[GUIDE] Framework DSP — better Linux audio

jwp · May 1, 2024, 10:18pm

I measured this with easyeffects enabled vs disabled and it’s something like an additional 3watts draw (9/10watts from ~5/6watts) at idle on a default f39 install. So it’s pretty appreciable IMNSHO

Tim_Bosse · May 2, 2024, 1:20am

You could script something up to stop/start easyeffects on state change if that is important to you. I have a simple function I call that does that and kill/start services that I call manually.

B_V · May 2, 2024, 5:12am

Thanks so much for this trove of information.

Does this profile apply to the Framework 16? I figure it is probably pretty similar, but maybe some tweaks are in order because the shape, weight, resonance, etc. are all different.

Anselm_Schuler · May 2, 2024, 1:36pm

Thank you!

Anselm_Schuler · May 2, 2024, 1:37pm

I have not experienced a significant decrease in battery life.

Anselm_Schuler · May 2, 2024, 1:38pm

I am using this on a FW16 and it does improve the sound quality. I have no idea if it could be even better.

BusyBoredom · May 2, 2024, 3:13pm

@Anselm_Schuler, any chance you could link to your nix config? I’m also a nix user and would love to piggy back off of your setup.

Anselm_Schuler · May 2, 2024, 3:28pm

I will do so soon. I still have to transfer my GPG keys over to the laptop so I can sign the commit. It’ll be configured via home-manager, so if you don’t use that it might be of limited use.

Anselm_Schuler · May 2, 2024, 6:22pm

It’s here:

github.com

schuelermine/configuration/blob/b0/homeManagerModules/desktop.nix

{
  lib,
  pkgs,
  config,
  machine-model,
  ...
}:
/* TODO let
  patch-commit-mono-script = pkgs.writeText "patch-commit-mono-script.py" ''
    from fontforge import open as ffopen
    from sys import argv
    font = ffopen(argv[1], 32)
    target_features =
    for lookup in font.gsub_lookups:
      match font.getLookupInfo(lookup):
        case _, _, (("cv08", _, _),):
          for subtable in font.getLookupSubtables(lookup):

  '';
  patched-commit-mono =

This file has been truncated. show original

Please note that I have some extra machinery in flake.nix that would allow me to replicate this config to other computers and have it recognize when it’s on the FW16 and only turn it on then.

If you wanted to use the ones that use the data files you might want to use Git LFS.

BusyBoredom · May 2, 2024, 7:08pm

Sweet thanks! This’ll save me some time getting mine setup

Edit: Wow, huge improvement

B_V · May 8, 2024, 12:23am

I’m not super familiar with EasyEffects. Wondering how I should:
A. Prevent this profile from applying to any audio outputs besides the built-in speakers
B. Start EasyEffects upon user login to run in the background, but be able to bring it to foreground to interact with it.

This note from EasyEffects FAQ might be needed:

Question 5 - How to disable EasyEffects config when using headphones?
Answer: One solution for this is to create a preset where all plugins are disabled and create a preset autoloading profile that loads this preset when the headphone is plugged.

Also, it seems like easyeffects --gapplication-service is supposed to run in the background. I’m not sure how that works out when you open the program, if it opens and just points to the running background service.

This is turning into a small info dump as I figure things out. I lean towards using drop-in .xinitrc files to start things upon login versus ~/.config/autostart/*.desktop files. (xinit doesn’t support this for users; I just added the functionality to my .xinitrc). I think I’ll just put easyeffects --gapplication-service & in one and see how it works out.

jezzah · May 8, 2024, 4:56am

I don’t understand where this “replace %CFG% with your config file” is supposed to be. I can’t find a reference to this “file” anywhere. I am so confused.

Anselm_Schuler · May 10, 2024, 8:51am

~/.config/easyeffects

Just do sed -i s:%CFG%:$(realpath ~/.config/easyeffects): <filename> assuming your home directory doesn’t contain :

Lin · May 26, 2024, 12:20pm

Just want to share if someone use flatpak version of EasyEffects

Do the command then just copy irs and output folders from
~/.config/easyeffects
to
~/.var/app/com.github.wwmm.easyeffects/config/easyeffects

Anselm_Schuler · May 30, 2024, 8:33pm

Has anybody else experienced video playback issues with EasyEffects running?

viggy96 · June 28, 2024, 7:56am

Is it possible for Framework to somehow integrate these improved audio DSP algorithms into the chip, so people don’t have to run EasyEffects etc?

cab · July 9, 2024, 11:35pm

It is — for instance, Ploopy Headphones do DSP processing on their RP2040 chip. I am almost sure it is possible to fit it into much smaller form factor and put into the chassis.

However, it will require a tighter integration than just plugging it into speaker port — for configuration and for power management. So I am not sure how to make a simple and portable mod easily.

(And there’s also an issue with Framework not providing schematics :D)

stenosis · August 28, 2024, 7:49am

That’s a game changer - I wasn’t aware of this solution.

Thank you!

parawizard · September 4, 2024, 5:27pm

It may be possible already with the Realtek chip on the board! Though unfortunately I haven’t been able to find a leaked datasheet for it. The Framework team might be able to look into though.

Has been covered here a bit: Improving perceived sound quality on the FW13 - #6 by JabbAlecto

Would be nice if the ALC295 datasheet was available and someone could see what could be done via DSP.

vortex375 · September 5, 2024, 9:09am

wow, this is crazy. Sounds like MacBook speakers now

Great job!