Good way to split out audio interface via loopback?

[BlipRanger]

I've been looking for a good way to share the audio interface with another app at the same time; does anyone have a good way to split out the mic so that it isn't totally locked by Birdnet?

[tphakala]

Which OS? If Linux docker or non-docker install?

On Linux with non-docker install it is easy by configuring a dsnoop device in .asoundrc for user you are running BirdNET-Go as. Dsnoop is a shared capure device on ALSA. Once dsnoop is configured you need to change BirdNET-Go and any other audio capture apps to use dsnoop as audio device.

ChatGPT will give you full config.

[tphakala]

here is config by Claude

I'll create an .asoundrc configuration that sets up a shared dsnoop device using USB audio as the backend.

This configuration creates a virtual ALSA device that allows multiple applications to simultaneously capture audio from your USB audio device.

# .asoundrc configuration for shared dsnoop using USB audio

# Define the USB audio card
pcm.usb_audio {
    type hw
    card "Device"  # Replace with your actual USB device name
    # You may need to adjust the card name - run 'aplay -l' to find it
}

# Define the dsnoop device for sharing capture
pcm.dsnoop_usb {
    type dsnoop
    ipc_key 1234
    slave {
        pcm "usb_audio"
        channels 2  # Stereo input
        rate 48000  # Sample rate - adjust as needed
        period_time 0
        period_size 1024
        buffer_size 4096
    }
    bindings {
        0 0  # Map channel 0 to 0
        1 1  # Map channel 1 to 1
    }
}

# Create a virtual device that's easier to reference
pcm.shared_usb_input {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "dsnoop_usb"
}

# Set the default capture device to our shared device
pcm.!default {
    type asym
    playback.pcm "plug:hw:0,0"  # Default system playback
    capture.pcm "shared_usb_input"
}

# Control settings for the USB device
ctl.usb_audio {
    type hw
    card "Device"  # Match the card name from above
}

To use this configuration:

1. Save it to ~/.asoundrc in your home directory
2. Adjust the card "Device" name to match your actual USB audio device name (run aplay -l or arecord -l to see device names)
3. You may need to adjust the sample rate and buffer sizes based on your USB audio device capabilities
4. Applications can now access the shared input device by using "shared_usb_input" or simply use the system default

This configuration allows multiple applications to simultaneously record from the USB audio device without conflicts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[BlipRanger]

Which OS? If Linux docker or non-docker install?

On Linux with non-docker install it is easy by configuring a dsnoop device in .asoundrc for user you are running BirdNET-Go as. Dsnoop is a shared capure device on ALSA. Once dsnoop is configured you need to change BirdNET-Go and any other audio capture apps to use dsnoop as audio device.

ChatGPT will give you full config.

What about if it's the docker on linux setup?

[tphakala]

Then it is far more challening, idea is same but .asoundrc config and second capture software should be placed within container.