🤖 Raspberry Pi Streaming Agent (DIY)

Overview

A Raspberry Pi can serve as a low-cost, headless streaming agent for InterScribe. When paired with a USB audio interface, it becomes a compact, reliable device ideal for permanent installations in classrooms, sanctuaries, or conference rooms. Once powered on and authenticated, the InterScribe CLI Agent runs quietly in the background and begins streaming audio only when your event starts using the assigned AV Channel.

⚠️ Power & USB caution Raspberry Pis cannot supply enough power to some USB audio interfaces. Use low-power USB interfaces or connect through a powered USB hub. Also ensure the Pi is powered by a 5V/3A (or higher) power supply — underpowered devices can crash or introduce audio issues.

⚠️ Experimental Support The CLI Agent for Raspberry Pi is currently in beta and intended for technical users comfortable with terminal commands and Linux setup.

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Gather your hardware

   • Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 (recommended)
   • microSD card (8 GB or larger) with Raspberry Pi OS (Lite)
   • 5 V power supply (3A minimum)
   • Low-power USB audio interface
   • Ethernet cable (preferred) or Wi-Fi
   • Optional: small touchscreen or temporary monitor for first-time setup

2. Flash Raspberry Pi OS (Lite)

   • Use the Raspberry Pi Imager to install Raspberry Pi OS (Lite) onto your microSD card.
   • Enable SSH and configure Wi-Fi (if needed) via the advanced settings in the imager before flashing.
   • Insert the card, power on the Pi, and SSH into it (ssh pi@<IP_ADDRESS>).

3. Install dependencies

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
   sudo apt install -y libssl-dev libasound2-dev
   

4. Download and install the InterScribe CLI Agent

   wget https://interscribe-apps.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/raspberry/interscribe-cli-agent_0.2.2-1_arm64.deb
   sudo dpkg -i interscribe-cli-agent_0.2.2-1_arm64.deb
   

5. Start and enable the agent service

   sudo interscribe-agent install-service
   

6. Login and configure

   interscribe-agent login
   

   Follow the interactive prompt to authenticate your agent using your InterScribe dashboard code.

7. Select your audio input

   • Run:

     interscribe-agent config
     

   • Choose your USB microphone or interface from the available list.

   • Optionally enable mono or set sampling rate if needed.

8. Test and verify

   • Run:

     interscribe-agent status
     

   • You should see "Connected" status once the agent is authenticated and ready.

   • The agent will automatically start streaming when your event begins using the assigned AV Channel.

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🔧 Tips & Best Practices

• ⚠️ Power & USB caution Raspberry Pis cannot supply enough power to some audio interfaces. Choose low-power USB interfaces or use a powered USB hub. Make sure the Pi is powered by a reliable 5V/3A power supply.

• 🎧 Use a clean audio feed A dedicated aux send from your mixer provides consistent levels and avoids audience noise.

• 🛜 Use wired Ethernet For best reliability, avoid Wi-Fi and use a physical Ethernet cable whenever possible.

• 🔋 Add a UPS For mission-critical setups, consider using an uninterruptible power supply to prevent crashes during power outages.

• 🧯 Keep the Pi up to date Regularly run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade to install security patches and improvements.

Using a Direct Audio Input (HiFiBerry)

For permanent installations or rack-mounted setups, you can attach an audio interface directly to the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO header using the HiFiBerry Studio ADC.

This high-quality XLR-balanced interface eliminates the need for USB connections and provides low-latency, high-fidelity audio input, ideal for AV rooms, translation booths, or fixed installations.

Benefits of the HiFiBerry Studio ADC:

• 💡 No USB needed — Connects via GPIO and avoids USB power limitations.
• 🎚 Balanced XLR input — Offers professional-grade input quality with low noise.
• 🧱 Stable and compact — Mounts directly on top of the Raspberry Pi for a space-saving, reliable setup.
• 🧑‍🔧 Perfect for fixed venues — Designed to integrate with existing pro audio systems using line-level or mic-level sources (without phantom power).

Additional Setup Notes:

• Follow HiFiBerry’s configuration instructions to enable the audio overlay in /boot/config.txt (usually dtoverlay=hifiberry-dac or similar).

• Once installed, the HiFiBerry ADC will show up as an ALSA audio input.

• You can select it by running:

  interscribe-agent config
  

  and choosing the HiFiBerry device from the list.

For additional configuration options check: https://www.hifiberry.com/docs/data-sheets/datasheet-studio-adc/

⚠️ Important: The HiFiBerry Studio ADC does not supply phantom power. If you’re using condenser microphones, use a mixer or preamp that provides phantom power externally.

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Troubleshooting / FAQs

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Agent doesn't start automatically	Agent service not enabled	Run sudo systemctl enable interscribe-agent
No audio input detected	USB interface not recognized	Use arecord -l to confirm the device is listed. Try another USB port or powered hub.
Poor audio quality	Power issue or high CPU load	Use a quality power supply and avoid running other heavy processes.
Streaming doesn’t start during session	Session not started or AV Channel not assigned	Make sure your event is live and the correct AV Channel is assigned. Use the Monitor Dashboard to verify.

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Related Articles

• Basic Setups: Mic & Agent on Laptop – Great starting point before building a dedicated Pi appliance.
• Managing AV Channels & Inputs – Assign AV Channels for each Pi agent in multi‑room environments.
• Pro AV Rack Solutions – For larger venues requiring high‑end hardware and Dante/NDI routing.
• USB Audio Interfaces & Mixers – Choose a compatible low‑power interface for Raspberry Pi setups.
• Testing & Troubleshooting Audio – Diagnose and resolve audio quality or detection issues.