AirPlay Audio Cut-Off In Music Assistant 2.7.0 Beta

Experiencing audio cut-offs with AirPlay in the Music Assistant 2.7.0 beta? You're not alone. This article delves into a specific issue reported by users where audio playback via AirPlay, particularly through shairport-sync, is prematurely cut short. We'll explore the problem, its potential causes, and how to address it.

Understanding the Issue: Audio Cut-Off with Shairport-Sync in Music Assistant Beta

In the Music Assistant 2.7.0 beta, some users have observed that AirPlay audio is being cut off a few seconds before the end of the track. This issue seems to be prevalent when using AirPlay speakers that rely on shairport-sync, a software implementation of the AirPlay protocol. For instance, a 10-second clip might only play for 7 seconds, while a 5-minute track might be truncated by 3 seconds. This behavior, notably, isn't consistently observed across all AirPlay devices, with some, like Yamaha receivers, functioning as expected. The core of the problem appears to stem from Music Assistant prematurely terminating the connection, leading to ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) flushing the audio device before the entire clip has played.

To effectively tackle this issue, it's crucial to understand the role of shairport-sync. This open-source AirPlay audio receiver allows you to turn various devices, like Raspberry Pis, into AirPlay-compatible speakers. When Music Assistant streams audio via AirPlay to a shairport-sync device, it establishes a connection, sends the audio data, and then, under normal circumstances, closes the connection once the playback is complete. However, in this scenario, the premature disconnection seems to be the culprit. Investigating logs, particularly those from shairport-sync, can offer valuable clues. These logs often reveal the sequence of events leading up to the audio cut-off, such as the timing of the connection termination relative to the audio stream's duration. Identifying this timing discrepancy is a key step towards pinpointing the root cause.

It's also important to consider the broader context of your setup. Are you running Music Assistant in a specific environment, like Home Assistant OS? What version of shairport-sync are you using? The user who initially reported this issue was using version 3.3.8 of shairport-sync. Knowing these details helps narrow down the potential variables contributing to the problem. Furthermore, comparing the behavior in the beta version (2.7.0) to previous stable versions (like 2.6.3) is insightful. The fact that this issue wasn't present in the stable release suggests a change in the beta that might be responsible. This could be a change in how Music Assistant handles AirPlay connections, how it interacts with shairport-sync, or how it manages the audio stream itself.

Reproducing the Issue: A Step-by-Step Guide

To effectively troubleshoot this audio cut-off, reproducing the issue consistently is paramount. Here's a detailed breakdown of the steps involved:

1. Environment Setup: Ensure you are running Music Assistant 2.7.0 beta. This specific version is where the issue has been identified. The environment in which Music Assistant operates can also be a factor. If you're using Home Assistant, specify the version you're running (e.g., 2025.12.0, as reported by the user). This helps in identifying potential conflicts or compatibility issues specific to that version. The type of installation—whether it's Home Assistant OS Add-on, Docker, or a standalone installation—is another critical detail to note. Also, specify the hardware you're running on (e.g., Linux, Raspberry Pi, etc.), as this can influence system behavior.
2. Shairport-Sync Configuration: You'll need a device running shairport-sync. This could be a Raspberry Pi or any other system capable of running the software. Ensure shairport-sync is properly configured and connected to your network. The version of shairport-sync in use is also significant; the user in the initial report was running version 3.3.8. If you're using a different version, it's worth noting whether the issue persists across versions.
3. AirPlay Speaker Setup: Configure an AirPlay speaker using shairport-sync. This speaker will be the endpoint for your audio stream and the place where you'll observe the cut-off. Ensure the speaker is properly connected to your network and is discoverable via AirPlay.
4. Playback Initiation: Use Music Assistant to play audio to the shairport-sync AirPlay speaker. Any music provider should suffice, as the issue isn't specific to a particular provider. Start with short clips (e.g., 10 seconds) and then try longer tracks (e.g., 5 minutes) to observe the behavior across different durations. Documenting the exact length of the clip and how much audio is cut off can help quantify the problem and identify patterns.
5. Observation and Verification: Carefully listen to the playback and note whether the audio is cut off before the end of the track. If the issue is present, you should hear a noticeable truncation of the audio. This step is crucial for confirming that the problem exists in your setup. If you're unable to reproduce the issue, it could indicate a configuration problem or a factor specific to the original user's environment.

By meticulously following these steps, you can isolate the conditions under which the audio cut-off occurs. This information is invaluable for further troubleshooting and for providing detailed reports to the Music Assistant development team. The more precisely you can reproduce the issue, the easier it will be to identify the root cause and implement a fix.

Analyzing Logs: Key to Unlocking the Solution

In the quest to resolve the AirPlay audio cut-off issue, analyzing logs is an indispensable step. Logs provide a detailed record of system events, offering crucial insights into what's happening behind the scenes. For this particular problem, examining logs from both Music Assistant and shairport-sync can reveal the sequence of events leading up to the audio cut-off, potentially pinpointing the exact moment the connection is prematurely terminated.

Music Assistant logs typically capture the application's internal operations, including how it handles audio streams, manages connections, and interacts with different players and providers. When investigating the AirPlay issue, focus on log entries related to AirPlay connections, audio playback, and any errors or warnings that occur around the time of the cut-off. Look for messages that indicate when a connection is established, when audio data is sent, and when the connection is closed. Any unexpected disconnections or error messages during playback are particularly relevant.

On the other hand, shairport-sync logs provide a view from the AirPlay receiver's perspective. These logs document the incoming AirPlay stream, how it's being processed, and any issues encountered during playback. When analyzing shairport-sync logs, pay close attention to the timing of audio data reception, buffer management, and connection status. Look for any messages indicating that the connection was closed prematurely or that the audio stream was interrupted. The user who initially reported the issue shared their shairport-sync log, which suggested that Music Assistant was tearing down the connection too early, causing ALSA to flush the device before the clip finished playing. This highlights the importance of correlating log entries from both Music Assistant and shairport-sync to get a complete picture of what's happening.

To effectively analyze logs, it's helpful to have a clear understanding of the system's normal behavior. This allows you to quickly identify anomalies or deviations from the expected sequence of events. For example, if you consistently see a