move to arecord

timeturner.py

@@ -7,35 +7,35 @@ import time
 import select
 
 def start_ltc_stream():
-    ffmpeg = subprocess.Popen(
-        ["ffmpeg", "-f", "alsa", "-i", "hw:2", "-ac", "1", "-ar", "48000", "-f", "s16le", "-"],
+    # Launch arecord piped into ltcdump
+    arecord = subprocess.Popen(
+        ["arecord", "-f", "S16_LE", "-c", "1", "-r", "48000", "-D", "hw:2,0"],
         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
         stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL
     )
     ltcdump = subprocess.Popen(
         ["ltcdump", "-f", "-"],
-        stdin=ffmpeg.stdout,
+        stdin=arecord.stdout,
         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
         stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
         text=True,
         bufsize=1
     )
-    ffmpeg.stdout.close()
-    return ffmpeg, ltcdump
-
+    arecord.stdout.close()  # Let ltcdump consume the pipe
+    return arecord, ltcdump
 
 def main(stdscr):
     curses.curs_set(0)
     stdscr.nodelay(True)
 
-    ffmpeg_proc, ltcdump_proc = start_ltc_stream()
+    arecord_proc, ltcdump_proc = start_ltc_stream()
 
     latest_tc = "⌛ Waiting for LTC..."
     last_update = time.time()
 
     try:
         while True:
-            # Check for new LTC output (non-blocking)
+            # Non-blocking read from ltcdump
             rlist, _, _ = select.select([ltcdump_proc.stdout], [], [], 0)
             if rlist:
                 line = ltcdump_proc.stdout.readline()
@@ -45,17 +45,17 @@ def main(stdscr):
                         latest_tc = line
                         last_update = time.time()
 
-            # Check if signal or subprocess died
+            # Timeout / error detection
             if time.time() - last_update > 1:
-                if ltcdump_proc.poll() is not None or ffmpeg_proc.poll() is not None:
+                if ltcdump_proc.poll() is not None or arecord_proc.poll() is not None:
                     latest_tc = "💥 Decoder crashed or stream stopped"
                 else:
                     latest_tc = "⚠️  No LTC signal"
 
-            # Draw UI
+            # Draw the curses UI
             stdscr.erase()
             stdscr.addstr(1, 2, "🌀 NTP Timeturner Status")
-            stdscr.addstr(3, 4, "Streaming LTC from default input...")
+            stdscr.addstr(3, 4, "Streaming LTC from hw:2,0...")
             stdscr.addstr(5, 6, f"🕰️ LTC Timecode: {latest_tc}")
             stdscr.refresh()
 
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ def main(stdscr):
         stdscr.refresh()
         time.sleep(1)
     finally:
-        ffmpeg_proc.terminate()
+        arecord_proc.terminate()
         ltcdump_proc.terminate()
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if not shutil.which("ltcdump") or not shutil.which("ffmpeg"):
-        print("❌ Required tools not found (ltcdump or ffmpeg). Install and retry.")
+    if not shutil.which("ltcdump") or not shutil.which("arecord"):
+        print("❌ Required tools not found (ltcdump or arecord). Install and retry.")
         exit(1)
 
     curses.wrapper(main)