Music Assistant 2.8 - huge release

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Maybe deserving of a blog post ?!?

Also, there doesn’t seem to be an appropriate category or any existing tags for music-assistant.

2.8.0

Latest

@github-actions github-actions released this 8 hours ago

2.8.0

20d368a

:warning: Important Notes

Attention! This release contains a big change in the way we let you interact with players that support multiple protocols. These will be merged into one single player, greatly improving the UX. If you are using Home Assistant, this could result in entities being renamed that will break automations and/or dashboards.

:package: Stable Release

Changes since 2.7.11

:warning: Breaking Changes

:rocket: New Providers

:rocket: Features and enhancements

and more too long to fit here

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1 Like
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"Attention! This release contains a big change in the way we let you interact with players that support multiple protocols. "

Can we switch this back to individual players as, the Airplay or DLNA Sources for example for an Yamaha Receiver which is triggered by YNCA Scene’s with different Inputs. e.g how do I in MA if I select the protocol for player for RX-A/V device (Airplay/DLNA Server/MusicCast) etc if they are the one listed Player ? Or can I break one player into 2/3 for different protocols ? Or turn this single player approach off ?

4

Can someone confirm what the new Music Assistant player configuration settings is “claiming”?

I just added an ESP32 board with Squeezelite firmware to my network

HA player settings gives me a configuration option to select or prioritize the streaming protocols it uses.

In addition to Squeezelite, it lists SendSpin as an option !

Is this true?
We can use SendSpin on Squeezelite firmware clients ?
(e.g. it does not require ESPHome firmware)?

Music Assistant - SendSpin option on Squeezelite Client
Music Assistant - SendSpin option on Squeezelite Client1343×801 66.6 KB

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I’ll just briefly add, Music Assistant is definitely selecting the music protocol to play.

TL;DR
It chose AirPlay with all 3 options enabled (config screen above)
It chose Squeezelite with AirPlay disabled
client refused to play with only SendSpin enabled (AirPlay and Squeezelite disabled)

With the configuration shown in the screen above (all 3 options available and none set as preferred), MA selected (prioritized??) AirPlay to stream

my ESP32 log confirming use of AirPlay:

[00:06:54.486] register_external:469 Initializing AirPlay sink

[00:06:56.754] raop_sink_start:178 starting Airplay for ip 192.168.1.11 with servicename HouseWaves
[00:06:56.757] raop_create:201 starting mDNS with 0483085C4340@HouseWaves

[00:08:46.155] rtsp_thread:397 got RTSP connection 53
[00:08:46.391] handle_rtsp:444 [0x3fac7174]: received ANNOUNCE

[00:08:46.811] rtp_thread_func:740: 1st sync packet received
[00:08:47.281] rtp_thread_func:697: 1st audio packet received
[00:08:47.283] buffer_put_packet:459: 1st accepted packet:17768, now playing
[00:08:47.294] raop_sink_cmd_handler:319 Play

my ESP32 log (minus time stamps) confirming use of Squeezelite (AirPlay starts but not used)

register_external:469 Initializing AirPlay sink
raop_sink_start:178 starting Airplay for ip 192.168.1.73

slimproto:964 connecting to 192.168.1.166:3483
slimproto:1011 connected
sendHELO:153 mac: 04:83:08:5d:0e:60

stream_sock:660 connecting to 192.168.1.166:8097

codec_open:283 codec open: ‘m’
codec_open:283 codec open: ‘f’

{ MP3 codec opens then switches to FLAC for Squeezelite}

output_frames:150 track start sample rate: 48000
output_thread_i2s:537 Output state is 2

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Really nice release — the new features look excellent and love the party mode / QR code for guests. For my particular workflow I still need access to Plex rating keys/playcount behaviour that older MA versions exposed, so I’ll stick with my current version for now. Happy to upgrade once that data is available again.

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Thank you. This has fixed the TTS announcements over snapcast issue I had with v2.7 that led me to stay on 2.6. Snapcast sync seems to be working well and fingers crossed I don’t have the random pausing issue that led to my wife threatening to buyl an analogue radio! BBC Sounds is a great addition. Thank you!