Bluetooth Speakers using Raspberry Pi

hi guys long time since i wrote a tutorial, this tutorial tells you how you can use any old speaker lying around your house into a wireless bluetooth speaker, this can also be an cheap bluetooth audio device receiver for your car. This is not my original work, but modified(added a few steps/changed a few) tutorial from http://kmonkey711.blogspot.com who has also taken help from Colin CW, i am reproducing this tutorial because this is the only tutorial that worked for me and i don't want it to disappear from the World Wide Web when i really need it. thanks Kmonkey for this awesome tutorial. Another way to have an wireless speaker is using AIRPLAY here

Step 1: What you need?

1 Raspberry pi (i am running Occidentalis_v02.img from adafruit)
1 speaker
1 Male-to-male 3.5 mm audio jack
1 bluetooth dongle ( check here for list of devices that work ) do check using the command hcitool scan
1 ethernet connection for pi/ wifi (how to connect a wifi dongle to Raspberry pi) (all u need to do is edit “/etc/network/interfaces” file)Bluetooth Speakers using Raspberry Pi

Step 2: Installing the softwares…

you need to install a couples of things before you can get started 🙂

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install bluez pulseaudio-module-bluetooth python-gobject python-gobject-2 bluetooth blueman

sudo usermod -a -G lp pi

sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf

add the following after [general] in nano

Enable=Source,Sink,Media,Socket

CTRL+X to close nano, Y to save the file

sudo nano /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

add the following line under ;resample-method = speex-float-3

resample-method = trivial

run the following command to reboot the PI

sudo reboot

if you have a monitor connected to your PI you can skip this next step 

Step 3: Installing the VNC server

if you have a monitor connected to your PI you can skip this step, if you use SSH like me the following steps will install a VNC server on the PI, so that you can go into the LXD desktop.

apt-get install tightvncserver

Setup vnc password by the following command

tightvncserver

reboot the pi

sudo reboot

run the following command to create a desktop you can connect to.

vncserver :0 -geometry 1920Ă—1080 -depth 24

Step 4: Connect to PI dektop

(for VNC users)
once the PI is restarted and VNC server running you need to pair your device.

connect to the VNCserver using VNC viewer that can be download from here

connect the vnc server with <<you PI's IP address>>:0  eg: 192.168.2.8:0

enter your password

(if you have a monitor hooked up start from here)

now you should be able to see your desktop, on the bottom right corner near the time display you should be able to see a bluetooth icon, right-click on it and select devices. you should now see an empty list if nothing has been added.

click on the search button to find new devices.

new devices should show up in the table below.

right-click on the device and click on pair to pair the devices

enter a pin and pair them

once paired right click on the paired device and mark them as “trust” this ll make this device trusted.once the device is in the trusted list a golden star will be visible on the device.

now you can close your vnc server ( not needed if you have your monitor hooked up) and run vncserver -kill :0 on the SSHBluetooth Speakers using Raspberry Pi schematic

Step 5: Connect the bluetooth to alsa audio

run the following comands as user “pi” not sudo

amixer cset numid=3 1

find out the name of your source and and sink using the following comands

pactl list sources short

pactl list sink short

and run the following command

pactl load-module module-loopback source=”name of your source” sink=”name of your sink”

my command looks like this…

pactl load-module module-loopback source=bluez_source.50_EA_D6_DE_D9_39 sink=alsa_output.platform-bcm2835_AUD0.0.analog-stereo

 

For more detail: Bluetooth Speakers using Raspberry Pi


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer with a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan University. I have written for various industries, mainly home automation and engineering. My writing style is clear and simple, and I am skilled in using infographics and diagrams. I am a great researcher and am able to present information in a well-organized and logical manner.

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