz.
I’m more interested in your impressions of the SRC-DX and if it makes a significant upgrade to the Qutest given that it’s quite an expense for such a little box. I did wonder if the Chord usb implementation was causing the static noise but apparently it still happens with dbnc?

Marc_Stern · July 24, 2022, 8:13pm

I am using a very old i5 2nd gen laptop and have no issue going to 768 with gauss long + convolution.

Static is gone with the src-dx. Definitely pricy for what it does.

jussi_laako · July 25, 2022, 11:04am

Either 705.6/768k will bypass the WTA1. Many have reported that 705.6k avoids occasional white noise issues, so if one is experiencing such, I’d recommend to stick to 705.6k instead.

Using a fixed output rate avoids switching rates frequently and instead keeps the DAC running constantly from the same clock which also reduces likelihood of experiencing such noises. So either 705.6k or 768k fixed output rate is fine.

Chord has only a single clock and runs it’s D/A stage always at fixed rate, both 44.1k and 48k source multiples are converted to this same fixed output rate.