# Pi Musicbox choppy spotify playback

**URL:** <https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545>\
**Category:** Pi MusicBox (archive)\
**Created:** [January 22, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545 "2015-01-22T15:16:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matt\_Griffith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Matt\_Griffith](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/Matt_Griffith)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/1 "2015-01-22T15:16:43Z")

</div>

I’m experiencing choppy playback when I try to play anything from Spotify.  
It sounds like Spotify isn’t buffering properly. Music will play fine for awhile then stop briefly and start back up again. I have experienced the same problem with Pi MusicBox 0.5.2 and 0.5.3.  
Playback of local files and internet radio stations works perfectly.  
I have tried to modify the gstreamer buffer in the Pi MusicBox settings.ini file, but that doesn’t fix the problem.

**system** :  
Raspberry Pi A+ using 3.5mm analog jack  
Wi-Pi USB wifi adapter  
Pi MusicBox 0.5.3  
Mopidy 0.19.5

Mopidy config

`[logging]
color = true
console_format = %(levelname)-8s %(message)s
debug_format = %(levelname)-8s %(asctime)s [%(process)d:%(threadName)s] %(name)s\n %(message)s
debug_file = mopidy.log
config_file =`

[audio]  
mixer = software  
mixer\_volume =  
output = autoaudiosink  
visualizer =

[proxy]  
scheme =  
hostname =  
port =  
username =  
password =

[musicbox\_webclient]  
enabled = true

[spotify\_tunigo]  
enabled = true  
region = all  
cache\_time = 3600

[scrobbler]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
username = ; Must be set.  
password = ; Must be set.

[local-whoosh]  
enabled = true

[audioaddict]  
enabled = true  
username =  
password =  
quality = 320k  
difm = true  
radiotunes = true  
rockradio = true  
jazzradio = true  
frescaradio = true

[podcast]  
enabled = true  
browse\_limit = 100  
search\_limit = 20  
search\_details = false  
update\_interval = 86400  
feeds =  
feeds\_root\_name = Subscribed Feeds  
feeds\_cache\_size = 32  
feeds\_cache\_ttl = 3600  
feeds\_timeout = 10

[tunein]  
enabled = true  
timeout = 5000

[gmusic]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
username = ; Must be set.  
password = ; Must be set.  
deviceid =  
all\_access = false  
refresh\_library = 1440  
refresh\_playlists = 60  
show\_radio\_stations\_browse = true  
show\_radio\_stations\_playlist = false  
max\_radio\_stations = 0  
max\_radio\_tracks = 25

[subsonic]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
hostname = ; Must be set.  
port = ; Must be set.  
username = ; Must be set.  
password = ; Must be set.  
ssl = false ; Must be set.

[local]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
library = json  
media\_dir = ; Must be set.  
data\_dir = $XDG\_DATA\_DIR/mopidy/local  
playlists\_dir = $XDG\_DATA\_DIR/mopidy/local/playlists  
scan\_timeout = 1000  
scan\_flush\_threshold = 1000  
excluded\_file\_extensions =  
.directory  
.html  
.jpeg  
.jpg  
.log  
.nfo  
.png  
.txt

[mpd]  
enabled = true  
hostname = 127.0.0.1  
port = 6600  
password =  
max\_connections = 20  
connection\_timeout = 60  
zeroconf = Mopidy MPD server on $hostname

[softwaremixer]  
enabled = true

[http]  
enabled = true  
hostname = 127.0.0.1  
port = 6680  
static\_dir =  
zeroconf = Mopidy HTTP server on $hostname

[stream]  
enabled = true  
protocols =  
file  
http  
https  
mms  
rtmp  
rtmps  
rtsp  
metadata\_blacklist =  
timeout = 5000

[websettings]  
enabled = true  
musicbox = false  
config\_file = /etc/mopidy/mopidy.conf

[moped]  
enabled = true

[internetarchive]  
enabled = true  
username =  
collections =  
audio  
audio\_bookspoetry  
opensource\_audio  
audio\_tech  
GratefulDead  
etree  
audio\_music  
netlabels  
audio\_news  
audio\_foreign  
audio\_podcast  
radioprograms  
audio\_religion  
audio\_formats =  
VBR MP3  
64Kbps MP3  
image\_formats =  
JPEG  
JPEG Thumb  
browse\_limit = 100  
browse\_order = downloads desc  
search\_limit = 20  
search\_order =  
exclude\_collections =  
exclude\_mediatypes =  
cache\_size = 128  
cache\_ttl = 86400  
retries = 3  
timeout = 10

[mopify]  
enabled = true

[podcast-itunes]  
enabled = true  
root\_name = iTunes Store  
genre\_format = {name}  
charts\_format = All {name}  
podcast\_format = {collectionName}  
episode\_format = {trackName} [{collectionName}]  
charts = AudioPodcasts  
country = US  
explicit =  
timeout = 10

[soundcloud]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
explore\_songs = 25  
auth\_token = ; Must be set.

[alsamixer]  
enabled = true  
card = 0  
control = Master

[local-sqlite]  
enabled = true  
directories =  
Albums local:directory?type=album  
Artists local:directory?type=artist  
Composers local:directory?type=artist&role=composer  
Folders local:directory:  
Genres local:directory?type=genre  
Performers local:directory?type=artist&role=performer  
Release Years local:directory?type=date&format=%25Y  
Tracks local:directory?type=track  
timeout = 10  
use\_album\_mbid\_uri = true  
use\_artist\_mbid\_uri = false  
extract\_images = false  
image\_dir =  
image\_base\_uri = /sqlite/images/  
album\_art\_files =  
\*.jpg  
\*.jpeg  
\*.png

[somafm]  
enabled = true  
encoding = mp3  
quality = fast

[podcast-gpodder]  
enabled = true  
root\_name = [gpodder.net](http://gpodder.net)  
tag\_format = {tag}  
podcast\_format = {title}  
count = 20  
timeout = 10

[youtube]  
enabled = true

[spotify]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
username = ; Must be set.  
password = ; Must be set.  
bitrate = 160  
timeout = 10  
cache\_dir = $XDG\_CACHE\_DIR/mopidy/spotify  
settings\_dir = $XDG\_CONFIG\_DIR/mopidy/spotify  
toplist\_countries =  
AD  
AR  
AU  
AT  
BE  
CO  
CY  
DK  
EE  
FI  
FR  
DE  
GR  
HK  
IS  
IE  
IT  
LV  
LI  
LT  
LU  
MY  
MX  
MC  
NL  
NZ  
NO  
PT  
ES  
SG  
SE  
CH  
TW  
TR  
GB  
US

[http-kuechenradio]  
enabled = true  
title = Mopidy Küchenradio  
default\_locale = en

[dirble]  
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.  
api\_key = ; Must be set.  
countries =  
timeout = 5000

[simple-webclient]  
enabled = true

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Matt

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kingosticks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/858c86/32.png) [@kingosticks](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/kingosticks)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/2 "2015-01-22T19:28:13Z")

</div>

In Musicbox, by default the Spotify `cache_dir` setting is set to “” (i.e. nothing) to disable the cache as this has been found to “fix” stuttering audio. But that’s not the case in the config you’ve posted, where did you get it from? It looks suspiciously like the config you’d get by logging in and running `mopidy config`. If so, then you’ll need to instead run `service mopidy run config` to get the actual config being used as Musicbox runs Mopidy as a service.  
[https://docs.mopidy.com/en/latest/debian/#differences-when-running-as-a-system-service](https://docs.mopidy.com/en/latest/debian/#differences-when-running-as-a-system-service)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matt\_Griffith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Matt\_Griffith](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/Matt_Griffith)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/3 "2015-01-22T19:49:33Z")

</div>

ok thank you. Yes I did run `mopidy config` I didn’t realize MusicBox was running mopidy as a service. I will post the active mopidy config when I get home. However I know I am using the default `cache_dir = “”` in the MusicBox settings.ini

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matt\_Griffith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Matt\_Griffith](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/Matt_Griffith)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/4 "2015-01-22T23:55:27Z")

</div>

active mopidy config

`
[logging]
color = true
console_format = %(levelname)-8s %(message)s
debug_format = %(levelname)-8s %(asctime)s [%(process)d:%(threadName)s] %(name)s\n %(message)s
debug_file = /var/log/mopidy/mopidy-debug.log
config_file = /etc/mopidy/logging.conf
[audio]
mixer = software
mixer_volume = 85
output = alsasink buffer-time=200000 latency-time=10000
visualizer =
[proxy]
scheme =
hostname =
port =
username =
password =
[musicbox_webclient]
enabled = true
[spotify_tunigo]
enabled = true
region = all
cache_time = 3600
[scrobbler]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[local-whoosh]
enabled = true
[audioaddict]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[podcast]
enabled = true
browse_limit = 100
search_limit = 20
search_details = false
update_interval = 86400
feeds =
feeds_root_name = Subscribed Feeds
feeds_cache_size = 32
feeds_cache_ttl = 3600
feeds_timeout = 10
[tunein]
enabled = true
timeout = 5000
[gmusic]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[subsonic]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[local]
enabled = true
library = sqlite
media_dir = /music
data_dir = /var/lib/mopidy/localdata
playlists_dir = /var/lib/mopidy/playlists
scan_timeout = 1000
scan_flush_threshold = 1000
excluded_file_extensions =
.html
.jpeg
.jpg
.log
.nfo
.png
.txt
.mkv
.avi
.divx
.qt
.wmv
.htm
.zip
.rar
.gz
.pdf
.exe
.ini
.mid
.db
.m3u
.sfv
.midi
[mpd]
enabled = true
hostname = 0.0.0.0
port = 6600
password =
max_connections = 20
connection_timeout = 60
zeroconf = Mopidy MPD server on $hostname
[softwaremixer]
enabled = true
[http]
enabled = true
hostname = 0.0.0.0
port = 6680
static_dir = /opt/webclient
zeroconf =
[stream]
enabled = true
protocols =
http
https
mms
file
rtmp
rtmps
rtsp
udp
mmsh
metadata_blacklist =
timeout = 5000
[websettings]
enabled = true
musicbox = true
config_file = /boot/config/settings.ini
[moped]
enabled = true
[internetarchive]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[mopify]
enabled = true
[podcast-itunes]
enabled = true
base_url = http://itunes.apple.com/
root_name = iTunes Store
genre_format = {name}
charts_format = All {name}
podcast_format = {collectionName}
episode_format = {trackName} [{collectionName}]
charts = AudioPodcasts
country = US
explicit =
timeout = 10
[soundcloud]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[alsamixer]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled due to config errors.
card = ; Must be set.
control = ; Must be set.
[local-sqlite]
enabled = true
directories =
Albums local:directory?type=album
Artists local:directory?type=artist
Composers local:directory?type=artist&role=composer
Folders local:directory:
Genres local:directory?type=genre
Performers local:directory?type=artist&role=performer
Release Years local:directory?type=date&format=%25Y
Tracks local:directory?type=track
timeout = 10
use_album_mbid_uri = true
use_artist_mbid_uri = false
extract_images = false
image_dir =
image_base_uri = /sqlite/images/
album_art_files =
*.jpg
*.jpeg
*.png
[somafm]
enabled = false ; Extension disabled by user config.
[podcast-gpodder]
enabled = true
base_url = http://gpodder.net/
root_name = gpodder.net
tag_format = {tag}
podcast_format = {title}
count = 20
timeout = 10
[youtube]
enabled = true
[spotify]
enabled = true
username = 1296976030
password = ********
bitrate = 320
timeout = 10
cache_dir =
settings_dir = /var/lib/mopidy/spotify
toplist_countries =
AD
AR
AU
AT
BE
CO
CY
DK
EE
FI
FR
DE
GR
HK
IS
IE
IT
LV
LI
LT
LU
MY
MX
MC
NL
NZ
NO
PT
ES
SG
SE
CH
TW
TR
GB
US
[http-kuechenradio]
enabled = true
title = Mopidy Küchenradio
default_locale = en
[dirble]
enabled = true
api_key = 473279e3fa0e7010cbbbb40ecc31890d46e57a2e
countries =
US
NL
DE
NO
SE
timeout = 5000
[simple-webclient]
enabled = true
`

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matt\_Griffith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Matt\_Griffith](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/Matt_Griffith)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/5 "2015-01-23T00:40:34Z")

</div>

hmm it looks like I have a wireless internet problem. My Pi is only getting 3Mb/s on wifi and my laptop is only getting 5Mb/s on wi-fi. My wired connection is 30Mb/s.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jodal](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.mopidy.com/jodal/32/2564_2.png) [@jodal](https://discourse.mopidy.com/u/jodal)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://discourse.mopidy.com/t/pi-musicbox-choppy-spotify-playback/545/6 "2026-02-19T11:47:51Z")

</div>