As a music-lover, I am always working on improving the perfect setup that combines ease of access with the purest sound quality. That’s exactly why I embarked on a journey to build my own music streaming system. I chose Plexamp, a dedicated music player for Plex, running on a Raspberry Pi 4, with DietPi as the operating system for its efficiency and an external SSD for ample, fast storage. Here’s how I did it:
The Hardware Lineup
- Raspberry Pi 4: The cornerstone of our system, the Pi is a compact powerhouse, ideal for running our media server without drawing too much power.
- External SSD: For quick, reliable access to high-quality lossless music files, an SSD is a must-have.
- Power Supply: Don’t skimp on this; a stable power supply keeps everything running smoothly.
- Cooling Case: Keep your Pi chill even when the music heats up with a case designed for cooling.
The DietPi Difference
DietPi is a lightweight, optimized OS that’s perfect for getting the most out of a Raspberry Pi. Here’s how to get it set up:
- Download DietPi: Head over to the DietPi website and download the latest image.
- Flash It On A SD Card: Use Balena Etcher or a similar tool to write DietPi to your microSD card.
- Initial Configuration: Once you’ve connected your Pi to its peripherals and booted up, follow the on-screen instructions to get DietPi up and running.
SSD Setup
Before you plug in your SSD to the Pi:
- Format: Prepare your SSD with a file system like exFAT or EXT4.
- Mount: After booting DietPi, connect the SSD and configure it to auto-mount on startup.
Plexamp Installation
With your server’s heart beating, it’s time to get Plexamp pumping:
- Plex Media Server: Install this first from Plex’s website following their Linux guide.
- Server Setup: Fire up Plex in your browser, sign in, and point it to your SSD-stored music collection.
- Plexamp Time: Download Plexamp for Linux and install it on your Pi.
And there you have it. I have been running this setup for a couple of weeks and it works fluently. I also setup SAMBA to easily add new music.