The moOde™ audio player delivers music playback with audiophile quality through the Raspberry Pi family of personal computing. It’s an affordable way to increase your listening enjoyment while helping you enjoy the fun that comes with your own computer build.
You receive a download ZIP file with an ISO image that’s ready to use immediately. All you need to do is write it to an SD card.
Once you’ve done that, you can start your Raspberry Pi. You’ll run through the setup guide to get everything started. If you need any additional help, the play menu can answer most of your other questions.
Moode 6 and UPnP Audio Sources
If you have a UPnP audio source to use with moOde, you can set up this option rather conveniently. You’ll need to go to the audio configuration page, scroll to the UPnP/DLNA option, and switch the UPnP Media Browser to the “on” setting. You’ll need to click Set before scanning for the server.
Since you can listen to audiophile-quality music through moOde 6 (or the latest version) and your Raspberry Pi, it makes sense to set up your UPnP server as an audio source.
You don’t need to have moOde started in rendered mode to achieve this outcome unless you’re using a version older than 6.
It acts as both the controller and the rendered so that you can enjoy some incredible music!
Once you’ve adjusted the settings, you’ll need to scan to find the discoverable UPnP servers in your network.
Suppose you go to the scanning option and only see periods without any dropdown selections.
In that case, you’ll need to return to the audio configuration page to ensure that the settings are correct.
After taking those steps, you should get the connectivity you want for all of your favorite songs and compositions.
■ Why Do I Keep Getting Rendering Errors?
When you start trying to configure your UPnP, it is not unusual for the system to deliver a rendering error.
The most common outcome in this situation is to see a message that says “MPD Error.”
You might get told that it “failed to open ALSA default.” You’ll get some technical terms about the error, along with the note that says, “no such file or directory.”
If you’ve encountered this problem, the first steps are to reflash the SD card and reboot the system.
Once you go through those steps, you should be able to play Internet radio and manage your other audio needs.
The issue that many people run into involves Tidal or Qobuz for moOde.
That structure is broken and expected to be removed in moOde 7 because of how the streaming services changed their functionality.
Those services, including Tidal and Qobuz, suddenly revoked the API key in 2020 that was initially issued to Kodi. It was widely used by many others, including moOde.
Only the distributors that want to pay for this API access can now receive the necessary key, which means virtually all free software options have been taken off the table.
You can choose the paid services from Volumio, but it still doesn’t offer the best results.
You could also use mconnect to bypass moOde UPnP to enter subscription details, but it still isn’t free. It would be a lot cheaper than paying for Volumio.
You’ll need to think about battery life for your Raspberry Pi if you don’t have a direct power connection.
That’s the compromise being made to have the UPnP you want with the sudden API changes that recently happened.
Why It Is Time to Upgrade to Moode 7
If you’re still using moOde 6 and are getting the UPnP issues constantly, you’ll find that upgrading to the next version could solve most, if not all, of your problems. It is currently available at http://moodeaudio.org.
With the new release, you’ll find plenty of bug fixes and updates based on what the Raspi 10.6 operating system needs for smooth functioning.
It also provides improvements for MPD 0.22.3 and Kernel 5.4.77.
The primary focus of the moOde 7 update is to provide four specific benefits.
- The library has improved support for many more collections and data, including Classical music, filtering for search engine content, better searching mechanisms, and metadata from radio stations.
- It includes DSP, including a 12-band EQ with Camilla DSP/ALSA for testing and advanced resampling choices.
- There are playback enhancements included with the upgrade, including add/play text, queue thumbnails, and improved management of your lists.
- You’ll discover improved settings with more comprehensive features for the export, import, and auto-configuration features.
When you download moOde to use, it is free to access the audio player.
The producers merely ask for donations to show your appreciation for the audiophile-quality music that you can run through your Raspberry Pi.
Your upgrade to moOde 7 can also reduce the risk of encountering API key errors when trying to play your favorite music.
What Is UPnP and Why Is It Dangerous?
UPnP stands for “Universal Plug and Play.” If you’ve ever had the fun of plugging a wired mouse into a desktop computer, you’ve experienced this technology.
It seems like it is a straightforward experience, but it is often quite the opposite.
When you use UPnP servers for your moOde listening experience, you can let all of your different gadgets find each other.
When your music starts streaming at audiophile levels, you’ll discover that it doesn’t cost a lot to get plenty of performance from your Raspberry Pi.
If you go across the IGDP (Internet Gateway Device Protocol), the UPnP client can get the external IP addresses for your network, adding the new port forwarding maps while completing the setup process.
It is convenient because the average person can set up their new devices.
This technology is also dangerous since this universalization leads to multiple vulnerabilities, opening the door to potential widescale attacks.
What Could Hackers Do with UPnP Technology?
The issue with UPnP involves local hacking. When someone is within range of a Wi-Fi signal, an unprotected (or vulnerable) network can have the Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, like the server or Raspberry Pi, forcibly disconnected from your network.
This process is possible because hackers can de-authenticate the IoT items, forcing the product to reconnect to another access point.
The problem is that cameras, security systems, and other IoT items get leveraged into networks where a DDoS assault against a DNS provider can cause massive damage.
When something like that occurs with your moOde experience, it’s not just the music that you’ll be missing if things stop working.
You could also find someone stealing your identity, draining your bank account, or causing all sorts of other unwanted damage.
There’s also the issue of bots leading the way into UPnP disruption. These hacking options have been available since 2000, yet things like QBot are still creating havoc by installing key loggers, sending banking credentials to C2 servers, and generating general financial chaos.
The reality of today’s world is that hackers are getting the upper hand on how to access private information.
It’s not just phishing that could be a problem for you when you want to listen to music through moOde.
Your entire server setup could be at risk. That’s why you should keep all of this separate from the remainder of your overall home infrastructure.
Additional Fixes to Consider with Moode and UPnP Audio Sources
When you update moOde to version 7 or above or start using 6 for the first time, you might notice that the GUI starts lagging with your system. Even when you try different browsers, the issue still remains.
The problem isn’t from your UPnP audio sources. When you see a bad sync between what is getting played and what the payer shows, you’re encountering an annoying data delay.
It doesn’t affect the audio quality, but it may not provide a positive visual experience.
In this situation, you likely have a poor SD card that’s close to failure. If your router received a ping from your ISP, there could be errors in the equipment that create the GUI lag.
When you restart the system or clear out the instructions, you should see positive outcomes happen.
■ Why Am I Getting Missing Image Icons?
If you’re using moOde in UPnP mode, the player sometimes displays a missing image icon. This picture shows a torn sheet of paper within an indented square where the artwork should be.
The issue with the missing images is usually a data-sending problem. Your audio source may not have the artwork uploaded to the server.
If that info isn’t there, it cannot send it to your Raspberry Pi to play through moOde.
Some blockers can also cause this issue to occur. Although the thumbnails aren’t overly big files, the information could be problematic on a slower connection to the point where loading delays and lagging could happen.
If you’re not experiencing problems with the music itself, it might be better to overlook the issue.
What Is the Best Raspberry Pi to Buy for Moode?
If you want to purchase a Raspberry Pi today, you’ll find over 20 different options available online. With over 31 million units sold over the past decade, it isn’t always easy to discover the exact version you need to play moOde or handle your other projects.
The first thing to consider is the speed of your Raspberry Pi. Even when you buy the most expensive model, a low-end Windows PC will operate faster.
If you pull high-quality audiophile tracks from the Internet for listening, you can route the audio information to powerful speakers for a fantastic listening experience.
What you’ll lose in that setup are portability and price. If you buy the Raspberry Pi 4 B with 8 GB of RAM, the unit’s MSRP is only $75.
You’ll pay at least three times that amount for a computer, plus you’ll end up needing the speakers and everything else.
For me, I prefer the Raspberry Pi 4 CanaKit for my moOde listening needs. It comes with the 8 GB Ram you want, plus you get a 64 GB card to use for storage with the investment.
The setup uses a 1.5 GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU, the case for USB-C power, HDMI, and more, plus the cables you need for connections.
It supports 4K TV up to 60p, which means it can deliver the high-quality sounds you want to hear from moOde.
If you continue having issues with your setup, I highly recommend checking in with the moOde forums to see if your specific answer has already been addressed.