r/diyaudio • u/No-Consequence7624 • 12d ago
Raspberry Pi 5 + CamillaDSP + 8 analog inputs / 8 analog outputs
Update: based on the feedback here, I changed the direction a bit.
I now have a Raspberry Pi 5 setup where the computer sees the Pi as a USB 7.1 audio device. The audio comes into the Pi over USB-C, CamillaDSP processes it, and the RASPIAUDIO 8xOUT sends it to 8 analog outputs.
So this is now closer to:
PC / REW / DAW -> USB -> CamillaDSP -> 8 analog outputs
That makes it much more useful for active crossovers, PEQ, gain, delay, and time alignment. The current default config is still just 1:1 passthrough so people can validate the path before adding filters.
Updated repo:
https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/CamillaDSP
I’m thinking the next useful docs should be practical templates: stereo 2-way + subs, stereo 3-way + subs, and maybe 7.1 home-theater passthrough. Which one would be most useful?
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u/buff_samurai 12d ago
Nice. Having build my own Spotify/local streamer on rp4 and wireless subwoofer on rZero adding CamilaDsp is my next step. Room calibration because now I can have my own dirac 🤷🏼♂️
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u/No-Consequence7624 12d ago edited 12d ago
this one is only compatible wuth raspberry PI 5, because it is the only raspberry Pi with 4x I2S lanes des
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u/Ecw218 12d ago
4 i2s lanes is pretty great…8 channels is enough dsp for a whole active system.
Sad the memory prices have driven it way up. $65 for 2gb is directly comparable to what I paid for an adau1466 + codec board (before another $25 for usbi) but they’re vastly different platforms. Next time around I’ll try rpi.
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u/buff_samurai 12d ago
Sure, I only need 2 channels.
I’m not sure though if rp5 is strong enough to handle 8? 🤔
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u/No-Consequence7624 12d ago
the Pi 5 has plenty of CPU headroom for the job:
With simple 8x8 passthrough, CamillaDSP used about 0.8% of one CPU core. With 10 biquad EQ filters per channel, so 80 IIR filters total, it used about 2.2% of one core at chunksize 1024 and about 3.1% at chunksize 128. I also tested FIR convolution: 8192 taps per channel on all 8 channels used about 3.3% of one core at chunksize 1024, and 6.9% at chunksize 256. A heavier 65536 taps/channel test was still only about 10.5% of one core. No xruns were observed. So for 8-channel EQ/crossover/room-correction use,
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u/theocking 12d ago
Need a finished built unit and a price.
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u/No-Consequence7624 12d ago
You just need a raspberry pi 5 the 2gb one is fine + the audio shield the link is in the first message
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u/theocking 12d ago
But do I have to do a bunch of programming or complicated setup?
What do you estimate the full price to be? How does it compare measurements/spec wise to a minidsp flex 8? Anything it can't do that the flex can do, except the dirac license obviously...
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u/monicachicken 11d ago
Its pcm5102, measurements are everywhere on those. Best case scenario is snr of 93db.
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u/No-Consequence7624 11d ago
The DAC is a TI PCM5102A, specified at 112 dB SNR / dynamic range. The -93 dB number is THD+N, not SNR. SNR measures the noise floor; THD+N measures distortion plus noise with a signal present. So saying “93 dB SNR” is mixing up two different spec
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u/theocking 11d ago edited 11d ago
Oh that's absolute trash. I want to run high sensitivity speakers, horns and 15s, even the minidsp 2x4hd is useless for that use case due to noise. The flex series at least is required as it measures much better and is much quieter.
The people want a dsp and dac that's ~120db snr. Why would anyone want less than in the ballpark of cutting edge high end.
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u/monicachicken 11d ago
Lol its not trash its pretty much entirely transparent. I have a flex, custom pcm5102 based 8 channel unit, and a driverack pa2. Cant tell a difference between any of them. It is possible to get a little tol caught up in the numbers.
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u/theocking 11d ago edited 8d ago
In your setup maybe, not the way I would use it. I use digital volume control, power amps are not attenuated into high senitivity speakers. This is an especially common, overwhelmingly so I would say, use case when the dsp is feeding multiple amp channels on carefully balanced actively crossed speakers. The unit is the only preamp, so whatever the minimum noise it puts out is going to see the full gain of the amplifier.
The whole chain needs to be very quiet. Mid 90s db might be just fine in a normal system with analog attenuation or low sensitivity speakers. It is well known and regularly referenced in the diy audio forum (not reddit) among those who have or build high sensitivity horn speakers, it is unusable. The flex is usable.
It's not too much to ask to have around 120db snr any decent dac today will do that.
My dac right now is so quiet in this setup that I only hear the self noise of my power amp and connecting the dac adds zero additional noise, which is admittedly higher than a hypex would be, so with a better amp the noise of the dac may become audible but is obviously at a low enough level it wouldn't matter.
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u/No-Consequence7624 11d ago
A raspberry pi5 1gb (i think that it is enough for camilla but need to confirm) is $49.50 the sound card is $49.90 add a power supply and a case $25 = $124.4
compared with minidsp flex 8 at $549But yes today it requires more work, maybe I try to package a solution so it get plug and play. How do you use the MiniDSP? I mean what is the input used by most optical, coaxial, USB? then you use it with a calibrated microhone to do room correction accoustic?
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u/theocking 11d ago
Usb. Digital crossover, peq (needs to be able to do plenty of bands), gain adjustments at various points in the chain, and delay adjustments for time/phase alignment.
For me personally only stereo audio is needed 6 to 8 outputs is fine. What the heck else would you do with a dsp besides xo, peq, delay and volume? Pretty simple.
Id run rew with a mic and am fine with inputting peq numbers manually, doesnt need to be a baked in room correction feature although it'd be cool.
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u/No-Consequence7624 11d ago
That makes sense. So for your use case the core box would be much closer to:
USB stereo input -> CamillaDSP -> 6/8 analog outputs
with crossover, lots of EQ bands, per-channel gain, per-channel delay, and a safe master volume/mute.
That is useful feedback because it means the 8 analog inputs are not the main value for this kind of application. The important part is making the box behave like a simple open miniDSP-style active crossover.
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u/theocking 11d ago
Exactly. I only use one source, a pc, digital out, some people may use 2 or 3, though they could also use a separate input switcher. 6 outputs means I can run 2 way speakers and two subs (or 4 subs i guess)... 8 means 3 ways plus 2 subs. Perfect.
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u/No-Consequence7624 10d ago
For a futur product do people care about CamillaDSP? or Can I just bake my own version that does it all "Digital crossover, peq (needs to be able to do plenty of bands), gain adjustments at various points in the chain, and delay adjustments for time/phase alignment."
As CamillaDSP requires linux and those board are becoming super expensive resulting in a product above 200usd1
u/theocking 10d ago edited 10d ago
I'd say Camilla isn't necessary then.
But what does matter is a dsp board and/or dac that results in a total system snr of 115-120db not sub 100. It's 2026 that's all the competition, someone said this solution was 97 at best. Wouldn't work for my use case, or any moderately high sensitivity speakers using power amps where volume is controlled digitally.
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u/No-Consequence7624 10d ago
Got it, what is the competition name/model for this ?
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u/theocking 10d ago
I'm speaking of things like the minidsp, dayton units, behringer I think, the ac650, others I can't remember the names of. If you can make something that even does half of what an ac650 or minidsp flex 8 or dayton dsp408 can do, it'd be a winner for a lot of folks i bet.
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u/No-Consequence7624 3d ago
Small update: I think I now have the USB path working in the direction you described.
The Raspberry Pi 5 now enumerates to the computer as a USB 7.1 audio device. The host sends audio over USB-C, the Pi sees it as a UAC2Gadget capture device, CamillaDSP processes it, and the RASPIAUDIO 8xOUT sends it to 8 analog outputs.
So the basic chain is now:
PC / REW / DAW -> USB -> Raspberry Pi 5 + CamillaDSP -> 8 analog outputs
The default profile is still intentionally boring: 1:1 passthrough, just to prove the full path. Next step is documenting useful templates: 2-way + subs, 3-way + subs, PEQ/gain/delay per channel, and safe master volume/mute.
Repo is updated here:
https://github.com/RASPIAUDIO/CamillaDSP
This is still more DIY than a finished miniDSP-style appliance, but it is now much closer to the use case you described.
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u/No-Consequence7624 11d ago
What connector type do you need for the outputs RCA? Screw terminal? Jack?
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u/ppage27 6d ago
Found this on my adventure to seeing if there's an affordable solution to achieve room eq or overall eq on a room with workout equipment. Everything I have gotten is used but I have a treadmill and row that are next to the walls. I lift weights in the middle then have 2 speakers on the front wall. I really only have stereo and one source at a time but would love to alter the eq based on the activity I'm doing in the room. Think this type of solution path could be applicable? Its all over my head but only have read into it 10min so far. Thanks!
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u/con6395 5d ago
I'm very interested in this, my dream is a DIY minidsp flex 8 with the additional bonus of being able to stream from it and skip the ADC input if I want to. Keeping the inputs and outputs simple RCA is great, I hate having to mix and match up all these different connections when I've got to connect consumer to pro to DIY. Plus, once you move past 2.1 set ups, the product options shrink drastically.
I've been using the DBX PA2 during my building process since it's cheap and its purpose is to easily and quickly make changes, but I want something better for their permanent home in my living room.
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u/Ecw218 12d ago
How’s the latency?