Music provider solution(s) in Music Assistent to digitize and stream audio from analog AUX input sources to other player providers in MA? Any easy way to achieve a remote AUX input into Music Assistant to enable remote network streaming from an external analog audio source like a vinyl record player (LP turntable) or cassette player?

[Hedda]

Would be great if could buy some simple music streamer appliance with analog AUX input to use as audio source provider, are such available?

What I want to achieve is a solution that is easy to install/maintain and use that allow my wife to stream music from a vinyl record player (LP turntable) to any speaker or group of speakers in our home. The vinyl record player (turntable) setup she has a pre-amp with phono (RCA) output ports for analog audio in stereo.

I would therefore prefer if we could buy some kind of networked (Wi-Fi) enabled appliance like a music streamer with stereo AUX input port that it will use for on-the-fly perform analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) + encoding for streaming to a Music Provider inside Music Assistant.

• Architecture example: Analog audio source with preamp -> ADC network appliance -> music stream -> Music Assistant -> Any speakers.

I have yet found a commercial product that does this outside the walled garden of closed ecosystems. That is, there are commercial products that support this but they will only stream to their own branded speakers within their own closed ecosystems (e.g. Sonos, and Yamaha).

Are there any solutions that can do this but stream to a Music Provider inside Music Assistant so it can forward to any Player Provider types?

UPDATE: To clearify, I would prefer to not build/maintain a DIY project, I would instead like to buy a complete appliance product that just works.

I think that it needs to have a high-quality ADC (analog-to-digital converter) for Hi-Fi music streams, though I'm not an audiophile myself.

Normally you have to use an expensive propriatory Hi-Fi music streamer system to achive this, howverr there are also mid-range products like the WiiM Ultra, WiiM Pro Plus, WiiM Amp, and WiiM Amp Pro use Linkplay streaming technology that enable analog and digital audio input ports, but practially all of them will only stream within their own ecosystem so you need to buy both music streamers and stream receivers from the same brand for all your speakers to make them compatible.

• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimultra/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimpro/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimamp/overview

Alternativly I guess getting input via Bluetooth audio streaming could work in pinch but I am not aware of any such devices that are not troublesome and Bluetooth is not a very great way for permanent streaming which can be WAF approved (as it is my wifi that wants to stream her LP-records).

PS: I have previously used the ”Vinyl Cast” app on an Android phone/tablet (with analog input and ADC via a USB Audio Device) for casting to Chromecast Audio using Google Cast which was user-friendly but it was very buggy as ”Vinyl Cast” app the kept crashing + aesthetically the solution as a whole was not WAF approved + it kind of ruined the nostalgic retro vibe having to use the interface of Android phone/tablet each time, (nice with it though was that at least the initial release of the Vinyl Cast app included using Audio ACR to detect the song being played, but unfortunately this feature relied on a now discontinued third-party library/service so the feature was removed.)

• https://github.com/aschober/vinyl-cast

[OzGav]

Have you seen this https://music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/#music-assistant

[Hedda]

I have now but that is not not something that is easy or simple, nor a product that you can buy, instead that page currently only have suggestions on something that you can DIY build yourself using various parts with custom software running on a Raspberry Pi, what is not what I would like/request.

https://github.com/gieljnssns/darkice-libaacplus-rpi-guide/blob/master/README.md

https://maker.pro/raspberry-pi/projects/how-to-build-an-internet-radio-station-with-raspberry-pi-darkice-and-icecast

Those suggested DIY solution is also messy as it needs a lot of parts when your record player does not have a built-in USB Audio Device with ADC but instead the turntable only has analog audio out (RCA stereo output with or without pre-amp).

Please try to think about the same kind of people that would rather buy a Home Assistent Green applance instead of installing Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi, so no DIY solution that will need to be maintained differently and seperatly.

Then you add the WAF factor to that and try to see that not everyone want to have a DIY solution containing many parts with a mess of connected wires right next to their pretty turntable in the living room as the would ruin the aesthetics look and nostalgic + retro feeling that is one of the main purposes for using a retro turntable with LP records.

[agdamsbo]

The last sentence on that page have those product suggestions.

[OzGav]

@Hedda if you are wanting to buy something then this should not be in the feature requests category?

[Hedda]

I don't see any finished plug-and-play network streaming products that you can buy listed there, it only lists DIY projects that can be built.

https://music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/#music-assistant

Music Assistant = You could use Darkcast to stream to Icecast which in turn sets up a web radio stream that you could add to MA! You could use this to stream your turntable around the house for example. Here is a generic tutorial and for those that like a nice step by step look here. For input a HiFiBerry could be used or a USB Audio Interface like this one or this one

What I am asking for is if you can buy a pre-built commercial product (similar to the ”WiiM Pro Plus”) that will just work out-of-the-box?

Anyway, the closest one I found to easy is "Raspberry-Pi-Vinyl-Streamer" which at least has a preconfigured image but is still a DIY project:

https://github.com/quebulm/Raspberry-Pi-Vinyl-Streamer

Sure if you build such a project using HiFiBerry ANALOGUE INPUT for ADC then can make it look good, but it is still a DIY project build.

[Hedda]

if you are wanting to buy something then this should not be in the feature requests category?

I thought that this question better fitted here as a feature request since found no MA music providers for pre-built commercial products.

But yes, do not either know of any pre-built commercial products with ANALOGUE INPUT with ADC that stream non-propriatory protocols?

Again, the ”WiiM Pro Plus” is a music streamer product that has analog input but Music Assistant does not have a Music Provider for it.

The closest product that can do this is otherwise the "Amazon Echo Dot" series which have AUX input but its require cloud, etc.

https://decortweaks.com/does-amazon-echo-have-an-aux-input/

The only other product that I am aware of with analog AUX input for streaming are the Google Home Max speaker:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7659949?hl=en

That is what I would like to achieve but since this is for the wife it is not really acceptable with a janky thinker solution that needs fiddling :/

[OzGav]

Yeah ok so input from the WiiM Pro. Once you settle on something then raise that specific product as a feature request. I think Marcel might actually have a WiiM Pro?

[Hedda]

Cool! Note that it sounds as if many or all WiiM products seems to have ADC for Audio Input Port, however I think that only their ”WiiM Pro Plus” has both audio line in (based on some PCM186x series chip) in combination with softare featuree for actually supporting streaming the audio input from that analog input port to other WiiMs acting as recievers. And they claim that WiiM Ultra, WiiM Pro Plus, WiiM Amp, and WiiM Amp Pro have better ADC for Line Level Audio Input:

• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimultra/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimpro/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimamp/overview

They also claim that WiiM Ultra, WiiM Pro Plus, WiiM Amp, and WiiM Amp Pro have a better ADC chip for its Live Level Audio Input:

"It uses TI Burr-Brown Audio PCM1861 ADC, achieving up to 192kHz/32-bit digital output, 110 dB SNR. Thus, it provides high-fidelity analog to digital conversion for input from a record player, MP3 player, or TV."

• https://www.ti.com/document-viewer/lit/html/SSZT411

I believe that those today also only support streaming the input from the analog ports to other WiiM products using their proprietary streaming called "Linkplay Music Streaming Platform" which they got from their parent company:

https://www.linkplay.com

So the Linkplay streaming part has a similar concept to Sonos in the way that they do not support streaming it to other ecosystems?

https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/linkplay

[nikaiwolf]

This is a feature I'm waiting for on MA. I have a WiiM Pro Plus, while I do enjoy my vinyls I want to use MA to stream that input line to all the speakers or groups of speakers and have the ability to tell google/alexa/siri etc to stream the record player or something for ease of use for everyone.

[Hedda]

Would still love to see a ready-made network streaming appliance with AUX-input that anyone can buy and use this purpose out-of-the-box.

I understand that Nabu Casa is working on some voice-assistant product hardware based on ESP32-S3 in combination with an XMOS chip (similar to Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS) Development Kit), and as is planned to be both open-source and some what modular in order to keep it developer friendly for modifications and add-ons, so perhaps if their hardware is modular enough it might be possible for someone to maybe addon external PCB breakout board for it with ADC chip and AUX-in for it? ...I can at least dream about that:

• https://www.xmos.com/xmos-delivers-first-amazon-alexa-voice-service-development-kit-with-linear-mic-array-for-far-field-voice-capture/
• https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/blogs/alexa/post/edde861e-65a4-4319-b5f1-422b0c626673/xmos-expands-device-types-supported-by-dev-kits-for-avs-with-a-far-field-linear-mic-array-based-reference-solutio

PS: While I still have not found a ready-made appliance solution for this, but I have updated two guides on how to achieve this via DIY solutions:

• https://music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/#music-assistant
  • https://github.com/quebulm/Raspberry-Pi-Vinyl-Streamer
  • https://github.com/gieljnssns/darkice-libaacplus-rpi-guide/

[Hedda]

This "AUX line-in" feature request is by the way a feature that Sonos offers on some of their products, either built-in or via a line-in adapter:

• https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/use-line-in-on-sonos

• https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/sonos-line-in-adapter

• https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/adjust-line-in-settings

Adapter can be used with different speakers but Sonos also has a dedicated "Sonos Port" Network Audio Streamer product with this feature:

• https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/port

PS: I also believe Sonos offer a similar feature on their soundbar for televisions as they allow users to stream audio from a TV to other speakers.

[Hedda]

FYI, it by the way looks like the "Muse Luxe Speaker" from Raspiaudio also has a 3.5mm headphone jack for "AUX" line level ADC stereo input (with their specifications saying up to 24-bit and 96 kHz sampling frequency) but again not sure if their existing ESPHome code that could make use of it for this purpose?

• https://raspiaudio.com/muse/

  • https://raspiaudio.com/product/esp-muse-luxe/

From what found it is either using ES8388 or WM8978 as external audio codec for the AUX jack? Looks like it has both, one for mic and one for the AUX jack? Seems like those can be used for either ADC or DAC or both?

• https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/esphomeLuxe/tree/main

• https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/Muse_library

• https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/LuxeMicrophones

• https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/es8388

• https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/Simple_Bluetooth_Speaker_ESP32/tree/master

• http://www.everest-semi.com/pdf/ES8388%20DS.pdf

• https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/76/WM8978_v4.5-1141768.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqa0zkVrQbsG2qGh1gh7U-12vtnCpgCa6nd1mmNoMDA1XoVsnIX

Interestingly they also specifically mention this feature and the fact that its firmware is hackable in their marketing material.

[mwaterbu]

For me, the ideal solution to this would be to connect something like a Behringer UCA222 to my host machine (running HA/MA), and have Music Assistant directly accept that USB digital audio stream as a music provider. Theoretically, this should be possible, as I noticed that the Assist Microphone Add-on can process audio from a USB microphone.

This eliminates the need for having another device that has to create an Icecast stream or similar. In addition to little to no setup or configuration required, an advantage here is lower latency from one less network hop. The obvious downside is that the source being connected has to be close to your host machine.

In my case, I would ideally have two such devices connected to Music Assistant.

[mwaterbu]

Excellent! Very excited for this feature. You all have been doing amazing work on this, keep it up!

[katsaplias]

This is coming soon, all groundwork has been done for this. We added Spotify Connect as a first example for an audio source, but this can be literally anything, from a local named pipe or soundcard to some remote (tcp) stream. Just keep an eye on the 2.5 beta releases.

nice!
would that also mean support for VBAN protocol?
https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/3642#discussion-8026039

[Hedda]

I think that the problem with that is that most people will not have the computer running their Music Assistant Server or Home Assistant near the audio source that they want stream, so we would need a simple ESPHome based device or similar appliance with audio input as a stand-alone product that can be placed next to the record player, etc.

[thostie2002]

@marcelveldt its been over 2 months now, what is the status? Im really looking for it

[OzGav]

If there is an update it will be provided. Priorities change from time to time as does the availability of everyone’s time to work on the project.

[alextrical]

@Hedda I have been thinking about this on and off since you first raised the question 9 months ago.
I think the software is getting close, if ESPHome can be setup as a source, I can get the hardware designed and ready for testing.
This hardware is something I believe FutureProofHomes would happily make and maintain

[Hedda]

If it would enable to use one such ESPHome device as an audio input (for capture) and then allow streaming encoded audio stream to other speakers in the home via Music Assistant then I think you would have a winner of a product!

[NicholsEthan]

https://maker.pro/raspberry-pi/projects/how-to-build-an-internet-radio-station-with-raspberry-pi-darkice-and-icecast This is provided in the Music Assistant documentation as a way to connect turntables/aux inputs into a source for MA. I'm definitely going to try this out

[Hedda]

https://maker.pro/raspberry-pi/projects/how-to-build-an-internet-radio-station-with-raspberry-pi-darkice-and-icecast This is provided in the Music Assistant documentation as a way to connect turntables/aux inputs into a source for MA. I'm definitely going to try this out

I know, I have not only tested it myself but I also updated Music Assistant documentation about such Darkice and Icecast based third-party workarounds to capture and stream audio, but the issue is that type of solution are not even close to being user-friendly as it basically a hacked together workaround.

So please understand that this feature request is asking for native or at least user-friendly ”standard” solution made specifically for Music Assistent that any user can easily setup without much effort and as such not have to maintain a custom solution.

For refererence, here is Music Assistant on how to achieve what you referred to today via third-party workarounds, however again please understand that it is not what this feature request is about so it is only a linked reference and not the diccussion here are that workaround is off-topic

• https://www.music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/

Copy for refererence (again note that it is not the solution asked for here):

I Want To Stream To

…

Music Assistant

You could use Darkcast to capture and Icecast to build a solution that will digitize and stream audio from your analog audio equipment like a vinyl record player (turntable/phonograph/gramophone) as a web radio stream (URL) that you could add as a radio station in Music Assistant.

For such a project you need an audio-capture and ADC (analogue-to-digital converter) device that provides audio-input and digitalization. For example, you can use either a USB Audio Device Interface adapter from Behringer or IK Multimedia, or a HiFiBerry board with ADC.

You can find a generic tutorial here, and for those that like step-by-step guides look here and here (the first of which also offers a pre-configured Linux appliance image for Raspberry Pi 3 / Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W).

You could use Darkcast to capture and Icecast to build a solution that will digitize and stream audio from your analog audio equipment like a vinyl record player (turntable/phonograph/gramophone) as a web radio stream (URL) that you could add as a radio station in Music Assistant.

For such a project you need an audio-capture and ADC (analogue-to-digital converter) device that provides audio-input and digitalization. For example, you can use either a USB Audio Device Interface adapter from Behringer or IK Multimedia, or a HiFiBerry board with ADC.

You can find a generic tutorial here, and for those that like step-by-step guides look here and here (the first of which also offers a pre-configured Linux appliance image for Raspberry Pi 3 / Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W).

[OzGav]

Don’t think I would agree that the solution is a hack, I think it is a clever use of available components. Having said that, as you know, this sits in a group of related feature requests.
https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/1156
https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/1114

It is also second in the music provider poll so it has the team’s attention!

[NicholsEthan]

Maybe there is an option for turning a mic input into a radio station that can be played through RadioBrowser/AzuraCast or something similar? At least I have noticed with messing with it recently, that you can create your own radio stations. AzuraCast appears to be free, and likely you can add the custom URL in MA (local ip for the station). All speculation on my end, if anyone tries it, which i might, let me know what happens!

[Hedda]

See reply above. Again that is already possible using third-party workarounds but understand that it not the solution that we are asking for in this feature request.

[grainsoflight]

My setup is currently turntable(with USB soundcard) ->rpi running virtualhere USB over IP-> Debian VM running liquidsoap/icecast (better FLAC implementation than darkice)-> MA. I agree that just having MA pull directly from a sound card would be a lot better as the ice cast server portion of this setup is the most unstable portion

[alextrical]

@Hedda @OzGav Initial thoughts would be that the hardware would be ESP32-S3 based, and use an external DAC to output a I2S stream into the ESP32. Something such as the PCM1808 would likeley be a good choice here.

I would be happy to draft up a schematic for the circuit that I believe would prove an initial hardware to allow for a ESPHome based solution to be built upon. However I dont have the skills to impliment the software support.

[alextrical]

I've ordered a module to test the PCM1808 with ESPHome, with the intent to verify it will work with the driver I will try and write.

Once I get it working with ESPHome, are there any developers of Music Assistant I could send a hardware setup to, to integrate the functionality of a ESPHome audio input/source

[OzGav]

You could open your own feature request. Support for ESP32 based players is already on the backlog.

[Hedda]

This for ESPHome on ESP32 is kind of similar to the request for Local Audio-In as a provider but do not think that existing request is really the same thing since that looks to specifically be referencing Linux players? So guess it should be a seperate new request for ESPHome-based players running on ESP32, or?

• https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/1156

[alextrical]

Agreed that it is kind of similar to Local Audio-in in terms of using a 3.5mm AUX as a Line level audio source, but is its own request.

The intent I am working towards, and that I think is a (elegant?) soultion to Remote 3.5mm is a ESP32-S3 ESHome based device.
I believe this will allow for a Low cost, stable device, that doesn't use a SBC/Embedded linux as its core.
This is currently a personal project as i see a need for it for others, but I believe its something that FutureProofHomes would pick up and make a polished manufactured device available.

[agdamsbo]

@alextrical I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Did you consider/would it be possible to add bluetooth input to such a device? I now bluetooth receiver are cheep, and would easy to just plug in the mini-jack, but it would be and elegant device to have it integrated. I would definitely buy a few devices!

[Hedda]

Is there any chance you and/or ESPHome developers you know could have an interest in helping out @alextrical with ESPHome software-side for his proof-of-concept ESP32-based development board with ADC (analog-to-digital conversion) module and audio input ports?

• https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/3763

ESPHome based Line-Level Audio ADC analogue-input for local-network multi-room music streaming:

• https://github.com/alextrical/ESPHome-LineLevelADC

Quote:

Originally posted by @alextrical in #3763

I am looking to help design a solution that will help work towards the request(s) #2343 for a Stereo line level audio input as a source to MusicAssistant, something that is embedded and doesn't rely on a RPi/Embedded linux device, while also allowing for a Remote 3.5mm AUX input jack

I will get a Schematic drafted up, with the intent to make a open source PCB that can connect some ESP32-S3 and PCM1808 modules together to enable a 3.5mm jack to receive audio into an ESPHome based firmware.

I will investigate and try to develop the Driver to add support for the PCM1808 in ESPHome if required.

If this is something you would be willing to investigate, I will happily get the initial KiCad project setup, and repo made available on my Github. I can send you a hardware development board once ive tested and confirmed that the ESPHome side is functional

Originally posted by @alextrical in #3763 (reply in thread)

This feature request is basically trying to work out what would be required for a 'Local Network' ESP32-S3 audio source to be able to stream audio to Music Assistant, and then forward that to the speakers in Music Assistant (basically treating the ESP32-S3 as a local network radio station)

So the flow I would expect:

• LP player - preamp - ESP32 with I2S line level ADC - WiFi - Music assistant - WiFi - Squeezelite player - Speakers

Originally posted by @alextrical in #3763 (reply in thread)

I believe solution that will likely solve the issue for @Hedda and likely others, is a Remote WiFi audio input device. I know for certain that my media center, where I would want such a WiFi input sound card, is nowhere near to my server hosting Home Assistant.

Originally posted by @alextrical in #2343 (reply in thread)

The intent I am working towards, and that I think is a (elegant?) soultion to Remote 3.5mm is a ESP32-S3 ESHome based device.
I believe this will allow for a Low cost, stable device, that doesn't use a SBC/Embedded linux as its core.
This is currently a personal project as i see a need for it for others, but I believe it's something that FutureProofHomes would pick up and make a polished manufactured device available.

Originally posted by @alextrical in #2343 (reply in thread)

I've ordered a module to test the PCM1808 with ESPHome, with the intent to verify it will work with the driver I will try and write.

Once I get it working with ESPHome, are there any developers of Music Assistant I could send a hardware setup to, to integrate the functionality of a ESPHome audio input/source.

Originally posted by @alextrical in #2343 (reply in thread)

This is likely the component in ESPHome I would guess we would use. I will look at getting a driver written up for the PCM1808

https://github.com/esphome/esphome-docs/blob/current/components/microphone/i2s_audio.rst

The question is how can we get that audio input piped into music assistant as an audio source?

PS Again, this request for a more user-friendly ESP32 + ESPHome appliance plug-and-play solution is partially related to this other discussion:

• https://github.com/orgs/music-assistant/discussions/2343

[thostie2002]

Hi,I now have an solution with dark ice, and icecast running on a Raspberry pi.  This is working great.I maybe can help with that.

[OzGav]

@thostie2002 please don't reply via email and leave all of the attached message below your response. I have edited your post.

[Hedda]

I now have an solution with dark ice, and icecast running on a Raspberry pi.  This is working great.I maybe can help with that.

@thostie2002 That is kind of off-topic since it is not a user-friendly solution that works out-of-the-box, but you can start a new separate how-to thread and/or a generic tutorial repo that explains how to setup that so it can be linked to from the website -> https://www.music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/

Similar to the existing tutorial links in that section:

Music Assistant

You could use Darkcast to capture and Icecast to build a solution that will digitize and stream audio from your analog audio equipment like a vinyl record player (turntable/phonograph/gramophone) as a web radio stream (URL) that you could add as a radio station in Music Assistant.

For such a project you need an audio-capture and ADC (analogue-to-digital converter) device that provides audio-input and digitalization. For example, you can use either a USB Audio Device Interface adapter from Behringer or IK Multimedia, or a HiFiBerry board with ADC.

You can find a generic tutorial here, and for those that like step-by-step guides look here and here (the first of which also offers a pre-configured Linux appliance image for Raspberry Pi 3 / Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W).

[Hedda]

For reference, @sle118 & @philippe44 was working on some line-level input ESP32 hardware board solution(s) for the Squeezelite protocol. See:

• Add support for Line input on SqueezeAMP / ESP32-Audio-kit and others sle118/squeezelite-esp32#227

Maybe abandoned now(?) but their prototype was called "SqueezeIO" or "SqueezeNET" and was based on the "SqueezeAMP" all-in-one board:

• https://github.com/philippe44/SqueezeAMP

[Hedda]

Normally you have to use an expensive propriatory Hi-Fi music streamer system to achive this, howverr there are also mid-range products like the WiiM Ultra, WiiM Pro Plus, WiiM Amp, and WiiM Amp Pro use Linkplay streaming technology that enable analog and digital audio input ports, but practially all of them will only stream within their own ecosystem so you need to buy both music streamers and stream receivers from the same brand for all your speakers to make them compatible.

• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimultra/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimpro/overview
• https://www.wiimhome.com/wiimamp/overview

As another existing real-world product for use case reference, check out thhe new "UniFi PoE Audio Port" device (with its propriatory UniFi Play ecosystem from Ubiquiti) is another expensive consumer product showcasing real use case for having AUX inputs in an audio streamer:

• https://store.ui.com/eu/en/products/upl-port
  • https://eu.store.ui.com/eu/en/products/upl-port

I think this product is extra interesting becauase it goes not only feature RCA and Optical audio input ports but it even also features an HDMI input port with eARC (electronic Audio Return Channel) to enable support to to be able to use a TV as an audio source:

[Hedda]

Initial thoughts would be that the hardware would be ESP32-S3 based, and use an external DAC to output a I2S stream into the ESP32. Something such as the PCM1808 would likeley be a good choice here.

For optional digital audio input hardware, check out this ESP32 Audio DSP project that create a multi-channel audio system based on ESP32-S3 and ProtoDAC x8 with TDA1387, which more importantly as relevant to this request also feature a DIR9001 96-kHz, 24-Bit Digital Audio Interface Receiver to enable SPDIF input or allow digital RCA audio input via i2s as well:

• https://github.com/Kristian8606/esp32s3_audio_dsp

  • https://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/DIR9001

By the way, his system also supports flexible audio signal processing, including IIR equalization and FIR crossover filtering, before sending the signal to the DACs.

Features

• SPDIF input via DIR9001, or other i2s source
• DSP Processing:
• IIR Equalization (Main ESP32-S3, U1)
• FIR Crossover Filters (U2, U3, U4 - Low, Mid, High)
• Multi-ESP Architecture
• I2S signal buffering with TXS0108E or other suitable buffer.
• Separate Power Supplies for DACs and ESP32-S3 to reduce noise
• Configurable via menuconfig

[Hedda]

@marcelveldt nice to hear you during State of the Open Home mentioned the idea to use Sendspin to stream input from a vinyl record player.

Any chance you could convince one of the Open Home Foundation's commcercial partners (@mellowism at Nabu Casa or @TrevorSchirmer at Apollo Automation) to make a small open-source WiFi-connected hardware device that feature and line-level analog AUX audio input port and sell it as a technical-preview device similar to Home Assistant's Voice Preview Edition hardware?

Hopefully the goal should be to manufacture a lot so that via economy of scale could offer a reasonable priced appliance device that offer a plug-and-play experience to enable Music Assistant users to use any physical audio/music equipment that output analog stereo audio, like a vinyl record player (turntable/phonograph/gramophone), Audio CD-player, or casette-player, located anywhere in your home as an (remote) audio source for Music Assistant.

At least none of today's DIY solutions for this are simple nor user-friendly -> https://www.music-assistant.io/faq/stream-to/#music-assistant

Perhaps such a product could be the first ever official Music Assistant branded and the first ever official Sendspin branded hardware device?

If possible make a headless combo-device which offers both AUX input and AUX output ports (RCA Input/Output) so that it couuld double as a player/reciever as well and that way be used as kind-of a pass-through device for any speakers that users normally have right next to their vinyl record player.

Also if you do ask then please consider asking if it would be too expensive with a design that offer a built-in "phono pre-amp" that can be disabled since some vinyl record players have a built-in pre-ampififer while some others do not, so if want to offer best possible plug-and-play compatibly then it both needs a built-in low-noise stereo preamplifier for people who do not have their own preamp, yet the user needs to be able to manually disable that preamp (preferably via a physicial switch) so that it can be used if the user already have their own high-end pre-amp.

For reference, a pre-amp increases the line-level signal from vinyl record player which is essential (though some turntables have them included). So your turntable's audio output is first routed through some kind of preamplifier component/circuit (also known as a phono preamp) for preamplication, and that converts a weak signal into an output signal strong enough to be noise-tolerant and strong enough for further processing. Without this preamplication, an amplified signal from a turntable would be noisy or distorted. The preamp also ensures that your records sound balanced and accurate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preamplifier

Obviously if the hardware could be made to have greater compability then it more likley than more people will buy it, and the same person might even buy more than one device to connect multiple audio-sources, (again like example a vinyl record player, a Audio CD-player, and a casette-player).

Regardless, I am sure that any official hardware device with a line-level analog audio input port would be awesome!

FYI, for others who read this and did not know, marcelveldt is the founder of Music Assistant + lead of ecosystems at the Open Home Foundation and he plus one of the developers working on Sendspin discussed its origen + future plans during the State of the Open Home 2026 live video stream which you can watch here starting at around the at 1:01 time-mark:

• https://www.youtube.com/live/XyAL1to3Lm4?si=jyxKu5XxBtvdiPNq&t=3666

And, by the way, State of the Open Home 2026 covered what Open Home Foundation has done the past year and some plans about the future:

• https://sotoh.openhomefoundation.org

PS: Off-topic but among other things State of the Open Home pre-announced an ESP32-based IR-blaster protoype as open-source hardware.