Help with using Virtualhere with USB soundcard, so far no luck

Submitted by ldorio on #1

Hey all,

I'm not a licensed user YET, but if I can get this to work properly, then it stands to reason that I will want an optimized version.

I'm using a Native Instruments Audio8 interface, which I have plugged into my Google Pixel phone. (Android 7.11). I'm connected to a Linksys router which is capable of N speeds throughout my network.

So far, I have the server/client working, able to access the card etc. However, the audio output is garbled and completely unusable. I've tried by just using the audio output of Winamp software, which to my knowledge uses WDM or DirectSound. I'm playing a regular 320kbps MP3 file, 44kHz stereo, but also a 16/44 WAV file.

Before I get knee deep in trying every possible thing I know, does anyone have any pointers or tips that they could offer?

I have about half a dozen interfaces, and a few other phones as well. As time goes on, I'd like to use the soundcard in ASIO mode.

Submitted by Michael on Wed, 2017/03/08 - 07:09

#2

I think the pixel wifi has too much latency to stream audio at that high bitrate. I have a nexus which steams audio via virtualhere to my logitech lapdesk and the audio sounds ok but thats only at 44khz.

Submitted by ldorio on Wed, 2017/03/08 - 20:42

#3

Hi Michael,

Thanks so much for your insight on this one. Is there any device that you would, in theory, suggest as being best for high bitrate audio streaming? Would it be possible to get away with something portable (ie, not a full-fledged Windows machine)? I have a small budget to mess around with, so I can definitely sink a couple bucks into a new device and a license.

Submitted by Michael on Thu, 2017/03/09 - 16:29

#4

VirtualHere transmits the usb signal only, so I would recommend some protocol at a higher level as i think the usb protocol is too low level for your use case. unless you have a fast low latency wired network connection between server and client. The usb protocol transmits using small packet sizes, whereas a higher level protocol would buffer the sound data into larger packets that would avoid the latency issue. Unfortunately im not familiar with what higher level protocol would be better.

Submitted by ldorio on Thu, 2017/03/09 - 22:04

#5

Got it... Though in theory, I wanted to specifically transmit the USB protocol over a network. I'd almost rather go through the pain of figuring out a way to do this than to use another protocol to transmit the audio. So with that said, if I wanted to do a wired type of setup, which would be the ideal device to use as a server?

Submitted by Michael on Fri, 2017/03/10 - 08:49

#6

Basically any fast ARM or x86 processor with gigabit ethernet..