Linux Setup Guide - TCP Streamer

Overview

TCP Streamer on Linux supports both ALSA and PulseAudio for flexible audio capture. This guide covers installation via .deb packages and AppImage, system audio configuration, and Linux-specific optimizations.

Installation

Debian/Ubuntu (.deb Package)

The recommended installation method for Debian-based distributions:

Download the .deb package

Download the latest .deb file from the Releases Page.Available for:

amd64 (64-bit Intel/AMD)
arm64 (64-bit ARM, Raspberry Pi 4+)

Install via apt

Open terminal and navigate to your downloads directory:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install ./tcp-streamer_*.deb

The ./ prefix is important - it tells apt to install from the current directory.

Launch the application

Start TCP Streamer from your application menu or run:

tcp-streamer

Updating to a New Version

Do not double-click the .deb file if you already have an older version installed. The GUI installer may fail to detect upgrades. Correct update method:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install ./tcp-streamer_*.deb

apt will automatically detect the installed version and upgrade it in-place, preserving your settings.

Troubleshooting Package Conflicts

If you see “Conflicts with existing package”:

sudo apt remove tcp-streamer
sudo apt install ./tcp-streamer_*.deb

AppImage (Universal)

For non-Debian distributions or portable installation:

Download the AppImage

Download the .AppImage file from the Releases Page.

Make executable

chmod +x tcp-streamer_*.AppImage

Run the AppImage

./tcp-streamer_*.AppImage

Or double-click the file in your file manager.

Optional: Integrate with system (AppImageLauncher)

Install AppImageLauncher to integrate AppImages with your desktop environment.

System Requirements

OS: Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora 35+, Arch Linux
RAM: 100 MB minimum
Architecture: x86_64 (amd64) or ARM64
Audio: ALSA or PulseAudio
Network: Stable connection to TCP server

Build Dependencies (for building from source)

If building from source, install these dependencies: Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev libappindicator3-dev \
                 librsvg2-dev patchelf libasound2-dev

Fedora:

sudo dnf install gtk3-devel webkit2gtk3-devel libappindicator-gtk3-devel \
                 librsvg2-devel patchelf alsa-lib-devel

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S gtk3 webkit2gtk libappindicator-gtk3 librsvg patchelf alsa-lib

Audio Capture Methods

PulseAudio Monitors (Recommended)

PulseAudio provides “monitor” sources that capture system audio output:

List available sources

pactl list sources short

Look for sources with .monitor in the name:

alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.analog-stereo.monitor

Select monitor in TCP Streamer

In TCP Streamer’s Input Device dropdown, select the monitor source corresponding to your output device.Example:

If your speakers are “Built-in Audio Analog Stereo”
Select “Built-in Audio Analog Stereo (Monitor)”

Test audio capture

Play audio and watch the real-time volume indicator in TCP Streamer.

PulseAudio monitors capture audio before volume control, so even muted systems will stream audio.

ALSA Loopback

For systems without PulseAudio:

Load snd-aloop module

sudo modprobe snd-aloop

Make permanent by adding to /etc/modules:

echo "snd-aloop" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

Configure ALSA

Create or edit ~/.asoundrc:

pcm.loopin {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:Loopback,0,0"
}

pcm.loopout {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:Loopback,1,0"
}

Route audio to loopback

Set applications to output to loopin.In TCP Streamer, select loopout as input device.

Microphone Input

For capturing microphone or line-in:

Select your microphone device in TCP Streamer’s Input Device dropdown
Adjust volume using pavucontrol (PulseAudio) or alsamixer (ALSA)

Configuration

Optimal Settings for PulseAudio

PulseAudio provides excellent timing stability:

Ethernet (Wired)
WiFi (Good Signal)
WiFi (Poor Signal)

For stable wired connections:

Sample Rate: 48 kHz
Buffer Size: 512 samples
Ring Buffer: 2000ms
Adaptive Buffer: Enabled
- Min: 1000ms
- Max: 4000ms
Expected Latency: 1-2 seconds

Network Presets

Use the Advanced tab for quick configuration:

Preset	Ring Buffer	Chunk Size	Adaptive Range	Best For
Ethernet	2000ms	512	2-6s	Wired connections
WiFi	4000ms	1024	3-10s	Standard WiFi
WiFi (Poor)	8000ms	2048	5-15s	Weak signal

Sample Rate Considerations

48 kHz - Recommended for modern systems, video sync
44.1 kHz - Standard for music, slightly lower CPU usage

Check your audio device’s native sample rate:

cat /proc/asound/card*/stream0

Match TCP Streamer’s sample rate to your device for best performance.

Performance & Optimization

CPU Usage

TCP Streamer is lightweight on Linux:

Idle: <1% CPU
Streaming: 1-3% CPU
Memory: 2-4 MB typical

Reducing CPU Usage

Increase buffer size to 2048 samples
Lower sample rate to 44.1 kHz
Close unnecessary background processes
Use PulseAudio instead of ALSA (better buffering)

Real-time Priority (Advanced)

For professional audio or low-latency requirements:

Add user to audio group

sudo usermod -a -G audio $USER

Log out and log back in for changes to take effect.

Configure rtprio limits

Edit /etc/security/limits.d/audio.conf:

@audio   -  rtprio     95
@audio   -  memlock    unlimited

Enable high priority thread

In TCP Streamer Advanced settings, enable High Priority Thread.

Real-time priority is usually unnecessary unless running professional audio applications or experiencing severe jitter.

Troubleshooting

Audio Device Not Found

Problem: No audio devices appear in dropdown Solutions:

Check PulseAudio is running

pulseaudio --check
echo $?

If output is 0, PulseAudio is running. If not:

pulseaudio --start

List available devices

pactl list sources short

For ALSA:

arecord -l

Restart TCP Streamer

Quit and relaunch after connecting new audio devices.

Check permissions

Ensure your user is in the audio group:

groups $USER

If audio is missing:

sudo usermod -a -G audio $USER

Log out and back in.

No Audio Capture (Monitor)

Problem: Monitor source selected but no audio captured Solutions:

Verify monitor source:
```
pactl list sources | grep -A 10 monitor
```
Ensure the monitor corresponds to your active output device.
Check audio is playing:
```
pactl list sink-inputs
```
Should show active audio streams.
Test monitor directly:
```
parec --device=alsa_output.pci.monitor | aplay
```
You should hear your system audio.
Restart PulseAudio:
```
pulseaudio --kill
pulseaudio --start
```

Connection Issues

Problem: “Failed to connect to TCP server” Solutions:

Test network connectivity

nc -zv [server-ip] [port]

Example:

nc -zv 192.168.1.100 4953

Check firewall

UFW:

sudo ufw status
sudo ufw allow out [port]/tcp

iptables:

sudo iptables -L OUTPUT -v

Verify server is listening

On the server machine:

netstat -tuln | grep [port]

Try localhost

If server is on the same machine:

IP: 127.0.0.1 or localhost

Audio Stuttering or Dropouts

Problem: Audio cuts out or stutters during streaming Solutions:

Enable adaptive buffer

Navigate to Audio Settings and enable Adaptive Buffer.

Increase PulseAudio buffer

Edit /etc/pulse/daemon.conf:

default-fragment-size-msec = 25
default-fragments = 4

Restart PulseAudio:

pulseaudio --kill && pulseaudio --start

Apply WiFi preset

Use the WiFi (Poor Signal) preset in Advanced tab.

Check CPU governor

Ensure CPU is not throttling:

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

Set to performance if needed:

echo performance | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

AppImage Issues

Problem: AppImage fails to run Solutions:

Enable FUSE:
```
sudo apt install fuse libfuse2
```

Extract and run:

./tcp-streamer_*.AppImage --appimage-extract
./squashfs-root/AppRun

Check architecture:
```
uname -m
```
Ensure you downloaded the correct version (x86_64 or aarch64).

Permission Denied Errors

Problem: “Permission denied” when accessing audio device Solutions:

Add user to audio group:
```
sudo usermod -a -G audio $USER
```
Log out and log back in.
Check device permissions:
```
ls -l /dev/snd/*
```
Devices should be owned by audio group.

Disable PulseAudio sandboxing (if using Flatpak/Snap):

flatpak override --user --filesystem=host tcp-streamer

Automation

Enable Auto-start on launch in TCP Streamer settings, or manually:

GNOME/Unity
KDE Plasma
Manual (systemd)

Open Startup Applications
Click Add
Name: TCP Streamer
Command: tcp-streamer (or path to AppImage)
Click Save

Create ~/.config/systemd/user/tcp-streamer.service:

[Unit]
Description=TCP Streamer
After=pulseaudio.service

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/tcp-streamer
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Enable:

systemctl --user enable tcp-streamer.service
systemctl --user start tcp-streamer.service

Auto-stream Configuration

For fully automated operation:

Enable Auto-start on launch - Start with system
Enable Auto-stream - Begin streaming immediately
Enable Auto-reconnect - Retry connection on failure
Set silence detection - Pause during silence

Advanced Features

PulseAudio Configuration

Optimize PulseAudio for streaming:

Reduce Latency

Edit /etc/pulse/daemon.conf:

default-sample-rate = 48000
default-fragment-size-msec = 10
default-fragments = 2

Restart PulseAudio:

pulseaudio --kill && pulseaudio --start

Set Default Source

Force TCP Streamer to use specific source:

pactl set-default-source alsa_output.pci.monitor

ALSA Configuration

For advanced ALSA setups, edit ~/.asoundrc:

defaults.pcm.rate_converter "speexrate_best"

pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:0,0"
}

QoS (Quality of Service) Tagging

Navigate to Advanced tab
Select QoS preset:
- VoIP (EF) - Highest priority
- Low Delay - Expedited forwarding
- Throughput - Bulk transfer

QoS requires router support and proper iptables rules to be effective on Linux.

Best Practices

For Multi-room Audio (Snapcast)

Use PulseAudio monitor for system audio
Apply WiFi preset (4s buffer)
Enable Auto-reconnect
Set silence timeout to 300 seconds (5 minutes)
Enable Adaptive Buffer (3s - 10s)

For Raspberry Pi

Use .deb package for ARM64
Apply WiFi (Poor) preset for stability
Enable Auto-reconnect
Use PulseAudio for easier configuration

Consider overclocking for better performance:

# Edit /boot/config.txt
over_voltage=2
arm_freq=1750

For Low-latency Applications

Use wired Ethernet connection
Apply Ethernet preset (2s buffer)
Set buffer size to 512 samples
Use 48 kHz sample rate
Configure real-time priority (see Performance section)

Distribution-Specific Notes

Ubuntu/Debian

Use .deb package for best integration
PulseAudio pre-installed on desktop editions
Update via apt as shown above

Fedora

Convert .deb to .rpm using alien:

sudo dnf install alien
sudo alien -r tcp-streamer_*.deb
sudo dnf install tcp-streamer-*.rpm

Or use AppImage

Arch Linux

Use AppImage or build from source
Install dependencies via pacman (see Build Dependencies)
Consider creating AUR package

Raspberry Pi OS

Use ARM64 .deb package (Raspberry Pi 4+)

Enable hardware audio:

# Edit /boot/config.txt
dtparam=audio=on

Increase GPU memory:
```
gpu_mem=128
```

Additional Resources

Platform: Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora, Arch) Audio APIs: ALSA, PulseAudio Native Loopback: Yes (PulseAudio monitors) Typical Latency: 1-3 seconds (wired) | 3-6 seconds (WiFi)

Getting Started

Core Features

Configuration

Platform Guides

Use Cases

Troubleshooting

​Overview

​Installation

​Debian/Ubuntu (.deb Package)

​Updating to a New Version

​Troubleshooting Package Conflicts

​AppImage (Universal)

​System Requirements

​Build Dependencies (for building from source)

​Audio Capture Methods

​PulseAudio Monitors (Recommended)

​ALSA Loopback

​Microphone Input

​Configuration

​Optimal Settings for PulseAudio

​Network Presets

​Sample Rate Considerations

​Performance & Optimization

​CPU Usage

​Reducing CPU Usage

​Real-time Priority (Advanced)

​Troubleshooting

​Audio Device Not Found

​No Audio Capture (Monitor)

​Connection Issues

​Audio Stuttering or Dropouts

​AppImage Issues

​Permission Denied Errors

​Automation

​Auto-start on Login

​Auto-stream Configuration

​Advanced Features

​PulseAudio Configuration

​Reduce Latency

​Set Default Source

​ALSA Configuration

​QoS (Quality of Service) Tagging

​Best Practices

​For Multi-room Audio (Snapcast)

​For Raspberry Pi

​For Low-latency Applications

​Distribution-Specific Notes

​Ubuntu/Debian

​Fedora

​Arch Linux

​Raspberry Pi OS

​Additional Resources

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Installation

Debian/Ubuntu (.deb Package)

Updating to a New Version

Troubleshooting Package Conflicts

AppImage (Universal)

System Requirements

Build Dependencies (for building from source)

Audio Capture Methods

PulseAudio Monitors (Recommended)

ALSA Loopback

Microphone Input

Configuration

Optimal Settings for PulseAudio

Network Presets

Sample Rate Considerations

Performance & Optimization

CPU Usage

Reducing CPU Usage

Real-time Priority (Advanced)

Troubleshooting

Audio Device Not Found

No Audio Capture (Monitor)

Connection Issues

Audio Stuttering or Dropouts

AppImage Issues

Permission Denied Errors

Automation

Auto-start on Login

Auto-stream Configuration

Advanced Features

PulseAudio Configuration

Reduce Latency

Set Default Source

ALSA Configuration

QoS (Quality of Service) Tagging

Best Practices

For Multi-room Audio (Snapcast)

For Raspberry Pi

For Low-latency Applications

Distribution-Specific Notes

Ubuntu/Debian

Fedora

Arch Linux

Raspberry Pi OS

Additional Resources