New Spotify Feature

[Brennan Support]

Hi All

This is just to let you know I added a facility to install open source program Librespot.

This will allow you to stream musc from Spotify through your B2/BB1 - but you need a Spotify Premium account

Find out more here.

Let me have your thoughts. Librespot runs independently inside the Brennan - if it proves popular it may be possible to improve the communcation between Librespot and Brennan but its pretty handy as is.

Martin

[Nick S]

Just installed a new SD to get B2B software and I am running Librespot now. Awesome new feature, I love my B2 it just keeps getting better.

[Adrian Dubock]

How to i get the latest software on the B2, please.

 

[Rearwing]

Spotify - Librespot

A great thing about the Brennan architecture - based on linux - is that it can grow and grow.

We have just added a facility to run an open source app called Librespot. 

This allows Spotify Premium folk to stream music to their B2 or BB1 using Spotify Connect.

 

Instructions

Make sure you have the latest software (on or after 23rd May 2020)

B2: Settings->Maintenance->Advanced->Get Librespot

BB1: Settings & Tools->Maintenance->Advanced->Get Librespot

The Brennan will reboot with libespot running in the background.

You can now send music from the Spotify app on a phone/tablet on the same wifi network as the Brennan.

 

[Daniel Taylor]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 12:30:33 PM UTC-4, Adrian Dubock wrote:

How to i get the latest software on the B2, please.

You can do that by doing either a Web Upgrade (Settings menu) or a SW Upgrade (Maintenance menu). 

However, for the Spotify app to work, you need the B2B (Bluetooth enhanced) version of software first.   Check your software version.  If it starts out with just B2, you'll need to upgrade to B2B.  If it is already B2B, you're ready to load the new app.  Please keep in mind that at this point, the Spotify enabled software is still experimental.  If you're not comfortable with that, better to wait awhile.

Instructions on how to manually load software onto an SD card are on the Brennan website.

[Adrian Dubock]

(each answer leads to another question... )  How do i check what software version i have, and how do i upgrade to B2B if i need to  ensuring its 'on or after 23rd May 2020'? 

[I'm making progress (slowly) having reformatted the HDD and rebooted.  The Web UI is now working.  CD covers and tracks are showing correctly.  Bluetooth Link to Bose Soundlink Mini 2 working well (and i can link Bose to my phone as well).]  

[Adrian Dubock]

Its working with Bluetooth out (via the Dongle) does that mean i have B2B ?  In which case how do i get the latest software?

[Adrian Dubock]

i've seen it in Settings - Software B2.  

Given what I've read about limitations of Brennan B2 and Bluetooth out to Bose speakers, as mine works and i can get Spotify from my phone to the Bose Speaker (and control the volume through the phone) maybe Bluetooth enhanced B2B risks screwing up the currently adequate bluetooth functionality. So i'll leave well alone (for now)

[Daniel Taylor]

In the WebUI, at the top, there is a button with an icon that looks like a gear or cog.  Click that, and the Settings box will come up. At the top of the Settings info you'll find the version.

[Mitch Russo]

Martin,

That's great news. Any chance we can add Pandora too? Premium of course.

Mitch

[John Lang Wilson]

Yes, running Spotify now too.  

I hadn't understood the difference between B2 and B2B and had not made the update since my Bluetooth Out worked OK for what I asked of it. 

So flashed new SD, booted B2, updated software, got Librespot and I'm running.

As ever it sounds more complicated than it is. 

This is great. :-) 

[JFBUK]

Hi,

I have tried to update the software both by

Settings->Web Upgrade

and downloading and copying the .tar file to a usb drive and  mounting in USB C

Settings->Maintenance->SW Upgrade

My software version remains unchanged

Software Version B2 May 19 2020 08:26:37

Is the only current way get this update by flashing an SD card or is the "this file" link pointing at the wrong version ?

If your B2 is on Wifi you can upgrade using Settings->Web Upgrade. If not then transfer this file onto a USB memory stick, plug into USB C on your B2 and use Settings->Maintenance->SW Upgrade.

Thanks

Thanks

[Peter Lowham]

Hi JFBUK,

The problem here is that you are on software version B2 May 19 2020.  This is the standard software with an earlier version of bluetooth code.

The first step to take is to upgrade to version B2B May 19 2020.

The additional 'B' in B2B indicates that the bluetooth software code has been upgraded to the latest version.  You need this version before the Librespot code will work. Below is the link to  the Brennan webpage which gives deails on how to do this.  Read the 'Notes' very carefully, before starting the process.

https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/Spotify.  

Regards,

Peter.

[JFBUK]

Thanks Peter but I realise I need to upgrade to the B2B version. 

The problem is where do I download it from ?

Both the Web upgrade path and the download of the .tar file are not giving me a B2B version.

Thats why I asked whether I need to flash an SD card. If I do I still need to get a download of that version.

Thanks

[Edwyn Corteen]

Hi JF

Yes you need to flash an SD card, software available here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iZPdSlQ7YPgX5iWN4YXRNM6-NKLPQYiA/view

[Peter Lowham]

Hi JFBUK,

On the link that I sent to you, open up that webpage (this should be the' New Spotify' page).  If you look through the 'Notes' section, you will find a link to 'Instructions'.  Follow this link (which will take you to the Brennan 'Techy Stuff' page).   Scroll down this page until you get to 'New SD Card' and you will find a download link in that section.  

The SD card software file is named   B2BNov2019.zip  This is the version that you need to build the SD card from.

There is also a download link in that page for 'Etcher' which you will probably need to flash the SD card.

From that point on, just follow the instructions and you should be OK.

Regards,

Peter.

B2BNov2019.zip

B2BNov2019.zip

[JFBUK]

Thanks Peter & Edwyn.

I only read the right hand side of the Spotify page - doh :)

I'll give that a try 

[Peter Lowham]

Hi JFBUK,

I've just run through the process with a ew SD card, as its been a while since I last did one.

Downloaded B2BNOV2019.zip

Plugged new SC card into PC

Fired up 'balenaEtcher' application on PC

Pointed 'balenaEtcher' to the B2BNOV2019.zip file  (DON'T unzip the file)

Clicked on balenaEtcher  'Start' button

Took 'balenaEtcher a few minutes to flash and verify the SD card.

On my B2 (it's an older model with the SD card sticking out of the side; very handy), I swapped the new SD card into it.

Powered up the B2

Checked on software version which showed as 'B2B Nov 06 2019'

Ran a 'Web Upgrade' to the latest software on the Brennan website

B2 rebooted

Ran a software version check - now showing 'B2B May 23 2020'

Ran 'Setting' --> 'Maintenance' --> 'Advanced' --> ''Get Librespot' 

B2 rebooted

Ran a software version check - still showing 'B2B May 23 2020'

So from a bare SD card to full upgrade including Librespot took less than 30 minutes to complete.

Regards,

Peter.

[JFBUK]

Thanks again Peter. Great instructions :)

All worked fine !

[Peter Lowham]

Hi JFBUK,

That's good to know.  Good luck from here on in!

Regards,

Peter.

[Mike W]

Whilst flashing the new memory card, noticed on the Balena page, using multiple Rasp Pi's to form a wifi multi-room music system. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Certainly looks on the face of it a fairly reasonable way of pumping the B2 output around the house.

Mike

[Mike W]

Followed the instructions and all went really well, now using my Spotify account on the B2, fantastic!

Well done to all who helped in the development

Regards

Mike

[Richard Schwartz]

It you have two separate B2's or a B2 and a B1 using Librespot it seems like only ONE unit can have it active and interface with Spotify at a time.    The first Librespot activated seems to grab the attention of Spotify until it is removed.    This is true even if a unit that was installed first is powered off.    Just curious what is happening here.  Is the first unit's IP address getting stored someplace?  

[Jeffrey Rothfeder]

It says that we can buy an SD card from you all to install without having to do it ourselves. Where/how can I buy it? Thanks. 

[Daniel Taylor]

You can buy the SD card.  It will have recent software on it, but probably not the absolute most up to the minute software.  After you get it, you must install it yourself, and then do a Web Upgrade.  Then it will be all set.

Go to the Brennan website:  www.brennan.co.uk  and click on the Shop blue button at the top.  Scroll down to SD Card.  It's GBP10.00.

If you're in the USA, send an e-mail to thebrennanb2 (at) gmail (dot) com  and ask them how to proceed.

[Robert]

Is it possible to disconnect the cd drive and reclaim a USB port? I do all my burning on my computer, much faster. With three USB ports I can have an antenna, Bluetooth and a backup drive. Thank you. 

[john Henrick]

Hi

No as usb b is used for the hard drive

You could connect a usb hub to gain extra sockets

John

[JFBUK]

Hi Robert,

This may seem a silly question but if you are burning the CDs on your PC and then uploading to the Brennan why not just backup directly from the PC to a USB drive

John

[Robert]

Hi John, Not a silly question, just thought it would be easier to have an open USB connection.

[Daniel Taylor]

Hi Robert,

I may be wrong about this, but I don't think the internal CD drive is connected to a USB port.  If you're so inclined, it's not hard to take the box apart.  If you see it plugged into a USB port on the mother board, you could probably unplug it and plug in a short USB extension cord and run it to the outside through one fo the holes in the back.  I've had mine apart (to replace the hard disk), I'm not certain, but I don't think it was a USB port that the CD drive uses - it was some other kind of connector.  But as I said, I could be wrong.  I wasn't really thinking about that when I looked inside.

There's also a way to connect to the Raspberry Pi OS via SSH - using Putty or similar - and use the Linux command line to query it as to what's connected.  I don't know the details, but I'm sure others here do.

You might want to start a new thread about this, because this doesn't seem related to the new Spotify feature that names this thread.

[Mike W]

The Spotify feature is working really well for me but my wife encountered a problem that maybe someone could help with.

I started Spotify on the B2 in the normal way and selected the music that I wanted to play, not necessarily my wife's favourite!

I needed to pop to town so off I went with the music still playing on the B2. My wife who had heard enough of 70's rock by then wanted to change to Radio 2 but could not find an easy way to get the B2 to change, in the end she switched off and restarted.

Has anyone found an easy way either on the B2 or the UI to get out of the Spotify stream without resorting to switching off?

Regards

Mike

[Davywhizz]

Coincidentally, I tried Spotify through the B2 for the first time today. I got out by selecting "this device" in the Spotify list of devices. 

[Davywhizz]

..obviously in the Spotify app I was selecting the music from, not on the B2 or in the UI.