Improve audio quality and streaming performance

- Add 5-second crossfades between tracks
- Use ReplayGain for consistent volume (removed normalize())
- Add audio compression to prevent clipping
- Liquidsoap watches playlist file and reloads every 5 seconds
- Fallback to random playback when queue is empty
- Fix playlist to play all tracks in order

docker/asteroid-radio-docker.liq

@@ -14,20 +14,46 @@ settings.server.telnet.set(true)
 settings.server.telnet.port.set(1234)
 settings.server.telnet.bind_addr.set("0.0.0.0")
 
-# Create playlist source from mounted music directory
-# Use playlist.safe which starts playing immediately without full scan
-radio = playlist.safe(
-  mode="randomize", 
+# Create playlist source from generated M3U file
+# This file is managed by Asteroid's stream control system
+# Falls back to directory scan if playlist file doesn't exist
+radio = playlist(
+  mode="normal",  # Play in order (not randomized)
+  reload=5,       # Check for playlist updates every 5 seconds
+  reload_mode="watch",  # Watch file for changes
+  "/app/stream-queue.m3u"
+)
+
+# Fallback to directory scan if playlist file is empty/missing
+radio_fallback = playlist.safe(
+  mode="randomize",
   reload=3600,
   "/app/music/"
 )
 
-# Add some audio processing
-radio = amplify(1.0, radio)
-radio = normalize(radio)
+# Use main playlist, fall back to directory scan
+radio = fallback(track_sensitive=false, [radio, radio_fallback])
 
-# Add crossfade between tracks
-radio = crossfade(radio)
+# Add some audio processing
+# Use ReplayGain for consistent volume without pumping
+radio = amplify(1.0, override="replaygain", radio)
+
+# Add smooth crossfade between tracks (5 seconds)
+radio = crossfade(
+  duration=5.0,        # 5 second crossfade
+  fade_in=3.0,         # 3 second fade in
+  fade_out=3.0,        # 3 second fade out
+  radio
+)
+
+# Add a compressor to prevent clipping
+radio = compress(
+  ratio=3.0,           # Compression ratio
+  threshold=-15.0,     # Threshold in dB
+  attack=50.0,         # Attack time in ms
+  release=400.0,       # Release time in ms
+  radio
+)
 
 # Create a fallback with emergency content
 emergency = sine(440.0)

docker/docker-compose.yml

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - ../music/library:/app/music:ro
       - ./asteroid-radio-docker.liq:/app/asteroid-radio.liq:ro
+      - ../stream-queue.m3u:/app/stream-queue.m3u:ro
     restart: unless-stopped
     networks:
       - asteroid-network

docker/start.sh

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ docker compose ps
 
 echo ""
 echo "🎵 Asteroid Radio is now streaming!"
-echo "📡 High Quality: http://localhost:8000/asteroid.mp3"
-echo "📡 Low Quality:  http://localhost:8000/asteroid-low.mp3"
-echo "🔧 Admin Panel:  http://localhost:8000/admin/"
+echo "📡 High Quality MP3: http://localhost:8000/asteroid.mp3"
+echo "📡 High Quality AAC: http://localhost:8000/asteroid.aac"
+echo "📡 Low Quality MP3:  http://localhost:8000/asteroid-low.mp3"
+echo "🔧 Admin Panel:      http://localhost:8000/admin/"