inmp441 config for release 2.0

[Rvh91]

Hi, thank you for the great work. I have migrated now to release 2.0, but I'm wondering a bit on the bits per sample.
I have seen you using the inmp441 microphone before, but there you had specifically added the 24bit with bitshift option.

I'm wondering how to correctly set it up in the new version. Do we still use the 32bits per sample? Or do I configure it as 24bit per sample, and change the mclk_multiple to 384?

thanks in advance!

Also for those looking to implement this new release on a ESP32-C6 variant. ESPhome states its not supported (due to abscense of PSRAM as discussed here) However, for a microphone only i2s setup this is not really required. So this can be circumvented by using this PR

`external_components:

• source: github://pr#10576
  components: [i2s_audio, psram]
  refresh: 1h`

[stas-sl]

Hi, I use 32-bit with the default mclk_multiple=256 with the INMP441. From my experience, this seems to be the most reliable setup across most chips. Using 24-bit with mclk_multiple=384 might also work, but there could be differences in behavior between the regular ESP32 and the newer ESP32 variants (S3/C3/C6). I haven’t personally tested 24-bit mode, but I did run into quite a few weird issues with 16-bit mode. That led me to conclude that 32-bit mode is the most universal choice and avoids those odd artifacts.

[stas-sl]

It’s a bit hard to debug this remotely since I don’t have an ESP32-C6 on hand. I only tested with regular ESP32 and ESP32-S3, both of which have 2 CPU cores, and I haven’t seen this issue there. Yeah, I did notice a few buffer warnings at boot, but they usually clear up within 1–2 seconds and then everything runs fine.

I don’t fully get what you mean by "ESP not fully starting up" Does it reboot? Throw an exception? Freeze? If you can still open the web interface and reset it from there, then the device is at least responding to commands - so it’s not completely stuck. Do you mean it just keeps spamming buffer full warnings and the sensor never outputs values?

I’m also a bit confused about the reset part. Do you mean that when the issue happens, you reboot it by power-cycling or pressing RST button? And in both cases, is the device still hooked up over UART so you can see logs?

One thing I can try is limiting logging so it prints at most once per second. That way, logging itself doesn’t overload anything. In the meantime, you could also try setting the log level to “error” to see if that helps. Yes, you won’t see warnings in that mode, but at least it’ll show whether the device can “fully start up” (whatever exactly that means).

[stas-sl]

I've already reduced log spamming in the latest commit on the dev branch. I'm not sure if that was the cause of your issue or if it will resolve it, but it's a good improvement regardless. If the problem persists, I'm currently out of other ideas. I can only rely on the information you've provided, so the more details you can share - such as when the issue occurs and when it doesn't - the better chance I have of identifying the cause. However, debugging might still be challenging without access to the same hardware.

[Rvh91]

uced log sp

I understand that it's difficult to debug. The description might have been a bit poor so let me try to make it a bit more clear. I flash the ESP by means of USB the first time via the ESPhome web interface, suchs that the computer is connected via usb with the board. The initial result is as following:

1. Flashing completes succesfully.
2. I open up the live logs via the Esphome web interface.
3. logs start with the 'pink' informational lines covering the connected wifi network, configured components etc.
4. The logs get flooded with yellow warnings stating that incoming audio cannot be recorded due to the ring buffer being full.
5. The esp device does not connect with home assistant (sensors not reporting updates)
6. This state appears to be indefinite.

Via the same window for the logs, there is a 'reset device', button, which when pressed than results in the following:

1. logs start with the 'pink' informational lines covering the connected wifi network, configured components etc.
2. The logs still show a few (<10) yellow warnings stating that incoming audio cannot be recorded due to the ring buffer being full.
3. Everything recovers, all sensors are opperational. sound_level_meter values get reported. It shows a CPU utilization of +/75%, and ring buffer utilization of +/-15%.
4. Values are reported to home assitant succesfully.

However, if I reset by means of a power cycle, the recovery does not occur. This is problematic as I plan to have the boards in a location where I cannot access it with a data cable to trigger the reset.

I was thinking about a possibility to have the sound_level_meter component maybe start up only after the rest of the device has booted completely (e.g., when connecting with the home assistant API), but I'm not sure if that is possible?

[stas-sl]

75% CPU usage seems quite high. What CPU frequency your ESP runs at? I’m not familiar with C6 variant, seems like it has max 160MHz, can you ensure that it runs at this max frequency? Do you use many filters/sensors? You can try lower number of sensors/filters to see when the issue goes away.

Have you tried my latest commit, that reduces log spamming?

You can also try to set compiler_optimization: PERF in esp32/framework config section.

You can also try to set use_dsp: true in sound_level_meter

Try to lower logging level to warn or error. Using debug level is good for development/debugging, but running with it all the time - might have overhead, especially at boot.

Sure you can start sound level meter later after successful boot, for that you need to set auto_start: false and use start/stop actions - as it is described in readme.

[Rvh91]

75% CPU usage seems quite high. What CPU frequency your ESP runs at? I’m not familiar with C6 variant, seems like it has max 160MHz, can you ensure that it runs at this max frequency? Do you use many filters/sensors? You can try lower number of sensors/filters to see when the issue goes away.

Have you tried my latest commit, that reduces log spamming?

You can also try to set compiler_optimization: PERF in esp32/framework config section.

You can also try to set use_dsp: true in sound_level_meter

Try to lower logging level to warn or error. Using debug level is good for development/debugging, but running with it all the time - might have overhead, especially at boot.

Sure you can start sound level meter later after successful boot, for that you need to set auto_start: false and use start/stop actions - as it is described in readme.

Thank you for your suggestions. I will check if it is running at 160Mhz. I can't check right now, I think I recall seeing 80Mhz somewhere. In terms of filters I only have the f_inmp441 and f_a active. With sensors for LZpeak (10s span), and LAeq (for 5 and 30s). I do now see in the readme to have the sound_level_sensor not autostart, but to trigger it with sound_level_meter.turn_on in the 'on_boot' part with a certain delay.

I don't think your latest commit was pushed before I compiled, so I will check this whenever I have time.

The use_dsp: true in sound_level_meter, I had tried already, as the readme hinted to performance improvements, however I got a compilation error allong the lines of BIQUAD not being known. So I disabled that again. When I can retry I'll put it back to on true again such that I can report a more clearer error message.
I will also check the compiler_optimization: PERF, option. Thank you for suggesting it.