reverted back to working version

timeturner.py

@@ -1,88 +1,67 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
-import os
-import subprocess
 import curses
-import time
+import subprocess
 import shutil
-import select
+import time
-import signal
 
-FIFO_PATH = "/tmp/ltcpipe"
+def start_ltc_stream():
-
+    # Launch ffmpeg piped into ltcdump
-def setup_fifo():
+    ffmpeg = subprocess.Popen(
-    if os.path.exists(FIFO_PATH):
+        ["ffmpeg", "-f", "alsa", "-i", "default", "-ac", "1", "-ar", "48000", "-f", "s16le", "-"],
-        os.remove(FIFO_PATH)
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-    os.mkfifo(FIFO_PATH)
+        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL
-
+    )
-def start_arecord():
+    ltcdump = subprocess.Popen(
-    return subprocess.Popen([
+        ["ltcdump", "-f", "-"],
-        "arecord", "-f", "S16_LE", "-c", "1", "-r", "48000", "-D", "hw:2,0", FIFO_PATH
+        stdin=ffmpeg.stdout,
-    ], stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-
+        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
-def start_ltcdump():
+        text=True
-    return subprocess.Popen([
+    )
-        "ltcdump", "-f", FIFO_PATH
+    ffmpeg.stdout.close()  # Let ltcdump consume the pipe
-    ], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL, text=True, bufsize=1)
+    return ffmpeg, ltcdump
-
-def clean_up_processes(*procs):
-    for proc in procs:
-        if proc and proc.poll() is None:
-            proc.terminate()
-            try:
-                proc.wait(timeout=1)
-            except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-                proc.kill()
-    if os.path.exists(FIFO_PATH):
-        os.remove(FIFO_PATH)
 
 def main(stdscr):
     curses.curs_set(0)
     stdscr.nodelay(True)
 
-    setup_fifo()
+    stdscr.addstr(1, 2, "🌀 NTP Timeturner Status")
-    arecord_proc = start_arecord()
+    stdscr.addstr(3, 4, "Streaming LTC from default input...")
-    ltcdump_proc = start_ltcdump()
+
+    ffmpeg_proc, ltcdump_proc = start_ltc_stream()
 
     latest_tc = "⌛ Waiting for LTC..."
-    last_update = time.time()
+    last_refresh = time.time()
 
     try:
         while True:
-            # Non-blocking read from ltcdump
+            stdscr.clear()
-            rlist, _, _ = select.select([ltcdump_proc.stdout], [], [], 0)
-            if rlist:
-                line = ltcdump_proc.stdout.readline()
-                if line and line[0].isdigit():
-                    latest_tc = line.strip()
-                    last_update = time.time()
-
-            # If stream stalls or breaks
-            if time.time() - last_update > 1:
-                if ltcdump_proc.poll() is not None or arecord_proc.poll() is not None:
-                    latest_tc = "💥 Stream stopped or decoder crashed"
-                else:
-                    latest_tc = "⚠️  No LTC signal detected"
-
-            # Draw interface
-            stdscr.erase()
             stdscr.addstr(1, 2, "🌀 NTP Timeturner Status")
-            stdscr.addstr(3, 4, f"Reading LTC from hw:2,0 via FIFO...")
+            stdscr.addstr(3, 4, "Streaming LTC from default input...")
             stdscr.addstr(5, 6, f"🕰️ LTC Timecode: {latest_tc}")
             stdscr.refresh()
 
-            time.sleep(0.04)  # 25Hz refresh
+            # Check if new LTC line available
+            if ltcdump_proc.stdout.readable():
+                line = ltcdump_proc.stdout.readline().strip()
+                if line and line[0].isdigit():
+                    latest_tc = line
+
+            # Limit screen redraw to ~10fps
+            time.sleep(0.1)
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        stdscr.addstr(8, 6, "🔚 Exiting gracefully...")
+        stdscr.addstr(8, 6, "🔚 Shutting down...")
         stdscr.refresh()
         time.sleep(1)
     finally:
-        clean_up_processes(arecord_proc, ltcdump_proc)
+        ffmpeg_proc.terminate()
+        ltcdump_proc.terminate()
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if not shutil.which("ltcdump") or not shutil.which("arecord"):
+    if not shutil.which("ltcdump") or not shutil.which("ffmpeg"):
-        print("❌ Required tools not found (ltcdump or arecord). Install and retry.")
+        print("❌ Required tools not found (ltcdump or ffmpeg). Install and retry.")
         exit(1)
 
     curses.wrapper(main)